Download or read book Industrial Clusters and Micro and Small Enterprises in Africa written by World Bank and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2010-12-30 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Research Institute, and the Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development (FASID), in collaboration with researchers affiliated with the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), recently conducted a study on Africa s domestic enterprises to improve the understanding of the constraints micro and small enterprises in Africa face in improving productivity and expanding their markets. In Africa, there are stark performance gaps between domestically owned enterprises and foreign-owned enterprises in terms of sales performance, productivity, and ability to reach distant markets. Among others, size appears to be a dominant factor in explaining the gap. Against this background, the study analyzes how naturally formed industrial clusters concentrations of enterprises engaged in same or closely related industrial activities in specific locations could potentially mitigate constraints Africa s micro and small enterprises face and enhance their business performance. The study is one of the first comprehensive quantitative inquiries on industrial clusters in Africa. The analysis specifically focuses on the role of spontaneously grown clusters of light manufacturing industries based on a set of original case studies of industrial clusters conducted for this research project. One of the key findings from the case studies was that cluster-based micro and small enterprises are performing better than similar micro and small enterprises outside of the clusters in terms of sales performance and ability to reach distant markets. Market access is a leading reason for cluster-based enterprises to choose their current locations. However, cluster-based enterprises face another set of unique growth constraints. By the very nature of spontaneous agglomera tion, new enterprises continue to flow to the clusters seeking the profit opportunities and better access to markets at such locations. The result can be intense competition in addition to increased congestion. Space constraints often impede growth within clusters. The lack of alternative locations available for industrial activities in the same cities, generic infrastructure bottlenecks, and unclear zoning policies and their unpredictable changes limit firms location choices and constrain their mobility. While competition should improve efficiency, lack of capacity among those competing cluster-based enterprises to invest and innovate does not generate growth out of the competition. The vast majority of naturally formed clusters of light manufacturing industries in Africa are still at a survival level, where agglomeration externalities are only limited to expand quantity but not quality as we observe in more advanced innovation-oriented clusters in elsewhere in the world. Existing studies on such natural industrial clusters in Africa have found that the lack of managerial skills among entrepreneurs running micro and small enterprises is a major constraint for innovation and growth in the clusters. As a part of this study, pilot managerial skills training programs were conducted in two industrial clusters on an experimental basis, where a group of randomly selected entrepreneurs within the clusters were given three-week long crush course of based management such as bookkeeping, marketing, business planning, and production management. The impact evaluation of the experiments showed significant positive impacts of the training programs on value added and gross profits of enterprises. Raising the current survival-type industrial clusters, which have been formed as a coping mechanism to weak investment climate, into more dynamic innovating clusters will be an important avenue for fostering growth of micro and small enterprises in Africa. While national efforts to improve investment climate and investments in human capital are undoubtedly important, there could be more targeted policies to be formulated, in complementing general policies, to support growth of micro and small domestic enterprises using existing industrial clusters as a natural springboard for their growth. In that context, the study discusses the merit of cluster-based managerial human capital development to build steps toward more innovation-oriented clusters, the importance of sound spatial planning policy, particularly at the local level in the context of urban planning, the need to expand market access and economic linkages for industrial clusters including regional integration and linkages with large enterprises.

Download or read book Mapping Research and Innovation in the Republic of Kenya written by UNESCO and published by UNESCO Publishing. This book was released on 2023-09-27 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Digital Innovations Business and Society in Africa written by Richard Boateng and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-01-01 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For African enterprises, entrepreneurs and governments to take full advantage of new digital opportunities, they need a shared strategic understanding of where they are, what they have, and what they may need to have for the future. This book presents this shared strategic vision to guide future coordinated actions of African enterprises, entrepreneurs, consumers/citizens and governments in using new and emerging digital technologies. It showcases how consumers/citizens, entrepreneurs, organisations, institutions and governments are leveraging new and emerging digital innovations to disrupt and transform value creation and service delivery in Africa.

Download or read book Digital Kenya written by Bitange Ndemo and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-11-18 with total page 518 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. Presenting rigorous and original research, this volume offers key insights into the historical, cultural, social, economic and political forces at play in the creation of world-class ICT innovations in Kenya. Following the arrival of fiber-optic cables in 2009, Digital Kenya examines why the initial entrepreneurial spirit and digital revolution has begun to falter despite support from motivated entrepreneurs, international investors, policy experts and others. Written by engaged scholars and professionals in the field, the book offers 15 eye-opening chapters and 14 one-on-one conversations with entrepreneurs and investors to ask why establishing ICT start-ups on a continental and global scale remains a challenge on the “Silicon Savannah”. The authors present evidence-based recommendations to help Kenya to continue producing globally impactful ICT innovations that improve the lives of those still waiting on the side-lines, and to inspire other nations to do the same.

