Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T21:43:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Andre Luis Pelorin.pdf: 2364970 bytes, checksum: f3c5a6c51c8ba487176d716b995dd676 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-01 / This work seeks to understand a little more and discuss, available data from the Brazilian Institute of geography and statistics (IBGE), through its urban informal economy research (ECINF) generated in 2003 (latest available), aspects of informality, growth and use of credit. Search explore this context relevant aspects of growth and continuity micro and small business. To achieve this goal, seeks to understand initially concepts about these aspects (informality, growth and use of your credit) and their characteristics, and use secondary data and statistical software, browse to understand its relations, through ANOVA and data regression as well as optimal scaling contributing to the knowledge of this scenario. Data observated and compared with the theory suggests that relations between employers and selfemployed indicating factors adopted in the study which contributors and those that indicate little contribution within this context. In conclusions bait for a trend where the debit through the use of credit tends to generate more growth up to a certain point and from this inflecção tends to impede the activity as well as bait impede the formalization(AU) / Este trabalho procura entender um pouco mais e discutir, partindo dos dados disponíveis do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), através de sua pesquisa de economia informal urbana (ECINF) gerada em 2003 (ultima disponível), aspectos ligados à informalidade, crescimento e uso do crédito. Procura explorar, neste contexto, aspectos relevantes ao crescimento e continuidade da micro e pequena empresa. Para atingir este objetivo, procura-se entender inicialmente conceitos sobre estes aspectos (informalidade, crescimento e uso de crédito) e suas características, e através de dados secundários e com o uso de software estatístico, procurar entender as suas relações, através de ANOVA e regressões, bem como optimal scaling contribuindo para o conhecimento deste cenário. Os dados levantandos e comparados com a teoria apontam as relações entre empregador e trabalhador por conta própria indicando dos fatores adotados no estudo quais mais contribuem e os que indicam pouca contribuição dentro deste contexto. Em conclusões acena para uma tendência onde o individamento através do uso de crédito tende a gerar um maior crescimento até um determinado ponto e a partir desta inflecção tende a dificultar a atividade bem como acena dificultar a formalização.(AU)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:53:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VaniaSCC_DISSERT.pdf: 1266430 bytes, checksum: bb0efc87ad098a7372a42a87a2cdce0a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-11-20 / Funda??o de Apoio ? Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte / Knowledge and innovation were seen as major forces, both for survival, as the acquisition of competitive advantages in the Brazilian economy, as well as adding value to the product as a market differentiator. The Triple Helix model is directed toward the knowledge-based economy. Over the past six years, the Federal Government through the Financier of Studies and Projects ( FINEP ) invested in technological innovation projects, economic subsidies, about U.S. $ 1 billion supporting more than 800 projects with these resources. According to the MCTI , the Northeast, over the years 2000 to 2010 increased spending on Science and Technology (considering the activities of research and development more scientific and related activities) of the State Government in relation to its total revenue In 2000, 0.51% of total revenues were invested in Science & Technology, while in 2010 this figure increased to 1.31%. Among the nine Northeast states, Para?ba is highlighted. In 2000, 0.33% of its total revenues were directed to innovation, reaching 2.04% in 2010, the largest increase in the region while the RN invested 0.24% in 2000 and in 2010 reached the level of 1.42 %. According to IBGE, in the period 2000-2011, the micro and small enterprises surpassed the barrier of 6 million establishments. In 2000, there were 4.2 million establishments while in 2011 were 6.3 million active establishments. Therefore, throughout the period, there was a creation of approximately 2.1 million new establishments. Between 2000 and 2011, micro and small businesses have created 7.0 million formal jobs, 8.6 million jobs in 2000 to 15.6 million in 2011. This scenario shows the importance of this study in relation to the investment of governments in RD & I in micro and small enterprises. This study aims to analyze the interaction Universities - Business - Government in the development of innovation in micro and small companies in Rio Grande do Norte participants of the edicts of Inova FAPERN. We chose to adopt as a research method case study concerning the procedure of the research, exploratory, descriptive, and on documents with engineers and researchers of innovation projects approved by PAPPE Subsidy (Inova -RN I, II and III). Data collection was done through the report made by FAPERN entitled: " Evaluation of companies financed and supported by the Grant Program