Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Zambia:The engagement in and effect of sustainable practices in small and medium-sized enterprises

Masurel, E. [Promotor]Paas, L.J. [Promotor]Burg, J.C. van [Copromotor]Lungu, J.M. [Copromotor

Factors influencing the identification of sustainable opportunities by SMEs: Empirical evidence from Zambia

This study uses the model of Patzelt and Shepherd (2011) to examine the factors influencing the identification of sustainable opportunities among SMEs in a developing country, Zambia. The factors under investigation include knowledge of the natural/social environment, perception of threats to the natural/social environment, altruism towards others and entrepreneurial knowledge. We interviewed 220 owner-managers in the trading and service sector who supply goods and services to the mining industry in Zambia. We found that altruism towards others was partially supported by our empirical results while the positive effects of knowledge of the natural/social environment and perception of threats to the natural/social environment on the identification of sustainable opportunities were not supported. Contrary to our expectations, entrepreneurial knowledge does not positively moderate the relationship between explanatory variables and the identification of sustainable opportunities. In sum, we found only limited empirical support for the model of Patzelt and Shepherd (2011) concerning the identification of sustainable opportunities. Our findings contribute to literature on entrepreneurship and sustainable opportunity identification by showing what factors influence the identification of sustainable opportunities. This can help us to create awareness among entrepreneurs regarding the effects of entrepreneurial activities on the environment and society; consequently, stimulating entrepreneurs to identify sustainable opportunities

Depression in African American Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Exploration of Symptoms, Coping Strategies and the Potential Benefits of Religiosity

Presentation given at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Conference. Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects 1 in 365 African Americans. Adults with SCD face many challenges of living with a chronic condition that necessitates lifelong medical management that may predispose them to the risk of depressive symptoms. Comorbid depression is associated with worse increased hospitalization rates and high healthcare utilization. In addition there is a shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural communities to meet the needs of individuals with comorbid depression. Adults with SCD often use religiosity to cope with the physical symptoms. Religiosity may be a non-medical strategy to facilitate coping with depressive symptoms in SCD. This study describes depressive symptoms and explores acceptability of religiosity as a coping strategy among adults with SCD. Description: Thirty in-depth interviews, along with a demographic questionnaires, were conducted with adults with SCD residing in rural communities. Participants were recruited during a hematology appointment at one of the three Sickle Cell Clinics affiliated with Augusta University Medical Center. Results are currently being analyzed using MAXQDA. Lessons Learned: Results from the present study will inform providers of culturally-sensitive recommendations to benefit patients experiencing low to moderate levels of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8 score of less than 10). Findings will also be useful to community-based organizations and caregivers who serve as a bridge between the patient and the providers. Recommendations/Implications: The results of this study will be an addition to the literature, informing providers who work with African Americans with SCD of coping strategies to recommend, conjointly with recommending resources for mental health services referrals. Knowledge of other coping strategies for patients in which counseling and medication are not viable options could potentially increase the number of African Americans who are able to manage depressive symptoms

Corporate social responsibility motivations in Zambian SMEs

This paper examines the motivations of different forms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an under-researched Sub-Saharan African country, Zambia. The results show that internal motivations (financial motivation and moral and ethical motivation) are the reasons why SMEs adopt community-CSR and environmental-CSR practices in Zambia. In addition, the identification of sustainable opportunities also positively influences the adoption of community-CSR practices. External motivation appears to play no role at all for any form of CSR engagements. The reported findings inform entrepreneurs, academics and policy makers who want to promote SMEs’ engagement in sustainable behaviour in general and CSR practices in particular

The evolution of urban entrepreneurship in Zambia

Zambia is a former British colony. It gained independence in 1964 and now ranks as one of the middle lower income countries even though it has dropped from a higher ranking at independence. This history has had a bearing on entrepreneurship development in the country. This chapter discusses urban entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), in general, and Zambia in particular. The chapter further elaborates the social-political factors that have shaped the entrepreneurial landscape of Zambia, and the status quo of entrepreneurial activities in four main urban and large cities in the country. The last section provides an empirical showcase of factors influencing the location decision of entrepreneurs in one of the urban cities, Kitwe. The lessons learned from this chapter are: first, historical events in the urban, institutional environment shape entrepreneurial activities of the present day; second, the four main urban areas in Zambia have developed distinctive types of entrepreneurial activities; and third, besides institutional factors, entrepreneurs make deliberate, personal choices for establishing firms in certain urban locations, primarily driven by the attitude towards avoiding tax, perceived levels of institutional corruption, size of the informal business activities and the overall satisfaction and comfort of the entrepreneur in having the business in the residential areas where they reside