The topic of management training and development (MTD) in small businesses is relatively under‐researched, and an increased understanding of the factors influencing the purchase of MTD by small businesses is needed. Therefore, a survey of 551 small businesses in the Midlands region of the UK sought to: identify influences on MTD investment and preferred MTD activities; and establish whether small businesses perceive a link between investment in MTD and business success. Interviews were also conducted with 12 organisations. Results show that the organisational characteristics of ownership, size, number of managers and family management have a significant influence on MTD investment. Of the sample organisations, 85 per cent considered investment in MTD to be linked to business success and 80 per cent of organisations engaged in some form of MTD. However, promoters of MTD to small businesses need to recognise that organisations in this sector are not homogeneous and desire customised training.
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1 June 1999
Research Article|
June 01 1999
Investment in management training and development by small businesses
John Loan‐Clarke;
John Loan‐Clarke
The Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Grahame Boocock;
Grahame Boocock
The Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Alison Smith;
Alison Smith
The Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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John Whittaker
John Whittaker
The Business School, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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(John Loan‐Clarke is Lecturer, Grahame Boocock is Senior Lecturer, Alison Smith is Deputy Director of the Management Development Centre and John Whittaker is Director of the Management Development Centre. All are with The Business School, Loughborough University, Ashby Road, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK.)
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Online ISSN: 1758-7069
Print ISSN: 0142-5455
© MCB UP Limited
1999
Employee Relations: The International Journal (1999) 21 (3): 296–311.
Citation
Loan‐Clarke J, Boocock G, Smith A, Whittaker J (1999), "Investment in management training and development by small businesses". Employee Relations: The International Journal, Vol. 21 No. 3 pp. 296–311, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/01425459910273134
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