This paper explores whether skills training in business performance and customer practices was a promising way to increase business outcomes among self-employed workers who operate small businesses in developing countries. Taining in business-management skills and business and inter-personal skills was randomize among BRAC’s Small Enterprise Programme firm owners in Liberia. Firm owners who received either training experienced an increase in attention to customers, which consequently enhanced the performance of the businesses, including higher average monthly revenue, less loss of customers, and a smaller likelihood of encountering business losses. Customers, however, reported no effect on their customer experiences.
Policy implications
A one-day training on business management is able to have short term effects on business sales and reduce the likelihood of the businesses making losses.
Adding a one-day module on interpersonal skills does not seem to significantly change the effectiveness of the one-day business management training.
Key information
Additional information
Reference
Dammert, A., & Nansamba, A., 2019. Skills Training and Business Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Liberia.