STUDY REPORT

Young Entrepreneurs Support for Cross-Border Business

Cooperation YES FOR CBBC

elaborated by:
Center for Consultancy and Project Management - EUROPROJECT
in association with:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Ruse, Bulgaria and the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Vratsa, Bulgaria
 CONTENTS:

1. The study strategy 3

1.1 The purpose of the study 3
1.2 The universe of the study 3
1.3 Sampling 3
1.4 The applied study technique 3
1.5 The data gathering interval of time 3
1.6 The area of application 4
2. The conclusions of the study 5
3. The results of the study 8
3.1 Development opportunities, policies and strategies 8
3.2 Business environment 18
3.3 Financing methods/knowledge about European finances 21
3.4 Coaching/training 26
3.5 Innovation 30
1. THE STUDY STRATEGY

1.1 The purpose of the study

The undertaken study had in view to obtain up-to-date data about the situation
and the way of managing a business in the case of the SMEs’ from the three target
areas of the project, respectively establishing the way the instruments of modern
management are being introduced in the SMEs from both Romania and Bulgaria.

Moreover, by implementing the study, the desired results were: determining the
development opportunities, policies and strategies in the cross-border area;
determining the way young entrepreneurs from the cross-border area perceive the
business environment; determining in what measure the European and national
financing sources for SMEs are known and accessed; determining the methods of
training, knowing and application as to what concerns the policies and the
innovator instruments of the SMEs management from the three target areas.

1.2 The universe of the study

The undertaken study was applied on a sample of 300 SMEs from the Romanian
– Bulgarian cross-border area that have different fields of activity and are
managed or administered by young persons aged 18 to 40 years old.

1.3 Sampling

The sampling of the target group was done structurally – according to the types of
localities: urban vs. rural; two-staged: by selecting the localities and the subjects
and probabilistically – by aleatory choosing the number of questionnaires applied
and the subjects. The sample was established aleatorily at 300 subjects from the
Romanian – Bulgarian cross-border area.

1.4 The applied study technique

The study was implemented by using the self-administered questionnaire and by

applying the structured interview.

1.5 The data gathering interval of time

The data presented in the report have been gathered during the implementation
period of the project.

1.6 The area of application

The questionnaires were applied in Romania, in the Olt County, and in Bulgaria,
in the Vratsa and Ruse districts.
 2. CONCLUSIONS AND RECCOMMENDATIONS

As a result of the questionnaire applied and of the structured interview, it could be

established the opportunities, policies, strategies and the way young
entrepreneurs perceive the cross-border business environment and know the
modern management policies and instruments applied at the management of
personal companies. Moreover, it could be identified the level of the established
sample, the way of training used by the young entrepreneurs from the area, as
well as the degree of knowledge and accessing of the European and national
finances for SMEs.

As a result of centralizing the identification data of the young entrepreneurs from

Olt County, it comes out that, from the line of activity point of view and according
to the CAEN classification, most of the SMEs managed by the young
entrepreneurs from Olt County have as field of activity commerce, followed by far
by constructions, which results from this table, too:

Table no. 1 – The repartition of the SMEs managed by young

entrepreneurs from the line of activity point of view
Field of activity Number of companies

Tourism 2
Services 2
Green energy installations 1
Drivers’ school 1
Restaurants 5
Commerce 41
Market study activities 1
Banking consultancy 3
Public nourishment 1
Making confectionary, pastry and bakery 3
products
Mediations in the commerce with 2
products, other professional, scientific
and technical activities
Printing works 3
Transport 5
Auxiliary activities of the insurance and 1
pension agencies
Translations 1
Management and business consultancy 3
activities
Telephony 2
Constructions 7
Chemical production 1
Activities of investigation and protection 1
of goods and persons
Different types of furniture production 1
Architecture 1
Production and sale of flowers 1
Ambulatory medical assistance activities 1
Commercializing pharmaceutical 1
products

As to what concerns the SMEs managed by the young entrepreneurs from Ruse and
Vratsa, Bulgaria, these have as field of activity commerce in a proportion of 23%,
industry (49%) and services (28%).

