Improve Your Business (IYB) training package

Session objective At the end of the session participants are able to describe the objective, target group and components of the IYB training package develop a strategy to market the IYB package

Contents What is IYB History Programme objectives Target group Components of IYB Training delivery Sri Lankan experiences Contents of the IYB training package (session II) How to market IYB (session III) Demonstration session (IYB Marketing) (session IV) Demonstration session (game module II) (session V)

What is IYB ? IYB is a business management training package for MSMEs IYB provides knowledge and skills to set-up basic business management systems in place IYB enables existing entrepreneurs to formalize and improve the efficiency & effectiveness of business operations

Program history The programme has originated in Sweden in 70s under the name of “Look After Your Firm” ILO has adapted the materials to suite the needs of small entrepreneurs in developing countries The adapted training was called “Improve Your Business” Had only two manuals Today IYB consists with 7 manuals

Program Objectives The objective of the IYB training intervention is to enable entrepreneurs to improve their skills in basic business management and to apply them in their day-to-day business operations.

Target Group Existing MSMEs Owners and managers of the small enterprises At least six months experience in business Manufacturing, service or trading businesses Ability to read and write Ability to do the basic calculations Wilingness to pay for the training

IYB components Marketing Costing Record keeping Stock control Buying Business planning 7. People & Productivity Business Game Follow –up services

Training Needs Analysis IYB training cycle Monitoring & Evaluation Marketing Selection Customers Follow-up Training Needs Analysis Training

Standard IYB time table Standard IYB training timetable   Standard IYB time table Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 08:00 10:00 Introduction Buying Costing Business planning Record keeping Tea break 10:15 12:30 Elements of a basic business management system Buying continued Costing continued Business planning continued Record keeping continued Lunch break 13:30 15:00 Marketing SIYB business game I SIYB business game II Stock control SIYB business game III 15:15 17:00 Marketing continued continued Stock control continued Continued Closing Evening

The SIYB Sri Lanka experience Introduced from the beginning Full course – six manuals, 40 hours Modular base dilivery Customized programme (record keeping – 3 day programme) Salamy technique Price: 30 – 45 USD Marketed through personal selling and promotional meetings IYB past trainees association New clients through referrals P&P as a separate module Follow – up ???

Impact of the IYB programme Business improvement rate 50% (35% to 85%) Increase in sales, investment and employment Better life for family members Improved benefits for employees Improved benefits for suppliers Better service and convenience for customers Improved benefits for neighbors

IYB packages enjoy highest demand

Male participation is higher in IYB

? ! Demand is strong in marketing and finance management Business planning ? Stock control Buying ! Record keeping Costing Marketing and finance management training had high impact on entrepreneurs – almost 90% recorded improvement of marketing skills after training Business planning, stock control and buying, by direct comparison had less conclusive impact on entrepreneurs. In fact, stock control and buying, these two modules enjoy weak demand in Sri Lanka. The project will put more emphasis over the coming year to analyze the reasons for this varying demand patterns, and to further finetune these modules. Marketing

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