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Short-term debt is regarded as an important source of financing for Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is because it can be easily accessed and useful during times of emergent working capital shortage. However, short-term debt is the least researched among the components of capital structure, which explains why its contribution to the financial performance of small and medium-sized businesses still lacks empirical validation especially in the Ugandan context. This paper sought to determine the effect of short-term debt on financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design to collect and analyse the data. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select SMEs while purposive sampling technique was used to select one key respondent from each of the sampled 453 SMEs in Uganda. Primary data was collected using survey questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The findings indicted that short-term debt had a negative and significant effect on financial performance of SMEs as measured by return on assets. The study provides empirical evidence to support the propositions in the extant literature that short-term debt significantly hampers financial performance of SMEs. The study recommends that SMEs should adopt low cost operation procedures to improve profitability. This would lead to accumulated profits that can be used for investment purposes as a means of driving growth among the SMEs without resorting to borrowing. This paper suggests that further research should be conducted to establish the justification for the negative and significant effect of short-term debt on financial performance using qualitative approaches.

This paper analyses the influence of the Internet of Things (IoT) on business performance guided by the following objectives; assessing the influence of the Internet of things positively on sales and marketing strategies of business; to determine the influence of the Internet of things on resources management in modern businesses and to analyze the influence of the Internet of things on business profitability. The paper conducted exploratory research to study the Impact of IoT data on Business performance was conducted. Through the literature review process recently published papers on IoT and business performance including sales and marketing strategies, resource management profitability was gathered. Research papers, Journals, Internet Sites, and books were used to collate the relevant content on the subject. The analysis conducted by this study indicated that most published studies showed that IoT has huge potential for businesses across many sectors. The data collected through the implementation of IoT provide business with opportunities of increasing efficiency which improves sales and marketing, resource management, growth potential, and profitability. This study recommends that despite the challenges in the development of IoT technologies, it’s an implementation in businesses is inevitable as they seek to increase the performance.

This research examines the effect of financial literacy training and micro insurance on the financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana. This study aims (i)to determine the effect of financial literacy training on the financial performance of SMEs, (ii) to establish the effect of microinsurance on the financial performance of SMEs; (iii) and to determine the moderating effect of government regulations on the relationship between financial literacy training, micro-insurance and the financial performance of SMEs. The study was based on the financial intermediation theory and Schumpeter’s theory of innovation. The study adopted an explanatory research design, using a sample size of 260 SMEs in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on financial literacy training, micro insurance, financial performance, and government regulations from SME owners and microfinance institutions. Analysis of the data collected revealed that both financial literacy training and micro-insurance had a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of SMEs. The study recommends that the management of microfinance institutions that provide financial literacy training and micro-insurance should undertake a survey on the needs of SMEs and the specific challenges they face in accessing microfinance services.

In the current dynamic world, those with no or little access to key financial products and services suffer a great deal of disservice. This study examines the effect of remittance channels (commercial banks and alternative sources) have on financial inclusion and then check the moderating effect of money remittance regulation on the relationship between the remittance channels and financial inclusion in Kenya. It uses the World Bank and Central Bank of Kenya’s dataset on remittances and financial inclusion covering the period from 2009 to 2018. We estimate our model using the Ordinary Least Square assumptions to find the association. We find that remittances from alternative channels other than commercial banks influence financial inclusion in Kenya. We further notice that the money remittance regulations have no moderating effect on the relationship between remittance channels and financial inclusion in Kenya. Our results suggest that commercial banks are not able to appropriately sell their products and services to remittance-receiving households while fintech and other internet remitting service providers seem to roll on products and services that enhance the use of savings and credit facilities. We suggest that more avenues and policies should be enacted to foster the use of alternative sources while improving structures within commercial banks to empower financial inclusion in Kenya

This research examines the effect of financial literacy training and micro insurance on the financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana. This study aims (i)to determine the effect of financial literacy training on the financial performance of SMEs, (ii) to establish the effect of microinsurance on the financial performance of SMEs; (iii) and to determine the moderating effect of government regulations on the relationship between financial literacy training, micro-insurance and the financial performance of SMEs. The study was based on the financial intermediation theory and Schumpeter’s theory of innovation. The study adopted an explanatory research design, using a sample size of 260 SMEs in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on financial literacy training, micro insurance, financial performance, and government regulations from SME owners and microfinance institutions. Analysis of the data collected revealed that both financial literacy training and micro-insurance had a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of SMEs. The study recommends that the management of microfinance institutions that provide financial literacy training and micro-insurance should undertake a survey on the needs of SMEs and the specific challenges they face in accessing microfinance services.

In the current dynamic world, those with no or little access to key financial products and services suffer a great deal of disservice. This study examines the effect of remittance channels (commercial banks and alternative sources) have on financial inclusion and then check the moderating effect of money remittance regulation on the relationship between the remittance channels and financial inclusion in Kenya. It uses the World Bank and Central Bank of Kenya’s dataset on remittances and financial inclusion covering the period from 2009 to 2018. We estimate our model using the Ordinary Least Square assumptions to find the association. We find that remittances from alternative channels other than commercial banks influence financial inclusion in Kenya. We further notice that the money remittance regulations have no moderating effect on the relationship between remittance channels and financial inclusion in Kenya. Our results suggest that commercial banks are not able to appropriately sell their products and services to remittance-receiving households while fintech and other internet remitting service providers seem to roll on products and services that enhance the use of savings and credit facilities. We suggest that more avenues and policies should be enacted to foster the use of alternative sources while improving structures within commercial banks to empower financial inclusion in Kenya

Short-term debt is regarded as an important source of financing for Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is because it can be easily accessed and useful during times of emergent working capital shortage. However, short-term debt is the least researched among the components of capital structure, which explains why its contribution to the financial performance of small and medium-sized businesses still lacks empirical validation especially in the Ugandan context. This paper sought to determine the effect of short-term debt on financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Uganda. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design to collect and analyse the data. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select SMEs while purposive sampling technique was used to select one key respondent from each of the sampled 453 SMEs in Uganda. Primary data was collected using survey questionnaire. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The findings indicted that short-term debt had a negative and significant effect on financial performance of SMEs as measured by return on assets. The study provides empirical evidence to support the propositions in the extant literature that short-term debt significantly hampers financial performance of SMEs. The study recommends that SMEs should adopt low cost operation procedures to improve profitability. This would lead to accumulated profits that can be used for investment purposes as a means of driving growth among the SMEs without resorting to borrowing. This paper suggests that further research should be conducted to establish the justification for the negative and significant effect of short-term debt on financial performance using qualitative approaches.

This paper analyses the influence of the Internet of Things (IoT) on business performance guided by the following objectives; assessing the influence of the Internet of things positively on sales and marketing strategies of business; to determine the influence of the Internet of things on resources management in modern businesses and to analyze the influence of the Internet of things on business profitability. The paper conducted exploratory research to study the Impact of IoT data on Business performance was conducted. Through the literature review process recently published papers on IoT and business performance including sales and marketing strategies, resource management profitability was gathered. Research papers, Journals, Internet Sites, and books were used to collate the relevant content on the subject. The analysis conducted by this study indicated that most published studies showed that IoT has huge potential for businesses across many sectors. The data collected through the implementation of IoT provide business with opportunities of increasing efficiency which improves sales and marketing, resource management, growth potential, and profitability. This study recommends that despite the challenges in the development of IoT technologies, it’s an implementation in businesses is inevitable as they seek to increase the performance.