Arts & Social Sciences
Te Kura Kete Aronui

Abstract

Tanoi, E. (1993). A process evaluation of the business workshop programme of the Pacific Island Employment Development Board. Unpublished Master of Social Science Thesis. Hamilton: University of Waikato.

The Business Workshops Programme was established by the Pacific Island Employment Development Board in 1990. The primary aim of the Workshops was to stimulate interest in business enterprise as well as providing basic advice on business management and planning. The researcher conducted a process evaluation on the effectiveness of the Workshops for its participants to see if the workshops were meeting this aim. The researcher observed and participated in the workshops and various activities organised by the Board. Interviews were conducted, formally and informally, with participants from the workshop, the workshop tutors and relevant members of the Board. The findings provided a description of the workshop highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

The business workshop concept was viewed positively by most participants. Although the workshop tutors were viewed positively by the participants, there was a need for Pacific Island tutors. Future workshops need to have special consideration for the specific needs of Pacific Island people given their cultural background and business history. The PIEDB needed to have a bigger profile in the Pacific Island community.