At the end of the questionnaire, the young entrepreneurs from the cross-border area
had the opportunity to express their point of view regarding the services that The
Association of Young Entrepreneurs for the Cross-Border Cooperation should offer
to young entrepreneurs:

• Information about European financing

• Programs
• Business meetings
• Sites of the companies that wish collaborators
• E-mail addresses of the collaborators
• Informational activities
• Simplifying the bureaucracy
• Interaction with other young entrepreneurs
• Support in accessing the European credits
• Granting credits with lower rates of interest than those found on the market
• Training in a specialized center
• Information about the legislation adopted by the young entrepreneurs
• Financing sources for young entrepreneurs when setting up or developing a
business
• Consultancy
• Promotion
• Coaching courses
• Information regarding the European funds
• Support for young entrepreneurs when cooperating in business
• Interactive meetings
• Information regarding the way in which the programs for young entrepreneurs
should be used
• Business ideas
• A thorough analyses of the young entrepreneurs’ capacities
• Information about the business environment
• Creating new courses
• Information about the legislation
• Relationships opportunities with other business environments
• Financing-crediting facility
• Consultancy when setting up a business
• Courses for accessing structural funds
• Developing professional competences
3. THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY

3.1 Opportunities, policies and development strategies

Which are, in your opinion, the 3 most important fields of development

for a business? (place a number from 1 to 3, where “3” represents the
most important)

Commerce 43.47% 17.39% 39.14%

Data processing and connected activities 43.58% 30.76% 25.64%
Hotels and restaurants 24.44% 44.44% 31.11%
Constructions 17.77% 46.66% 35.55%
Real estate transactions 42.55% 38.29% 19.14%
Cultural, sport and entertaining activities 20% 31.11% 48.88%
Agriculture, hunting and enclosed services 40.90% 31.81% 27.27%
Others, mention what…. 1) banking activities
2) power field of activity
3) services
4) services 0 0 100%
Table no. 2

As to what concerns the most important business development fields, 34% of the
young entrepreneurs from the Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border area considered
data processing as the most important, followed by commerce with 21%; the rest of
the percentages are shown in the diagram no. 1:

FIELDS OF BUSSINES DEVELOPMENT

COMMERCE

40%
DATA PROCESSING
34% AND CONNECTED
35% ACTIVITIES
HOTELS
30%

25% CONSTRUCTIONS
21%
20%
REAL ESTETE
TRANSACTIONS
15%
ENTERTAINING
10%
9% ACTIVITIES
10% 8%
7%
6%
5% AGRICULTURE
5%

0% OTHERS
1

Diagram no.1
In the opinion of the SMEs’ representatives from Olt County, Romania, the most
important fields of activity are commerce and real estate transactions.

However, the young entrepreneurs from Vratsa consider data processing as being the
most important field of activity, and those from Ruse chose industry.

To your mind, which are the first 3 opportunities that the governmental
organisms should make available for young entrepreneurs as to what
concerns the development of the business environment? (place a number
from 1 to 3, where “3” represents the most important)

1 2 3
Legislation adapted to the young entrepreneurs’ needs 51.85% 14.81% 33.33%
Opportunities of promotion 23.39% 49.38% 22.22%
Financial opportunities 30.95% 34.52% 34.52%
Crediting opportunities 30.37% 26.58% 43.03%
Others, mention what… 1) information
2)dues deduction
3) taxes deduction 33.33% 0 66.66%
Table no.3

The main opportunity that the governmental organisms should make available is the
financial one (62%), followed by the promotion one (23%). This is what the young
entrepreneurs from the cross-border area think. The other percentages can be seen in
the diagram no.2.

GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISMS' OPPORTUNITIES

LEGISLATION ADAPTED TO THE
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS'
NEEDS
OPPORTUNITIES OF
0% PROMOTION
9%
FINANCIAL OPORTUNITIES
62%
1
23%
CREDITING OPPORTUNITIES
6%

OTHERS
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Diagram no. 2

From the Olt County’s entrepreneurs’ point of view, the opportunity that the
governmental organisms should make available is the financial one (28%). The
entrepreneurs from Bulgaria share the same opinion and think that the governmental
organism should offer more financial opportunities to SME’s.

