Technological innovations in catholic institutions contribute to sustainable entrepreneurship in Zambia.
Item
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Title
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Technological innovations in catholic institutions contribute to sustainable entrepreneurship in Zambia.
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Description
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Master of Business Administration -Entrepreneurship
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Creator
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Kabaso, Exildah
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Date
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2023-09-27T09:54:43Z
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Date Available
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2023-09-27T09:54:43Z
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Date Issued
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2021
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Abstract
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Though there are many studies done on the contribution of the Catholic Church to national development, especially through provision of basic and secondary education, little has been studied on the contribution of the Catholic Church to the growth of entrepreneurship in Zambia. Other scholars have off course studied the stimulation of entrepreneurship by churches in Africa and the United States, for example, yet not specific on the contribution of the Catholic Church in Zambia.
This study examines the contribution of the Catholic Church to the growth of entrepreneurship in rural and suburban areas where the Church, through Catholic Trade Skills Schools (CTSS) and Religious Congregation’s Livelihood Projects (RCLP), attend to the socioeconomic needs of the poor people. The study determines whether the integration of new technological innovations in CTSS and RCLP, is largely contributing to the growth of sustainable entrepreneurship in the rural and suburban communities in Zambia.
The study shows that in the earlier years of the operations of the Catholic Church, many trade skills schools and livelihood projects were vibrant and sustained the welfare of the church and the poor people it served. Unlike Catholic basic and secondary education that has increasingly served thousands of people who today serve in high ranking positions in both government institutions and other organizations, the performance of CTSS and RCLP does not stand out. This could be due to poor performance or simply because the institutes have not been studied to bring their performance to light. Based on a few observations, the performance of the CTSS and RCLP seem to be going down with a few closing down without meeting the intended purpose of empowering the beneficiaries with entrepreneur skills and improved socioeconomic status.
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One would suppose that, while Catholic basic and secondary education has technically evolved and innovated, the trade schools and livelihood projects seemed not to move at the same purse in terms of innovation. Consequently, the institutes seemed not to meet the expected contribution to entrepreneur skills and improved social economic status of the communities served.
The study largely used qualitative methods with very minimal quantitative design to ensure that the limitations of one type of method are balanced by the strengths of another. The study examines the extent of technological innovation in CTSS and RCLP, including the physical presence of machinery or equipment such as advancement from simple manual farm equipment to mechanized agriculture. The study equally examines changes in procedures, ideas and processes, for example use of sustainable organic farming methods instead of chemical fertilizers.
Secondly the study reviews the socioeconomic impact of CTSS and RCLP on the communities they serve as a catalyst to adoption of such new innovations as entrepreneurship. The study also examines the influence that new technological innovations in CTSS and RCLP have in promoting Small Scale Entrepreneurship (SSE) in the local communities. Finally, the study brings to light the underlying factors behind the successes or failures of CTSS and RCLP in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship in the local communities. This study therefore links innovation to sustainable entrepreneurship in CTSS and RCLP and the communities served.
This study shows a direct proportional relationship between technological innovations, be they technical or non-technical, and sustainable entrepreneurship. The study also shows that there is a positive correlation between the introduction of new technological innovations in CTSS and RCLP and the growth of sustainable entrepreneurship in the rural and suburban communities in Zambia.
Key Words: Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability.
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Language
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en
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Type
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Thesis