for Technological Innovation for Micro and Small Enterprises RN - INOVA -RN " (2010) and a questionnaire with 40 closed questions and 1 opened to 30 affirmative composed based on a 5-point Likert scale. The analysis of data was qualitative and quantitative. The study provided to identify the importance and barriers arising from the relation between Government Enterprise (micro and small) and University as essential to the economic development of the region. It was also identified that, in the innovation projects, 70% of the goods or services originating from research were to market these, 50% resulted in a patent for the company and 80% publications of scientific articles / O conhecimento e a inova??o passaram a ser vistos como importantes for?as, tanto de sobreviv?ncia, quanto de aquisi??o de vantagens competitivas na economia brasileira, al?m de agregar valor ao produto como diferencial de mercado. O modelo da Tr?plice H?lice ? direcionado para a economia baseada no conhecimento. Nos ?ltimos seis anos o Governo Federal, atrav?s da Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), investiu em projetos de inova??o tecnol?gica, subven??o econ?mica, cerca de R$ 1 bilh?o, apoiando mais de 800 projetos com estes recursos. Segundo dados do MCTI, a regi?o Nordeste, ao longo dos anos 2000 a 2010, aumentou os disp?ndios em Ci?ncia e Tecnologia (considerando as atividades de pesquisa e desenvolvimento mais atividades cient?ficas e correlatas) dos Governos estaduais em rela??o ?s suas receitas totais. Em 2000, 0,51% das receitas totais eram investidos em C&T, enquanto em 2010 este valor passou a ser de 1,31%. Entre os nove Estados, a Para?ba tem destaque. Em 2000, 0,33% de suas receitas totais foram direcionadas para inova??o, alcan?ando 2,04% em 2010, o maior aumento da regi?o. Enquanto o RN investiu 0,24% em 2000 e em 2010, alcan?ou a marca de 1,42%. Segundo o IBGE, no per?odo 2000-2011, as micro e pequenas empresas suplantaram a barreira dos 6 milh?es de estabelecimentos. Em 2000, havia 4,2 milh?es de estabelecimentos, enquanto em 2011 eram 6,3 milh?es de estabelecimentos em atividade. Portanto, em todo o per?odo, houve uma cria??o de aproximadamente 2,1 milh?es de novos estabelecimentos. Entre 2000 e 2011, as micro e pequenas empresas criaram 7,0 milh?es de empregos com carteira assinada, 8,6 milh?es de postos de trabalho em 2000, para 15,6 milh?es em 2011. Diante deste cen?rio, mostra-se a import?ncia deste estudo no que se refere ao investimento dos Governos em PD&I em micro e pequenas empresas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a intera??o Universidades Empresas - Governo no desenvolvimento da inova??o em micro e pequenas empresas do Rio Grande do Norte participantes dos editais do Inova da FAPERN. Optou-se por adotar como m?todo de pesquisa o estudo de caso, quanto ao procedimento da pesquisa, explorat?ria-descritiva, sobre documentos e com coordenadores e pesquisadores dos projetos de inova??o aprovados pelo PAPPE Subven??o (Inova-RN I, II e III). A coleta de dados foi feita atrav?s do relat?rio confeccionado pela FAPERN intitulado: Avalia??o das empresas financiadas e apoiadas pelo Programa Subven??o ? Inova??o Tecnol?gica para Micro e Pequenas Empresas do RN - INOVA-RN (2010) e aplica??o de question?rio com 40 perguntas fechadas e 1 aberta, para 30 afirmativas compostas com base na escala Likert de 5 pontos. Quanto ? an?lise dos dados foi qualitativa e quantitativa. O estudo proporcionou identificar a import?ncia e os entraves oriundos da rela??o Governo, Empresa (micro e pequena) e Universidade como essencial para o desenvolvimento econ?mico da regi?o. Foi identificado tamb?m que dos projetos de inova??o, 70% dos produtos ou servi?os originados das pesquisas foram para o mercado, destes, 50% geraram patente para a empresa e 80% publica??es de artigos cient?ficos

The business and economic advancement made the micro and small enterprises, they needed to be in line with the global market. And for that financial resources are needed. In order to meet the demands of the market, these resources can be obtained by own sources or through financial institutions that provide credit. Faced with the new needs of the market, micro and small companies in the state of Sergipe have sought borrowing from financial institutions as a way to foster its development. Given this scenario, we designed the following problems: Brazil´s Banco do Nordeste as developers of development in the Northeast has helped in the growth of micro and small businesses in the state of Sergipe in obtaining loans and financing of production and which impulses generated in state? This study presents the quantitative research method called panel data analysis with the variables loans: value added (agriculture, industry, services), the economically active population, average wages and formal employment in order to explain the possible development generated by micro and small companies Sergipe, to obtain credit to finance production from 2009 to 2012 and to identify the impact of these operations on employment levels of municipalities in Sergipe. The results, considering the variables applied demonstrate that the credit has no impact on job creation. The proposal for future work is to conduct a regional study considering other financial institutions. / O avanço empresarial e econômico fez com que as micro e pequenas