Given that one of the main obstacles facing SMEs is their inability to determine
their information needs, access the information, and evaluate and subsequently use it,
the issue of capacity building in SMEs should be of critical concern to governments.
Internationally, capacity building is increasingly being perceived by governments as
vital to getting SMEs to participate in the global economy. Emphasis is being placed
on education and training, particularly on including ICT as both a classroom tool and
a subject. Within the European Union, the eEurope initiative encourages capacity
building by investing in people skills, while in North America, the US and Canada
have focused more on creating awareness among businesses of the benefits of ICTs.
Canada has a Student Connection Programme that focuses on training university
students as business advisors for SMEs. In the Caribbean, the government of Jamaica
has invested heavily in education to meet the labour needs of this century. Within
the South African Development Community’s (SADC) member states, intention has
also been mooted by regional governments to strengthen tertiary education at both
regional and local level to foster the area’s ICT and skills base.
Information literacy is critical to any meaningful education and training programme,
especially with regard to the use of ICT. A number of models provide
benchmarks that can be used to develop and offer an effective information literacy
programme, especially in achieving the level of literacy required for the digital
economy. Such models include the American Library Association (ALA) model,
the British standard by SCONUL, the WSIS Declaration of Principles (which define
the kinds of skills needed in the digital age), IFLA (provides standards for information
literacy), and Mutula and van Brakel integrated e-readiness model with five
dimensions of e-readiness that define information literacy competencies.
Globalization has been a critical factor in the emerging digital economy. Through
the dynamics of globalisation, both large and small-sized enterprises are leveraging
ICT to extend their market reach in international business environments. The Internet
has increased business’ trans-border data flow by facilitating access to market intelligence
(knowledge spreads very quickly through the Internet) while also offering
lower prices for transacting business. Multinational companies, and increasingly
SMEs, can now deploy and mobilise resources and operations globally by using the
Internet and related ICTs. With the increasing globalisation of business enterprises
and the movement of human capital across borders, it is now possible for SMEs to
successfully compete in global markets. These developments are making the rapid
spread of e-commerce possible.
Given that one of the main obstacles facing SMEs is their inability to determinetheir information needs, access the information, and evaluate and subsequently use it,the issue of capacity building in SMEs should be of critical concern to governments.Internationally, capacity building is increasingly being perceived by governments asvital to getting SMEs to participate in the global economy. Emphasis is being placedon education and training, particularly on including ICT as both a classroom tool anda subject. Within the European Union, the eEurope initiative encourages capacitybuilding by investing in people skills, while in North America, the US and Canadahave focused more on creating awareness among businesses of the benefits of ICTs.Canada has a Student Connection Programme that focuses on training universitystudents as business advisors for SMEs. In the Caribbean, the government of Jamaicahas invested heavily in education to meet the labour needs of this century. Withinthe South African Development Community’s (SADC) member states, intention hasalso been mooted by regional governments to strengthen tertiary education at bothregional and local level to foster the area’s ICT and skills base.Information literacy is critical to any meaningful education and training programme,especially with regard to the use of ICT. A number of models providebenchmarks that can be used to develop and offer an effective information literacyprogramme, especially in achieving the level of literacy required for the digitaleconomy. Such models include the American Library Association (ALA) model,the British standard by SCONUL, the WSIS Declaration of Principles (which definethe kinds of skills needed in the digital age), IFLA (provides standards for informationliteracy), and Mutula and van Brakel integrated e-readiness model with fivedimensions of e-readiness that define information literacy competencies.Globalization has been a critical factor in the emerging digital economy. Throughthe dynamics of globalisation, both large and small-sized enterprises are leveragingICT to extend their market reach in international business environments. The Internethas increased business’ trans-border data flow by facilitating access to market intelligence(knowledge spreads very quickly through the Internet) while also offeringlower prices for transacting business. Multinational companies, and increasinglySMEs, can now deploy and mobilise resources and operations globally by using theInternet and related ICTs. With the increasing globalisation of business enterprisesand the movement of human capital across borders, it is now possible for SMEs tosuccessfully compete in global markets. These developments are making the rapidspread of e-commerce possible.
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