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Hewlett Packard LIFE:
Giving New Interface
S Micro enterprises are also hotbeds for innovation. They are a primary source of ground breaking ideas and act as a catalyst for bringing to the fore practical solutions that affect how larger companies or even industries work for that matter. However, too many aspiring entrepreneurs lack the true business sense and information technological skills to convert their ideas and ambitions into thriving business enterprises. The roadblocks perhaps are numerous. Firstly, the educational system has not yet evolved to meet the demands of the 21st century. Secondly, access to basic training and technologies is very scarce. Thirdly, economic and cultural forces are stacked against recent graduates, particularly targeting women. Hewlett Packard LIFE (HP - Learning initiative for Entrepreneurship) is a Global learning programme that particularly trains students, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to harness the power of IT to effectively establish and grow their business enterprises. This is a rather simple yet powerful education. By training recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners on essential business and IT skills, we can immensely transform millions of lives worldwide. A Bridge of Business and Technology Training Course: This is not a typical course in business skills, (such as accounting or marketing), nor is it a typical technology course, where the objective is to learn a particular software application, or a piece of equipment. This course can be considered as a bridge between business and technological courses available to micro entrepreneurs, as it focuses on showing business owners, the power of technology when applied to their business realities. Unique Framework: This Business-Technology-Business Framework is a hallmark of the design of each topic in the curriculum. Business Challenges/Opportunities: Every topic starts with a business challenge. Participants focus immediately on a business scenario and relate their own experiences with the particular challenge. Technology Options: Then, technology solutions are introduced and participants get hands-on experience with technology tools. Business Solutions: After having direct experience with the technology, participants they reflect on the potential applications of the technology to their specific business enterprises.
The Development Alternatives Group with the collaboration of Hewlett Packard (HP) and Education Development Centre (EDC) is now delivering the HP LIFE curriculum in the Bundelkhand region. However, the DA Group is implementing this curriculum from the past three years and so far around 1500 candidates have benefited. The curriculum is meant for two categories of entrepreneurs: - Smart Technology for Smarter Business (STSB), catering to existing entrepreneurs and - Graduate Entrepreneurship through Information Technology (GET-IT), catering to budding entrepreneurs These courses vastly cover technological tools and business concepts in order to develop and increase the efficiency of their own business set ups. This Programme is in great demand in Jhansi and other nearby towns for business owners and other aspiring students. On the other hand, the trained candidates are setting up their own small enterprises and using information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance profitability for the purpose of their business growth. Further, in order to learn and utilise these skills, the business owners are in a position to handle all the business related activities smoothly and efficiently. This programme provides small and medium business oriented access to technology and specific business trainings that help them to accelerate and sustain business growth and economic opportunities. These training programmes are executed by the TARA Livelihood Academy (TLA), along with two Micro Enterprise Development Centres (MEDC) which are functional in the Jhansi districts. TLA is implementing these particular training programmes, by the ways of one master training and eight trainers, who are HP certified. Success Stories Dharam Pal Verma a 25 years old guy of Ambabai village, located in the Badagaon block in the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. He started a Palak Computer Studio at Ambabai Market with one personal computer and a printer. Verma is now earning approximately Rs 150/day from his shop. He now plans to invest money in latest computer-related services such as - Photocopy, Screen printing, All kind of printing works Verma now enjoys a new found respect among his family members and community all due to his flourishing business. He loves to share his journey from a village bully to a successful entrepreneur. Jitendra Sharma, 30, holds a post-graduate degree in law and education. He currently owns Riddhi-Siddhi Travels. Sharma acquired training in marketing, business management, financial management use of technology in a business. He now runs a successful multi-service business, specialising in: refill of cell phones, (prepaid cash card), airline e-ticket booking, desktop publishing, passport photos, PAN (Permanent Account Number) card laminating, tours and travel packages, photocopying, book binding and scanning. q
Praveen Kumar
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ulation still remains under
the poverty line with agriculture still being the back bone of the rural
economy. Nearly 70 per cent of assets are held by small and marginal
farmers, resulting in an overcrowding of agricultural land and
diminishing farm produce. This scenario has resulted in migration of
farm workers in larger numbers to urban areas. Besides population
explosion, another area of concern is lack of sufficient employment
opportunities for everyone. Thus, we need to tackle the problems of the
youth by providing alternative options of occupation. Therefore,
entrepreneurship could take off excess of labour. The world is in need
of more enterprising entrepreneurs. They start and run small business
setups that act as "the engine of the global economy". All combined
together; its appropriate to say that micro enterprises employ more
people and create more jobs than any other type of possible venture.