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DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES
All Partners are involved
in the project implementation and each Partner is a leading organization
within particular stage of the project implementation. They are testing
all aspects of the ASTRA tool and are involved into ASTRA tool dissemination
process using their network. Every Partner (apart from Hungary) organizes
one transnational workshop and additionally the promoting organization
will organize an international conference which will be the final point
of the project promotion strategy. European Managerial Competence Profile
is to be defined as a basic project achievement of the partnership. The
transnational cooperation will cover thorough adaptations to the common,
newly constructed tool, taking into account different cultures and business
environments of participating countries.
Required level of each competence will be standardized to achieve self-assessment
tool. The main innovative asset of the ASTRA tool is a direct link between
managerial competence assessment and a training plan tailored up to the
needs of the tested individual.
The activities undertaken from the beginning
of the project till now:
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The kick-off meeting took place on 3/4/5 November 2004 in the office of the Polish Foundation of the Centres of
Economic Development Support "OIC Poland".
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During the first months of the project implementation the Partners worked out European Managerial Competence
Profile of an entrepreneur: a starter (option I) and of manager/owner at any small firm with up to 10 employees
(option II). The partners divided tasks among themselves: the promoting organisation - OIC Poland Foundation
elaborated psychological aspects of managerial profile of a starter, INSUP Formation elaborated technical aspects
of managerial profile of a starter and Syntra West was responsible for whole managerial profile of a manager/owner
at any small firm. All studies were consulted by all partners who provided the lead partners with remarks and
comments.
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The second transnational workshop took place on 14/15 April 2005 in Belgium and Syntra West vzw was the host
organisation.
The European Managerial Competence Profile was finally agreed upon during the
transnational meeting in Belgium.
Syntra West vzw. started the preparation of the ICT tool structure.
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Preparing the English version of the self-assessment affirmative statements (questions) for every competence
in conformity with the methodology previously approved.
The additional transnational meeting which took place on 9/10 June in France (INSUP Formation - the host
organisation) contributed to elaboration of the final version of the testing questions (affirmative statements). The
results of this project's stage are two questionnaires (for starters and for managers/owners at any small firm) with
scale of 1 to 4.
The Partners approved the questionnaires and all affirmative statements(questions).
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The Partners translated English version of the questionnaires into national versions (in each partner country)
according to the approved methodology (translation of items into national languages by two independent translators,
testing of national version of items on several people whether people understand questions, back translation of
national version into English).
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The next step of the project realisation was recognition and standardization of the required level of each competence. The
Partners carried out the standardization by testing the self-assessment questionnaire items on the random
sample of people (30 SME start-up and 30 SME managers in each partner country). The promoting organisation received
the results of the test (Excel files) at the end of September. The promoting organisation as a partner responsible
for psychometrical analysis of items carried out statistical and psychometrical analysis to elaborate the final
version of a tool "on paper". The aim of the analysis was to exclude affirmative statements which had unfavourable
attributes in view of reliability of the tool. The affirmative statements with high skewness were excluded from the
statements which were subject of next analysis. The next analysis was a factor analysis which aim was to reach the
deeper structure of studied issue and to elaborate sub-scales of the psychological and technical part of the tool.
Hereby there were separated series of psychological and technical factors for two studied groups. The final part of
the analysis was verification of the reliability of the new technical scales by means of alfa-Cronbach's factor. The
result of these analysis is elaborated version of method which structure consists of parts and particular
sub-scales. The factors of the reliability are satisfactory for all levels of estimation of the results.
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The 4th transnational meeting took place on 13/14 November 2005 in Great Britain (North Devon College -
the host organisation). During the meeting there were presented the results of all analysis and the
standardized the merits of the tool. Syntra West vzw. as a partner responsible for the preparation of the ICT tool
structure (graphic form and operational paths) presented the result of the work. The ICT tool will be based on the
Excel Program. Both presentation and the results were accepted by the partners.
- The partners agreed the names of each scales which constitute the structure
of ASTRA method. The partnership obtained the final version of the tool ("on paper")
ready to transform into ICT from.
- To define the desired level of competences entrepreneurs who succeeded in
small company operation were sampled. The procedure of survey and criteria of success
were different in each country. The analysis of obtained results allowed to define
the desired level of competences. Comparison of these results with data received from
individual analysis enables assessment of training needs in the area of competences.
It can be helpful during the design of training programs for small enterprise managers.
- The partners transformed the merits of the tool into ICT form. The Partners
evaluated the english version of ICT tool.
- The 5th transnational meeting took place on 21/22 September 2006 in France
(INSUP Formation - the host organisation). Syntra West presented the operational
capabilities of the ICT tool. The partners discussed about its improvements.
- The ICT tool was translated into national languages of all partners. The national versions of the ASTRA tool were tested by small firms and starters. The testing results provided the partners with information about necessary improvements of the tool. The ASTRA tool was tested and checked by independent experts. All information and opinion were used for modification and improvement of the tool.
- Syntra West as the partner responsible for software programming elaborated the operational handbook on ASTRA tool (technical instruction). The handbook was translated into national languages of all partners.
- The selected trainers of the partners were prepared to train the ASTRA tool operators.
- The OIC Poland Foundation organized the international conference promoting the ASTRA tool. The conference entitled "Managerial competences in company management" took place in Lublin on February, 27th 2007. In the conference participated the representatives of local and regional authorities, the National Agency of LdV, entrepreneurs, training and advisory organisations.
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