Point out the first 3 most important development opportunities for your
business, taking into consideration the year 2008 and the prospects for
2009. (place a number from 1 to 3, where “3” represents the most
important)
 1 2 3
Rise of sales on the internal market 44% 22% 34%
Setting up a business association in the Romanian- 37.28% 30.50% 32.20%
Bulgarian cross-border area
Increasing exports between Romania and Bulgaria 19.44% 44.44% 36.11%
Assimilating new products 26.98% 47.61% 25.39%
Penetrating new markets 24.63% 30.43% 44.92%
Obtaining a grant 61.11% 22.22% 16.66%
Others, mention what… 1) joint company 0 100% 0
Table no. 4

As to what concerns the development opportunities for a business, most of the young
entrepreneurs from the target areas consider that setting up a business association in
the Romanian-Bulgarian cross-border area is the most important opportunity (32%).
The next option they marked is the assimilation of new products (19%). All the values
can be studied in the diagram no. 3:

OTHERS
0%
OBTAINING A GRANT
9%

8% PENETRATING NEW
MARKETS
19%
1 ASSIMILATING NEW
14% PRODUCTS
INCREASING EXPORTS
32%

18% SETTING UP A BUSINESS

ASSOCIATION
RISE OF SALES ON THE
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% INTERNAL MARKET

Diagram no. 3

As a result of the study done in the target area – Olt County, Vratsa and Ruse regions,
Bulgaria – most of the young entrepreneurs consider that the access on new markets
represents an opportunity for the business they manage.

Which do you think are the main personal qualities that a young
entrepreneur should have (place a number from 1 to 3, where “3”
represents the most important)?

1 2 3
Responsibleness 38.23% 38.23% 23.52%
Dynamism 25.92% 48.14% 25.92%
Innovator spirit 21.66% 30% 48.33%
Flexibility 30.23% 27.90% 41.86%
Solid knowledge regarding the management of a 36.84% 21.05% 42.10%
business
Solid knowledge regarding the regional or national 53.33% 30% 16.66%
trends of the economic development
Relationships in the economic and political 55.55% 22.22% 22.22%
environment
Others, mention what:…… 0 0 0
Table no. 5

Regarding the question about the qualities of a young entrepreneur, most of the
persons consider that the innovator spirit is the most important (35%). In the next
diagram one can notice the percentages of the other answers:

PERSONAL QUALITIES RESPONSIBLENESS

35%

35% INNOVATOR SPIRIT

30%
21%
25%
15% KNOWLEDGE ABOUT
20%
MANAGEMENT
15% 8% 9% 8%
10% 4%
0% RELATIONSHIPS IN
5% THE POLITICAL
0% ENVIRONMENT
1
DINAMISM

Diagram no. 4

The final percentage of the question regarding the qualities of a young entrepreneur
was given by the options expressed by the Bulgarians. They consider that the
innovator spirit is the most important quality of a manager. In Olt County the
greatest quality an entrepreneur should have is responsibleness. (23%)

Which is your objective regarding your business development in the next

2 years?
• Maintaining your business at its present dimensions 41%
• Enlarging the business in the cross-border area 16%
• Closing a Romanian-Bulgarian business partnership 30%
• Enlarging your business in a restraint way in the cross-border area 10%
• Rapidly enlarging your business in the cross-border area 3%
• Selling your business 0%
• Closing your business 0%
 OBJECTIVES FOR DEVELOPMENT
10%
ENLARGING
THE 3%
BUSSINES RAPIDLY
IN A ENLARGING 0
RESTRAINT OTHERS 41%
WAY
MAINTAINING
THE
BUSINESS
30%
CLOSING
A
PARTNERSHI
16%
P
ENLARGING
THE
BUSINESS

Diagram no. 5

From the diagram from above one can observe that the biggest percentage of the
young entrepreneurs wish to maintain their businesses at the present dimensions,
being followed closely by those who wish to enlarge their businesses in the cross-
border area.

It seems that the entrepreneurs from Romania and Bulgaria share the same
objectives for developing their businesses, all of them choosing to maintain the
business at its present dimensions.
In Olt County this option registered a percentage of 33%, in Vratsa one of 45% and in
Ruse again 45%.