empresas, necessitassem estar de acordo com o mercado global. E para isso são necessários recursos financeiros. A fim de atender as demandas do mercado, estes recursos podem ser obtidos por fontes próprias ou através de agentes financeiros que oferecem crédito. Diante das novas necessidades do mercado, as micro e pequenas empresas do estado de Sergipe têm buscado a tomada de empréstimos junto às instituições financeiras como forma de fomentar o seu desenvolvimento. Diante desse cenário, foi elaborado a seguinte problemática: o Banco do Nordeste do Brasil como fomentador do desenvolvimento na região nordeste tem auxiliado no crescimento das micro e pequenas empresas no estado de Sergipe na obtenção de empréstimos e financiamentos da produção e quais os impulsos gerados no estado? O presente estudo apresenta o método de pesquisa quantitativo denominado análise de dados em painel com as variáveis operações de crédito: valor adicionado (agropecuária, indústria, serviços), população economicamente ativa, salário médio e emprego formal a fim de explicar o possível desenvolvimento gerado pelas micro e pequenas empresas sergipanas, ao obter crédito para financiar a produção no período de 2009 a 2012, bem como identificar o impacto dessas operações no nível de emprego dos municípios sergipanos. Os resultados obtidos, considerando as variáveis aplicadas demonstram que o crédito não tem impacto na geração de emprego. Para trabalhos futuros a proposta é de realizar um estudo regional considerando as demais instituições financeiras.

O estudo aborda a utilização das redes sociais como plataforma de comunicação das micro e pequenas empresas de confecção. A pesquisa se torna relevante por discutir temas importantes na atualidade: comunicação de marketing por meio de redes sociais e micro e pequenas empresas de confecção, justificando-se ainda, pela dificuldade que as micro e pequenas empresas apresentam de realizar ações de comunicação de marketing devido ao elevado investimento que as mídias tradicionais exigem. A proposta do estudo é identificar como as micro e pequenas empresas de moda estão utilizando as redes sociais para a comunicação com seu público consumidor. Para atender a esse objetivo foram definidos os seguintes passos: (a) Identificar um panorama geral da utilização das redes sociais pelas micro e pequenas empresas de moda; (b) Mapear as ações desenvolvidas no Facebook por essas empresas; (c) Verificar a resposta dos usuários em relação às publicações das empresas;(d) Levantar as postagens dos usuários nas fan pages das empresas; (e) Identificar o potencial de propagação das mensagens. A pesquisa realizada foi de caráter exploratório, qualitativo e descritivo. Os dados foram coletados em dois momentos, uma observação não participante das páginas das empresas selecionadas e a aplicação de questionário nos gestores destas. A análise dos dados permitiu observar que embora a literatura apresente como vantagem da utilização das redes sociais o contato mais próximo com o consumidor facilitando assim o diálogo com baixo investimento, na realidade o que se observa são publicações com linguagem informal concentradas na divulgação dos produtos, tornando a fan page uma plataforma que se assemelha a um catálogo virtual, possibilitando inclusive a comercialização. A interação do usuário com a página concentra-se nas curtidas. Quando estes comentam ou publicam espontaneamente costumam abordar assuntos como: interesse em compra, elogio a marca e reclamações. / The research discusses the use of social networks as a communication platform for micro and small enterprises of the textile industry. The search is relevant to discuss todays important subjects: marketing communication through social networks in micro and small enterprises of the textile industry, justifying for the difficulty of micro and small enterprises to do actions of marketing because of the high investments that traditional medias require. The researchs proposal is identify how fashion micro and small enterprises are using social networks to communication with its customers. To achieve this target were defined the following steps: a) Identify an overview of the use of social networks by fashion micro and small enterprises; b) Map the developed actions taken by these companies on Facebook; c) Check the response from users regarding companies publication; d) Collect the posting by users on companies wall on Facebook; e) Identify the potential for programing the messages. This research had an exploratory, qualitative and descriptive character. The data base was collect in two moments, a non-participant observation of the social networks on companies pages and the application of a questionnaire with the companies managers. The data analyses allowed observing that although the literature presents as an advantage using social networks as close contact with the consumer, facilitating dialogue with low investment, actually what its observed is informal publications with informal language concentrated in disclosure of the products, making the fan page similar to a virtual catalog, sometimes even enabling the commercialization. The user interaction focuses on likes. When the user freely writes a comment ou something on the companies wall often approaches issues of interest, such as: buying, praise the brand and complaints.