What do Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers Need to Enhance Their Globalization Efforts?

Abstract

Federal and state agencies as well as private sector agencies often try to serve the needs of small and medium-sized firms to facilitate their efforts for globalization. Educational and training programs are usually developed based on hypothetical needs. Understanding the perceived barriers or impediments for globalization of small and medium sized is absolutely essential. This study is a prelude to developing programs to serve the needs of business enterprises in the state of Wisconsin under a grant from U.S. Department of Education. Such a need-based program development is expected to be more effective in serving the educational and informational needs of this segment. A survey instrument was designed and pre-tested to assess business needs. The surveys were mailed to 695 randomly selected small and medium-sized firms in the twelve counties that contained over 50 percent of all manufacturing firms in the state of Wisconsin. Some 185 usable responses were received.