For developing the economic activity in 2009, the business you are
managing is planning to:

Measures: DA NU
Raising the volume of investments in: 37% 63%
• Replacement of equipments 2% 98%
• Building constructions and modernizations 17% 83%
• Buying new technology and techniques 4% 96%
• Diversifying the production 4% 96%
Developing the marketing activity 4% 96%
Modernizing the management of the organization 5% 95%
Introducing modern quality management systems (ISO 9000, etc.) 5% 95%
Controlling or limiting pollution
Introducing data processing in all the activities 4% 96%
Professionally coaching the human resources 18% 82%
Others, mention what:……. 0 100%

For developing the economic activity this year, most of the young entrepreneurs from
the cross-border area wish to replace the equipments and buy new technology and
techniques for the companies they manage.
 100%
11 0 OTHERS
82% COACHING THE
HUMAN RESOURCES
18% 96% DATA
PROCESSING ALL
9 4% ACTIVITIES
CONTROLLING
5% POLLUTION
95%
7 5% 96% MODERNIZING
96% DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT
4% MANAGEMENT
5 4% ACTIVITIES
96%DIVERSIFYING
PRODUCTION
4% 83% BUYING
3 17% TECHNIQUES
98%
CONSTRUCTIONS
2% 63% REPLACING THE
1 37% EQUIPMENTS

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Diagram no. 6

In order to develop your business, in 2008 did you use any external
consultants (management, marketing, etc.)?

At this question, the percentages registered as a result of the answers given by the
entrepreneurs from the target area are very close, 58% of the entrepreneurs
confirming the fact that they have used external consultants.

In Olt County, only 19% of the questioned people responded affirmatively.

DID YOU USE EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS?

42%
NO
58%
YES

Diagram no. 7

Specify which are the 5 main difficulties that your business encountered
concerning the business cooperation in the cross-border area (place a
number from 1 to 5, where “1” represents the greatest):

1 2 3 4 5
Insufficient knowledge 31.74% 22.22% 12.69% 17.46% 15.87%
of the business
environment
Lack of information 17.39% 18.84% 11.59% 30.43% 21.73%
The competition of the 11.36% 9.09% 6.81% 61.36% 11.36%
products brought from
Central and West
Europe
Not knowing the 9.09% 9.09% 22.72% 27.27% 31.81%
business legislation
The heavy procedures 8.69% 4.34% 28.26% 15.21% 43.47%
regarding
exports/imports of the
products and services
from the cross-border
area
Linguistic barrier 12.5% 17.85714% 23.21429% 17.85714% 28.57143%
Inflation 13.33% 44.44% 13.33% 13.33% 15.55%
Obtaining consultancy 8.10% 27.02% 51.35% 8.10% 5.40%
and training necessary
for the company
Different procedures 35.13% 13.51% 35.13% 10.81% 5.40%
regarding the
management and
marketing of the
organization
Knowing and adopting 30.43% 30.43% 21.73% 4.347% 13.04%
the community acquis
Excessive fiscality 43.18% 29.54% 6.81% 4.54% 15.90%
Other, mention 33.33% 0 33.33% 0 33.33%
what:……….
Table no. 6
 40%

insufficient knowledge
40%
of the business
environment
lack of information
35%
the competition of the
products

30% not knowing the

bussines legislation

the heavy procedures

25%

linguistic barrier

20%
inflation

13%
15% 13% obtaining consultancy

9% different procedures
10%

6% 7% adopting the community

acquis
5% 3% 3%
2%2%2% excessive fiscality
0

0% others
1

Diagram no. 8

The biggest difficulties faced by the young entrepreneurs from Olt County and Ruse
and Vratsa regions, Bulgaria, concerning the business cooperation in the cross-border
area were represented by: lack of information, insufficient knowledge of the business
environment and linguistic barrier.

Romanian entrepreneurs consider as main barrier in the cross-border cooperation

the same aspect, that is, insufficient knowledge of the business environment. As to
what concerns the Bulgarians, the first place is occupied by lack of information.

In your opinion, which are the 2 main competitive advantages of your

company as to what concerns the cooperation in the cross-border
environment?

• The declined price of the offered products/services 26%

 • The quality of the offered products/services 20%
• Quality-price ratio 24%
• The used distribution channels 3%
• The post-selling services offered to clients 7%
• The innovation capacity 3%
• The solid professional coaching of the employees 3%
• The relationships in the economic and political environment 3%
• Reputation 10%
• Others mention what……..

OTHERS

0 REPUTATION
10%
4% RELATIONSHIPS
3%
3% SOLID COACHING
1 7%
INNOVATION
3% CAPACITY
24% POST-SELLING
20% SERVICES
26% DISTRIBUTION
CAPACITY
QUALITY-PRICE RATIO
0% 10% 20% 30%

Diagram no. 9

For the young entrepreneurs from the cross-border area, the most important
advantages as to what concerns the cooperation in the cross-border business
environment are represented by the quality-price ratio and the declined price of
products.

