Poor people benefit from microfinance and positively improve their poverty and socio-economic conditions. Microfinance support serves as development tool to redress the exclusion of the poor from the development process and outcomes in the mainstream intervention frameworks. As developing countries and poverty context are diverse and contextual, comprehensive knowledge about and empirical evidence on the impact of microfinance is scant. Specifically, the impact of microfinance services on the development of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) owned by women is scant. The findings of available studies and policy practice reports on microfinance in Ethiopia are not holistic in terms of a theoretical lens and methodological pluralism. Available studies do not consider the impact of microfinance and non-financial services on women-owned MSEs at household, individual and enterprise levels thereby reducing the poverty context and holistic empowerment at these levels. This study used multiple theoretical and conceptual frameworks: Hulme’s (2000, p. 79 - 81) microfinance impact assessment tool, debates on survivalist and growth-orientation perspectives of MSEs (Harvie, 2003, p. 27; Snodgrass & Biggs, 1996, p. 43; Hallberg, 2001, p. 19; Nichter & Goldmark, 2005, p. 67), women empowerment continuum model of interpretation (Filmon, 2009, p. 87) and policy practice at the epicenter of governance and policy decision-making (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital). The assessment considered three elements of microfinance impact assessment, generating primary evidence from 120 micro and small business owners (women entrepreneurs) whose firms stayed two years and above in the market and as clients of selected microfinance institutions. The clients considered were those who accessed at least two loan cycles and above. The respondents were randomly selected from three randomly selected microfinance institutions and a survey questionnaire was administered. The data sets were analysed using multiple tests (non-parametric statistical tests such as Pearson Correlation, Paired-Sample, Chi-Square, Wilcoxon Rank and McNemar tests) as well as parametric tests were conducted using logit econometric model. These tests were conducted to determine statistical difference of microfinance services after program intervention and the contribution of total loans taken on expenditure and businesses investment. The results indicated both developmental or survivalist firms. The result also indicated the empowerment of the women (MSEs owners). A significant number of women entrepreneurs owning MSEs improved their living house, cash savings, household income, child education, household health, household food and diet, business investment, and decision making status in their households. In terms of policy support, the study identified that there were specific affirmative interventions (as stipulated in the policy documents) to support women entrepreneurs owning MSEs in terms of targeted financial service, provision of working and selling premises, designing and implementing training and skill development programs, market networking and tax support on their products and sales. The study recommends that different institutions that work on women empowerment and women associations have to design women focused affirmative policy and strategy interventions to scale-up the positive results (growth-orientation of the MSEs) and address the bottlenecks that limit women entrepreneurs who own MSEs from accessing services that can transform the survivalist MSEs to profitable and empowering businesses for women. The recommendations are proposed to link women empowerment with working policy support. / Development Studies / D. Ph. (Development Studies)

Background: Research provides insights on the concept of sustainability in the field of supply chain management, by comparing the theoretical concept of SSCM and the practical understanding or focus of brand owners while representing sustainability. Research describes the value and significance of all three elements of sustainability to prevent brand reputational damage. By investigating and identifying effective ways to manage and improve supplier’s sustainability, the study contributes to the supply chain management field. Research aim: The research aims to highlight the concept of sustainability in supply chain management by consideration and integration all three elements of sustainability. More precisely, the study aims to display the importance of sustainability with supply chain partners for brand owners. Also identifying the effective ways that could support brand owners to manage and improve their supplier's sustainability. Methodology: A qualitative approach was followed, with semi-structured interviews that were conducted with five managers across four companies in Scandinavia. Findings: The research identified that product-based brands can improve their sustainability standards with suppliers by monitoring, motivating, and influencing them. Although it is not a simple process and comes with challenges such as certain factors like company size, the location of the suppliers and the relationship with suppliers.

The effect of the Civil War and Reconstruction on the southern planter elite remains a topic of interest to historians. Did the war ruin the planter class? Or, did they maintain economic, geographic, or social persistence? This study focuses on the persistence from 1850 to 1880 of five East Texas large planter families who owned one hundred or more slaves in 1860. An analysis of data primarily from county, state, and federal records formthe basis of this study. Four families persisted as wealthy influential members of their postbellum communities. One family remained geographically persistent but not wealthy. The experiences of these families suggest that large East Texas planter families found it possible to persist in spite of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Whether it is social stigma or state policy, abortion seekers are facing an intense amount of obstacles when it comes to accessing their abortion in Texas during the pandemic. To better understand how COVID-19 affected the landscape of abortion access, it was necessary to listen to the experiences of abortion seekers during the pandemic. Experts in the field of abortion advocacy were also interviewed to provide perspective on the trajectory of abortion access during COVID-19. Abortion seekers were screened through a survey to ensure they met the criteria of getting an abortion, living in Texas, and being 18+ while experts in the field were contacted through my personal activist network. COVID-19 exacerbated challenges that already existed in the landscape of abortion access in Texas. Misinformation and managing the tentative scheduling of clinics are two of the most prominent exacerbated challenges abortion seekers experience. This is followed by an increase in exposure to unsupportive families as well as the expenses that come with traveling to appointments. The additional COVID-19 related restrictions created consequences that embodied themselves as delays in receiving abortion care, a much lonelier process, and tentative employment. A positive outcome of COVID-19 is the potential of abortion care being integrated into Telehealth services that would severely decrease the public harassment abortion seekers and providers experience from antis standing outside of clinics, travel expenses, and the lack of privacy some might feel when going into a clinic.

