Management literature lacks a deeper understanding of barriers to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) leadership among women entrepreneurs in Nigeria focusing on women leaders' daily business experiences, their agency, and their entrepreneurial context. Women in Nigeria seeking promotion to leadership roles in SMEs continue to look for answers on how to surmount the multiple barriers hampering their leadership aspirations. To address this need, this study was designed to explore how women entrepreneurs in Nigeria describe barriers to SME leadership through narratives about their daily business experiences, their agency, and their entrepreneurial context. The women's entrepreneurial development in Nigeria, the Nigerian women's entrepreneurial leadership style, and the agentic behavior of women leaders provided the conceptual framework for this work. A qualitative narrative inquiry method was adopted, and data were gathered through face-to-face semistructured interviews. The participants were a purposeful sample of 10 Nigerian women entrepreneurial leaders over the age of 30. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five thematic categories emerged and were used to answer the research question. Study findings showed that Nigerian women entrepreneurial leaders face challenges due to family, gender, and patriarchal attitudes of the culture. The study shows the experiences, challenges, and triumphs of these courageous and resilient Nigerian women entrepreneurial leaders. Positive social change implications include providing training, mentoring programs, and information to guide, empower, and equip upcoming women entrepreneurial leaders to avert challenges in the future.

Disertation work deals with innovative factors influencing the growth of small and medium enterprises. In this work are two main objectives related to the topic of work. The first one is definition of innovation activity on the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in the South Moravian Region and the second one is analyzing the determinants of determining the internal environment of a company seeking to generate innovation podiku. Objectives and hypotheses were established on the basis of the literature search, with emphasis not only on business growth, but also on innovation. Primary research combines the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. The results obtained from statistical analyzes of primary research are presented in partial and general conclusion. This work consists methodological steps for small and medium-sized enterprises with an interest in growing their businesses. For a comprehensive view the work offers the disertatiton work the possibility of further expansion of research and outline the benefits of the individual spheres of professional life

M. Tech. (Department of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The alignment of Information Systems (IS) with business processes in organisations is a dynamic state whereby an organisation uses Information Technology in order to achieve business objectives. The alignment of IT exists when goals, activities and processes of a business are in harmony with the Information Systems which are supporting them. The lack of IT strategic alignment in organisations lead to poor IT Return on Investment (ROI), inefficient operations due to poor performance that impact the organization’s competitive advantage. Studies on Information Systems Alignment have merely focused on the alignment between Business and Information System Strategy. Very few studies have studied this alignment in Small and Medium Enterprises to investigate what impact the alignment has with the business performance. The purpose of this study is to measure the alignment between Information system and the business strategy in Small and Medium Enterprises and to investigate the impact of this alignment on the business performance. A model was used to measure the alignment between Business and Information System Strategy and its impact on the business performance. Data was collected through the use of a questionnaire. A sample of ninety-nine (99) individuals from a variety of SMEs was used. SPSS was used to analyse the data. The results showed the variables of the model were all positively correlated to one another. Therefore, alignment of Information Systems (IS) and Business Strategy was confirmed. The influence of the alignment was found to have a positive influence (0.459) on the overall performance of the business. In conclusion, it is imperative for SMEs to align Information Systems (IS) and Business Strategy in order to increase the overall performance of their businesses.

PhD. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The study aimed to analyse the relationship between internal management systems, innovativeness, and the sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the South African manufacturing sector. Most of the studies in this regard were mainly focusing on large and well-established companies, and the focus would be found to be aligned to only one variable. Studies with reference to SMEs where a linkage amongst the variables is clearly established are limited, thereby providing an impetus to conduct this study. As a result of the changes taking place daily in technology and business operational policies, SMEs typically have to revisit their internal management systems, level of innovativeness, and sustainable measures. Such methods are intended to promote their existence, survival, and growth into the unforeseeable future. A quantitative method based on a positivistic research paradigm was adopted in undertaking the study. The sample consisted of 500 respondents, who were owners, managers, and employees of SMEs in Gauteng Province. The collected data were tested using descriptive and inferential statistics, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, Pearson Correlations and Regression Analysis. Application of factor analysis led to the extraction of two additional SME sustainability factors, namely Employee Training Outcomes and Corporate Compliance to Policy. Of the three internal management systems, only two factors, namely infrastructure development and employee training outcomes, exerted a significant positive influence on innovation. In turn, innovation exerted a significant positive influence on two SME sustainability factors, namely the nature of the product and social sustainability. The study has several implications. Theoretically, the study provides information on how internal management systems relate to innovation. As indicated in the results, only infrastructure development and employee training outcomes exert an influence on innovation and should thus be prioritised when attempting to improve the extent of innovation within SMEs. Likewise, innovation in SMEs results in benefits in terms of the nature of the product and social sustainability only. Practically, the study recommends that there is a need by the South African government through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Department to review their approach on SMEs so that they can obtain adequate resources to enhance their business success. Additionally, there is a need for both governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop initiatives where SMEs go through the incubation process. During this process, training and business advisory services will be offered for free to equip owner-managers with the relevant business skills. Areas of further research, as well as limitations, were also discussed.

