Flexbility and skills in small enterprises

On the basis of empirical qualitative studies, the question of skills and demanded skills and qualifications of technical SMEs are discussed. The differences in the specific technical skills demanded for handling the flexibility to new products and new technology in the workshop are very different from the definition of skills outside what is considered the core skills of the firm, e.g. skills to deal with managing growth of the firm or administrative information technology. In these latter issues, the professional evaluation of skills is replaced by personal trust. In technical SMEs in Denmark the owners demand a high level of skills of skilled labourers, not only in specific technical terms but also in terms of independence, responsibility and adjustment to new tasks and technology. These are aspects not focused upon in the educations and competences and more often associated to management skills than to ‘standard skills’ of the skilled labour.