| dc.description.abstract | Small businesses are now increasingly being perceived as an important contributor to economic
growth and development. They make significant contribution towards employment and wealth
creation. They form the core of entrepreneurship. A groups' perception of entrepreneurship can
act as an incentive or a major barrier to starting and managing a group business. With investment
groups becoming a popular practice and a highly commendable way of mobilising resources and
growing investments which individual members of a group would have difficulty achieving on
their own, the success of enterprises owned by youth groups is of paramount importance. This
study investigated the influence of group dynamics, organisational learning and management
strategies adopted on small enterprise development among youth groups. The need for the
research arose due to problems of unemployment among youths and inadequacy of research on
youth group owned enterprises. It also responds to the intention of the government of Kenya to be
an industrialised middle-income nation by the year 2030. The research findings are of interest to
policy makers and academia. This research builds on prior studies which examined the factors
influencing youth entrepreneurship. In particular, the study utilises the concept of small enterprise
development to measure how group dynamics, organisational learning and management strategies
influence the perception and motivation of youth groups towards entrepreneurship as a viable
career option. The study comprised of interviews with youth groups funded by youth fund and
youth officers and interns. Thirty questionnaires were prepared and a total of 26 youth groups
were interviewed: a response rate of 86.6 percent. The study found that small enterprise
development among youth groups in Bomachoge constituency was generally poor. Group size and
purpose, business planning, financial and marketing management and establishment of business
networks are crucial issues which influence the ability of youth groups to start and run successful
small enterprises. The study also found that entrepreneurship training and education has a positive
influence on small enterprise development. This research provides evidence that group size and
purpose, business plan development and management and development of business networks need
to be considered in the design and delivery of small enterprise development programs targeting
youth groups if they are to have the desired impact on entrepreneurial intent. | |