Download or read book Micro Small and Medium size Enterprises MSMEs as Suppliers to the Extractive Industry written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Implications of Information and Digital Technologies for Development written by Wallace Chigona and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 415 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book ICIME 2011 Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation written by Ken Grant and published by Academic Conferences Limited. This book was released on with total page 591 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Following on from the continued success of the European Conference on Information Management and Evaluation, we are delighted at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University to be able to host the 2nd International Conference on Information Management and Evaluation (ICIME 2011).ICIME aims to bring together individuals researching and working in the broad field of information management, including information technology evaluation. We hope that this year's conference will provide you with plenty of opportunities to share your expertise with colleagues from around the world.This year's opening keynote address will be delivered by Dr Catherine Middleton, Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

Download or read book Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Production Research Americas written by Fernando Deschamps and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-07-26 with total page 746 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents the proceedings of the conference and provides valuable insights into the issues facing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in the areas of sustainable operations and digitalization. It comprises a series of papers presented at the conference, covering topics such as: challenges faced by SMEs in a post-pandemic era; digitalization and its impact on SMEs; sustainable operations in SMEs; international market performance improvement in SMEs; SMEs infrastructure and integration with research, development, and innovation institutions; and SMEs participation in business networks. The papers offer a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs and provides practical solutions for those looking to help their organizations thrive in a rapidly changing business environment.

Download or read book The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Postconflict Reconstruction written by David Souter and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2013-02-11 with total page 119 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: infoDev is exploring the transformative role that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can have in post-conflict nations during the process of reconstruction. The case studies look at countries at different stages of post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, Liberia, Rwanda and Timor-Leste, and post-revolution in Tunisia.

Download or read book Public Sector Accountants and Quantum Leap How Far We Can Survive in Industrial Revolution 4 0 written by Akhmad Solikin and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-08-07 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Industrial Revolution 4.0 will not only cause job losses, but will also create new workspaces that may not exist today. It also needs to be considered by accountants in government because the processes of budget planning, budget execution, and financial reporting have used a large number of information systems. In the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the changes will be faster, marked by the emergence of such systems as supercomputers, smart robots, cloud computing, big data systems, genetic engineering and the development of neurotechnology that allows humans to optimize brain function further. Industrial Revolution 4.0 will disrupt the accounting profession. This proceedings provides selected papers/research on government accounting, accountability and integrity public sector accounting, financial accounting, accounting information system, auditing and assurance, corporate sustainability, forensic and management accounting, public and corporate finance, taxation and customs, open innovation in public sector accounting. The proceedings provide details beyond what is possible to be included in an oral presentation and constitute a concise but timely medium for the dissemination of recent research results. It will be invaluable to professionals and academics in the field of accounting, finance and the public sector to get an understanding of recent research.

Download or read book Impact of Micro Enterprises of SHG s on Poverty Alleviation written by Dr.A.MadhaviLatha and published by Archers & Elevators Publishing House. This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Advances in Human Factors Business Management and Society written by Jussi Ilari Kantola and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-06-26 with total page 709 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents practical approaches for facilitating the achievement of excellence in the management and leadership of organizational resources. It shows how the principles of creating shared value can be applied to ensure faster learning, training, business development, and social renewal. In particular, it presents novel methods and tools for tackling the complexity of management and learning in both business organizations and society. Discussing ontologies, intelligent management systems, methods for creating knowledge and value added, it offers novel insights into time management and operations optimization, as well as advanced methods for evaluating customers’ satisfaction and conscious experience. Based on two conferences, the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Human Factors, Business Management and Society, and the AHFE 2018 International Conference on Human Factors in Management and Leadership, held on July 21–25, 2018, in Orlando, Florida, USA, the book provides both researchers and professionals with new tools and inspiring ideas for achieving excellence in various business activities. Chapter “Convolutional Gravitational Models for Economic Exchanges: Mathematical Extensions for Dynamic Processes and Knowledge Flows” is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

Download or read book A Review of Kenya s Current Industrialization Policy written by Eric Ronge and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Smart Economy in Smart Cities written by T. M. Vinod Kumar and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-08-25 with total page 1094 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present book highlights studies that show how smart cities promote urban economic development. The book surveys the state of the art of Smart City Economic Development through a literature survey. The book uses 13 in depth city research case studies in 10 countries such as the North America, Europe, Africa and Asia to explain how a smart economy changes the urban spatial system and vice versa. This book focuses on exploratory city studies in different countries, which investigate how urban spatial systems adapt to the specific needs of smart urban economy. The theory of smart city economic development is not yet entirely understood and applied in metropolitan regional plans. Smart urban economies are largely the result of the influence of ICT applications on all aspects of urban economy, which in turn changes the land-use system. It points out that the dynamics of smart city GDP creation takes ‘different paths,’ which need further empirical study, hypothesis testing and mathematical modelling. Although there are hypotheses on how smart cities generate wealth and social benefits for nations, there are no significant empirical studies available on how they generate urban economic development through urban spatial adaptation. This book with 13 cities research studies is one attempt to fill in the gap in knowledge base.