El presente proyecto es una plataforma web dedicada a facilitar el alquiler de espacios temporales para determinados eventos. Los propietarios de los inmuebles y los clientes son nuestros dos segmentos de clientes, en base a la investigación realizada son principalmente de Lima Moderna y provenientes del NSE “A” y “B”, ya que estos segmentos demandan un mayor número de espacios. Asimismo, se identificó que los usuarios tienen cada vez menos tiempo para acudir al local y desean que todo el proceso de alquiler sea virtual. Por ello, optan por realizar la búsqueda virtual a través de diversas plataformas web y redes sociales. En base a la tendencia de los negocios digitales se decidió desarrollar Metro Cuadrado con el fin de solucionar el problema identificado, mediante la creación de una plataforma web que conecte personas para el alquiler de espacios específicos. El proyecto mostrará los diversos espacios disponibles para alquiler en 3 categorías: terrazas, matrimonios/fiestas y conferencias/seminarios. Para poner en marcha este proyecto se hizo un análisis de la industria: consumidor, competidores y otros factores externos. Como resultado, luego de una inversión inicial de 15,249.49 soles; el proyecto genera flujos de efectivo positivos desde el segundo año, con una utilidad neta de S/ 32,107.23 y una rentabilidad de 18% para el tercer año. En base a los datos obtenidos vemos a Metro Cuadrado como una idea de negocio rentable y escalable con un valor de S/ 164,770 y un periodo de recuperación de la inversión de un año y ocho meses. / This assignment is about the development of an E-commerce platform dedicated to facilitating rental services for three categories: Weddings and parties, business conferences and rooftops. For this business opportunity we have two types of clients: The Property owners and the clients interested in renting the spaces mentioned above. Conducting an investigation, we discovered that our target of clients are mainly from “Lima Moderna” and belong to the socioeconomic levels “A” and “B”. We also identified that these clients don’t have much free time to visit every space they would like to rent and that’s why they prefer to find these type of services online but maintaining the security and the quality of the process. Therefore, they choose to purchase products and services through various E-Commerce platforms and social networks. Based on the digital startups trend, we decided to develop “Metro Cuadrado” in order to solve the identified problem, which is the lack of flexibility of renting a space for a certain amount of time. By creating this platform, we give clients the opportunity to connect with specific spaces instantly and at the same time create another source of income for the owners. For the launch of this project, the following analysis was made: consumer habits and lifestyles, competitors and other external factors. In addition, we developed strategies which contain the necessary steps to be made for the viability of this project. As a result, after an initial investment of 15,249.49 soles; the project generates a positive cash flow on the second year, with an Net Profit of S/ 32,107 and a net margin of 18% for the third year. Based on the data obtained, we see “Metro Cuadrado” as a profitable and scalable business idea with a value of S/ 164,770 and a payback period of one year and eight months. / Trabajo de investigación

