This research investigates the role business incubators on the MSMEs’ access to informal and semi-formal finance. To meet this purpose, firstly, the relationship between business incubation models and models of financial accessibility is assessed. secondly, the contribution of business incubators to the MSMEs informal and semi-formal financial accessibility is determined, by assessing the direct impact of monitoring services on financial accessibility and also assessing the incubator’s financial intermediation role between incubatees and financiers. Due to the important role played by social capital in non-formal financing, the influence of both incubatee and incubator manager’s social capital on incubatee’s informal and semi-formal financial accessibility is also investigated. The results indicate that, business incubator’s monitoring services have significant positive influence on incubatee’s access to informal and semi-formal finance, and also there is a significant positive relationship between monitoring services and financial management capabilities. Also, incubatee’s financial management capabilities have significant positive impact on semi-formal financial accessibility, nevertheless, there is insignificant relationship between incubatee’s financial management capabilities and informal financial accessibility. Furthermore, the results show, incubatee’s bonding and bridging social capital have direct positive impact on both informal and semi-formal financial accessibility, while incubator manager’s linking social capital has positive impact on semi-formal financial accessibility but insignificant impact on informal financial accessibility. Incubatee’s bridging social capital also negatively moderates the relationship between financial management capabilities and semi-formal financial accessibility, whereas incubatee’s bonding has no moderating effect on the same relationship. Incubator manager’s bonding and bridging social capital and incubatee’s linking social capital have insignificant direct impact on both informal and semi-formal financial accessibility, as well as insignificant moderating impact on the relationship between financial management capabilities and semi-formal financial accessibility. These findings show the importance of financial management capabilities on incubatee’s access to semi-formal finance and highlights the role of incubatee’s bonding and bridging network links and incubator manager’s linking social networks to the incubatee’s access to non-formal finance. They also reveal that informal financiers do not consider incubatee’s financial management capabilities as an important criterion in deciding to provide them credits:Acknowledgement i Table of contents iii List of tables viii List of figures xii Abbreviations xv Zusammenfassung xx Summary xxxii CHAPTER ONE 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background to the problem 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 4 1.3 Objectives of the study 10 1.3.1 General objective 10 1.3.2 Specific objectives 10 CHAPTER TWO 11 LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.1 Start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 11 2.1.1 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 11 2.1.1.1 MSMEs’ sector in Tanzania 14 2.1.2 Start-ups 15 2.1.2.1 Startups in Tanzania 16 2.2 Business incubators 18 2.2.1 Services provided by business incubators 21 2.2.2 Business incubators in Tanzania 23 2.3 Financial management capabilities 28 2.3.1 Financial management capabilities in MSMEs 29 2.4 Financial system 32 2.4.1 Formal financing 33 2.4.2 Informal financing 33 2.4.3 Semi-formal financing 34 2.4.4 Financing system in Tanzania 34 2.4.5 Informal and Semi-formal financing system in Tanzania 36 2.4.5.1 Informal financiers 37 2.4.5.2 Semi-formal financiers 45 2.5 MSMEs’ financial accessibility 52 2.5.1 MSMEs’ financial accessibility in Tanzania 55 2.5.2 The role of business incubators in promoting MSMEs’ access to finance 56 2.6 Information asymmetries between MSMEs and financiers 59 2.7 Theory of financial intermediation 61 2.8 Social capital 62 2.8.1 Role of social capital on MSMEs’ access to finance 65 2.9 Summary of the theoretical framework 69 2.10 Proposed model 70 CHAPTER THREE 75 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 75 3.1 Research Design 75 3.2 Study Area 76 3.3 Targeted population 78 3.4 Sample 79 3.5 Operational definitions and measurement of the variables 83 3.5.1 Variable indicators 83 3.5.2 Business incubators' monitoring services 83 3.5.3 Financial management capabilities 84 3.5.4 Incubatee's bonding social capital 84 3.5.5 Incubatee's bridging social capital 85 3.5.6 Incubatee's linking social capital 85 3.5.7 Incubator manager's bonding social capital 86 3.5.8 Incubator manager's bridging social capital 86 3.5.9 Incubator manager's linking social capital 87 3.5.10 MSMEs’ Financial accessibility 87 3.6 Data collection instrument 92 3.6.1 Questionnaire 92 3.6.2 Personal interviews 93 3.7 Data collection 93 3.8 Data Analysis 94 3.8.1 Qualitative data analysis 94 3.8.2 Quantitative analysis 95 3.8.2.1 Data preparation 95 3.8.2.2 Descriptive statistics 96 3.8.2.3 Factor analysis 96 3.8.2.4 Inferential Statistics 104 3.8.2.4.1 Spearman correlations analysis 105 3.8.2.4.2 Kruskal-Wallis test 105 3.8.2.4.3 Partial Least Squares regressions analysis 105 3.9 Validity and Reliability 106 3.9.1 Validity and reliability of qualitative research 106 3.9.2 Validity and reliability in quantitative research 107 CHAPTER FOUR 110 PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS 110 4.1 Introduction 110 4.2 Qualitative results 110 4.2.1 Current status of business incubation programs in Tanzania 110 4.2.2 Factors for business incubators’ successful financial intermediary role118 4.3 Quantitative results 132 4.3.1 Descriptive results 132 4.3.1.1 Sample demography 133 4.3.1.1.1 Relationship between