Learning Environment in SMEs from Macedonia and Western Bulgaria (Master thesis presentation)

Learning Environment in SMEs from

Macedonia and Western Bulgaria Master’s Thesis Presentation

Mentor:

Doc. Dr. Robert Kaše

Student:

Zorica Mitashova

September, 2012

Contents

• Relevance

• Justification

• Research Questions

• Research Design

• Results of Research

• Interpretation and Discussion

• Future Aspects

Relevance of the Topic

• Learning environment

• Service industry

• Local context

• Strategic documents

• Need of specific analysis

• Compare and contrast

• EU perspectives and practices

Justification for Selecting Tourism

• Visibility of human resources

interaction

• An industry with many

stakeholders

• Open for communication

• Pilot survey

Research Questions

• What are the basic

characteristics of the learning

environment within tourism

SMEs?

• What is the awareness level of

the importance of learning in

tourism SMEs?

• What could small and medium

enterprises gain by introducing

positive learning environment?

Research Design

1. Scientific qualitative research consisting

of face-to-face interviews with relevant

experts • Voice recording, notes, translation

2. Quantitative research using MIPEC

questionnaire

SPSS analysis

• Comparison of mean values

• Independent sample T-test

• ANOVA

• Factor analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha)

Area of Research

Western Bulgaria

• The Southwestern region

NUTS II (5 administrative

districts)

Macedonia NUTS II

• 8 statistical regions

Highlights of Experts

‘National saying: You should study, in order not to work later’

‘Companies should send their employees abroad, to see

foreign success stories, this can change their mindset’

‘Initiatives and proactive behavior are mainly lacking, also

noticed through low participation in associations’

‘Only learning organizations are able to stay on the market and

become more competitive, this is especially true for the service

sector’

‘Managers should be trained mainly because there is a need

for them to support the learning environment’

Learning Issues MK Western BG

National culture influence High High

Managers’ awareness Very low Very low

Interest in associations Increasing Increasing

Demand for trainings Low Low

Learning offer Limited topics Satisfactory

level

National licensing center Does not exist Exists

Subsidies for participation at trainings Somewhat

present Very present

EU funded projects with soft measures Very few Many

Qualitative Research Summary

Item/rate Macedonia Western Bulgaria

Respondent 82 88

Female 34 63

Managers 29 11

Hotels 47 86

Education/high

school 47 60

Quantitative Research General

Information

Macedonia

• Managers (Alpha 0.807)

• Employees (Alpha 0.727)

Western Bulgaria

• Managers (Alpha 0.800)

• Environment (Alpha 0.737)

• Company (Alpha 0.723)

• Employees (Alpha 0.722)

Factor Analysis / Quantitative

Research Results

Completely

agree

Completely

disagree

Comparison of Grouped Variables

Quantitative Research Results /

Statistical differences

Completely

agree

Completely

disagree

MIPEC Model

• Networking

• Project proposals

• Leading projects

• Partnerships

• Exchange inward and outward

• Research

• Fairs

• Practices abroad

• LLL

• Performance Management

• Organizational culture

• Clusters/associations

• Technology center

• EU funds usage

• Co-opetition

• Information flow

• Lobbying

• Marketing

• Awareness rising

• PPP

• Licensing of training providers

Environment Company

Peers Individuals

Managers

Future Aspects

• Other industry/service

• Focus only on managers/or

employees

• Specific phase of the learning

process

• Communicate the results to the

stakeholders

Thank you for your

attention!