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science in the Department of Information Studies at the University Of Zululand, South Africa, 2017 / The need to manage tacit indigenous knowledge (TIK) through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools is imperative because it is at risk of becoming extinct without proper recordable and management systems. Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is largely tacit in nature and is mainly preserved in the memories of elders which is a risk to its documentation and preservation. We argue that ICT can be used effectively for enabling documentation, access and use of IK in the modern society. The study mainly focused on the types of ICT tools used for capturing, storing and disseminating IK in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. Specifically, the study investigated the use and types of ICT tools, in the management of indigenous knowledge, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. For the purpose of the study, five research objectives were used that guided the research questions. These research objectives included: discussing the nature of indigenous knowledge; evaluating the types of indigenous knowledge practices in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province; discussing the types of ICT tools currently used in the management of indigenous knowledge; discussing problems encountered in the availability and use of ICT tools in managing IK; and discussing strategies for improving the use of ICT tools in the management of indigenous knowledge. The theoretical basis of the study was informed by the Knowledge Creation theory (KC) by Nonaka as discussed in detail in chapter two. The study adopted a post-positivist research paradigm to enable multiple perspectives from participants/target population rather than a single reality. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were simultaneously used during a single phase of data collection. Quantitative data was gathered by survey method involving self-administered questionnaires with ICT users/beneficiaries. The qualitative data was gathered by both survey and qualitative content analysis largely through open-ended questions, which were embedded in the semi-structured interviews with owners or custodians of IK. In depth literature review and document analysis formed part of qualitative content analysis. The sample for the study was drawn from ICT users/beneficiaries and owners or custodians of indigenous knowledge in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Notably, the ICT users/beneficiaries consisted of researchers, information specialists and/or librarians, academic staff, students and/or trainees on IK, cultural officers, IK recorders, IK documentation centre managers, and journalists and artisans. Furthermore, respondents who were owners or custodians of IK consisted of traditional healers, diviners and herbalists, traditional farmers, traditional musicians, rural artisans, community elders, traditional midwifery, rainmakers, chiefs, and traditional food specialists and storytellers. The study employed probability and non-probability sampling where cluster, snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used at different stages to select the respondents. A total of 96 questionnaires were administered to ICT users/beneficiaries and 57 (59%) were returned. Additionally, interviews were conducted with the owners or custodians of IK. 224 owners or custodians of IK were sampled, however, 196 (88%) were interviewed. The quantitative data from the ICT users/beneficiaries was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). The qualitative data from owners or custodians of IK was analyzed through the use of qualitative contents analysis. The study acknowledged the wealth, access and use of indigenous knowledge in the province and showed that indigenous knowledge is not only used by indigenous people, as it is also being used by professional people for their own benefit. Many categories of traditional roles of custodians of IK have brought about the sustainability of indigenous knowledge practices in KwaZulu-Natal as it is still vital in these modern times and highly relevant in the areas of medicine and agriculture. Although KwaZulu-Natal has proven to possess rich indigenous knowledge practices, the knowledge is not sufficiently recorded with relevant ICTs for future use. There is a growing use of multiple ICT tools by institutions, IK centres and individuals to record or capture, store and disseminate indigenous knowledge which is quite positive. It is observed that ICT users/beneficiaries and owners or custodians of IK require ICT literacy to improve access and use. The challenges facing IK access are not uniform between ICT users/beneficiaries and owners or custodians of IK. The most crucial challenges among ICT users/beneficiaries and owners or custodians of IK was related to access to relevant ICT infrastructure and resources and lack of digital skills. The existing IK policy should be revised to accommodate rapidly changing ICT requirements of the sector. This study contributes to current literature and discourses on IKS; interrogates the applicability of knowledge creation theory and models to IK research; adds fresh data, information, and knowledge on IK research, particularly in South Africa; and proposes practical solutions to ICT application for IK development. The full thesis is available in the University of Zululand Institutional Repository and other publications from the thesis.

Small business owners are not acquiring U.S. federal government contracts at the government established target rate. The government's small business procurement goals remain unmet, which represents an underutilized source of revenues for many small business owners. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies of 3 small business owners operating in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area to acquire federal government contracts to increase profitability. The thematic findings were in the context of the resource-based view as the conceptual framework. The participants answered questions in semistructured interviews and provided organizational documents for review. Triangulation of multiple data sources and the constant comparative data analysis method led to 3 major themes: planning to target both government and commercial civilian customers through a top-down approach; developing core competencies including backgrounds and experiences and staffing choices to improve chances of success in obtaining government contracts; and knowing the company's audience, assets, and niche, which encompassed essential knowledge stemming from education and training oriented toward successful government contract work. Findings included the importance of planning before embarking on a process to bid for government contracts. Application of the findings may lead to a social change of higher small business revenues and lower unemployment, support for innovation, stimulation of the economy, and increased tax revenues to sustain government programs that can benefit society in general

A digital timbermarket helps forest owners reach out to severaltimber purchasers and be able to compare the forest companies’ price lists. The purpose of this study was to examine how the forest owners would respond to a digital timbermarket.The study analyzes if Swedish forest owners are interested in the use of a digital timbermarket. By using a web survey, the forest owner’s responses about a digital timbermarket have been collected and analyzed. The results of the study showed that most of the forest owners were positiveabout using a digital timbermarket. The forest owners who were positive usually had smaller properties, no education or work experience in forestry.Those who were most unwillingto use a digital timbermarket were mostly over 70 years old, had made more than 30timber sales and own forest properties over 300 hectares. / En digital virkesmarknad är en webbplats där skogsägaren kan nå ut till flera olika virkesköpare vid försäljning av virke, köpare somskogsägarna i vanliga fall inte nått ut till. Här finns även offentliga prislistor från flera köpare samlade och detta kan på så sätt leda till en trasparantare virkesmarknad. Frågan är om skogsägare i Sverige är intresserade av att sälja virke genom en digital virkesmarknad, där olika bud kan jämföras. Om skogsägarna är det, vilka skogsägare är i så fall öppna för en digitaliserad marknad och vilka vill fortsätta sälja på traditionellt sätt. För att ta reda på hur intresset ser ut, har en webbenkät publicerats på Internet där skogsägare från hela Sverige kunnat fylla i enkäten. Totalt svarade 173 skogsägare. Deras svar har sedan sammanställts och analyserats för att se vad som skiljer skogsägare som är intresserade av att sälja virke genom en digital virkesmarknad från de som hellre säljer virke på traditionellt sätt. Studien visade att majoriteten (72 %) av skogsägarna var intresserade av att sälja virke genom en digital virkesmarknad. De skogsägare som skulle kunna tänka sig använda en digital virkesmarknad vid försäljning av sitt virke har oftast mindre fastigheter, ingen skoglig utbildning, använder Internet dagligen, ägt skogsfastigheten mindre än 10år och därmed gjort färre virkesaffärer. De som inte skulle kunna tänka sig använda en digital virkesmarknad vid försäljning av sitt virke är oftast över 70år, fastigheten är på över 300ha och gjort fler än 30 virkesaffärer.

