A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award
of the Degree of Master of Business Administration in Corporate Management
(MBA-CM) of Mzumbe University.
After liberalization of the Tanzanian economy and the introduction of privatisation
policy, the government at different periods of time initiated a mix of policies to
promote SMEs. These policies brought many implications based on structure and
performance of SMEs.
The main objective of this study was to investigate the role played by these policies,
specifically on the areas of business training, accessibility of finance and the ability
of SMEs to increase their market share alongside big companies.
The study employed a descriptive research based on survey of a number of
respondents categorised into policy makers, policy implementers and entrepreneurs
(SME owners). The results of analysis show that there are wide differences on the
views in regard to the SME development policy in supporting the SMEs. In
addition, entrepreneurs characteristics and experience are found to have positive
effect on the development of individual SMEs. There are relative concerns about
the policy and strategies to support its appropriateness and the issue of finance and
the percentage share of SMEs in the market remained questionable.
The study recommended that, the government should adopt and review its policy
mix and also individual characteristics of SMEs and their environment should be
necessary inputs in a number of policies and strategies.