Although the development of small businesses is generally considered important for income generation and job creation, there has been relatively little research in developing countries such as Ghana on understanding why some small firms succeed and grow rapidly while others do not in. This thesis investigates the influences on small firm growth rates in Ghana using data from a random sample of 252 manufacturing and services firms from the database of the Association of Ghana Industries. The general hypothesis is that, growth is a function of the characteristics of the entrepreneur; characteristics of the firm; strategic factors; environmental factors; and cultural factors. Consequently, the research tests 36 hypotheses drawn from the five main categories of variables using the turnover and the employment growth measures. It also uses logistic regression analysis to isolate significant factors differentiating rapid-growth firms from slow-growth firms. Overall, the research finds strong evidence which suggests that, perception of a market opportunity; university education; multiple founders; entrepreneurs with marketing skills; workforce training; new product development; presence of a clear vision and mission statement; majority non-family members in management and membership of professional or business associations were associated with rapid-growth firms. iv Factors which were significant in discriminating between rapid-growth and slow-growth firms but were more likely to be associated with slow-growth firms included threat of unemployment or actual unemployment as a motivation for starting a business; production skills; legal form (limited liability companies); access to external equity (post-formation); exporting; access to public or external aid; unionization and frequent management meetings.

In a complex and dynamic market economy, for stability and maintaining a high level of competitiveness, its participants need constant work on all the main aspects of the formation, distribution and use of profits at the enterprise. Indeed, it is profit that is the main source of financing the activities of a business entity, satisfying the financial interests of the owners of the enterprise, its employees and the state. The aim of the master's thesis is to develop guidelines for managing the profit of small and medium-sized enterprises. The work examines the genesis of the concept of “profit” and the theoretical and methodological aspects of managing the profit of small and medium-sized enterprises. The sources used educational and methodological and research literature, the results of empirical research of the author and corporate reporting data. In the master's thesis, an algorithm for managing the profit of small and medium-sized enterprises was developed, which is based on the choice of a vector for managing profit taking into account the proposed classification, which allows an objective assessment of the financial results of the enterprise to determine scenarios of its development. / В условиях сложной и динамичной рыночной экономики для устойчивости и поддержания высокого уровня конкурентоспособности её участникам необходима постоянная работа по всем основным аспектам формирования, распределения и использования прибыли на предприятии. Ведь именно прибыль является основным источником финансирования деятельности субъекта хозяйствования, удовлетворения финансовых интересов собственников предприятия, его сотрудников и государства. Целью магистерской диссертации является разработка методических рекомендаций по управлению прибылью предприятий малого и среднего бизнеса. В работе рассматривается генезис понятия «прибыль» и теоретические и методические аспекты управления прибылью предприятий малого и среднего бизнеса. В качестве источников использовалась учебно-методическая и научно-исследовательская литература, результаты эмпирических исследований автора и данные корпоративной отчетности. В магистерской диссертации был разработан алгоритм управления прибылью предприятий малого и среднего бизнеса, в основу которого положен выбор вектора управления прибылью с учетом предложенной классификации, что позволяет получить объективную оценку финансовых результатов предприятия для определения сценариев его развития.