age and incubation period of incubated MSMEs 133 4.3.1.1.2 Categorizing incubated MSMEs by number of employees and business capital 135 4.3.1.1.3 Distribution of incubatees by their nature of ownership and business activity 138 4.3.1.1.4 Financiers’ provision of requested amount of loans to incubatees 140 4.3.1.2 The contribution of business incubators to MSMEs financial accessibility 145 4.3.1.2.1 The Business Incubator's Monitoring services 146 4.3.1.2.2 Financial Management capabilities of incubatees 147 4.3.1.2.3 MSMEs’ financial accessibility 149 4.3.1.3 Relationship between business incubation models and models of MSMEs financing 150 4.3.1.4 Factors for successful intermediary role of an incubator 152 4.3.1.5 Incubatees and incubator managers’ social capital on Incubatees' financial accessibility 155 4.3.2 The impact of business incubation on MSMEs access to informal and semi-formal finance 160 4.3.2.1 Demographic characteristics of incubated enterprises 161 4.3.2.2 Relationship between business incubation models and models of financial accessibility 165 4.3.2.3 Contribution of incubators to the MSMEs informal and semi-formal financial accessibility 166 4.3.2.3.1 Impact of business incubator’s monitoring services on MSMEs’ informal and semi-formal financial accessibility 167 4.3.2.3.2 Business incubators’ financial intermediation role between incubated MSMEs and financiers. 170 4.3.2.4 Impact of incubatee and incubator manager’s social capital on iMFA and sMFA 173 4.3.2.5 Moderating impact of Incubatee's and incubator manager's social capital on the FMC-MFA relationship 179 4.4 Summary of chapter four 183 4.4.1 Developing a model on incubated MSMEs’ access to informal and semi- formal finance. 190 4.4.1.1 A model on incubated MSMEs’ access to informal finance 190 4.4.1.2 A model on incubated MSMEs’ access to semi-formal finance. 191 4.4.1.3 The influence of demographic characters on the relationship between social capital and financial accessibility. 192 CHAPTER FIVE 196 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 196 5.1 Introduction 196 5.2 Demographic characteristics of incubatees 196 5.3 Relationship between business incubation models and models of financial accessibility 201 5.4 Business incubators’ financial intermediation role between MSMEs and financiers. 203 5.5 Factors for successful business incubator’s financial intermediary role 207 5.6 Impact of incubatee’s and incubator manager’s social capital on informal and semi-formal financial accessibility 209 5.7 Moderating impact of Incubatee's and incubator manager's social capital on the FMC-MFA relationship 212 CHAPTER SIX 214 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 214 6.1 Conclusions 214 6.2 Recommendations 221 6.3 Scope for further research 229 Reference 234 Appendix I Total Variance Explained 253 Appendix II Component Matrix 254 Appendix III Pattern Matrix 255 Appendix IV Questionnaire 256 Appendix V Questionnaire (Swahili version) 261 Appendix VI Interview guide for the financiers (English version) 266 Appendix VII Interview guide for the financiers (Swahili version) 267 Apendix VIII Interview guide for incubators’ managers and key informants (English version) 268 Appendix IX Interview guide for incubators’ managers and key informants (Swahili version) 269 Appendix X Eigenständigkeitserklärung 270

The Swedish Wind Energy Association (SWEA, 2019) reported the wind power project's total investment cost between 2017 and 2021 was over SEK 72 billion. They predicted that at project completion, the total production will be approximately 22.4 TWh per year. Due to project size, complexity, and long-term contracts commitments, almost all wind power project developers outsource some or most of their project activities to different subcontractors, after which they perform monitoring activities of the project process. Therefore, the pre-qualification stage and subcontractors’ evaluation become essential parts of every project. Most corporates and authorities are usually awarding projects to subcontractors with offers based on the most competitive price advantage. This approach results in high risks that can affect the delivery time, the overall cost, and the quality of wind power projects.This research paper aims to use a multi-criteria analysis to identify and select the most adequate subcontractor. To achieve the research purpose, a sample of five subcontractors nominated by a windpower developer were evaluated in a selection phase under nine criteria: (1) management capability, (2) product or service quality, (3) planning and capabilities, (4) quality assessment,(5) environmental management, (6) health and safety measures, (7) financial strength, (8) contract insurances and guaranties, and (9) cost. After the evaluation and the ranking of companies, a result of the most adequate subcontractor for the project offer was presented. At the end of this study, a comparison analysis was followed at the final stage which compared the method with a similar procurement approach used by one corporate where it showed that this paper’s method can uncover critical aspects with subcontracts which can alter the selection process.