Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Poverty Reduction in Africa addresses the vital question of why the millions of dollars of governments’ and international development interventions in the SMEs sector are yet to deliver significant and sustainable employment and poverty reduction in Africa. The book also addresses the question of how the SMEs sector can help in the eradication of poverty in Africa. The book also tackles the question of what policy makers, SMEs operators, would-be entrepreneurs and trainers can do to contribute to poverty reduction through the SMEs sector. To address these three key questions, the book has adopted innovative concepts and ideas that will appeal to the sensibilities of African policy makers, trainers, business operators and would-be entrepreneurs. For example, the existing literature on system thinking and spirituality in business is used to offer a novel approach and departure from the perennial focus on “technical training” and hardnosed pursuit of “individualised” business and personal goals as a means of developing entrepreneurs and crafting SMEs policy. The key features of the book are: • a focus on changing the mind-set of SMEs operators, policy makers, trainers and would-be entrepreneurs; • contextualising the role of SMEs in poverty reduction by emphasizing the relevance of the African worldview, belief systems and spirituality during policy making, policy implementation and training of SMEs operators and would-be entrepreneurs; • theoretical explanations to why good intentions in policy formulation and implementation do not deliver expected outcomes in terms of the SMEs sector’s contribution to poverty reduction; • practical guidelines on how SMEs can develop a poverty-related mission statement, business strategy and business plan within the context of poverty reduction; • personal development guidelines for SMEs operators and prospective entrepreneurs on how to develop poverty-related personal mission statements and strategies; • the introduction of spiritual poverty and system thinking as the foundation for policy formulation and poverty reduction interventions in Africa.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a driving force of the global economy, contributing up to 50% of gross domestic product in some instances. They also contribute to economic development through various channels such as employment creation, economic growth and poverty reduction, key elements of the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, in many economies the majority of jobs are provided by SMEs. However, despite their support of the economy, SMEs are prone to several binding constraints, such as access to finance and market entry, as well as exogenous shocks and crises, most recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on evidence from international experience, SMEs and Economic Development in Africa provides grounded solutions to challenges affecting SMEs, particularly in Africa, and offers guidance on how to build resilience to counteract future shocks. It also offers a number of policy measures which governments in developing countries may need to consider in order to encourage economic growth and development, such as increasing productive capacities, training, enhancing business ethics and professionalism and improving competitiveness. What makes this book distinctive is that fact that it brings together the literature concerning SMEs in one place, and using case studies, it showcases how policymakers can overcome the challenges affecting SMEs. The book also provides tested and practical remedies for African economies with a view to making SMEs a springboard for economic prosperity. The book will appeal to advanced students, scholars and researchers, as well as policymakers, development agencies and non-governmental organisations.

Digital Transformation in African SMES: Emerging Issues and Trends aims to shed light on the various advantages and drawbacks of the same along with the opportunities and markets that are emerging because of digital transformation. This book provides comprehensive insights into the role of electronic commerce in the success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, with a specific focus on Africa (Chapter 1). Chapter 2 explores the nexus between digital transformation and SME performance, offering perspectives from developing economies. The challenges faced by SMEs in Africa regarding the adoption of Big Data are examined in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 delves into the exploration of email marketing strategies among SMEs. Additionally, the book covers factors influencing the adoption of Big Data by SMEs in Africa (Chapter 5) and investigates the use of technology by SMEs and its impact on the firms (Chapter 6). Chapter 7 focuses on key factors and impacts related to the adoption of social media by Small and Medium Enterprises. The volume provides information for educators at all levels to obtain a complete understanding of the technology-based environment that impacts teaching and commerce. It also serves as a resource for policymakers, businessmen, researchers, and university and college students, interested in digital transformation in Africa.

This book places special focus on the importance of trust building, particularly in economies where formal legal arrangements are lacking. Taking the case of Africa, the author provides a framework of how indigenous institutions specify and define the rules, thereby allowing entrepreneurship to thrive. In particular, the book delves into the distinct evidence of institutional rivalry within Africa where competing institutions co-exist, leading to the emergence of dominant hybrid institutional forms. By placing enforcements at the heart of the issue, the author makes a convincing case for trust in a range of indigenous institutional arrangements. Based on an investigation of entrepreneurs operating across West Africa, the book explores how indigenous arrangements are sufficient in enforcing credible commitments to agreements. In the process, the author argues that trust is essential in stimulating entrepreneurial incentives in Africa. The book brings the real-world situation of local actors in live situations that almost every African entrepreneur can identify with. In a bold new step, the book attempts to show how African entrepreneurs have been able to respond to the specific socio-economic challenges of their environment and raises questions about the role of alternative indigenous institutions. For those interested in African studies, the book’s chapters and readings capture fresh insights and renewed enthusiasm for African entrepreneurship.

