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Sunday, March 4, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Expand My BusinessNew Business Training for SME Leaders
Our passion as the Institute of Growth Concepts is to develop new solutions for the SME sector in Sri Lanka. Recently our team introduced a new Business Training Module for the small and medium entrepreneurs those who wants to expand their business. Well it has been truly matched with the needs of medium scale entrepreneurs as well as for small entrepreneurs that remaine in the upper celling of the small scale.
This new module is called "Expand My Business". IGC is getting more requests from entrepreneurs all over the country. Those who got the training have make immediate changes in strategies as well as operational aspects of their business and have gained outstanding outcomes within a short period.
One interesting case was reported where one of the medium entrepreneur Mr. Daminda who was actually in the process of closing his yogurt factory has restarted it in a totally different way and within he has made tremendous change in turnover and profits. Now the company is running very well.
Growth Concepts Joined hands with LOLC to support and empower migrant worker families in Sri Lanka. IGC's master trainers Mr. Sanath Vidanagamage and Mr Anura Jayawardane are involved in designing and delevering an interactive training session for the family members of migrant worker families. The objective of the training is to make aware the family members of migrant worker families about family savings, importance of self employment and how to build family asset through the income source.
LOLC as one of the main financial service providers in Sri Lanka have taken this proactive step with the support of IFAD in order to encourage and appreciate these families of which the family members earn the second largest foreign income for the nation.
LOLC as one of the main financial service providers in Sri Lanka have taken this proactive step with the support of IFAD in order to encourage and appreciate these families of which the family members earn the second largest foreign income for the nation.
Applying Social Entrepreneurship
I am invited by one of Sri Lanka's leading business consultancy firm, BDC (pvt) Ltd to develop a training module on Social Entreprneurship (SE) for a group of retail dealers in telecommunication industry. The telecom gient Dailog PLC wanted to apply SE to build capacity of its retail delers in a way to help rural people to access modern telecommunication services. It was owsome and really works with small timers who need to expand customer base and turnove by involving social activities.
Many of the leading thinkers remain true to the Say-Schumpeters' tradition while
offering variations on the theme. For instance, in his attempt to get at what is special about
entrepreneurs, Peter Drucker starts with Say's definition, but amplifies it to focus on
opportunity. Drucker does not require entrepreneurs to cause change, but sees them as
exploiting the opportunities that change (in technology, consumer preferences, social norms,
etc.) creates. He says, .this defines entrepreneur and entrepreneurship.the entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.. The notion of opportunity has come to be central to many current definitions of entrepreneurship.
However the social entrepreneur seems to be rather different from the so called entrepreneur;
Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social sector, by:
• Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value),
• Recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission,
• Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning,
• Acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand, and
• Exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created.
I am invited by one of Sri Lanka's leading business consultancy firm, BDC (pvt) Ltd to develop a training module on Social Entreprneurship (SE) for a group of retail dealers in telecommunication industry. The telecom gient Dailog PLC wanted to apply SE to build capacity of its retail delers in a way to help rural people to access modern telecommunication services. It was owsome and really works with small timers who need to expand customer base and turnove by involving social activities.
Many of the leading thinkers remain true to the Say-Schumpeters' tradition while
offering variations on the theme. For instance, in his attempt to get at what is special about
entrepreneurs, Peter Drucker starts with Say's definition, but amplifies it to focus on
opportunity. Drucker does not require entrepreneurs to cause change, but sees them as
exploiting the opportunities that change (in technology, consumer preferences, social norms,
etc.) creates. He says, .this defines entrepreneur and entrepreneurship.the entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.. The notion of opportunity has come to be central to many current definitions of entrepreneurship.
However the social entrepreneur seems to be rather different from the so called entrepreneur;
Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social sector, by:
• Adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value),
• Recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission,
• Engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning,
• Acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand, and
• Exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Green Treasure is an organic fertilizer made from invasive aqua plants grown on the surface of inland tanks and lakes in Sri Lanka. I invented and initiated Green Treasure enterprise in September 2008 as a subsidiary of the Institute of Growth Concepts (IGC). I learned that the floating invasive plants naturally grown on irrigation tank surface is a big problem for paddy farmers, while I was working in agriculture project in the North Western part of Sri Lanka in 2007. The two invasive plant species, Salviniya (Salvinia Molesta) and Japan Jabara (Eichhornia Crassipes) have been fully occupying the tank surface disturbing irrigation operations and the fulfilment of daily water needs of the community living around the tanks. Blocking of irrigation system, water pollution, disturbance to water use of the community, destruction of aqua life, acidic effects in paddy field and high cost of tank cleaning were the main problems that the farmers were facing. Government was not able to provide funds to clean tanks since the cost is very high and due to accelerated growth of plant those plant species.
