Page 65 - IMDR - Journal of Management Development and Research - March2019-20

utilize the current resources more efficiently and thus impact their front and bottom

lines of businesses. However, under this crucial scenario, the SMEs are not able to
invest in so-called- resource intensive strategy of upskilling their employees.

Upskilling in order of priority

The need of upskilling sits at higher level of need hierarchy in Maslow, if we can

take the liberty to map the same w.r.t business sustainability. Upskilling will
enhance the effectiveness but might not impact the existence of business and

therefore, upskilling is seen as good-to-have and not must-have competency. Thus,
SME’s perspective towards T&D initiatives are as resource intensive activity.

Market forces for upskilling in SMEs-

According to above report, Technological skills are the most sought-after skills,

however in small & medium enterprise, the need of disruptive technological
changes are not frequent as it is in large enterprises. Therefore, in other words, the

driver for upskilling which is the market forces is less present in SMEs.

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