This report identifies areas for improvement in management practice amongst Irish SMEs. It concludes that improving management capability within SMEs through management development can lead to significant returns to the State in terms of increased Gross Value Added, increased employment, better business survival rates, and a more skilled workforce. The Council makes recommendations designed to increase participation in management development and to improve the quality of management development offered to SME managers. It also outlines the reforms required to put in place a sustainable national system for management development that will lead to a permanent increase in management capabilities amongst Irish SMEs (From www.managementdevelopmentcouncil.ie).

Working with Forfás, 3^rd i provided qualitative research for the report on the views of owner managers to management development and management development training.  The research comprised of a series of regional focus groups and telephone interviews with owner managers.