Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe

Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Zimbabwe have received less research focus. To addresses this gap in the literature, this article analyzes factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail MSMEs. Data...

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Main Authors: Felix Tete, Laurine Chikoko, Conrad Murendo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Cogent Business & Management
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2024.2404476
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author Felix Tete
Laurine Chikoko
Conrad Murendo
author_facet Felix Tete
Laurine Chikoko
Conrad Murendo
author_sort Felix Tete
collection DOAJ
description Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Zimbabwe have received less research focus. To addresses this gap in the literature, this article analyzes factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail MSMEs. Data used in this article is drawn from a survey of 492 MSME owners/managers from Chirumanzu, Gweru, Shurugwi and Mberengwa districts of Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. Principal component analysis was used to compute the resilience index and multivariate linear regression was used for statistical data analysis. The regression results show that MSME internal resources proxied by asset value increased MSME resilience by 0.22 index points. A conducive environment improved the MSME resilience by 1.88 index points. Entrepreneurial orientation manifested through MSME support increased MSME resilience by 0.81 index points. Robustness tests using FinScope data also show that MSME internal resources, denoted by access to credit and financial capital, increased MSME resilience. Risk-taking and conflict resolution, which measure entrepreneurial, increased MSME resilience. Policymakers and business owners need to promote initiatives that improve access to MSME finance to increase their resilience. The public sector should nurture a conducive business environment with sound and predictable macroeconomic policies that foster business stability. MSME owners must constantly scan their business environment to identify opportunities to enhance their resilience capabilities. The government and private sectors should offer entrepreneurship training to MSMEs to build their resilience.
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spelling doaj-art-b37805d5c548415a8d56b92aabe4b06f2025-08-20T01:55:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Business & Management2331-19752024-12-0111110.1080/23311975.2024.2404476Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of ZimbabweFelix Tete0Laurine Chikoko1Conrad Murendo2Faculty of Business Sciences, Department of Management Sciences, Midlands State University, Gweru, ZimbabweFaculty of Business Sciences, Department of Management Sciences, Midlands State University, Gweru, ZimbabweResearch, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Save the Children International, Kabul, AfghanistanFactors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Zimbabwe have received less research focus. To addresses this gap in the literature, this article analyzes factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail MSMEs. Data used in this article is drawn from a survey of 492 MSME owners/managers from Chirumanzu, Gweru, Shurugwi and Mberengwa districts of Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. Principal component analysis was used to compute the resilience index and multivariate linear regression was used for statistical data analysis. The regression results show that MSME internal resources proxied by asset value increased MSME resilience by 0.22 index points. A conducive environment improved the MSME resilience by 1.88 index points. Entrepreneurial orientation manifested through MSME support increased MSME resilience by 0.81 index points. Robustness tests using FinScope data also show that MSME internal resources, denoted by access to credit and financial capital, increased MSME resilience. Risk-taking and conflict resolution, which measure entrepreneurial, increased MSME resilience. Policymakers and business owners need to promote initiatives that improve access to MSME finance to increase their resilience. The public sector should nurture a conducive business environment with sound and predictable macroeconomic policies that foster business stability. MSME owners must constantly scan their business environment to identify opportunities to enhance their resilience capabilities. The government and private sectors should offer entrepreneurship training to MSMEs to build their resilience.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2024.2404476Influencingresilience and performanceruralagriculturalretailmicro
spellingShingle Felix Tete
Laurine Chikoko
Conrad Murendo
Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
Cogent Business & Management
Influencing
resilience and performance
rural
agricultural
retail
micro
title Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
title_full Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
title_short Factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Midlands Province of Zimbabwe
title_sort factors influencing the resilience of rural agricultural and retail micro small and medium enterprises in midlands province of zimbabwe
topic Influencing
resilience and performance
rural
agricultural
retail
micro
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2024.2404476
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