The same opinion is shared by most Bulgarian entrepreneurs, Romanians

considering the quality-price ratio as the first advantage in the cross-border business
environment.

3.2 The business environment

Passing over to the questions regarding the business environment, most of the people
interrogated have a generally good opinion about the business environment. (47%)
What is the others’ opinion about the business environment, you can observe in the
diagram no. 10:
 What is your opinion about the business
environment? 1%
i don't have
4% an option
verry
bad 3%
verry
good

47%
45% good
not quit
good

Diagram no. 10

Being asked what exactly they do not like at the business environment, most of the
cross-border entrepreneurs answered that first is the bureaucracy (30%), followed by
excessive fiscality (25%).
The other percentages are shown in the diagram no. 11:

The same percentages were obtained when separately centralizing the study done in
all three regions.

What exactly don't you like at the business environment?

6 0 others

5 14% corruption

4 23% inflations
8%excessive
3 taxation
2 25%fiscality

1 30%
bureaucracy
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Diagram no. 11

For most of the young entrepreneurs from the target areas, the main income source
for developing their businesses is represented by the bank credits (57), the rest of the
percentages being presented in the diagram no. 12:
 THE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME FOR THE BUSINESS

4 1% OTHERS

3 16% PERSONAL
RESOURCES
26% FAMILIAL
2
RESOURCES

1 57% CREDITS

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Diagram no. 12

To the young entrepreneurs’ mind, the Government and the Employers’ associations
should manage the European financing funds. In the diagram no. 13 one can see the
other participants’ opinion:

Who should manage the financing funds?

1% 12%
OTHERS GOVERNMENT

57%
GOVERNMENT 30%
AND EMPLOYERS'
EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS
ASSOCIATIONS

Diagram no.13

The entrepreneurs from Olt County trust more the Government in this matter, the
percentage of 57% being obtained both by the Government and the Employers’
associations after the centralization of the Bulgarians’ answers.

Further on, the answers regarding the resources necessary for starting and
developing a business show that the financial resources (61%) are the most
important.

The other necessary resources, which are in a smaller percentage, are presented in
the diagram no. 14:
 THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR A BUSINESS

0
5% 5%
OTHERS
RELATIONSHIPS STUDIES

29%
THE IDEEA OF A
BUSINESS

61%
FINANCIAL

Diagram no. 14

3.3 Ways of financing/knowing the European finances

When talking about the European finances for young entrepreneurs, one can notice
that only 4% of the questioned persons have a very good opinion regarding the
European finances. The biggest percentage, that is 52% of them, have a good opinion
about the European finances for young entrepreneurs. What the others answered
regarding this matter can be seen in the diagram no. 15:

FINANCING FUNDS 2%
I DON'T 4%
HAVE
AN
VERY
OPTION GOOD

36%
LESS
GOOD

52%
GOOD

6%
VERY BAD

Diagram no. 15

Regarding the knowledge about the European financing, after centralizing the study it
was observed that few young entrepreneurs know these funds, respectively only 33%.
Among the financing funds they mentioned, one can see PHARE, SAPARD, FSE, and
POS. There were also some cases where they did not specify any financing funds.
 Do you know the European financing funds?

yes
67%
no

Diagram no. 16

The young entrepreneurs from Olt County are better informed regarding the
European financing funds (79%), but the percentage of Bulgarians who know these
funds represents 10% in both regions.

Where did you obtain information about the European financing funds
for SME’s from and what is your opinion about this information?

• Written press 29%

• Television 27%
• Informational seminars 27%
• Specialized sites 6%
• NGO’s/ Employers’ associations 10%
• Letters 1%
• Other sources 0%

7 0 others

6 1% letters

5 10% NGO'S

4 6% sites

3 27% seminars

2 27% TV

1 29% press

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Diagram no. 17

For most entrepreneurs, mass-media (written press and television) as well as

seminars were the main medium of obtaining information about the European
financing funds for SME’s, the rest of the sources and their percentages being
presented in the diagram no. 17.
Select the ways of financing from those enumerated below that you used
over the last year:

• Self-financing 13%
• Bank credits 61%
• Leasing 14%
• Issue of shares on the capital market 1%
• Non-refundable funds 1%
• Loans from specialized financial institutions 0%
• Factoring 0%
• Others, mention what:….. 0%

7 0 others

6 0% factoring

5 1% non-refundable funds

4 1% issue of shares

3 14%
leasing

2 61% bank
credits
self-financing
1 13%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Diagram no. 18

As it can be noticed in diagram no. 18, very few young entrepreneurs used the non-
refundable funds as a way of finance. (1%)
If for the Olt County’s young entrepreneurs the percentage was 4%, for the Bulgarians
it was 0%.

