Do vendor/consultant services affect small business' IT course requirements?

Abstract

This paper compares two studies carried out in the area of small business in Australia. The first of these studies examined one branch of the 'scientific' small business community, veterinary practitioners. In particular, the study examined the computer training required by the city-based and country-based veterinarians. The second study examined the computer training needs of general small business managers in a city-based environment. Not only did both studies attempt to determine specific curricula needs, both examined the effect of vendor/consultant services on those curricular choices. The paper begins by briefly describing the nature of both the veterinary profession and small business in Australia. The paper then presents details of each of the studies. Finally the paper compares the findings of each of the studies, highlighting similarities as well as differences in the small business types.