The small business sector contributes significantly to the U.S. economy. However, lack of management expertise results in unacceptably high failure rates. One form of management assistance is through the Small Business Institute (SBI) program sponsored by the Small Business Administration. Student consulting done through this program can be significantly Improved through microcomputer hardware and software support. This will also result in greater computer literacy in both students and client. Qualitative and quantitative measures on the effectiveness of a microcomputer-based SBI Program are presented and discussed. A survey of selected SBI Directors indicates current microcomputer usage and perceptions on the effectiveness of using microcomputers.
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