Purpose Notwithstanding that there has been increasing attention on factors that enhance SME performance in developing economies, there is a dearth of studies explicitly investigating the roles of government support systems and inter-firm collaboration. Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm and institutional theories, this study aims to model and examine how government support, inter-firm collaboration and managerial ties affect SME performance and further explores how firm specific resources mediate the relationships. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was used. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 438 SMEs operating in Zambia, a developing Sub-Saharan African country. Hierarchical linear regression and SPSS PROCESS macro were used to test the hypotheses. Findings Findings indicate that managerial ties have both a direct and indirect effect, through firm resources, on financial performance. Also, the relationship between inter-firm collaboration and financial performance is fully mediated by firm resources. Surprisingly, results reveal that government support does not have a significant effect on SME financial performance. Practical implications The study has important implications for SME managers and policy makers. It demonstrates that inter-firm collaborations and managerial ties enhance a firm’s financial performance. It also highlights the view that SMEs need to have firm specific resources to transform external resources, accessed from inter-firm relationships, into superior performance. SME policy makers are advised to focus more on policies and support mechanisms that promote inter-firm relationships at firm and managerial levels. Originality/value This study is one of the few studies to empirically show that the differential effects of inter-firm collaboration and managerial ties on SME performance are channeled through firm resources, in an under-researched developing Sub-Saharan African economy context. The study is also one of the few studies to reveal that government support is not significantly related to SME performance. Therefore, it provides valuable insights which could be applied to other developing countries with characteristics similar to Zambia.

PurposeThis study examined the factors that influence households’ intention to adopt solar energy solutions in Zambia. This, in view of low adoption rates of solar energy solutions even in the wake of a widespread electricity power generation deficit across sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has plagued the region with daily electricity load shedding lasting several hours at a time. Given the vast potential for solar energy generation in the region, solar energy solutions have become an attractive option to grid-based electricity, and many households have intentions of adopting these solutions.Design/methodology/approachThrough the lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the study surveyed adult household members in Zambia who contributed towards the household’s income. The participants were selected using the snowballing technique, which yielded a sample of 961 respondents. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe results show that attitude, trust, benefits and subjective norms influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions. Trust and benefits also influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions indirectly through attitude. Therefore, measures aimed at increasing the adoption of solar energy solutions should focus on improving the attitude, perceived benefits, trust in the solutions and consider subjective norms.Originality/valueThe findings add to the understanding of the factors that influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions in Zambia. Therefore, the findings can be used to inform measures aimed at improving solar energy uptake in Zambia. The study also reports on the previously unreported mediating role of attitude towards solar energy solution on the associations between perceived benefits and trust with solar energy solutions adoption intention.

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PurposeThe study examined perceptions and beliefs that influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions in the Zambian Housing Sector. This is important because empirical evidence for measures aimed at improving the adoption of solar energy solutions with SSA in general or a Zambian context, in particular, are largely missing from the literature.Design/methodology/approachHierarchical multiple linear regression was used to analyse quantitative data collected through an online questionnaire survey. A total of 947 valid responses were obtained from a convenient sample of household heads.FindingsThe results show that attitude towards solar energy solutions, subjective norms, perceived benefits, perceived trust, knowledge about solar energy solutions, load-shedding and social norms, in that order of magnitude, influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions. Perceived behavioural control, perceived risk and perceived cost did not influence the intention to adopt solar energy solutions.Originality/valueThe results provide empirical evidence of important factors to drive the adoption of solar energy solutions in Zambia. The results further show that knowledge about available solar energy solutions, rather than general knowledge about renewable energy, influence the adoption intention of solar energy solutions.

Zambia is a former British colony. I gained independence in 1964 and now ranks as one of the middle lower income countries even though it dropped from a ranking at independence. This history has had a bearing on entrepreneurship development in the country. This chapter set out to discuss urban entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in general, and Zambia in particular. The chapter discusses the socio-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 show case of factors influencing the location decision of entrepreneurs in 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.