Subsequently many tanks and lakes were abandoned. “There is enough water in the tank but we cannot use them to cultivate paddy because the channels are blocked by Salvinia” said the farmers. “We cannot even take a bath, our tanks are fully invaded by Salvenia (Salvinia molesta) and Japan Jabara (Eichhornia Crassipes)”. I have been working hard to find a solution for last couple of years in order to remedy this burning issue. Later I came up with this interesting idea to make compost fertilizer out of these invasive aqua plants. He started compost production unit using the aqua plants collected from the first tank in Bamunakotuwa divisional secretariat division in Kurunegala District. So far I have cleared three tanks and have plans to clean 10 more tanks in this year and 7 people work in his social enterprise and more than 100 farmers have gained income by supplying Salvenia to the composting unit. The agriculture Department had been spending millions of Rupees to clean each lake but now it has been done with no cost for the government. Apart from cleaning the tank and enabling farmers to grow throughout the enterprise has generated additional income for poor farmers around the tank. Green Treasure supply compost for very low price compared to the current market prices in Sri Lanka. That has become an added advantage for the vegetable and coconut growers to use more compost and to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer. Now the Green Treasure has become a profitable and socially and environmentally contributing enterprise. I’m happy that I have been able to turn a crucial problem in to an innovative solution making synergies to many parties. I further have plans to expand his business to other districts where the farming community is struggling to protect the tanks and farming livelihoods.
Subsequently many tanks and lakes were abandoned. “There is enough water in the tank but we cannot use them to cultivate paddy because the channels are blocked by Salvinia” said the farmers. “We cannot even take a bath, our tanks are fully invaded by Salvenia (Salvinia molesta) and Japan Jabara (Eichhornia Crassipes)”. I have been working hard to find a solution for last couple of years in order to remedy this burning issue. Later I came up with this interesting idea to make compost fertilizer out of these invasive aqua plants. He started compost production unit using the aqua plants collected from the first tank in Bamunakotuwa divisional secretariat division in Kurunegala District. So far I have cleared three tanks and have plans to clean 10 more tanks in this year and 7 people work in his social enterprise and more than 100 farmers have gained income by supplying Salvenia to the composting unit. The agriculture Department had been spending millions of Rupees to clean each lake but now it has been done with no cost for the government. Apart from cleaning the tank and enabling farmers to grow throughout the enterprise has generated additional income for poor farmers around the tank. Green Treasure supply compost for very low price compared to the current market prices in Sri Lanka. That has become an added advantage for the vegetable and coconut growers to use more compost and to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer. Now the Green Treasure has become a profitable and socially and environmentally contributing enterprise. I’m happy that I have been able to turn a crucial problem in to an innovative solution making synergies to many parties. I further have plans to expand his business to other districts where the farming community is struggling to protect the tanks and farming livelihoods.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Beyond Entrepreneurship Development…..
Tradition and Trends in ED
Entrepreneurship has been the most attractive topic and the training module among many of the development interventions and projects in Sri Lanka and in South-Eastern parts of Asia at large. In Sri Lanka nearly 300 training organizations deliver different types of entrepreneurship development (ED) trainings through more than 4600 trainers with different backgrounds. Although the knowledgebase of entrepreneurship and business realities are changing rapidly, the ED practitioners in Sri Lanka are notoriously addicted to outdated and invalid traditional contents and delivery methods. Some famous training packages such as CEFE and SIYB training packages are still being delivered either with little or no modification since 1990s. As a consequence of all these there are several interesting questions often asked by many donor agencies; “To what extant these ED modules have created a change in the lives of poor people? What percentage of MSMEs has been better off? How can the general ED help effectively to sector specific businesses with special growth needs? How far these trainers and organizations have been able to contribute to MDGs”
My question, in addition is that, why the trainers are more and more curious about the training assignment rather than the productivity and the final results? So, it is time to look at ourselves and find new ways to create better results and breakthroughs in the MSME sectors in Sri Lanka. I propose following aspects as value additions to traditional ED modules.
Beyond Entrepreneurship Development…..
We replace the traditional ED with innovative content and delivery approaches and improved methodologies of training delivery.
Pre-delivery value additions
With our experience we have make following modifications to the common and cheap ED modules delivered by most trainers.
Simple baseline assessment and training need assessment (TNA) of the target group.
Content and Methodological modifications based on the TNA of the target group.
Sector specific alterations of the module based on special needs of homogeneous sub-groups within the target group.
Trainers pre-study in to five forces of each sub business sector.
Interactive training delivery based on advanced adult learning techniques.
Value chain focus.
Effective use of advanced training aids.
Attention on gender and poverty aspects.
During the delivery
Individual focus and touch.
Support to market access-new markets, new products, expanded volumes.
Integration of Green entrepreneurship components.
Product innovation-eco products and services (as a follow-up).
Facilitation of technology transfer (as a follow-up)
Special attention to make enabling environment against business related Red Tapes (as a follow-up).
Reduction of dependency and attitude change.
Attention on gender, equity and poverty aspects.
Real life entrepreneurial case learning and exposure visits.
After training support
Follow-up advices and business clinics (when there is sequential groups).
Linkages to raw material markets and suppliers.
Linkages to business support services and business associations and nucleus hubs.
Linkages to machinery and technology providers.
Access to quality and standards specifications.
Facilitation of access to capital, business partnerships, external investment (as a follow-up).Submission of short report on training outcomes (first three months).
