From day–to–day coping to strategic management: developing technological capability among small–scale enterprises in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The ability to move from coping with the day–to–day technological function to managing its strategic function is crucial for the technological capability of an enterprise. Interventions aimed at small–scale enterprise development in Third World countries can assist in this move, but it is important that they neither reduce technology aid to provision of hardware nor provide training for enterprise workers in isolation from their hardware. A systemic approach is required that builds on the existing capabilities in enterprises and which also recognises the impact of the environments in which enterprises operate on their ability to make strategic technological choices.