If you have not accessed any European finance funds, why didn’t you do
it? Please place a number from 1 to 5 (“1” being the most important):

1 2 3 4 5
Lack of information 42.68% 10.97% 17.07% 9.75% 19.51%
Lack of co-financing funds 8.47% 25.42% 10.16% 42.37% 13.55%
Lack of knowledge for putting a 9.58% 19.71% 22.53% 26.76% 21.12%
financing application
Lack of a consulting firm to help 5.45% 20% 29.09% 16.36% 29.09%
you write a financing application
Lack of time 14.75% 18.03% 27.86% 21.31% 18.03%
Not harmonizing to the eligibility 15.21% 15.21% 32.60% 17.39% 19.56%
conditions
Bureaucracy 15.15% 28.78% 18.18% 13.63% 24.245%
Corruption 22.72% 54.54% 0 9.09% 13.63%
Table no. 7
The main cause of not accessing any European financing funds seems to be lack of
information.
The variables of the other possible answers are presented in diagram no. 19:

5%
8 coruption
8%
7 bureaucracy
11%
6 distrust

5 6%
lack of time
5%
4 lack of a firm

3 21%
lack of knowledge
10%
2 lack of funds
34%
1 lack of informations

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Diagram no. 19

When referring to the questioned people’s intention of accessing the structural funds,
less than half of them (44%) presented any interest in accessing European funds, as
for the others, the answer was negative:

Do you plan to access structural funds?

44%
yes
56%
no

Diagram no. 20

The young entrepreneurs from Vratsa proved to be the least interested in accessing
structural funds (10%), followed by those from Ruse with 40%.
The entrepreneurs from Olt County proved to be the most interested from this point
of view, reaching 83% of them.

The diagram no.21 shows the situation of the young entrepreneurs who expressed or
not the willingness of accessing European financing funds:
If the answer is “yes”, which stage are you in?

9%
I am in the stage
3 of elaboration

I hired a
33%consulting
2 company

41%
I am getting
information
1 about them

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Diagram no. 21

Which are in your opinion the first 3 benefits you’ve had/you’ll have by
taking part in some national or European programs/projects? (place a
number from 1 to 3, where “3” represents the most important)

1 2 3
Developing personal competences 41.30% 26.08% 32.60%
Developing your business 24.56% 38.59% 36.84%
Developing the professional competences of the 16% 48% 36%
company’s human resources
Developing new technologies 35.71% 23.80% 40.47%
Interaction with other business environments 26.31% 31.57% 42.10%
Interaction with other young entrepreneurs/managers 36.84% 31.57% 31.57%
Good practices exchange 53.84% 11.53% 34.61%
Knowledge transfer and know-how 66.66% 33.33% 0
Others, mention what:…… 0 0 0
Table no. 8

The benefits of the national or European programs are for most questioned persons
the development of competences and of the business.
The diagram no. 22 presents the answers of the other persons:
 9 0 Others
8 1% Know leadge
7 transfer 20% Good practices'
exchange
6 11% interaction
w ith other
5 16% interasction
entrepreneurs
5% w ith other business
4 dezvoltarea environm ents 24% developing
3 tehnologiilor professional
com petences
2 17% developing
6% developing
1 the business
personal
com petences
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Diagram no. 22

3.4 Coaching/Training

When referring to human resources and what concerns the working days per
employee for learning at the company managed by young entrepreneurs, the
questioned persons answered that the period is of 1-5 days on average.
5% of the entrepreneurs don’t grant any day for training. See diagram no. 23:

Number of days for coaching: 5%

none

28%
6 days

67%
1-5 days

Diagram no. 23

When tackling the method of coaching you pursue the following aspects
(place a number from 1 to 5, where “1” represents the most important):

