MSID 4001/5001 MICRO BUSINESS / ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIES TRACK

INSTRUCTOR: GEORGE OMONDI E-mail: omondig@uonbi.ac.ke OR ohingatelo@gmail.com

A:

OVERVIEW
This course aims at enabling participants to appreciate the nature, role, environment and challenges facing micro businesses in Kenya. Micro businesses have special characteristics, are of various types and make special contributions to the social and economic development of Kenya. Students will be exposed to the challenges that face these enterprises and exploration of the possible solutions to these challenges. Students are expected to actively participate in discussions and share experiences as well as prepare themselves for the internship session.

B:

OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the course are to enable students to: ! ! ! ! ! Understand the nature and characteristics of micro businesses in Kenya. Understand the historical growth of the micro business sector in Kenya. Appreciate the types of and the environment of micro businesses in Kenya. Appreciate the contributions of micro businesses to the economic and social development of the people of Kenya. Understand the challenges facing micro businesses in Kenya and suggest plausible solutions to these challenges.

C:

CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION TO MICRO BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

2.

Meaning of micro business Characteristics of micro businesses Difference between micro business and small and medium businesses Environment of micro businesses in Kenya Historical growth of micro businesses in Kenya Legal forms of micro businesses in Kenya Nature of businesses in which micro enterprises in Kenya are engaged in.

TYPES OF MICRO BUSINESSES

1 MSID KENYA Learning Abroad Center Global Programs and Strategy Alliance

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

3.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF MICRO BUSINESSES TO DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA

4.

Social contributions Economic contributions Outline of the challenges Case Studies and Exercises Macro-level interventions Micro-level interventions Case Studies and Exercises

CHALLENGES FACING MICRO BUSINESSES IN KENYA

5. -

DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGES FACING MICRO BUSINESSES IN KENYA

D:

GRADING

The course will be graded using the following criteria Class Attendance and Participation 10% Final Term Paper 50% Final Examination 40% Total 100%

NOTE: FINAL TERM PAPER Each student will propose a topic from the broad MICRO BUSINESS area and have the COURSE INSTRUCTORS approval by the second week of the classroom phase. The student is expected to document both what he/she has experienced and learnt including but not limited to the classroom phase. The paper shall be ten (10) pages long, double spaced. It is end of term paper. It is due not later than end of last week April 2012. The paper will indicate on the top page: TITLE (TOPIC), YOUR NAME, COURSE CODE & TITLE and DATE.

E:

REFERENCES

MAIN TEXT Macaria, D. C. (2007) The Entrepreneurial Spirit: The Jua Kali Micro and Small Enterprises in Kenya, Nairobi: Loker Publishing Ltd. OTHER READINGS Englemann, E. (1991) Small Business Management, Nairobi: Stella graphics. Engels, S. (2008) Growing Sustainable Business in Kenya, Nairobi: UNDP Specific readings will be assigned to students for each of the topics to supplement material from the Main Text. 2 MSID KENYA Learning Abroad Center Global Programs and Strategy Alliance

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA