Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
73
ISRG PUBLISHERS
Abb e ia ed Key Ti le: Is g J Econ Bus Manag
ISSN: 2584-0916 (Online)
Jou nal homepage: h ps://is gpublishe s.com/is gjebm/
Volume – III Issue - VI (No embe -Decembe ) 2025
F equency: Bimon hly
PLANNING BY MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES IN NGOMBE COMPOUND
OF LUSAKA IN ZAMBIA
Angela Chi amya
UNICAF UNIVERSITY ZAMBIA, Add ess: Plo 193, junc ion o Ka ubu and Kasangula Road, Roma Pa k, Lusaka,
Zambia
| Recei ed: 29.10.2025 | Accep ed: 04.11.2025 | Published: 22.11.2025
*Co esponding au ho : Angela Chi amya
UNICAF UNIVERSITY ZAMBIA, Add ess: Plo 193, junc ion o Ka ubu and Kasangula Road, Roma Pa k, Lusaka,
Zambia
Abs ac
The s udy explo ed how Mic o and Small En e p ises plan hei businesses du ing en i onmen al c isis, such as load shedding and
uns able uel p ices, in Ngombe Compound o Lusaka, Zambia. The speci ic objec i es o he s udy we e; o explo e whe he mic o
and small businesses make plans o hei businesses, o ind ou how hey plan hei businesses and o es ablish he kind o plans
mic o and small businesses make.
The s udy app oach was quali a i e wi h a case s udy design. Ten mic o and small en e p ises ook pa in he esea ch. Da a was
collec ed using a s uc u ed, open-ended ques ionnai e. The indings e ealed ha mic o and small en e p ises in Ngombe
Compound make single-use plans o speci ic plans as hey a e called in some li e a u e. The s udy e ealed ha mic o and small
en e p ises lack in o ma ion abou planning. Tha hey ha e no inancial capaci y and abili y o plan o long e m. I was also
es ablished ha mic o and small en e p ises engage in hand- o- mou h business. They do business o suppo amilies wi h daily
household equi emen s. These businesses ha e no enough capi al and skills o scale-up business. They equi e Go e nmen and
o he small business suppo o ganiza ions in e en ion, especially in imes like business down u n b ough abou by powe
sho ages and luc ua ing uel p ices.
Keywo ds: Planning, Mic o and Small En e p ises, Load shedding, uns able uel p ices
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
74
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
A Mic o and small en e p ises is an independen ly owned and
ope a ed en e p ise wi h ew employees, (be ween 1-10 employees)
limi ed esou ces, and capabili y han o he companies in he
ma ke . Some a e o mal while o he s a e in in o mal sec o .
Fo mal means hey ha e egis e ed hei businesses wi h egula o y
bodies such as he Pa en s and Company Regis a ion Au ho i y
(PACRA), and hey pay axes. In o mal businesses ope a e wi hou
any o mal documen a ion and do no pay axes, excep o daily
cash collec ions by he local municipali y (Banda & Hapompwe,
2023).
One o he p oblems ha Zambian businesses a e encoun e ing
oday is load shedding and luc ua ing uel p ices. Load shedding is
a delibe a e shu down o elec ici y in pa s o a sys em o manage
demand and p e en he sys em om collapsing (Ge ald e al.,
2020). Uns able uel p ices compound he si ua ion. Inc ease in
uel p ices esul s in o inc ease in p ices o goods and se ices.
Small business ace se e e dis up ions when powe cu s a e
unexpec ed. Ope a ions a e a ec ed esul ing in o missed deadlines
and loss o cus ome s. O e coming, hese challenges call o
in es men in al e na i e sus ainable ene gy solu ions o ensu e
business esilience and os e economic de elopmen and g ow h
(Guide o Pandemic Planning, 2020)
Howe e , gi en he inancial s anding o small businesses, he high
cos o al e na i e powe sou ces like gene a o s, which s ain
al eady igh budge s and educing p o i abili y (Nan & Pa k,
2022). Small en e p ises s uggle wi h he inancial bu den
imposed by load shedding. In es ing in al e na i e sou ces o
ene gy, come wi h subs an ial cos s, ini ial pu chase expenses,
ongoing main enance, and uel cos s s ain al eady limi ed
inancial esou ces. Fo mic o and small en e p ises, hese
expenses can quickly e ode p o i abili y and h ea en sus ainabili y.