Digital Transformation in Education and Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Markets and Opportunities aims to shed light on the various advantages and drawbacks of the same along with the opportunities and markets that are emerging because of digital transformation. This volume encompasses diverse perspectives on the digital landscape for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It delves into the use of digital tools like Big Data, IoT, AI, and ML in Chapter 1, followed by an exploration of factors influencing online shopping adoption in SMEs in Ghana (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 sheds light on the digital transformation of African SMEs, while Chapter 4 offers insights into the consequences of digitalization for SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa. The subsequent chapters cover topics such as the impact of Big Data on SMEs' performance, digitization initiatives for African telecom service providers, the role of social media as a promotional tool for SMEs in Ghana, and the utilization of Artificial Intelligence by SMEs in Africa, addressing both benefits and challenges. The chapters provide information for educators at all levels to obtain a complete understanding of the technology-based environment that impacts teaching and commerce. It also serves as a resource for policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and students interested in digital transformation in Africa.

Smaller companies are abundant in the business realm and outnumber large companies by a wide margin. To maintain a competitive edge against other businesses, companies must ensure the most effective strategies and procedures are in place. This is particularly critical in smaller business environments that have fewer resources. Start-Ups and SMEs: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications is a vital reference source that examines the strategies and concepts that will assist small and medium-sized enterprises to achieve competitiveness. It also explores the latest advances and developments for creating a system of shared values and beliefs in small business environments. Highlighting a range of topics such as entrepreneurship, innovative behavior, and organizational sustainability, this multi-volume book is ideally designed for entrepreneurs, business managers, executives, managing directors, academicians, business professionals, researchers, and graduate-level students.

For many years, entrepreneurship has been considered as one of the most important solutions to the three-pronged challenges, poverty, unemployment and inequality, of most African countries. A recent development that has undoubtedly compounded the challenges that African entrepreneurs face and further impede the economic growth impact is Covid-19. This pandemic has exerted severe damage to economies and businesses globally. For the African setting, the implications of Covid-19 on businesses and individuals would be enormous, as African societies are rarely equipped to absorb unexpected shocks of this magnitude as the social and welfare schemes are far below requirements. This book illuminates entrepreneurship in the African setting, focusing on the prospects, challenges, and the post-Covid-19 pandemic future. It aims to offer a rich repository of information on strategies and techniques for sustaining entrepreneurial activities that can enrich African nations and will be of relevance to academics, researchers, advanced students, entrepreneurs, governments, and government agencies who are interested in understanding issues relating to entrepreneurship development within the African continent.

This book covers the following main topics: A) information and knowledge management; B) organizational models and information systems; C) software and systems modeling; D) software systems, architectures, applications and tools; E) multimedia systems and applications; F) computer networks, mobility and pervasive systems; G) intelligent and decision support systems; H) big data analytics and applications; I) human–computer interaction; J) ethics, computers and security; K) health informatics; L) information technologies in education; M) information technologies in radio communications; N) technologies for biomedical applications. This book is composed by a selection of articles from The 2022 World Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (WorldCIST'22), held between April 12 and 14, in Budva, Montenegro. WorldCIST is a global forum for researchers and practitioners to present and discuss recent results and innovations, current trends, professional experiences, and challenges of modern information systems and technologies research, together with their technological development and applications.

Smart and Resilient Infrastructure For Emerging Economies: Perspectives on Building Better is about pressing and multidimensional challenges faced in constructing resilient, sustainable, and smart infrastructure in developing countries. The 32 case studies, literature reviews, comparative analyses and systematic reviews, cover a wide range of topics, including: - sustainable and resilient infrastructure development - smart cities - digital innovation in construction - infrastructure investment - construction ergonomics - socio-environmental sustainability - gender equity, and - climate change responses The contributions present innovative solutions, impactful insights, and substantive contributions to the discourse on sustainable infrastructure development, and illuminate the interplay between infrastructure development, social justice, environmental sustainability, and technological advancement. Smart and Resilient Infrastructure For Emerging Economies: Perspectives on Building Better is essential reading for academics, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and students involved in the built environment, infrastructure delivery, investment in infrastructure, civil engineering, architecture, urban planning, environmental science, and other related disciplines.