UH SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER NETWORK
On-site Review Checklist
(Revised June 2004)
Service Center: ______
Director: ______
Date of review: ______
1. Client Needs
1. Has the center conducted any formal needs assessment activities other than through the region-wide survey?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe.
2. What are the “multiple listening posts” you use to obtain informal needs assessment input?
3. How do you document your informal needs assessment activities?
4. How do your needs assessment findings become a part of your strategic action plans?
5. Have you participated in any applied research projects to identify customer needs other than the Nascent Entrepreneur study?
( ) YesNo ( )
If yes, describe.
2. Strategic Planning
1. Is your entire staff involved in the planning process?
( ) Yes( ) No
How?
2. How does your center’s strategic Action Plan fit into the overall region strategic plan?
3. In your action plan, is there a clear role identified for each staff member in meeting our strategic goals?
( ) Yes( ) No
Explain.
4. How do you know that you are making progress toward your goals and objectives?
3. Organizational Structure
Leadership System
1. Who does the center director report to at the host institution?
Name______
Title______
2. What other host officials make up the chain of command?
Name______
Title______
Reporting Relationship______
Name______
Title______
Reporting Relationship______
Does this reflect changes since the last review?
( ) Yes( ) No
3. List your satellite locations.
4. Does your actual client mix reflect the demographics (gender, ethnicity, veteran status) of the community?
( ) Yes( ) No
Provide comparison chart.
5. There are numerous mechanisms in place to facilitate communication between the region office and the service centers. How do you make sure communication flows to your staff?
6. Do you have any suggestions for improving communication throughout the region?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, explain.
7. Does your center have a local advisory board?
( ) Yes – for the SBDC only
( ) Yes – for the host organization, which also advises the SBDC program
( ) No
If yes, how is the advisory board used?
8. How do you work with the SBA and SBA-supported programs such as SCORE?
Relationship with Host Organization
1. Do you have regular two-way communication with your host institution?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe.
2. Is there strong commitment and support from the host?
( ) Yes( ) No
Describe (i.e., funding, office space, signage, directory listings, other recognition).
3. How do you help your host institution meet its goals?
Development of a Performance System
1. How do you know your center is doing a good job in terms of:
Quality of products and services
Customer and stakeholder satisfaction
Cost effectiveness
Achievement of goals and objectives
- Outcomes and economic impact
2. What do you do if corrective action is needed?
3. Has the center contributed to the region’s impact study effort?
( ) Yes( ) No
What was your response rate in the most recent study? ______%
4. Is your center making adequate progress toward team goals? (Provide actual numbers as of the last month fully completed and indicate the month ______.)
- ClientsGoal______Actual______
- Training attendeesGoal______Actual______
- New jobsGoal______Actual______
- Retained jobsGoal______Actual______
- New businessesGoal______Actual______
- Business expansionsGoal______Actual______
- New capitalGoal______Actual______
5. Has the center director reviewed and corrected all deficiencies that were noted on previous program reviews?
( ) Yes( ) No ( ) N/A
Exceptions.
Funding
1. Does the center director have budget autonomy?
( ) Yes( ) No
2. Have you made any attempts to obtain contracts, grants or funds other than federal and state funds?
( ) Yes( ) No
List your successful attempts.
3. Do you seek and obtain any “in-kind” contributions?
( ) Yes( ) No
List.
4. Do you generate program income?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe:
Marketing Materials
1. How do you market your programs and services?
2. Do all materials include appropriate logos and disclaimers?
( ) Yes( ) No
3. Does the center have the new network-branded brochures in stock?
( ) Yes( ) No
4. Where have you placed the brochures so far?4. Human Resources
1. Does the director have a master’s degree in business?
( ) Yes( ) No( ) Other degree______
2. Does the director have relevant business experience?
( ) Yes( ) No
Describe.
3. List the current staff.
Name______
Title______
Full-time ( )or Part-time ( )
Name______
Title______
Full-time ( )or Part-time ( )
Name______
Title______
Full-time ( )or Part-time ( )
Name______
Title______
Full-time ( )or Part-time ( )
Name______
Title______
Full-time ( )or Part-time ( )
4. Are public resumes on file and available for client review?
( ) Yes( ) No
Professional Development
1. Is there a professional development plan and record on file for each employee?
( ) Yes( ) No
2. How are individual professional development needs determined?
3. Do you have an employee recognition program that is separate from the region program?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe.
4. Does the center use volunteers?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe how the use of volunteers benefits your program:
5. Does the center work with faculty and/or students of the host institution?
( ) Yes( ) No( ) N/A
If yes, describe how the use of faculty and/or students benefits your program:
6. Does the center network with other resource partners to provide small business assistance services?
( ) Yes( ) No
List other resource partners (chambers, banks, SCORE, etc.) and their role:
5. Program Services
Consulting Services
1. How do you attract and serve “impact” clients?
2. How do you efficiently and effectively serve other customers?
3. How do you know your consultants are providing timely, high quality consulting? What do you do if they are not?
4. What procedures do you use to preserve client confidentiality and prevent conflict of interest?
5. Are all staff using proper case management procedures?
( ) Yes( ) No
6. How do you know? What do you do if they are not meeting standards?
Training and Education
1. How does the center decide on what training to offer?
2. How do you monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of your training?
Information Transfer Actions, Special Programs, and Specialized and Support Services
1. How do you document information transfers?
2. Within the past year, has your center participated with ITC in hosting seminars, client counseling, or other international trade-related events?
( ) Yes( ) No
3. Within the past year, has your center participated with PTAC in hosting seminars, client counseling, or other government procurement-related events?
( ) Yes( ) No
4. Do you offer any special programs or services to your clients?
( ) Yes( ) No
If yes, describe.
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