Training Programme for managers and consultants, on-site installation of Pharos software for performance management in enterprises of leather industry, Cairo, Egypt The training workshop took for selected entrepreneurs and consulting enterprises place during 7 – 12 April 2001 at the Training Center of Middle East Advisory Group (Meag), 8 Aflaton Street from Omar Ebn El-Khattab Street, Oruba Area - Heliopolis, Cairo. All participants showed deep interest to participate in the course and to apply UNIDO information tools for the managerial tasks. They took active part in learning of PHAROS software methodology, applications and practical work. The attendance was high and stable during the duration of the course. The software installations were made at several selected enterprises after the end of the training course. The work included assistance for the course participants in the actual application of the PHAROS software at their enterprises. It included as follows: · Software installation on the manager PCs, · System overview for the enterprise management, · Data collection and input, · Performance targets setup and tuning, · Enterprise performance analysis and monitoring, · Developing of the strategic planning options in production and costing while preparing enterprise business development plans. This approach allowed course participants to obtain practical know-how and self-assurance of the newly developed skills. It was observed that the management running SMEs in leather industry of Egypt has considerable variety of qualifications in business management and use of personal computers. Many of executives came into business as entrepreneurs or professionals and nave little experience in the use of innovative information technology tools for their routine work. The observation however is valid for the SME sectors in many countries of the world. Another observation clearly showed that no one of the participants was aware of the similar information technology tools for business performance monitoring to address the SME manager needs. The potential of using PHAROS software as simple and effective enterprise performance monitoring tool was demonstrated to the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) as well. The meeting with the Federation management allowed to review the options of prospective joint program for Egyptian SMEs to assist in introduction of e-business methodology, know-how and tools to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness of the industry. The communications with executive management of Leather Production enterprises in Egypt during the Project implementation clearly acknowledged that there is increasing interest to innovative IT products for management, which allows performance evaluation and e-monitoring for SMEs. 
Photo: Workshop participants | 
