IMPACT OF NEEDS-DRIVEN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING INTERVENTIONS IN GHANA

Abstract

This paper analyses the impact of needs-driven business management and leadership training interventions on Master Craft Persons(MCPs) in the Volta Region. Artisans in developing countries are mostly school dropouts; therefore, those who have quality education and are able to venture into the industry are more likely to excel. This is because the artisanal activities require a mix of skills to excel. First, this study identified the training needs of artisans who have already been trained in precision quality and invited for focused group discussions. Secondly, the team developed and implemented a tailor-made training package to address their training needs. Thirdly, we assessed the impact of the training intervention based on baseline data we collected prior to the training and follow-up data after the training. The paper relied on qualitative and quantitative data collected from a sample of 56 Master Craft Persons. A key finding is that, for most constructs under business management, the impact of the training intervention was positive and statistically significant. For example, their general business planning, record keeping and financial management skills were significantly improved (with a value of p < 0.0001). There was also a statistically significant improvement in customer relations (with a value of p= 0.0145). Indications were that the impact on marketing skills was positive but not statistically significant (with a value of p= 0.0648). Thirdly, for the constructs under leadership skills, we found that the impact of the training intervention on skills needs such as leading change, building and managing interpersonal relationships within the group, motivating people, and informing was positive and statistically significant (with a value of p<0.0001). Also,the training intervention had a positive and statistically significant impact on constructs such as choosing effective followers, delegating responsibility, gaining group members' consensus, and participative decision-making (with values of p=0.0203, 0.0340, and 0.0182, respectively). However, the impact on showing self-awareness and self-confidence was positive but not statistically significant (with a value of p=0.2031). Based on these findings, we conlude that needs assessment-based training intervention is critical for impactful capcity-building  in the artisanal sector.