Volume Two - Academic Conferences

Training Methods and Tools: Could eLearning be a Viable
Solution to Solve SMEs Training Problems?
Andrée Roy
Université de Moncton, Moncton, Canada
andree.roy@umoncton.ca
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to identify the different training methods and tools used by larger
businesses and the problems associated with these methods and tools and to determine, through a multiple case
study, the extent to which small and medium-sized enterprises in Atlantic Canada use the same methods and
tools than the other businesses, and if so, if they face the same problems than other organizations in the use of
these methods. The purpose of the study is also to verify if the utilization of eLearning may solve some of the
training problems encountered by SMEs, and if so, why?
Keywords: eLearning, SME, training methods, training tools
1. Introduction
In a context of knowledge economy where knowledge is increasingly regarded as a capital and when
the integration of technology in training is a determining factor in business competitiveness (Industry
Canada, 2002; Quirion, 2000), SMEs should, in principle, use eLearning at least for the advantages
associated with this one in order to be more competitive.
Actors of economic development should also hope that SMEs are using eLearning to better equip
these companies, increase their competitiveness and boost economic development because,
according to Smith and Hayton (1999), the most successful economies are those with the best trained
individuals. Furthermore, it seems that SMEs who are the most successful are the ones who offer
more training to their employees (Smith and Hayton, 1999), this observation is also valid for larger
enterprises (Barbian, 2002).
It is therefore important to understand the training process of SMEs, in particular, the stages of the
selection of training methods and training tools, in order to be able to identify the nature of the
problems in these stages and determine if eLearning can be a solution to the training problems of
SMEs and increase the competitiveness of SMEs because capability development of small firms in
Atlantic Canada remains critical to economic prosperity as in other parts of the world (see for example
Matlay, 1999; ACOA, 2005; Jayawarna & al., 2007).
In Canada, particularly in Atlantic Canada, the contribution of SMEs towards a healthy economy has
been recognized. They are the fastest growing segment of the economy and are considered as the
foundation of economic development (APECA, 2005; Mittelstaedt et al., 2003). They represent the
majority of businesses and they also create the majority of jobs (APECA 1998, 2005). Yet, despite
their great contribution to the region’s economy, there are very few studies on them and even less on
the training methods and tools they use and this, notwithstanding a strategic and economic dimension
to have better trained employees since training is supposed to lead to better economic performance
of enterprises.
The purpose of this study is two-fold. After having identified the different training methods and tools
used by SMEs and the problems associated with these methods and tools, based on a survey of the
documentation on the issue, the first objective is to determine, through a case study, if Atlantic
Canada SMEs use the same methods and tools than the others, and if so, if Atlantic Canada SMEs
face the same problems than other organizations in the use of these methods and tools. The second
step is to verify if the utilization of eLearning may solve some of the problems encountered by SMEs,
and if so, why.
Thus, the remainder of the document is arranged as follows. Section 2 presents the method used for
the article. Section 3 presents a literature census on the training methods and tools used by
businesses to train their employees and the problems associated with these training methods and
tools. Section 4 presents, through a case study, the extent to which SMEs in Atlantic Canada use the
same methods and tools than larger businesses and if they face the same problems. It also
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