A thesis submitted to Faculty of Commerce, Law & Management The University of the Witwatersrand In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2015 / The present study explores the entrepreneurial processes of high growth firms in Zimbabwe using causation and effectual processes as the underlying logics. Causation is a process that takes a business objective as given and focuses on selecting between means in order to achieve the objective. Effectuation, on the other hand, takes resources as given and focuses on exploiting possible options generated from the available resources. Thus, causation relies on formal planning and predictions while effectuation is a non-predictive logic. The study was motivated by the need to understand how high growth firms identify business opportunities, mobilise resources and sustain growth under dynamic conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s environment has been characterised by shallow credit markets, depressed economic activities and high cost of doing business. A multiple case study of six high growth firms drawn from the agricultural, construction, manufacturing, services as well as Information Communications Technology (ICT) and stationery sectors was undertaken. Data were collected using interviews, documentary sources and observations. Thirty interviews were conducted with the founders, and senior executives from finance, business development, marketing or equivalent positions as well as the firm’s bankers. Data were inductively analysed using ATLAS.ti Version 7 package. The study evidence shows that there is no complete transition from effectuation to causation process. The major study conclusions are that; first, entrepreneurs relied on the social networks as sources of business and capital. Second, the ability to socially innovate is influenced by trust. Third, firms are wary of using external finance because of business uncertainty and cost. Fourth, the firms do not engage in direct competition with incumbents, but collaborate with industry peers. Fifth, the participating firms relied on incremental innovation and local business. Sixth, the firms showed high levels of serial and portfolio entrepreneurship. Finally, contextual factors had an influence on business success, and therefore the ability to adapt to the environmental changes is vital for business growth. The main contribution of this study is the development of a theoretical framework that extends the effectuation logic. The additional dimensions that emerged from the evidence are social innovation, portfolio diversification, incremental innovation, portfolio diversification, trust, business systems and contextual factors. The study also makes important methodological, empirical and practical contributions. Further research is recommended to move the Extended Effectuation framework towards the development of normative theory. / MT2016

This research is a diagnosis of the supply side of SME (small and medium enterprises) credit. Its objectives are to determine the current level of bank lending to SMEs to validate the financing gap, to explore the strategies and mechanisms employed by banks to provide tailor-made lending for SMEs and finally to conclude by identifying some of the key challenges the banks face in their quest to lend to SMEs. This, then, culminated in some recommendations for increasing bank funding to SMEs. This study employed a deductive qualitative research.. The research used a non-probability, purposive/judgmental sampling method to choose the heads of bank SME units to include in the research. There are twelve banks with dedicated SME units, out of a total of 18. The researcher carried out in-depth face to face interviews using semi-structured questions. The qualitative data was coded, deductively analysed and conclusions drawn and incorporated into a report. Banks’ most outstanding challenges in dealing with SMEs in terms of information asymmetry, an unsupportive business environment, poor quality of SME clients and inflexible regulatory requirements.

M.A. (Development Studies) / Informal cross-border trade is one of the viable informal sector activities which had become a key livelihood strategy for many Zimbabweans mainly during the time period of 2007 to 2009, at the height of the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe. That was a period of intense shortages of basic commodities which have left the country depending mainly on donations and imports from neighbouring countries. The study sought to understand the experiences and coping strategies of Zimbabwean women informal cross-border traders operating between Gwanda/Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and Johannesburg/Gauteng, South Africa. The study followed the whole chain of trade with focus on experiences and coping strategies of traders at the various stages of informal trade. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and life history analysis were conducted with nine women traders and some informal discussions conducted with bus drivers, artists and other suppliers of goods. Observations were also made which included travelling with informal cross-border traders across the border, being with them when they bought their goods, and staying with them at one of the markets in South Africa where they sold curios they brought from Zimbabwe.The study noted that informal cross-border traders were mostly motivated by the desire to support their children and see them through school, including tertiary education. Their motivation was strong enough to keep them determined to stay in business despite the many challenges that they faced. These challenges included xenophobic attacks, police harassment, transport challenges, bad accommodation while away from home, visa challenges and many others. The coping strategies included finding ways of sharing costs, ‘cheating’ the system where some rules and regulations hindered their progress, and creating a strong social support base and connections. It was also noted that changing economic and political environment had direct impacts on the trade and hence flexibility of goods traded and medium of exchange are a crucial character of the trade in unstable environments.

