Technology Means Business (TMB) Mary Cunningham Training Director About IT Ltd

What is Technology Means Business? It is a new scheme designed to improve UK small and medium sized enterprise competitiveness through the effective use of information and communications technology

It is a new scheme designed to improve UK small and medium sized enterprise competitiveness through the effective use of information and communications technology

The purpose of TMB Under-performance of UK SME’s 40% of firms experiencing problems finding the right kind of expert IT advice UK’s SME’s are behind those in rest of Europe and Far East Does Technology Mean Business (IoM Sep 2000)

Under-performance of UK SME’s

40% of firms experiencing problems finding the right kind of expert IT advice

UK’s SME’s are behind those in rest of Europe and Far East

Does Technology Mean Business (IoM Sep 2000)

How? … Establish an accreditation scheme for those providing small businesses with ICT advice Create a national network of accredited advisers Establish a recognisable ICT advice channel for small and medium sized businesses

Establish an accreditation scheme for those providing small businesses with ICT advice

Create a national network of accredited advisers

Establish a recognisable ICT advice channel for small and medium sized businesses

Value - WI I FM factor enhance our status and help to clarify for our clients our approach, abilities and credibility . Initially observed Technology Means Business (TMB) in October 2000 and identified it as being a valuable accreditation which would :

enhance our status and

help to clarify for our clients our approach, abilities and credibility .

Bridging the Skills Gap ICT Business Advice Technology Means Business

TMB & the Accreditation P rocess Competence-based qualification delivered through approved cent re s using web-based tools and an assessment system. It assesses both knowledge (in 3 areas) and performance (skills of the adviser).

Competence-based qualification delivered through approved cent re s using web-based tools and an assessment system.

It assesses both knowledge (in 3 areas) and performance (skills of the adviser).

Performance – Adviser Skills Unit 1 Establish and maintain the capacity to act as an ICT adviser to SME’s Unit 2 Enable clients to identify the potential of ICT to contribute to the competitiveness of the business Plus evidence for one of the following: Unit 3 Enable the client to plan an ICT intervention Unit 4 Enable the client to implement an ICT intervention Unit 5 Evaluate and review the outcomes of an ICT intervention Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability against thre e units of performance:

Unit 1 Establish and maintain the capacity to act as an ICT adviser to SME’s

Unit 2 Enable clients to identify the potential of ICT to contribute to the competitiveness of the business

Plus evidence for one of the following:

Unit 3 Enable the client to plan an ICT intervention

Unit 4 Enable the client to implement an ICT intervention

Unit 5 Evaluate and review the outcomes of an ICT intervention

Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability against thre e units of performance:

The 3 Knowledge Areas ICT Knowledge and Orientation SME Knowledge Business Application of ICT

Knowledge is assessed in two ways: A knowledge test (which has to be retaken every year) – the S tandard change s every year – need to get 60% to pass. ICT Knowledge and Orientation SME Knowledge

A knowledge test (which has to be retaken every year) – the S tandard change s every year – need to get 60% to pass.

Knowledge is assessed in two ways: Evidenced in the candidates work – through observation, questions and answers in interview, written work produced, personal statements. Business Application of ICT

Evidenced in the candidates work – through observation, questions and answers in interview, written work produced, personal statements.

What Quality measures are in place?

Each TMB Centre must have: Qualified Tutor/Assessors (with appropriate awards) Centre Verifiers (with Verifier awards) An Agency Verifier who approves all TMB Advisers against the national Standard Internal Quality Control measures

Qualified Tutor/Assessors (with appropriate awards)

Centre Verifiers (with Verifier awards)

An Agency Verifier who approves all TMB Advisers against the national Standard

Internal Quality Control measures

All evidence will be assessed to ensure that it is: Valid – relevant to the standard being assessed Authentic – the work of the candidate and not somebody else’s Current – candidate is demonstrating competence now and in the future Sufficient – quantity of evidence or frequency is checked for Reliable – same judgements are reached by different tutors/assessors

Valid – relevant to the standard being assessed

Authentic – the work of the candidate and not somebody else’s

Current – candidate is demonstrating competence now and in the future

Sufficient – quantity of evidence or frequency is checked for

Reliable – same judgements are reached by different tutors/assessors

Re-accreditation Process Each year the adviser has to re-sit the Knowledge Test for the current Standard Each year the adviser has to submit a case-study questionnaire on one client from that year

Each year the adviser has to re-sit the Knowledge Test for the current Standard

Each year the adviser has to submit a case-study questionnaire on one client from that year

The Audience ICT Adviser ICT Adviser General Business Adviser Business Adviser Advisers who want accreditation

How long does it take A period of 3 to 6 months is usually sufficient – it depends on your day to day opportunities to provide advice to SME’s. Some have achieved it in a much shorter time frame – some longer.

A period of 3 to 6 months is usually sufficient – it depends on your day to day opportunities to provide advice to SME’s. Some have achieved it in a much shorter time frame – some longer.

So how do I begin?

Beginning Stage Register with a cent re Invited to an Induction Day – introduced to the TMB Standard – the website - the way the assessment will be conducted Review your current work, client base and accomplishments – Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) built in to the programme In i tial Diagnostic – Contract drawn up between adviser and assessor detailing all the elements of the S tandard and the evidence in existence and assessment methods to be used. Option will be registered here. Personal Development Plan with timescales drawn up from the gaps in knowledge / performance sections – learning blocks identified and signposted to

Register with a cent re

Invited to an Induction Day – introduced to the TMB Standard – the website - the way the assessment will be conducted

Review your current work, client base and accomplishments – Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) built in to the programme

In i tial Diagnostic – Contract drawn up between adviser and assessor detailing all the elements of the S tandard and the evidence in existence and assessment methods to be used. Option will be registered here.