Mic o and small en e p ises ha e nei he he capaci y o secu e
al e na i e eliable and sus ainable sou ces o ene gy. Elec ici y
sho ages inc ease he cos o doing business and educe p o i s
(Nyuu , 2015). Businesses dealing in pe ishable goods, such as
g oce ies, bu che ies o es au an s a e pa icula ly ulne able.
Powe ou age dis up s e ige a ion and s o age, jeopa dizing
p oduc quali y and sa e y. This dis up ion cascades h ough he
supply chain, a ec ing supplie s, dis ibu o s and consume s.
This case s udy aims o explo e how Mic o and Small En e p ises,
in Ngombe Compound o Lusaka in Zambia, plan hei business
du ing load shedding and uns able uel p ices.
Ngombe Compound is a low cos , high-densi y se lemen si ua ed
10km om he cen al business dis ic o Lusaka, bo de ing
Kalundu o he sou h, Chudleigh o he eas , Roma o he wes , and
Chamba Valley o he no h. I has a popula ion o app oxima ely
145,000 pe sons, o which 58% a e emales and 42% males.
Ngombe compound si s on 934 squa e me e s o mos ly high land
(UN Wo ld U baniza ion P ospec s, 2024). I is a home o many
unemployed indi iduals, who su i e h ough engaging in small
businesses. Ngombe compound is g adually expanding and
de eloping wi h mode n housing uni s buil by people coming o
Ngombe om o he a eas. Some esiden s a e in o mal
employmen , mos ly ci il se an s ha include eache s, heal h
wo ke s and police o ice s. O he s a e d i e s and secu i y gua ds.
Majo i y o esiden s a e in in o mal sec o . They own small
businesses o su i al. Businesses include small es au an s,
ba be shops and hai salons, mobile money agen s, welde s; mobile
phone accesso ies epai shops, g oce ies, bu che ies and second
hand clo hes sales (UN Wo ld U baniza ion P ospec s, 2024).
Planning is impo an because i p o ides a sense o di ec ion o an
en e p ise. Du ing planning, objec i es a e de e mined, and
ac i i ies p oposed o implemen o achie e se objec i es (Lo &
Sugia o, 2021). Wi hou planning, an en e p ise would lose sense
o di ec ion and disin eg a e. Planning is he key o he success o
an o ganiza ion. In ac , a company‘s achie emen is mos ly
a ibu ed o ca e ul planning. I is wi hin he planning unc ion ha
goals a e de e mined, decision-making akes place, he u u e is
o ecas ed and s a egies a e ini ia ed (Masoud e al., 2022). Thus,
planning is impo an in all ypes o o ganiza ions—business o
non-business, p i a e o public sec o , and small o la ge.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The mos common issues ha mic o and small en e p ises a e
encoun e ing du ing load shedding and uns able uel p ices is slow
business and losses. The business is no longe ope a ing he way i
used o be o e he in oduc ion o load shedding and unp edic able
uel p ices. Mic o and small en e p ises a e inding i di icul o
plan hei business. Those in bu che y and es au an business a e
inding i di icul o s o e oods u s comp omising ood quali y
and sa e y. Businesses dealing in pe ishable goods o p oduc s o
which demand is ex emely ime-sensi i e, keeping in en o y is
no an op ion and misjudging he iming o quali y o o de s can be
cos ly.
In o de o succeed in business, mic o and small businesses equi e
o plan. Planning is impo an o guide he di ec ion o he business
and de e mine wha , who, when o he business. Planning is
especially c ucial du ing en i onmen al unce ain ies. All
businesses, including mic o and small en e p ises, ely hea ily on
elec ici y and uel o hei daily ope a ions. When powe cu s
occu unexpec edly businesses ace signi ican dis up ions.
Planning is o he u u e and he u u e is unce ain. Amids load
shedding and luc ua ing uel p ices, planning becomes a necessi y
o mic o and small businesses in Ngombe Compound.
OBJECTIVE
The main objec i e o he s udy was o explo e he planning o
Mic o and Small En e p ises in Ngombe Compound, du ing load
shedding and uns able uel p ices in Ngombe Compound o Lusaka
in Zambia.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
1. To es ablish whe he Mic o and small En e p ises make
plans o hei businesses in Ngombe Compound
2. To explo e how Mic o and Small En e p ises plan in
Ngombe Compound.
