Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), a way to improve the performance of Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) SME ToolKit Project Adel Mokhtari November UNDP / ICTDAR Information and Communication Technology for Developpment in Arab Region

1. The « Tool Kit » Project

1.1. The concept Help small and micro enterprises in acquiring efficient management tools in electronic format.

1.2. The Tool Kit Project The “ToolKit” Project enables a candidate for auto employment or an entrepreneur of a micro enterprise to have templates of management and decision making tools in electronic format.

1.3. The objectives Provide guidance to the candidates’ capacity to entrepreneurship Provide structuring tools to the micro enterprise Provide the necessary tools for supporting micro enterprise management training Provide sector based customizable tools and business cases Provide a duplicable experience Provide guidance to the candidates’ capacity to entrepreneurship Provide structuring tools to the micro enterprise Provide the necessary tools for supporting micro enterprise management training Provide sector based customizable tools and business cases Provide a duplicable experience

1.4. The targeted users The target : Micro enterprise entrepreneur candidates Already settled entrepreneurs Basic skills required : Basic computer literacy Basic micro enterprise management understanding or training And a lot of good will The target : Micro enterprise entrepreneur candidates Already settled entrepreneurs Basic skills required : Basic computer literacy Basic micro enterprise management understanding or training And a lot of good will

2. The « Tool Kit » Content

2.1. The content scope The content of the Tool Kit follows the life cycle of a micro enterprise with 7 topics ranging : from: establishing the candidates potential for entrepreneurship to: day to day business management actions The content of the Tool Kit follows the life cycle of a micro enterprise with 7 topics ranging : from: establishing the candidates potential for entrepreneurship to: day to day business management actions

2.2. The Tool Kit architecture The Tool Kit is designed to provide for each topic : The topic descriptive content The topic support tools (quizzes, self assessment tests, …) The Templates The case studies The template use training modules The Tool Kit is designed to provide for each topic : The topic descriptive content The topic support tools (quizzes, self assessment tests, …) The Templates The case studies The template use training modules

2.3. The topics The seven topics covered by the “Tool Kit” are : Business management overview; Planning; Marketing; Buying and costing; Accounting; Stock control; Payroll. The seven topics covered by the “Tool Kit” are : Business management overview; Planning; Marketing; Buying and costing; Accounting; Stock control; Payroll.

3. The « Tool Kit » Topics

3.1. Business management overview Overall Objective Business management overview Specific objectives Understanding business basics? What are the components of a business? What is an entrepreneur? Support Tools Am I an entrepreneur quiz ? Business project SWOT analysis Templates Business opportunity assessment sheet Overall Objective Business management overview Specific objectives Understanding business basics? What are the components of a business? What is an entrepreneur? Support Tools Am I an entrepreneur quiz ? Business project SWOT analysis Templates Business opportunity assessment sheet

3.2. Planning Overall Objective Planning Specific objectives What is business planning ? How to forecast? Support Tools Business plan forecast check list Templates 5 year business plan template Overall Objective Planning Specific objectives What is business planning ? How to forecast? Support Tools Business plan forecast check list Templates 5 year business plan template

3.3. Marketing Overall Objective Marketing Specific objectives Marketing basics What is my market? How do I get my product to my customer ? How much should I charge for my product ? How do I get my product known ? Templates Market potential analysis Overall Objective Marketing Specific objectives Marketing basics What is my market? How do I get my product to my customer ? How much should I charge for my product ? How do I get my product known ? Templates Market potential analysis

3.4. Buying and costing Overall Objective Buying and costing Specific objectives What is buying? How do I calculate my cost? Support Tools Buying check list Costing check list Templates Buying and costing template sheets Overall Objective Buying and costing Specific objectives What is buying? How do I calculate my cost? Support Tools Buying check list Costing check list Templates Buying and costing template sheets

3.5. Accounting Overall Objective Accounting Specific objectives What is accounting? Why do I need record keeping? Support tools Record keeping setup assessment sheet Templates Record keeping template Customer credit accounts template Overall Objective Accounting Specific objectives What is accounting? Why do I need record keeping? Support tools Record keeping setup assessment sheet Templates Record keeping template Customer credit accounts template

3.6. Stock control Overall Objective Stock control Specific objectives What is stock control? How do I keep record of my stock? How to carry out an inventory? Support Tools Inventory check list Templates Stock and inventory management templates Overall Objective Stock control Specific objectives What is stock control? How do I keep record of my stock? How to carry out an inventory? Support Tools Inventory check list Templates Stock and inventory management templates

3.7. Human resources Overall Objective Human resources Specific objectives What are human resources? How to hire? What is a payroll? Support Tools Assessing my human resources needs Templates Hiring check list Payroll template Overall Objective Human resources Specific objectives What are human resources? How to hire? What is a payroll? Support Tools Assessing my human resources needs Templates Hiring check list Payroll template

4. The « Tool Kit » specificities

4.1. The specifications Deliverable in CD-ROM or Web downloadable formats Web based content Word processor/Spread sheet compliant templates Languages : Arabic/English Deliverable in CD-ROM or Web downloadable formats Web based content Word processor/Spread sheet compliant templates Languages : Arabic/English

4.2. The methodology 1.Definition of the content scope 2.Data gathering 3.The design of the Tool Kit 4.The development of Tool Kit content 5.The development of the content support tools 6.The design of the individual templates 7.The development of the template training modules 8.Localizing and personalization 1.Definition of the content scope 2.Data gathering 3.The design of the Tool Kit 4.The development of Tool Kit content 5.The development of the content support tools 6.The design of the individual templates 7.The development of the template training modules 8.Localizing and personalization

4.3. The formats The Tool Kit can be provided in three versions : Standard Tool Kit : includes blank templates Sectorized Tool Kit : Includes blank templates and sector based case studies Localized Tool Kit : Includes blank templates with country or region specific data. The Tool Kit can be provided in three versions : Standard Tool Kit : includes blank templates Sectorized Tool Kit : Includes blank templates and sector based case studies Localized Tool Kit : Includes blank templates with country or region specific data.

4.7. The deliverable « ToolKit » distribution Through ICTDAR that will provide the standard version ICTDAR : Through partner NGO’s that will provide sectorized versions ICTDAR : Through international organizations that will provide localized versions Through ICTDAR that will provide the standard version ICTDAR : Through partner NGO’s that will provide sectorized versions ICTDAR : Through international organizations that will provide localized versions