UNSPECIFIED. (2004) Exploring the link, among small firms, between management training and firm performance: a comparison between the UK and other OECD countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, 15 (1). pp. 112-130. ISSN 0958-5192

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Abstract

Small firms are much less likely than large firms to provide their employees and their managers with formal training. Storey and Westhead offer two explanations of this, which they refer to as the 'ignorance' explanation and the 'market' explanation. This paper reviews recent research findings that increasingly point towards support for the 'market' over the 'ignorance' explanation. While it has a policy interest in the UK, the paper draws comparisons with five other OECD countries: Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan and the USA. The paper shows that there is ambiguity in the evidence relating management training to small firm performance. When the views of trainees are sought, public programmes appear to be well received. However, econometric methods linking training participation to small firm performance produce weak findings. This suggests that the relatively low take up of formal management training is an informed decision on the part of the small firm owner/manager. It implies that seeking to increase formal small firm training activity by raising the awareness of owners/managers to the benefits of training is misguided.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Journal or Publication Title:	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Publisher:	ROUTLEDGE TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
ISSN:	0958-5192
Date:	February 2004
Volume:	15
Number:	1
Number of Pages:	19
Page Range:	pp. 112-130
Identification Number:	10.1080/0958519032000157375
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/8938

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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