3. To in es iga e he ype o plans Mic o and Small
En e p ises make in Ngombe Compound.
To unde s and how mic o and small en e p ises in Ngombe
Compound plan, we need i s o discuss he ypes o planning
open o businesses. The e a e wo basic plans ha businesses can
decide o use.
STANDING PLANS
A s anding plan is a plan de eloped o a longe pe iod and o
di e en s a egies. The plan guides manage ial decisions and
ac ions on epe i i e p oblems. S anding plans, also called ‗long
ange use‘ plans p o ide guidelines o ac ions o be aken in
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
75
u u e. These plans p o ide uni y and uni o mi y o e o s in
mee ing epe i i e si ua ions a ising a a ious le els o he
en e p ise. S anding plans no only help in co-o dina ion bu in
e ec i e managemen also. S anding plans a e mos sui able in
simple, s able business en i onmen s. An example o a s anding
plan is a s a egic plan. A s a egic plan can se e o 5 o 10 yea s.
SPECIFIC PLANS
A speci ic plan is a once-o use plan. I is mean o sol e a non-
epe i i e and unique pa icula p oblem. This plan canno be used
epea edly. I becomes obsole e a e achie ing i s pu pose. Single
use plans a e designed o achie e a pa icula goal ha once
achie ed will no eoccu in u u e. They a e made o mee he
needs o unique si ua ions. The du a ion o leng h o single use
plan depends upon he ac i i y o goal o which i is made. I may
las one day o i may las o weeks o mon hs i he ac i i y is
long. An example o a single use plan is a budge .
BUDGET
A budge is a speci ic plan, a s a emen o expec ed nume ical
esul s, which a e measu able and mos ly inancial in na u e.
Financial budge s also known as p o i plan o he company,
includes expec ed income and associa ed expendi u es.
The mos common budge is cash budge . This budge es ima es
he expec ed cash in low and cash ou low o e a pe iod. Cash
in low comes om sales and cash ou low is he expenses incu ed.
METHODOLOGY
The app oach o he s udy was quali a i e wi h a case s udy design.
Ten esponden s pu posi ely and con enien ly selec ed ook pa in
he s udy. Quali a i e app oach helped he esea che o ob ain
in o ma ion di ec ly om Mic o and Small En e p ise owne s
(Bojana e al., 2020). In o ma ion was collec ed using s uc u e
open-ended ques ions. Da a was analyzed and in e p e ed wi h
hema ic analysis echnique.
LITERATURE REVIEW
TEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Con ingency Theo y
Con ingency heo y p o ides a aluable lens h ough which o
unde s and how mic o and small en e p ises (MSEs) plan amid
en i onmen al unce ain y. Roo ed in o ganiza ional heo y,
con ingency heo y posi s ha he e is no single bes way o
manage o o ganize a business; ins ead, he e ec i eness o
manage ial p ac ices, including planning, depends on he i
be ween he o ganiza ion and i s ex e nal en i onmen (Milne e
al., 2002). Fo MSEs ope a ing unde luc ua ing uel p ices and
equen powe ou ages, as is he case in Zambia, igid o o e ly
s uc u ed planning models may no be e ec i e. Ins ead, planning
p ocesses mus be ailo ed o he en i onmen al condi ions he
en e p ise aces. In his con ex , planning becomes an adap i e
mechanism, less abou p ojec ing long- e m goals and mo e abou
main aining ope a ional con inui y in he ace o dis up ion.
Businesses ha align hei planning wi h si ua ional con ingencies,
such as elec ici y a ailabili y o anspo cos s, a e mo e likely o
su i e and main ain pe o mance (Ge ald e al., 2020).
Con ingency heo y hus unde sco es he dynamic na u e o
planning in Ngombe‘s in o mal sec o , emphasizing he need o
eal- ime esponsi eness and con ex ual decision-making.