Download or read book Enabling Enterprise Transformation written by Nagy K. Hanna and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2009-12-11 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Private enterprises in advanced economies have been learning to use information and communication technology (ICT) to innovate and transform their processes, products, services and business models, significantly improving productivity and competitiveness. Moreover, the ICT industry itself has become a major source of job creation and a contributor to economic growth and business transformation. A key question today is whether and how developing countries can learn to benefit from the ICT revolution, and what roles the government and private sector can play. Already, a number of developing countries have been inspired by the example of India and China, and are now seeking to jump on the outsourcing bandwagon. Nevertheless, with few exceptions in the developing world, little attention has been paid by policymakers and practitioners to invest systematically and proactively in ICT-enabled growth, poverty reduction and grassroots innovation. Most communities and small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, for example, face multiple constraints to adopting and leveraging this general purpose technology, and lack the capabilities for maximizing its potential. In "Enabling Enterprise Transformation", Nagy Hanna draws on his rich experience of over 35 years at the World Bank and other aid agencies as a development strategist and ICT policy expert, the most current research, and best practices from around the world to provide practical tools for promoting economic and social transformation through ICT. He assesses various initiatives to develop and diffuse ICT, such as innovation funds, incubators, parks, public-private partnerships, and comprehensive promotion programs. He argues for the strategic options now open for developing countries to participate in ICT production, to deploy ICT to transform industries and services, and to leverage ICT as a new national infrastructure for improving the business environment and enhancing the competitiveness of the whole economy. The challenge for leaders in developing countries is to create such social and institutional dynamics for learning about ICT use and adaptation at many levels. Lessons gained so far from programs to build these social learning and innovation capabilities at the institutional and grassroots levels should be shared among developing countries, and a dialogue among business leaders, policymakers, development agencies, educational institutions, and the general citizenry must be advanced.

Download or read book The Rise of Africa S Small Medium Size Enterprises written by Dr. Robin Renee Sanders and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2017-02-08 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ambassador (Dr.) Robin Renee Sanders new book on The Rise of Africas Small & Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) is an insightful examination of the dramatic shift in the development paradigm for Sub Saharan Africa driven in large part by the imaginative, innovative, and insta-impact leadership of the regions small businesses or SMEs. SMEs have helped drive economic development, growth and aided in increasing the size of the Continents middle class, Sanders says. With the Introduction to the book by renown civil rights leader Ambassador Andrew Young, and the Foreword by Sub Saharan Africas leading businessman, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Sanders book credits the determination of Africa SMEs and entrepreneurs (which includes African nationals, immigrants and African Americans) for stepping into the void left by 40-years of post-independence development approaches that had little impact on reducing overall poverty and creating jobs in the region. Africas dynamic entrepreneurial spirit of Generation-Xers and Millennials are and have formed SMEs and social enterprises that today are responsible for conceiving and inventing many of the new apps, and answers to address the regions age-old poverty issues, Sanders emphasizes. Africa SMEs are not only a key driver for jobs, but serve as an additional catalyst to grow the middle class. Sanders argues that it was the Rise of the Africa SME converging with technology and its mobility that has changed, over the last decade, the focus and direction of development in Sub Saharan Africa. The book has a few vignettes from Sanders diplomatic life and work as CEO of the FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative with Africa SMEs over the years, as well as regional examples of some of innovative things Africa entrepreneurs are doing in sectors ranging from agriculture and food security to energy and climate change. The book also walks readers through what donors, foundations and African stock markets are doing today to help in the SME space. Sanders ends with recommendations of what more can be done by donors, African governments, and the new U.S. administration to further assist Africa SMEs, particularly the group she calls the critical mass, and those at the fragile end of Africas middle class.

Download or read book African Economic Development written by Steven Langdon and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 596 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sub-Saharan Africa is at a turning point. The barriers to economic growth seen in the 1980-2000 era are disappearing and new optimism is spreading. However, difficult goals of eliminating poverty, achieving equity and overcoming environmental threats continue. This much-needed and insightful textbook has been written to help us understand this combination of emerging improvements and significant challenges. Opening with an analysis of the main theories relating to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, the book explores all the key issues, including: Human development; Rapid urbanization; Structural and gender dimensions; Sustainable development and environmental issues; and Africa’s role in the world economy. The authors use economic tools and concepts throughout, in a way that makes them accessible to students without an economics background. Readers are also aided by a wide range of case studies, on-the-ground examples and statistical information, which provide a detailed analysis of each topic. This text is also accompanied by an e-resource, featuring additional sources for students and instructors. African Economic Development is a clear and comprehensive textbook suitable for courses on African economic development, development economics, African studies and development studies.