Detta examensarbete utfördes med syftet att analysera hur det ändrade konsumentbeteendet kopplat till den ökade e-handel har påverkat det fysiska handelssegmentet och hur detta har en direkt inverkan på fastighetsägares strategier vad gäller investeringar och ägandebestånd av kommersiella fastigheter. Vidare utreds om detta kommer resultera i att fastighetsägare tvingas ta en större del i leveranskedjan samt hur fastighetsägare bör anpassa sina affärsstrategier för en vidare lönsamhet.  Med den ökade e-handeln som utgångspunkt står den fysiska handeln inför en stor utmaning. Allt fler fysiska handelsaktörer tvingas till konkurs på grund av en minskad omsättning medan e-handeln växer för varje år som går. Med den ökade e-handeln växer behovet av innovativa och tillgängliga logistiklösningar i citynära lägen för att tillgodose konsumenternas behov. Covid-19 pandemin har accelererat detta händelseförlopp och medfört en ökad press på fastighetsägare som tvingas följa utvecklingen och agera för en fortsatt lönsamhet i framtiden.  Med grund i vetenskaplig teori har hypotetiska strategier tagits fram och ställts mot branschens uttalanden, i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer, för att kunna analysera marknadens förhållande till teorin. Sammanfattningsvis har studien visat att handeln kommer ha en betydande roll i det framtida samhället, men det kommer krävas en strukturomvandling av denna i kombination med en integrerad och flexibel handels-och arbetsmiljö med innovativa handelskoncept såsom pop-ups och showrooms, smarta logistiklösningar och ett brett service-och tjänsteutbud. / This thesis was made with the purpose of analyzing how the change in consumer behavior, as an effect of the increased e-commerce market, has affected the traditional retail market and how this affects the strategies of real estate owners’ investments and ownerships in commercial real estate. Furthermore, the study investigates if this will result in real estate owners being forced into a further integration in the chain of delivery and how they should adapt their strategies to see a future profitability.  With a starting point in the increasing e-commerce it has been shown that the traditional retail market is facing a tremendous challenge. An increasing number of commercial operators in the retail segment are forced to bankruptcy as an effect of decreased profitability while the e-commerce market is growing exponentially each year. The increased need for e-commerce calls for innovative and available logistics solutions in city-center locations to satisfy consumer needs. The covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the chain of events which has put pressure on real estate owners who need to follow the development and act reasonably to see a future profitability. Based on scientific theories hypothetical strategies has been developed and put up against the industry’s opinions in shape of semi structured interviews with the purpose of analyzing the output of these sources. In conclusion the study has shown that traditional retail will contain a prominent part of market shares, however it will take a major structural adaptation in combination with integrated and flexible retail and work spaces with innovative retail concepts in form of pop ups and showrooms, clever logistics solution and a wide supply of services.

Traditional investing is mainly concerned with creating a financial return on investment for the investor and hence disregards other non-financial issues such as adverse environmental and societal impacts. This negligence of negative impacts in the investment process is beginning to be addressed with the emergence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, socially responsible investing (SRI), and other sustainable investing types. Therefore, this thesis aims to establish if and how large Nordic institutional asset owners integrate sustainability and ESG concerns into their respective investment processes. Moreover, a secondary goal is to determine what type of investing the current investment processes of the seasset owners resembles most. The thesis utilizes a qualitative methodology in order to gather the necessary data-points. All the information in this thesis comes from publicly available sources such as annual reports and sustainability reports. The study found that the asset owners analyzed utilize ESG integration in their investment processes. The asset owners have specific guidelines that pertain to ESG issues, and screen for non-compliance to ensure that investments with potentially detrimental effects on society are excluded from their respective portfolios. Aminority of the asset owners also utilizes best-in-class screening to identify investments with the strongest ESG performance. Hence, the asset owners, in general, are located between SRI and ESG investing on the motivation spectrum.