Personal Development Plan with timescales drawn up from the gaps in knowledge / performance sections – learning blocks identified and signposted to

Working Stage Candidate prepares portfolio of evidence – can be paper-based and online Attend learning blocks (optional) Candidate sits knowledge exam at cent re Tutor/Assessor – contacts candidate to assist if necessary and arrange observation Candidate observed (at least once) Candidate submits final portfolio to tutor/assessor at cent re

Candidate prepares portfolio of evidence – can be paper-based and online

Attend learning blocks (optional)

Candidate sits knowledge exam at cent re

Tutor/Assessor – contacts candidate to assist if necessary and arrange observation

Candidate observed (at least once)

Candidate submits final portfolio to tutor/assessor at cent re

Final Stage Candidate presents portfolio to tutor/assessor at a final interview (approx 2 hours). Tutor/Assessor submits portfolio for accreditation Centre Verifier verifies the assessment process to ensure that tutors are assessing properly and consistently Agency Verifier verifies Centre Verifiers – once all this has been completed the Tutor/Assessor can inform the candidate of the achievement of the accreditation.

Candidate presents portfolio to tutor/assessor at a final interview (approx 2 hours).

Tutor/Assessor submits portfolio for accreditation

Centre Verifier verifies the assessment process to ensure that tutors are assessing properly and consistently

Agency Verifier verifies Centre Verifiers – once all this has been completed the Tutor/Assessor can inform the candidate of the achievement of the accreditation.

Costs Initial Registration = £650.00 Includes attendance at TMB Induction Cost of TMB Registration £150 – access to the website Training Needs Analysis for knowledge areas Initial Diagnostic for Performance areas One to one mentoring and signposting to relevant resources Personal Development Plan Introduction to Web site tools One Knowledge Test

Initial Registration = £650.00

Includes attendance at TMB Induction

Cost of TMB Registration £150 – access to the website

Training Needs Analysis for knowledge areas

Initial Diagnostic for Performance areas

One to one mentoring and signposting to relevant resources

Personal Development Plan

Introduction to Web site tools

One Knowledge Test

Costs Final Stage Costs = £495.00 One to One support Observations in the field Access to TMB E-group Assessment of portfolio of evidence Final Interview (approx 2 hours) Verification of evidence Total Cost of TMB accreditation= £1145.00

Final Stage Costs = £495.00

One to One support

Observations in the field

Access to TMB E-group

Assessment of portfolio of evidence

Final Interview (approx 2 hours)

Verification of evidence

Total Cost of TMB accreditation= £1145.00

Our Centre’s Added Value

Adviser Personal Skills

A Framework for Integrated Business Interventions in SME’s

Financial Management of SME’s

The role of ICT in the workplace

Networks and their uses in SME’s

Internet Technologies, E-commerce and Telecommunications

Course Outlines Course Outlines are available to take away Cost on all About IT TMB courses is £100 per delegate per day Timetable of dates for courses also available

Course Outlines are available to take away

Cost on all About IT TMB courses is £100 per delegate per day

Timetable of dates for courses also available

What are the long-term benefits to a TMB Adviser?

Benefits to Advisers Tools for use with SME clients Materials and resources to assist you to become accredited Latest product news and developments in business advice Networking with other advisers Regular member updates

Tools for use with SME clients

Materials and resources to assist you to become accredited

Latest product news and developments in business advice

Networking with other advisers

Regular member updates

Benefits to Advisers Hot links to key organisations Inclusion in the online register of accredited advisers Use of TMB brand Continuous development programme

Hot links to key organisations

Inclusion in the online register of accredited advisers

Use of TMB brand

Continuous development programme

Value to SME’s Quality of advice – Client is aware that our knowledge is current, i.e. upgraded and tested for yearly Consistent – application of knowledge to improving SME performance is assessed yearly Increasing the understanding of the role of ICT in an SME – accreditation that matches business knowledge with ICT knowledge.

Quality of advice – Client is aware that our knowledge is current, i.e. upgraded and tested for yearly

Consistent – application of knowledge to improving SME performance is assessed yearly

Increasing the understanding of the role of ICT in an SME – accreditation that matches business knowledge with ICT knowledge.

Values to SME’s A full awareness of ICT integration rather than just adoption of ICT – being able to plan and implement an ICT solution, e.g. utilising telecom munications and desktop applications to control and improve business processes - “You shouldn’t be saying ‘buy a computer’ but asking what the business needs”. Identify future potential of full integration and utilization of ICT to develop the business further.

A full awareness of ICT integration rather than just adoption of ICT – being able to plan and implement an ICT solution, e.g. utilising telecom munications and desktop applications to control and improve business processes - “You shouldn’t be saying ‘buy a computer’ but asking what the business needs”.

Identify future potential of full integration and utilization of ICT to develop the business further.

Value to SME’s Being part of a network of expert advisers Assisting the business to manage the process of change – ‘quick fix’, tinkering, radical, incremental Strengthening business sustainability Improving competitiveness of SME’s

Being part of a network of expert advisers

Assisting the business to manage the process of change – ‘quick fix’, tinkering, radical, incremental

Strengthening business sustainability

Improving competitiveness of SME’s

What to do now? If you are interested in the TMB programme I invite you to share questions with About IT on any aspect of the TMB programme. 10 minutes

If you are interested in the TMB programme I invite you to share questions with About IT on any aspect of the TMB programme.

10 minutes