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: RFID technology may be the most capable technology to address the track and trace requirements within the Agri-food supply chain. RFID technology has become a prominent research area in recent times, with multiple benefits being promised and envisaged. The list of applications and deployments within the supply chain is numerous, with the ambassadors of this technology promising increased supply chain effectiveness, inventory management capabilities and enhanced information visibility. Deregulations within the South African citrus industry created changes to the internal structure of the industry, with the requirements of enhanced information visibility for traceability becoming a high priority. Current information structures and initiatives are providing the basic requirements for the changing business environment, with limitations to real-time and visible information for improved decision-making and planning initiatives. The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify the critical success factors for RFID technology deployment in supply chains in general and to identify the critical success factors relevant to the South African citrus industry. The study also researched the benefits and challenges of deploying RFID technology within the South African citrus industry, relating to citrus supply chain performance improvements of RFID adoption. The research indicates that certain limitations and challenges pertinent to the citrus industry exist, which would require industry level priority for successful implementation of RFID technology within the South African citrus industry. This study provides the South African citrus industry with a guideline to address the current non-collective management of information, information systems and requirements and collaboration initiatives. The use of this research should be of great assistance to the South African citrus industry role-players by providing a strategic framework for addressing information improvement initiatives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: RFID tegnologie kan moontlik die mees bevoegde tegnologie wees om die naspeurbaarheid vereistes van n Agri-voedsel voorsiening ketting aan te spreek. RFID tegnologie is huidiglik 'n prominente navorsingsgebied, met beloofde meervoudige voordele. Die lys van aanwendings en toepassings binne die voorsiening ketting is veelvoudig, met beloftes van die ambassadeurs van die tegnologie, vir verbeterde voorsienings ketting doeltreffendheid, inventaris bestuur en verhoogde inligtings sigbaarheid. Deregulasie van die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie het interne strukturuele veranderinge in die industrie teweeg gebring, met prioriteit fokus vir verhoogde inligting sigbaarheid vir naspeurbaarheid doeleindes. Huidige inligting strukture en initiatiewe verskaf die basiese grondslag vir die deurlopende veranderende besigheids omgewing, met intyd en sigbaarheids inligtings beperkinge, vir verbeterde besluitneming en beplanning initiatiewe. Die doel van die ondersoekende studies was om die generiese kritieke sukses faktore van RFID tegnologie implementering en die kritieke sukses faktore direk verwant tot die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie te identifiseer. Die studie het ook die voordele en uitdagings van RFID implementering binne die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie nagevors, spesifiek verwant tot die prestasie verbeterings van RFID implementering in die sitrus voorsienings ketting. Die navorsing dui aan dat sekere beperkinge en uitdagings spesifiek tot die sitrus industrie bestaan wat industrie vlak prioriteit vereis, vir suksevolle implementasie van RFID tegnologie binne die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie. Die resultate van die studie verskaf die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie met 'n riglyn om die uitdagings van die huidige nie-kollektiewe bestuur van inligting, inligting stelsels en vereistes en samewerkings initiatiewe aan te spreek. Die gebruik van die navorsing behoort van groot waarde te wees vir die rolspelers van die Suid Afrikaanse sitrus industrie, in die verskaffing van 'n strategiese raamwerk vir die aanspreking van inligting verbeterings intiatiewe.

Within the last decade research on climate change strategies and adaptive capacity emerged as the debate about climate change was intensified with the publishing of the Third Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001. That companies are facing risks and opportunities is not new and the awareness to address these issues is growing. However, there is still need for research in the field of corporate strategic response to climate change. Recently, research focused on resilience management to address climate change. Resilience management is about being able to experience changes and remain stable getting back into the same situation before the change happen. On the contrary to resilience management adaptive capacity is about the ability to be able to adapt to uncertain and unexpected events on the long term. This includes long-term changes. This work argues that companies should think about their adaptive capacity as climate change induces short and long-term changes. Adding this dimension to the strategic planning companies need to think of how they can improve their adaptive capacity. This work investigates research in both issues adaptive capacity and climate change research and in their relation. Applying a systematic literature review this study conducted 60 references which are examined by a qualitative-quantitative analysis and answers the following questions: What is the current scientific view of adaptive capacity within strategic management literature? What are determinants of adaptive capacity? How can adaptive capacity be linked to climate change strategy and is it even antecedent to climate change strategies? The findings of this research indicate that adaptive capacity and climate change strategies exhibit a link but it cannot be proved whether adaptive capacity is antecedent. Furthermore, the term adaptive capacity is merely discussed within strategic management literature and if it is discussed and examined, several concepts and theories are applied to explain determinants of adaptive capacity. Several concepts such as dynamic capabilities, organizational learning capability, organizational learning, organizational change capacity, flexibility and more could be identified as concepts enhancing adaptive capacity. This works provides an overview of related concepts and theories.