Learning characteristics of small business managers: principles for training

Purpose - This paper aims to report on the second half of a two-part study that identified relevant content for safety audit training in small businesses. The specific aim of the paper is to determine the preferred learning styles and approaches of managers in these businesses in order to identify some principles which could be used to tailor training to meet their particular learning needs. Design/methodology/approach - Participants in the study came from three relatively high-risk industries - road transport, construction, and the motor trade - producing a sample size of 102. A self-report questionnaire was distributed via trade magazines. Findings - Very few differences were found between the three industries. Most differences were between road transport and the other two industries. Managers in the road transport industry have a lower preference for learning by listening and are less likely to be sequential learners than managers in the motor trade industry. Practical implications - Small business managers are systematic, hard-working, pragmatic and prefer less formal modes of learning. These characteristics have implications for the structure and context of training programmes and the nature of the training materials. Originality/value - The four learning profiles that emerged from the analysis in the paper provide a clear picture of the small business managers in the three industries studied.