Entrepreneurship has been the most attractive topic and the training module among many of the development interventions and projects in Sri Lanka and in South-Eastern parts of Asia at large. In Sri Lanka nearly 300 training organizations deliver different types of entrepreneurship development (ED) trainings through more than 4600 trainers with different backgrounds. Although the knowledgebase of entrepreneurship and business realities are changing rapidly, the ED practitioners in Sri Lanka are notoriously addicted to outdated and invalid traditional contents and delivery methods. Some famous training packages such as CEFE and SIYB training packages are still being delivered either with little or no modification since 1990s. As a consequence of all these there are several interesting questions often asked by many donor agencies; “To what extant these ED modules have created a change in the lives of poor people? What percentage of MSMEs has been better off? How can the general ED help effectively to sector specific businesses with special growth needs? How far these trainers and organizations have been able to contribute to MDGs”
My question, in addition is that, why the trainers are more and more curious about the training assignment rather than the productivity and the final results? So, it is time to look at ourselves and find new ways to create better results and breakthroughs in the MSME sectors in Sri Lanka. I propose following aspects as value additions to traditional ED modules.
Beyond Entrepreneurship Development…..
We replace the traditional ED with innovative content and delivery approaches and improved methodologies of training delivery.
Pre-delivery value additions
With our experience we have make following modifications to the common and cheap ED modules delivered by most trainers.
Simple baseline assessment and training need assessment (TNA) of the target group.
Content and Methodological modifications based on the TNA of the target group.
Sector specific alterations of the module based on special needs of homogeneous sub-groups within the target group.
Trainers pre-study in to five forces of each sub business sector.
Interactive training delivery based on advanced adult learning techniques.
Value chain focus.
Effective use of advanced training aids.
Attention on gender and poverty aspects.
During the delivery
Individual focus and touch.
Support to market access-new markets, new products, expanded volumes.
Integration of Green entrepreneurship components.
Product innovation-eco products and services (as a follow-up).
Facilitation of technology transfer (as a follow-up)
Special attention to make enabling environment against business related Red Tapes (as a follow-up).
Reduction of dependency and attitude change.
Attention on gender, equity and poverty aspects.
Real life entrepreneurial case learning and exposure visits.
After training support
Follow-up advices and business clinics (when there is sequential groups).
Linkages to raw material markets and suppliers.
Linkages to business support services and business associations and nucleus hubs.
Linkages to machinery and technology providers.
Access to quality and standards specifications.
Facilitation of access to capital, business partnerships, external investment (as a follow-up).Submission of short report on training outcomes (first three months).
Friday, May 14, 2010
Another Innovation-Paddy husk fuelled furnace
We the Institute of Growth Concepts, developed and introduced a cost effective paddy/rice husk fuelled furnace for pot producers in Sri Lanka. The furnace is an alternative energy solution for clay pottery producers in Kuunegala Sri Lanka. We are proud to be able to contribute with a new creation to Sri Lankan industrial sector. During the course of the experiment the technology failed more than hundred times but the colleagues in the team were always courageous enough to step in to next stage by learning the new lesson from each failure.
This interesting experimental initiative was fully funded by the two institutions, Swisscontact and Infrasure, Switzerland. Swisscontact as a long standing development facilitator to Sri Lanka, extended the proactive and enthusiastic assistance to support this experiment. So, Swisscontact initiated a new project 2008 in order to carry forward this technology to the pottery industry in Kurunegala. Infrasure as one of the highly socially responsible business organization in Switzerland, supported this project financially to through Swiscontact, hoping to uplift the lives of pottery people in Sri Lanka.
The furnace technology is well used by the pot producers in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka and as a result the production cost of pots and the rate of damaged pot in each batch burnt are reduced tremendously. In addition usage or the burnings of firewood (collected from forests) and coconut husk (important natural fiber source/material) are also being reduced. Due to high efficiency the furnace it does not produce high smoke like in the traditional kiln, so the pollution levels and smoke breathe-in (of pot makers) levels are very low in the new design.
So., many., many thanks, Swisscontact and Infrasure!!!
This interesting experimental initiative was fully funded by the two institutions, Swisscontact and Infrasure, Switzerland. Swisscontact as a long standing development facilitator to Sri Lanka, extended the proactive and enthusiastic assistance to support this experiment. So, Swisscontact initiated a new project 2008 in order to carry forward this technology to the pottery industry in Kurunegala. Infrasure as one of the highly socially responsible business organization in Switzerland, supported this project financially to through Swiscontact, hoping to uplift the lives of pottery people in Sri Lanka.
The furnace technology is well used by the pot producers in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka and as a result the production cost of pots and the rate of damaged pot in each batch burnt are reduced tremendously. In addition usage or the burnings of firewood (collected from forests) and coconut husk (important natural fiber source/material) are also being reduced. Due to high efficiency the furnace it does not produce high smoke like in the traditional kiln, so the pollution levels and smoke breathe-in (of pot makers) levels are very low in the new design.
So., many., many thanks, Swisscontact and Infrasure!!!
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