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The marketing universe of micro and small enterprises is widely competitive, which will be absorbed those that have higher quality and competence. In the quest for excellence, enterprises resort to administrative tools that can help achieve your goals. When it comes to goals, strategic planning is used because the interpretation it makes of the environment, guiding and adapting the organization the most appropriate way to achieve them. However, the micro and small business almost does not use the technique and the main reason is the difficulty of implementing the method. Under this scenario, this research seeks to evaluate implementation models of strategic planning in order to design a suitable model to the reality of micro and small Brazilian company, enabling it to implement this management technique efficiently and effectively for these organizations. To design this study, we used quantitative, qualitative, exploratory and descriptive methods. As a qualitative, the case study was the appropriate methodology for validation of the model, it was implemented in a small business. And to analyze the relationship between the micro and small enterprise with strategic planning an interview was conducted with 28 companies of this size. The proposed method has met the main requirement of ease of deployment of strategic planning, for the company where it was applied, there was no difficulty or excessive time to complete the steps proposed, in addition, it contributed to the reduction of administrative problems in these companies, as lack delegation and the difficulty of evaluating their strategies. / O universo mercadológico das micro e pequenas empresas são amplamente competitivos, onde serão absorvidas aquelas que apresentarem maior qualidade e competência. Na busca pela excelência, as empresas lançam mão de ferramentas administrativas que possam contribuir para alcançar seus objetivos. Quando se fala em objetivos, o planejamento estratégico é utilizado devido à interpretação que ele faz do ambiente, guiando e adaptando a organização da forma mais apropriada para alcançá-los. No entanto, a micro e pequena empresa quase não utiliza a técnica e a principal causa é a dificuldade de implementação do método. De acordo com esse cenário, essa pesquisa busca avaliar os modelos de implementação do Planejamento estratégico, visando desenhar um modelo adequado à realidade da micro e pequena empresa brasileira, possibilitando-lhe a implementação desta técnica de gestão de forma eficiente e eficaz para essas organizações. Para delineamento desse trabalho, foram utilizados métodos quantitativo, qualitativo, exploratório e descritivo. Como qualitativo, o estudo de caso foi à metodologia apropriada para validação do modelo, ele foi implementado em uma pequena empresa. E para analisar a relação da micro e pequena empresa com o planejamento estratégico foi realizada uma entrevista com 28 empresas desse porte. O método proposto atendeu ao requisito principal de facilidade na implantação do planejamento estratégico, pois na empresa onde ele foi aplicado, não houve dificuldade nem tempo excessivo para concluir as etapas propostas, além disso, ele contribuiu para redução de problemas administrativos nessas empresas, como falta de delegação e dificuldade de avaliação de suas estratégias.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work had as main theme relate entrepreneurship to the survival of micro and small businesses in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The overall goal was to bring arguments to the entrepreuners in order to potentializing the possibilities of success at opening of micro and small busines. To achieve proposed goal, this research was divided into two stages, each of these stages is presented in this document as a scientific paper. Initially it was performed a study that aims to identify the average rate of companies extinct in the five conties with the largest number of habitants of Rio Grande do Sul, except for the capital, Porto Alegre, and its metropolitan area. In the work s second stage the goal was to identify the mais factors that cause mortality of micro and small enterprises in the central region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The results demonstrated the hardest hit sectors of activities and interferences of the main factors causing mortality in companies compromising the development of the cities studied. / Este trabalho teve como tema principal relacionar o empreendedorismo com a sobrevivência das micro e pequenas empresas - MPEs no estado do Rio Grande do Sul- RS. Para isso, o objetivo geral foi trazer argumentos para os empresários, a fim de potencializar as possibilidades de sucesso na abertura de MPEs. Para atingir o proposto, a pesquisa foi dividida em duas etapas, sendo cada uma delas apresentadas no formato de artigo científico. Inicialmente foi realizado o levantamento do número de empresas constituídas e extintas nos cinco municípios mais populosos, exceto a capital, Porto Alegre e a região metropolitana. Após, fez-se o levantamento dos principais fatores causadores da mortalidade das MPEs na região central do RS. Os resultados demonstraram os setores de atividades mais atingidos e a interferência dos principais fatores causadores da mortalidade nas empresas comprometendo o desenvolvimento dos municípios estudados.

Micro, Small and Medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) represent 99.9% of businesses in the UK and they face significant challenges with regards to start-up, survival and growth. Their ability to deal with these challenges is assisted, in some cases, by the provision of business support funded by the public sector. Unfortunately, despite the volume of such businesses, there remains a significant lack of qualitative data into the MSME sector, and their use of university led business support. This thesis examined the business support agenda, the support needs of MSMEs, the role of universities in the provision of business support, and the needs of public funding bodies, with regards to economic sustainability and growth in the West Midlands. The choice to focus on the West Midlands region was largely pragmatic; the researcher has existing relationships with the small business community and University networks within the region allowing for a comparable study of stakeholders with similar environmental, political and economical challenges. Whilst the findings are therefore in relation to the West Midlands region, they have been compared to secondary data and theoretical frameworks in order to propose a contribution, which is applicable to a wider audience. The thesis adopted an exploratory, interpretivist methodology with an emphasis on the practical importance of the research results. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, surveys were used to collect data from MSME business owners, followed by in-depth interviews with university staff in order to produce institutional case studies. The surveys with MSME owners identified a need for support that was free, local, face-to-face and delivered by an organisation with a good reputation for delivering business support. The survey data also indicated confusion amongst MSME owners about the availability of support from universities, as well as questions around the quality of support provided by universities and its impact. The interviews, and case studies, revealed a significant level of interest, and a feeling of responsibility, from universities towards supporting the MSME community. However there were consistent challenges around funding, sustainability, resources, flexibility of delivery, and the longevity of any enterprise strategy. The research makes a useful contribution to knowledge through the development of multiple case studies and the development of a conceptual framework for a sustainable system of university led, MSME business support. The model, and analysis, considers the detailed experiences, challenges and opportunities from the stakeholders and proposed a sustainable support system. This contribution to literature provides a unique perspective for both practical application and for the research community to utilise further.

As micro e pequenas empresas (MPEs) são fontes geradoras de emprego e renda de um país, todavia, a maioria desses empreendimentos não conseguem sobreviver por muito tempo no mercado, e dada a essa informação, este estudo analisou os fatores que contribuem para o fechamento dessas empresas, como uma causa considerada relevante diante da importância que estas representam para o desenvolvimento econômico. Para tanto, a metodologia utilizada neste trabalho, segue o delineamento bibliográfico, por meio da pesquisa documental e de campo, utilizando-se do método descritivo-exploratório, com levantamento (survey), de natureza qualitativa, a partir de um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada realizada com os (ex) proprietários das micro e pequenas empresas que encerraram suas atividades entre janeiro de 2006 a julho de 2011, com sede nos municípios de Augustinópolis, Araguatins e Tocantinópolis, estes, pertencentes à Microrregião do Bico do Papagaio, extremo norte do Estado do Tocantins. Os resultados documentais desta investigação revelam que entre os municípios analisados, o município de Tocantinópolis representou o maior índice de mortalidade de empresas, no qual, o segmento comercial apresentou as maiores taxas de encerramentos. Em seguida, a pesquisa de campo evidenciou que fatores como a carga tributária elevada, falta de capital de giro, falta de assessoria contábil, mão de obra pouco qualificada, concorrência, falta de clientes, baixo faturamento, problemas de saúde, dívidas, pouca disponibilidade para dedicar-se a empresa, falta de planejamento e competência gerencial, foram evidenciados pelos entrevistados como principais causas para a mortalidade das empresas estudadas. Conclui-se que os condicionantes apontados nessa pesquisa ratificam os resultados apresentados por estudos já realizados por outros pesquisadores, como por exemplo, os estudos do SEBRAE. Assim, foi possível identificar que os fatores que contribuem para a mortalidade dessas empresas estão na maioria dos casos interligados as habilidades e visão de negócio do empreendedor, uma vez que, este tem grande influência no desempenho da empresa e sua eventual morte ou sobrevivência. / Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) are sources of employment and income of a country, however, most of these enterprises cannot survive for long in the market, and given this information, this study examined the factors that contribute to closing these companies, as a cause considered relevant given the importance that they pose to economic development. Therefore, the methodology used in this study follows the design literature, through desk research and field, using the descriptive method-exploratory, lifting (survey) and qualitative, from a semi-structured