scholarly journals Institutions, Corruption and Microfinance Viability in Developing Countries: the Case of Ghana and Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70
Author(s):  
Yahaya Alhassan ◽  
Uzoechi Nwagbara
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Institutional Void ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Business Opportunities ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
High Level

This article focuses on the role corrupt institutions (microfinance institutions) play in microfinance not being accessible for business development in Africa. It specifically sheds light on the contexts of Nigeria and Ghana to tease out the challenges and opportunities for small businesses consequent upon a culture of corruption in these countries and associated challenges for small business owners and entrepreneurs as well as microbusiness development. As well-known, in many developing countries with a high level of corruption, there is potentially a high incidence of institutional void, which presents setback and challenges for businesses to thrive. Microbusiness development relies largely on effective institutions to develop, and in situations where institutions are corrupt, these challenges are rather redoubled thus posing a threat to entrepreneurship development. Therefore, these contexts enable us to understand and interrogate the challenges facing microbusiness development, where corrupt microfinance institutions exist, as well as business opportunities if these corrupt institutions were not present. Thus this paper argues that for businesses to thrive enabling and effective institutional mechanisms are crucial, which will facilitate opportunities for microbusiness development.

Growth and Development of Small Business Through Microfinance Activities in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-34
Author(s):  
Chandra Prasad Dhakal
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Economic Activities

Small businesses play important role for economic development and stability. It develops access in financial services through enhancing economic activities. The study analyzes the growth and development of small businesses that enhance through the support of micro finance in Nepal. Descriptive and inferential were used to collected data and collected data were analyzed through using multiple linear regression analysis. Only 124 small business owners were selected for this study. The study helps to find out the growth of microfinance institutions (MFIs) and small businesses in emerging economy in Nepal. It also assists MFIs to assess the effectiveness of their services and help to efficient utilization of available resources in the economy of Nepal.

Gender Differences in ICT Use Among Small Business Owners in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 1378-1391
Author(s):  
Alice Etim ◽  
David N. Etim ◽  
George Heilman
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Warning Signals ◽  
Disadvantaged Populations ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Information And Communication

In the last two decades, microfinance institutions across regions have helped to financially build small businesses in areas of disadvantaged populations. The efforts in providing entrepreneurs with small non-collateralized loans (or micro-loans) along with developing cooperative programs for entrepreneurs were reported in earlier studies as being helpful in alleviating some borrowers from extreme economic poverty. However, early warning signals were raised about whether microfinance institutions were benefiting themselves more than the poor. This article assesses the differences in attitudes toward the use of information and communication technology among small business owners in Ghana that have access to micro-loans. The findings indicate significant differences between interest payers and interest non-payers based on region of the country, age, education, and membership in an entrepreneurship program.

Barriers to E-Commerce Adoption in SMEs

2011 ◽  
pp. 256-276
Author(s):  
Robert C. MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Research Studies

It has long been known that small businesses have realised enhanced profits through the adoption of ecommerce. However, a number of recent studies have suggested that it is the larger businesses that are reaping the rewards of e-commerce rather than the smaller businesses. This slow growth of e-commerce adoption in SMEs has been attributed to various adoption barriers that are faced by small business owners/managers. These barriers have been well documented in numerous research studies. However, the relationship between these barriers has not been fully examined, particularly in developing countries. Of particular concern is the fact that the conclusions concerning the nature and role of barriers to e-commerce adoption have simply been transferred from studies in developed economies to those in developing ones. 96 non-adopting SMEs in Indonesia are compared to 129 in Sweden to determine whether the perception of importance of barriers differs between the two locations. The data is also analysed to determine whether the underlying factors of these barriers differs across the two locations.