1 2 3 4 5
The persons that does the training, 70.21% 14.89% 14.89% 70.21% 14.89%
what are his competences and
experience
How long a training lasts 34.61% 50% 15.38% 34.61% 50%
What are the trainer’s methods of 20% 36.66% 43.33% 20% 36.66%
teaching
How many persons you can teach in 5.55% 55.55% 38.88% 5.55% 55.55%
just one session
How efficient was the training when 34.09% 38.63% 27.27% 34.09% 38.63%
referring to the terms of a real
change in your company
What are the resources of the 13.33% 31.11% 55.55% 13.33% 31.11%
persons who offers the training
What recommendation you can 18.18% 43.63% 38.18% 18.18% 43.63%
receive for the training provider
What methods of teaching has the 47.82% 39.13% 13.04% 47.82% 39.13%
trainer
Table no. 9

From the answers given, one can notice that most employers are interested in the
experience and competence of the person who organizes the training, as well as in the
resources he offers; the other percentages are shown below:

30% 28%

25%
21%
20% Who does the training
20%
How long it lasts
15%
14% How many people he can coach
How efficient it was
10% What his resources are
7% What recommendations you can
5%
5% 3% receive
2% What methods of training he has
0%
1

Diagram no. 24

At the question “Have you ever appealed to specialized instructors/makers from

outside the company?” many of the young entrepreneurs from the cross-border area
answered that they haven’t. Here are the percentages:
 Have you ever appealed to specialized instructors/makers from outside the
company?
yes
31%

69%
no

Diagram no. 25

Those who answered positively at this question have coached their employees in
fields like: financial consultancy, sales, human resources, quality management,
protection, marketing, labor protection, etc.

What kind of methods do you think are the most efficient? (place a
number from 1 to 5, where “1” represents the most important):

1 2 3 4 5
Training at the office 37.97% 8.86% 5.06% 8.86% 39.24%
Training at a specialized center 14.06% 17.18% 14.06% 35.93% 18.75%
Training with groups of 15-25 7.01% 21.05% 22.80% 36.84% 12.28%
persons
Lectures with great groups of people 2.63% 13.15% 34.21% 13.15% 36.84%
Trainings that last 1 to 3 days 17.85% 8.92% 26.78% 19.64% 26.78%
Trainings that lasts 3 to 5 days 13.55% 18.64% 22.03% 20.33% 25.42%
Trainings that last more than 5 days 8.57% 25.71% 48.57% 8.57% 8.57%
Trainings that use interactive 20% 31.41% 31.42% 12.85% 4.28%
methods of teaching, video materials,
computer
Trainings that don’t cost much 35% 33.33% 8.33% 8.33% 15%
Table no.10

The young entrepreneurs consider as being the most efficient training methods those
organized in a specialized center and with groups of 15 to 25 persons. See the other
percentages in the following diagram:
 9 6% witch costs less

8 11% Trening that use

2% with periods methods of interactive
teaching
7 of time longer
than 5 days 9% with periods
6 between
3-5 zile
5 7% with periods
between
1-3 days 17%
4 2% discourse
With groups
of 15-25
3 persons 30% Training
in a
2 specialized
16% center
Trening
1 at work place

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Diagram no. 26

3.5 Innovation

After centralizing the answers, at the question “The innovation efforts inside the
company are concentrated especially on the development of: (specify at
most 2 answers)” we found out that most young entrepreneurs concentrated their
efforts on the development of new technologies and products. The percentages are
presented in diagram no. 27:

The efforts of innovation inside the com pany are concentrated on the
developm ent of:
4%
It's not the
case
24%
Trening
the
personnel

3%
New 55%
m anagerial new products
approaches

3%
Modernization 11%
New
technologies

Diagram no. 27
As to what concerns the new technologies adopted by young entrepreneurs for the
companies they manage, most of them use the computer and the e-mail.
To observe better the percentages of the other answers, see diagram no. 28:

4%
on-line
site
intranet sales
4%
3% 33%
internet Computers
26%

30%
e-mail

Diagram no.28

Being asked “For what purpose do you use the Internet?” most of the young
entrepreneurs answered that they use it to communicate with dealers and clients
(63%) and to facilitate communication inside the company (31%).

The other values are:

For what purpose do you use the

6%
Internet?
14% For 0
To get informed transactions Others
about
the business
environment

17%
To facilitate
communication 63%
inside To communicate
the with
company dealers

Diagram no. 29