This study investigates the impact of informal cross border trading on poverty reduction in Zimbabwe. In the context of this study, the term Informal Cross Border Trade (ICBT), is used to describe the activities of small entrepreneurs who are involved in buying and selling across national borders. The study focuses on whether the stated activities are lifting those participating out of poverty. The research problem is examined through an assessment of the income levels, assets acquirement, expenditures patterns, food security and family relations. The hypotheses tested in the research are that, “The extent of ICBT is significant in Zimbabwe; ICBT in the Southern Africa region is mainly dominated by women; and that ICBT contributes positively to poverty reduction”. In this context, poverty reduction is said to have occurred when informal cross border trading would have resulted in an improvement in the socio-economic wellbeing of traders‟ households. The Poverty Datum Line (PDL) is used as the measure of households‟ well-being. To assess the impact of ICBT on well-being, a survey was conducted whereby in-depth interviews using the questionnaire method were used to collect primary data. Secondary information was obtained from documentary searches at institutions and also using internet searches. From this study it has been found that ICBT has both positive and negative impacts with regard to social welfare. With regard to economic welfare, based on poverty indicator measures used in the study, ICBT contributes positively to Poverty Reduction. Thus the analysis revealed that informal cross border trade plays an important role in alleviating economic hardships, reducing poverty and enhancing welfare and human development in Zimbabwe.

The research seeks to explore why women in Zimbabwe still face hindrances in accessing micro finance services and what can be done to meet their needs in a more holistic and effective way. Women play a crucial role in the economic development of their families and communities but are faced with certain obstacles that hinder them from performing their role effectively. Such hindrances as poverty, unemployment, low household income and societal discrimination. UNIFEM (1992) confirms that the majority of the world‟s poor have a predominantly female face and argues that women earn only 10 percent of world‟s income and own less than 10 percent of the world‟s property. African women have been characterised by the lack of empowerment caused by societal perceptions and negative cultural practice. In many cases of women rights violation it has been noted that this has been exacerbated by the over reliance on the male counterpart. Development practitioners have noted that micro finance as one of the strategies needed for women empowerment. Despite the concept having been practiced for at least 15 years now, women still face challenges in accessing micro finance services. There is need for Micro Finance Institutions to recognise the position of women in relation to men as actors in society.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation March 2016 / The purpose of this research is to investigate how organisational factors such as management support, reward/reinforcement and work discretion fosters corporate entrepreneurship at State Owned Entities (SOE) in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Several studies have been conducted on corporate entrepreneurship in the private sector with limited research on the same factors in the public sector, especially in Africa. The Corporate Entrepreneurship Assessment Instrument (CEAI) was used in measuring managers’ perception on management support, reward and reinforcement and work discretion. Four hundred on-line questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 169 managers from South African and Zimbabwean state owned entities. An hierarchical multiple regression model was used to analyse the results, which showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between management support, reward/reinforcement and work discretion with innovation, confirming results from previous studies. Occupational level was found to moderate the relationship between management support and innovation and the relationship was found to be strongest at junior management level. No moderation effect was found when reward/reinforcement and work discretion was tested with innovation. Further evidence from the survey results also indicated that Zimbabwean SOEs had higher levels of reward /reinforcement and work discretion than South Africa, but both countries had the same level for management support and innovation. However Zimbabwe had implemented more projects than South Africa, indicating that its SOEs were more entrepreneurial. Finally, when occupational levels were considered, Zimbabwe had higher scores for all the three independent variables, except for innovation, which South Africa was leading at junior management levels. However, the levels at middle and senior management was the same for both countries / GR2018

The study investigated the use of mobile phones in disseminating information on agriculture to the farming community of Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe, with a view to improving the coverage gap created by the available initiatives. Relevant literature on the available and successful mobile phones agricultural information dissemination platforms were extensively reviewed, taking into consideration the Mashonaland West Province farmers’ information needs. Formats, channels and sources currently being used to transmit agricultural information to farmers were investigated. Barriers to the use of mobile phones in transmitting agricultural information were as well investigated. Data was gathered on the farmers’ access to mobile phones and ownership of mobile phones. The survey research methodology was used for data collection because the research involved a large sample in a widespread geographical area. Quantitative research approach was used and questionnaires were used for data collection. The respondents for the study comprised farmers, network providers and other agricultural stakeholders in the province. A sample of 384 farmers, and 13 network providers and other stakeholders participated in the survey. Quantitative data was analysed using the the SPSS software while the little qualitative data which was available was analysed through content analysis. The findings of the study indicated that farmers in Mashonaland West Province of Zimbabwe were willing to get updates on agricultural information via cell phones. However, majority of the farmers could not afford the high mobile data tariffs being charged by network service providers, and the costs of subscription charged by the available agricultural information dissemination platforms. The study mainly recommended that the government should establish mobile phone agricultural information dissemination platforms that can be accessed by farmers for free or that which will charge affordable rates. The study adds to the existing knowledge on how mobile phones can be used in disseminating agricultural information to farmers. / Information Science / D. Inf. (Information Science)