Gender Differences in ICT Use Among Small Business Owners in Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Alice Etim ◽  
David N. Etim ◽  
George Heilman
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Information And Communication

In the last two decades, microfinance institutions across regions have helped to financially build small businesses in areas of disadvantaged populations. The efforts in providing entrepreneurs with small non-collateralized loans (or micro-loans) along with developing cooperative programs for entrepreneurs were reported in earlier studies as being helpful in alleviating some borrowers from extreme economic poverty. However, early warning signals were raised about whether microfinance institutions were benefiting themselves more than the poor. This article assesses the differences in attitudes toward the use of information and communication technology among small business owners in Ghana that have access to micro-loans. The findings indicate significant differences between interest payers and interest non-payers based on region of the country, age, education, and membership in an entrepreneurship program.

scholarly journals How to Become Technology-Based Entrepreneur

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108
Author(s):  
E W Anggraeni ◽  
◽  
S I P Persada
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Millennial Generation ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Business Opportunities ◽  
New Business ◽  
Online Entrepreneurs ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
High Level

This study aims to describe the millennial generation to become online entrepreneurs, where the problem in this generation is a high level of consumption. Therefore, this generation must be more observant to see business opportunities in popular activities on social media, especially Instagram and utilize social networking as a market business. This research used a descriptive method and interviews to describe the ease of access to social media, the level of consumptive achievement in the millennial generation, and the widespread use of social media for the business market. The results of this study are the use of social media and more critical to see business opportunities by utilizing social networks that can meet our own needs and invest in small businesses. It can be seen from the many new business-based accounts used by Millennials on social media. It can be concluded, that social networking has the best interaction between business owners with consumers and potential customers. Besides, the smart and productive use of the internet can benefit business owners

Measuring Success in Family Businesses: The Concept of Configurational Fit

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Hienerth ◽  
Alexander Kessler
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
Measurement Instruments ◽  
Success Measurement ◽  
Success Evaluation ◽  
As Effects

The problems associated with measuring success in small businesses are primarily caused by a lack of comparable data due to the ambiguity of “success” and by subjective biases. Success evaluation is dominated by the estimates of business owners, who tend to overestimate overall success and internal strengths. However, reliable success measurement instruments would be useful for small business owners/managers as well as small business policymakers. The main purposes of this article are to compare various measures of success, to explore the differences in their outcomes, and to analyze whether a model of success measurement using configurational fit can be used to overcome subjective biases. The study is based on a recent survey of 103 small family-owned businesses in the eastern Austrian border region. Our analysis of the data confirmed the existence of the measurement problems mentioned above. Although some individual indicators show significant biases as well as effects due to company age, size, and industry, the aggregated indicator based on the concept of configurational fit seems to be an appropriate means of overcoming most of these drawbacks.

scholarly journals Does the environment matter, a closer look at the environmental approach by small businesses in Africa developing countries.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
Bobo Chazireni
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Chambers Of Commerce ◽  
Sustainability Strategy ◽  
Strategy Alignment ◽  
Mixed Approach

Environmental Social Responsibility (ESR) is a notion, where business integrates environmental concerns in their operations and the interaction with stakeholders, without compromising profit. To this day, ESR studies are limited to areas of ethics, society and employees while literature is blunt on its impact on societies, consumer behaviour and governments. SMEs in developing countries are not spared their approach to ESR as a sustainability strategy. SMEs’ approach seems to digress from leverage on loyalty which emanates from their nearness to communities who in turn are potential customers. This paper takes a closer look at SMEs’ approach to ESR driven by SME business owners’ perception towards ESR. The paper will take account of SMEs’ behavioural response towards ESR and establish whether they regard ESR a strategic sustainability approach with long-term positive bottom-line benefits. Results were attained through assessing perceptions of SMEs towards ESR; assessing impact practice of ESR by SMEs; exploring factors that undermining practise of ESR by SMEs. A mixed approach was adopted where data was obtained using face to face interviews. Results showed that the majority of SME business owners had a negative approach towards the practice of ESR. SMEs believe ESR was mainly for large corporations since their operations were hideously affecting the environment. As new knowledge, recommendations from this paper will be shared with Chambers of Commerce in Africa developing countries. Some of the recommendations were that the chambers of commerce, local authorities must proactively support SMEs to practise ESR through awareness workshops, train and share the ESR strategy alignment with business strategy.

scholarly journals PENINGKATKAN KEMANDIRIAN USAHA PARA PELAKU UMKM MELALUI PERILAKU KEWIRAUSAHAAN [INCREASE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INDEPENDENCE OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL VALUE]

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Vincent Feriano Mulja ◽  
Jacquelinda Sandra Sembel
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Entrepreneurial Behavior ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
One Year

<p>This research was triggered by the massive disruption caused by COVID-19 pandemic which has heavily affected small businesses in a negative way. The unprecedented pandemic resulted in a sharp decline in the number of micro businesses in affected areas in Indonesia, including Semarang. Thus, there is an urgent need to revive micro businesses. This research aims on analyzing the effect of entrepreneurial spirit and values through entrepreneurial behavior to develop business independence. Data analysis in this study was conducted using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Research samples consisted of 200 entrepreneurs in Semarang who have run their businesses for more than one year. The findings show that there is an effect of entrepreneurial value and spirit on entrepreneurial independence directly and through entrepreneurial behavior.</p><p><strong>BAHASA INDONESIA ABSTRACT:</strong></p><p>Penelitian ini dipicu oleh disrupsi secara massif pada usaha kecil di daerah-daerah terdampak di Indonesia di masa pandemi COVID-19, Semarang. Untuk itu perlu adanya upaya untuk membangkitkan kembali geliat para pelaku bisnis kecil menuju kemandirian usaha. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keterkaitan antara jiwa kewirausahaan para pelaku usaha dan nilai kewirausahaan yang mereka yakini, yang dapat meningkatkan kemandirian usaha melalui perilaku usaha. Penelitian ini menggunakan <em>Structural Equation Modelling</em> (SEM) untuk melakukan analisis data. Sampel penelitian terdiri dari 200 wirausahawan di Semarang yang sudah menjalani usaha selama lebih dari satu tahun. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa jiwa kewirausahaan dan nilai kewirausahaan berpengaruh terhadap kemandirian usaha baik secara langsung mampun melalui perilaku kewirausahaan. Perilaku kewirausahaan berpengaruh positif terhadap kemandirian usaha.</p>

scholarly journals The perception of sponsorship usefulness among South African small business owners

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-488
Author(s):  
Catherine Mpolokeng Sephapo ◽  
Johannes Arnoldus Wiid ◽  
Michael Colin Cant
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Marketing Tool ◽  
Marketing Budgets

Sponsorship is a powerful marketing tool that organisations in South Africa are embracing. From the evaluation of the sponsorship growth over the years, the industry in South Africa has developed from a R63 million industry in 1985 to the value of just under R7 billion in 2011 (City Press, 2012). Small businesses in South Africa are faced with the challenge of effectively reaching target segments. These small businesses are restricted in terms of limited marketing budgets and therefore need alternative ways of improving their brands in the eyes of the consumer. Theoretically, sponsorship is considered to improve the brand image of an organisation and ultimately improve sales. However, the question that this study aims to answer is whether small business owners perceive sponsorship to be a useful tool that even they can utilise. The study made use of a quantitative approach whereby a web-based questionnaire was distributed to small business owners. The findings indicated that the general attitude towards sponsorship as a marketing tool is positive. The correlation between sponsor sincerity and sponsorship usefulness was found positive; however, average in strength. Although sponsorship is seen as a useful tool, 15.4% of the respondents indicated that they would not consider using this marketing tool. This response may provide an opportunity for further research to be conducted which may shed some light on the strategies small business owners perceive to be most effective for their unique circumstances

Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Courtney Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Structural Adjustment ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
The Great Recession ◽  
Justice Movements ◽  
The Impact

This introduction describes how encouraging a diversity of small businesses can help support a Native Nation’s long-term economic stability, but goes further to demonstrate this uniquely through the eyes of the small-business owners themselves along with an in-depth examination of their local, national, and international contexts. In doing so, it describes how this book also addresses the ways in which Native Nations, by supporting small business resilience, are responding in politically and socioeconomically meaningful ways to settler-colonial economic subjugations. This introduction further describes how the book unpacks the layers of small-business complications specific to Native Nations and American Indian business owners while speaking to larger theoretical questions regarding the impact of small businesses in a global indigenous context. Debates regarding economic sovereignty versus economic power, measures of autonomy, land status, economic identity, fluctuating relationships with settler-colonial society, and the growth of neoliberalism (along with its accompanying “structural adjustment” policies) meet with specific practices, such as the implementation of guaranteed annual incomes, cultural revitalization actions, environmental justice movements, and the potentially precarious choices of economic development—issues that are exacerbated during times of economic precarity, such as the Great Recession.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document