Resource institutions for enterprise support project component

The project is well conceived and well managed, and has been flexible enough to allow for adjustments to correct problems as they are identified. The prime contractor, Robert Nathan and Associates, and the major subcontractors, Harvard Institute for International Development and Control Data Corporation, have performed well. As of 1/88, 20 TA assignments have been carried out in 15 countries. Problems have arisen in three TA teams, but in only one case was the problem substantive. The program board and technical review board are in operation and have served useful functions in shaping the program and maintaining a channel of communication to project leaders. However, meetings of the project technical review board have occurred less frequently than anticipated and the planned advisory committee has not been formed. A noteworthy achievement of the project is the creation of AskARIES, a computer data base containing more than 1,200 entries on state-of-the-art research in SME theory, training, and development. In addition, five case studies have been produced for use in training managers of SME assistance organizations. The case studies have been taught on several occasions and have been well received. The project has made an intensive marketing effort to assure that the Missions know about the project and its benefits. The most important lesson learned from the project has been the need for feedback and testing of the project hypothesis. Future small enterprise development projects should plan follow-up studies to assess the actual impact of individual subactivities. The second lesson learned is that projects should remain flexible in order to allow for the development of new products or services. In this case, the development of the AskARIES data base was an accomplishment that went beyond the goals and objectives set out in the project paper.