interview conducted with the (former) owners of micro and small businesses that closed their activities from January 2006 to July 2011, with headquarters in the cities of Augustinópolis, Araguatins and Tocantinópolis, these belonging to Microrregião the Parrots Beak, far north of the State of Tocantins . The results documented in this research reveal that among the cities analyzed, the municipality of Tocantinópolis represented the highest mortality rate of companies in which the commercial segment showed the highest rates of closures. Then, the field research revealed that factors such as high taxes, lack of capital, lack of accounting advice, skilled labor, competition, lack of customers, low income, poor health, debt, limited availability to engage in business, lack of planning and managerial competence, were seen by respondents as major causes of mortality in the studied companies. We concludethat theconditionsmentioned in thisstudyconfirmthe results presented byprevious studiesby otherresearchers, for example, studies of SEBRAE.. Thus, it was possible to identify the factors that contribute to mortality of these companies are in most cases interrelated skills and business vision of the entrepreneur, once this has great influence on the performance of the company and his eventual death or survival.

Purpose The aim of this thesis is to find out the perception of the usefulness of key performance indicators (KPIs) among Logistics service providers (LSP) who are in the category of Micro and Small enterprises (MSEs) companies in Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh. What is the perception of the usefulness of Key performance Indicators (KPIs) among the managers of LSP MSEs in Bangladesh? Methodology The data for this thesis was collected through qualitative research techniques through semi-structured interviews with 7 LSP MSE companies In Bangladesh. Theory Theory section highlighted the challenges LSP MSE companies continuously face. With an increasing number of companies, the number of LSPS are growing at a faster pace to support those companies. LSP MSE companies have to compete more in a vibrant market for which it is crucial for them to track the performance of their company and make continual improvements. KPIs are a performance measurement tool which can help the LSP MSE companies to be more competitive in the market as business survival is one of the main priorities of these companies.  Empirical findings, Analysis and Discussion This part presents the responses from the managers of LSP MSEs and then the narratives are explained with supportive theories. Findings show a moderate level of adoption of KPIs among the companies. With the right KPIs companies are able to turn the complex matter into a simple form with KPIs. KPIs can enable the companies towards better decision making processes with a clear picture about the direction. To improve the business performance, interviewed companies perceive that on time delivery, customer order cycle time, supply chain cycle time, on time shipping rate, number of customer returns, returns on investment, paying and returning customers are the most suitable for them. With KPIs they are able to act quickly when there is a downward trend in the company. Interviewed companies assert that KPIs provide a clearer view of the overall health of the organization than other performance assessment techniques.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree Doctor of Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / In 2006, the government-supported microfinance programmes implemented by the Kenyan government started lending credit to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) using a group-lending mode, a change which represented a paradigm shift from individual lending mode. The overall aim of this research is to provide an investigation of whether the transformation of this lending policy was backed by any theoretical and empirical support. Specifically, the entirety of this study is intended to give an insight of what might have influenced the change, what informed it and what might have been overlooked. To achieve clarity and the study aim, the research is compartmentalised into three discrete studies. In the first study, a historical investigation into the factors which hindered MSEs from acquiring credit was undertaken. The second study investigated the reasons MSEs were credit rationed. The third study investigated whether the problems experienced by MSEs, associated with lack of credit access (lack of credit demand and rationing), could have been mitigated by group lending. The research utilised quantitative research design, the first two studies utilised data derived from National MSEs Baseline survey conducted in 1999. The third study utilised primary data collected from micro credit groups of the Kenya Rural Enterprise Programme (K-REP) in 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. Various economic models and regression analysis were utilised in analysing different outcomes. In particular, the research utilised Univariate Probit, Bivariate Probit and Heckman Two-Stage Models to model various credit access outcomes. The study found that group lending largely mitigated information asymmetry- the main cause of MSEs failure to access credit. However, the study concludes that asymmetric information was not the only source of credit failure in Kenya. For group lending to work, or to have worked, it required support by other pro-MSE programme dynamics. This suggested that the government decision to change policy was partially informed by theory and practice. / D