The Mediating Role of the Business Environmental on Entrepreneurship Development in Small to Medium Enterprises in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study examined the effect of external environmental factors on entrepreneurship development in small to medium enterprises in Zimbabwe (SMEs). SMEs in the Makonde District of Mashonaland West Region participated in the study.  A structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of 100 SME owners/managers. The independent variables were government, economy, education and technical knowhow and psychological factors. To test the hypothesis, correlation, regression analysis and independent sample T test were performed. The dependent variable was entrepreneurship development. The results of the study showed that environmental factors, such as government, economy, education and technical knowhow and psychological factors have a positive relationship with entrepreneurship development in small to medium enterprises in Zimbabwe.