Ph. D. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector has been receiving increased global attention from governments, researchers and management practitioners in both developed and developing nations as a vehicle for economic growth. The Zimbabwean SME sector has been on record as minimising the impact of the economic challenges on the economy thus proving the strategic role played by the SME sector in improving economic growth. Therefore, the Zimbabwean government has high hopes of resuscitating the economy through empowering the SME sector. However, the sector is inundated by challenges that have retarded its effectiveness in achieving the government’s expectations. Some key limitations and challenges include short life span of the SMEs, entrenchment of archaic business practices, lack of financial capitalisation and the failure to adopt a supply chain perspective of business. Although several solutions to the problem have been proposed and implemented, one solution that has not been fully tested relates to how people-centred knowledge management systems (KMSs) can be harnessed to improve the performance of SME supply chains in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between people-centred KMSs, knowledge sharing and supply chain performance (SCP) in the Zimbabwean SME sector. The study adopted a quantitative research method in which a survey design was implemented in collecting the data that were used to test the relationships on people-centred KMSs (i.e. communities of practice (CoPs), innovation management, organisational culture and social capital); knowledge sharing and SCP (i.e. time-related performance (TRP), cost-related performance (CRP), responsiveness-related performance (RRP) and operation quality-related performance (OQRP). A structured survey questionnaire was designed using measurement scales adapted from extant literature and it was administered to a sample of 580 SME owners, managers and employees who had some prior understanding of knowledge management, information technology and supply chain management. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25.0 and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) Version 25.0 statistical software. The data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistical techniques used included measures of central tendency, cross-tabulations, factor analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, path analysis and structural equation modelling. The results of the study showed that SME employer qualifications (Kendall-tau = 0.88; p=.000), work experience (Kendall-tau = 0.86; p=.001) and nationality (Kendall-tau = 0.79; p=.010) as well as SME business sector (Kendall-tau = 0.89; p=.000) can be used to predict SME life span in the Zimbabwe SME sector. The results also showed significant relationships between three people-centred KMSs, namely, CoP (β=0.639, t=9.656, p=0.000), innovation management (β =-0.337, t=-8.578, p=0.000) and organisational culture (β=-0.261, t=-4.083, p=0.000) and knowledge sharing. The relationship between social capital and knowledge sharing was insignificant (β=-0.076, t=0.177, p=0.859). Significant relationships were also realised on knowledge sharing and three process-based SCP sub- factors, namely, TRP (β=0.231, t=4.717, p=0.000), CRP (β=-0.082, t=-2.015, p=0.044) and RRP (β=-0.177, t=-3.621, p=0.000). No relationship was found between knowledge sharing and OQRP (β=-0.076, t=0.049, p=0.254). Moreover, knowledge sharing was found to have a full mediation effect on people-centred KMSs and process-based SCP while no mediation effect was found with network-based SCP. The study makes substantial contributions to the existing body of knowledge. Theoretically, it provides in-depth insights of people-centred KMSs in SME SCP for developing countries such as Zimbabwe, which is an under researched area, thus expanding extant literature on the subject. From a knowledge management perspective, the study proposes the utilisation of SMEs’ socio-demographic factors to predict SMEs’ continued existence, thereby enabling financial institutions to offer financial assistance to such businesses with confidence. For governments in developing countries, the study suggests that specific attention should be directed to knowledge-based supply chains that adopt people-centred KMSs and process-based SCP to consider them as a possible alternative in addressing performance challenges in SME sectors.

Background: Nowadays, organizations face an increased occurrence and magnitude ofsystemic risks in their supply chain. For SMEs, these risks are even more prominent due toresources and capacity constraints, especially if they are positioned within global trade dyadssuch as the Europe-Asia dyad. As is it reasonable to assume that the near future will see otherexamples of disrupting events within this dyad, this study focuses on SMEs in the Europe-Asiadyad facing systemic risks. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to uncover how European SMEs within Europe-Asiadyads can strategically navigate and optimize their SCRM approach to counter systemic risks,harmonizing the adoption of the SCRM process and a cost-benefit approach to enhance theirrisk preparedness. Methods: This study has a qualitative and deduction approach with an exploratory purpose.Data is gathered though semi structured interviews within five case companies. Findings/Contribution: SMEs who are more dependent on the Europe-Asia dyad usually havemore SCRM practices in place. As a result, SMEs with solid SCRM processes have an increasedlevel of risk preparedness. However, SMEs also aim to stay agile to leverage for their smallsize and limited resources. The empirical findings also show that SMEs with less preparednessoften rely on a fast and agile reactive measure to tackle risks in their Europe-Asia supply chain.This level of preparedness directly influences the level of which SMEs use CBA within SCRM,which the leads to even more preparedness to systemic risks. Furthermore, SMEs with a highlevel of preparedness utilize CBA on a more advanced level than SMEs who showcase lowerpreparedness. It also offers valuable insights for both academics and practitioners on optimizingSMEs' risk management strategies. Keywords: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) – Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM)– Europe-Asia Dyad – Systemic Risks – Risk Preparedness – Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)

La presente investigación se realizó con el propósito de estudiar el desarrollo de la resiliencia empresarial en los negocios de panadería; esto surge debido a la pandemia generada por la enfermedad de Coronavirus del 2019 y a la necesidad que presentaron las empresas de mantenerse funcionando a pesar de la coyuntura. Para ello se estableció como objetivo general el análisis de la resiliencia empresarial en las MIPYMES del sector panadero durante la pandemia por COVID 19 en la ciudad de Lambayeque 2021; se utilizó un enfoque cualitativo de diseño no experimental, cuyo instrumento fue la entrevista; se trabajó con una muestra intencional compuesta por los propietarios de 6 empresas que permanecieron activas durante la coyuntura y tuvieran un mínimo de 2 años dentro del mercado. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron identificar todas las estrategias que ayudaron a las panaderías a seguir funcionando, como también la falta de estructura organizacional en este tipo de negocios; concluyendo así en la presencia de la resiliencia empresarial en este sector y en la practicidad de su aplicación empírica dentro del sector panadero. / The present investigation was carried out with the purpose of studying the development of business resilience in bakery businesses. This arises due to the pandemic generated by the 2019 Coronavirus disease and the need that companies presented to keep operating despite the situation. For this, the analysis of business resilience in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the bakery sector during the COVID 19 pandemic in the city of Lambayeque 2021 was established as a general objective. A qualitative approach of non-experimental design was used, whose instrument was the interview. We worked with an intentional sample made up of the owners of 6 companies that remained active during the situation and had been in the market for a minimum of 2 years. The results obtained allowed us to identify all the strategies that helped the bakeries to continue operating, as well as the lack of organizational structure in this type of business; this concluding in the presence of business resilience in this type of business and in the practicality of its empirical application within the bakery sector.

Research in Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) explores howbusinesses of all sizes and digital maturity can strive to offer high-quality IT servicesto meet customers' needs in a changing world. By leveraging ITSM best practices andthe Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) framework, organizationscan ensure valuable service operations and continuous service quality improvement.Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) particularly require tailored processesand support to implement and adapt these practices to maintain competitiveness anddrive their development forward.This qualitative study examines a Swedish medium-sized IT service provider'sperspective on success factors for ITIL implementation and its use of operationalprocesses to contribute to ongoing research in ITSM and the studied business'sdevelopment. The findings highlight the business as a rapidly growing SME withperspectives on critical success factors differing somewhat from research and havinglow process maturity according to the ITIL Process Maturity Model (PMF). Finally,suggestions are made on how businesses like this and their process maturity can bestrengthened through clarifying roles, defining operational process metrics,terminology and documentation, as well as establishing a problem managementprocess. This supports ITSM research by viewing critical success factors in a Swedishcontext and by proposing how best practices can be used to enhance serviceoperations in an SME. / Forskning inom Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) utforskar hurverksamheter, med olika storlek och digital mognad, kan sträva efter att erbjudahögkvalitativ IT-service för att möta kundernas behov i en föränderlig värld. Genomanvändningen av bästa praxis för ITSM och ramverket Information TechnologyInfrastructure Library (ITIL), kan organisationer säkerställa värdefull drift av tjänsteroch kontinuerlig förbättring av tjänstekvaliteten. Små till Medelstora Verksamheter(SME) behöver särskilt anpassade processer och stöd för att implementera ochanpassa dessa för att bibehålla sin konkurrenskraft och driva sin utveckling framåt.Denna kvalitativa studie undersöker en svensk medelstor IT-serviceleverantörs synpå framgångsfaktorer för ITIL-implementation och dess användning avdriftsprocesser för att bidra till fortsatt forskning inom ITSM och den studeradeverksamhetens utveckling. Resultatet visar på hur verksamheten är en snabbt växandeSME med syn på kritiska framgångsfaktorer som avviker till viss del från forskningenoch har låg processmognad enligt ITIL:s Process Maturity Framework (PMF).Slutligen föreslås hur verksamheter som denna och dess processmognad kan stärkasav förtydligande av roller, definition av driftsprocessers mätvärden, terminologi ochdokumentation samt etablerande av en problemhanteringsprocess. Detta stödjerforskning inom ITSM genom att synliggöra kritiska framgångsfaktorer i en svenskkontext samt genom framtagande av förslag på hur best practice kan användas för attutveckla tjänstedriften i en SME.