Resou ce-Based View (RBV)
The Resou ce-Based View (RBV) complemen s con ingency
heo y by shi ing a en ion o he in e nal esou ces and
capabili ies ha enable o cons ain planning. Acco ding o RBV,
he compe i i e ad an age o a i m s ems om i s abili y o
acqui e, de elop, and deploy aluable, a e, inimi able, and non-
subs i u able (VRIN) esou ces (Ga onne & Da idsson, 2013). In
he case o MSEs in Ngombe Compound, such esou ces may
include basic inancial capi al, echnical skills, social ne wo ks,
and in o mal ma ke knowledge. Planning unde RBV is shaped by
wha he en e p ise has a i s disposal. Fo ins ance, an MSE wi h
access o backup powe sou ces o s ong supplie ela ionships
may inco po a e hese asse s in o lexible ope a ional plans ha
o he s canno a o d. Con e sely, en e p ises wi h limi ed
esou ces may eso o minimal o eac i e planning ocused on
day- o-day su i al. RBV highligh s ha while en i onmen al
unce ain y plays a c i ical ole, he abili y o plan e ec i ely also
depends on in e nal esou ce cons ain s (O ley, 2016). The heo y
he e o e explains no only how en e p ises espond o ex e nal
shocks bu also why hei planning s a egies di e signi ican ly
ac oss simila en i onmen al condi ions.
EMPIRICAL REVIEW
Empi ical s udies in sub-Saha an A ica b oadly con i m ha
planning by small i ms is hea ily in luenced by con ex -speci ic
shocks. A me a-analysis o global s udies by B inckmann & Kim
(2010) concludes ha while business planning gene ally has
bene i s o small i m pe o mance, i s e ec i eness is hea ily
mode a ed by con ex ual ac o s such as i m age and en i onmen .
This aligns wi h A ican e idence: o example, a comp ehensi e
su ey o Ghanaian SMEs ound ha epea ed powe ou ages and
uel sho ages ha e signi ican ly cons ained hei g ow h and
p o i abili y. In Ghana, Agbola e al. (2020) ound a ―s ong
posi i e co ela ion be ween powe ou ages and educed
p o i abili y‖, indica ing ha planning and pe o mance a e deeply
dis up ed by ene gy ins abili y. Simila ly, a case s udy o small
en ep eneu s in Ki we, Zambia, epo ed ha load shedding has a
clea nega i e e ec on small business ope a ions. In ac , Ge ald
e al. (2020) obse ed ha many Zambian mic o-en ep eneu s (in
ba s, salons, and ca es) su e when elec ici y is a ioned, because
i o ces hem o cu wo king hou s o incu ex a cos s. These
indings echo a b oade e iew by A o deh e al. (2024), who
syn hesized dozens o SSA s udies and no ed ha ―MSMEs ace
dis up ions ha lead o educed p oduc i i y, ope a ional
ine iciencies, highe p oduc ion cos s, and supply chain
dis up ions‖ when powe is un eliable
Sou h A ican e idence shows simila pa e ns o coping in
planning. Fo example, Saah and Mbohwa (2024) su eyed SMEs
in a Sou h A ican municipali y and ound ha pe sis en load
shedding since 2008 o ced i ms o adap hei planning in speci ic
ways. Many en e p ises in es ed in backup powe and shi ed o
manual p ocesses, bu hese measu es we e expensi e and no ool
p oo . The s udy no ed ha o ―main ain ou pu , many companies
had o make adap a ions, including es ablishing backup powe
solu ions and mo ing o manual labou ,‖ ye SMEs ―con inue o
ace signi ican challenges because o he high cos o backup
sys ems‖. These ope a ional adjus men s illus a e how SMEs‘
sho - e m planning mus alloca e esou ces owa d simply
sus aining p oduc ion. They also unde sco e ha planning unde
unce ain y is eac i e: businesses in Ma ikeng, o example,
inco po a e gene a o main enance and secu i y measu es in o hei
ou ine plans o hedge agains powe cu s. Likewise, Ghanaian
SMEs in he manu ac u ing sec o we e ound o lose abou 10% o
p oduc i i y o ou ages each mon h, and he mos e ec i e coping
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
76
s a egy was no expensi e gene a o s bu changing p oduc mix o
ely less on elec ici y. Abebe ese e al. (2021) show ha
―elimina ing ou ages…could lead o an inc ease in i m
p oduc i i y‖ and ha i ms bes mi iga e losses by ocusing on
less elec ici y-in ensi e p oduc ion. This implies ha o wa d-
looking planning in such con ex s o en in ol es non- echnical
s a egies (like adjus ing p oduc lines o p oduc ion iming) ha
ma ch he i m‘s cons ained esou ces.
Fuel p ice ola ili y has a compa able impac on MSE planning and
ou comes. Mensah and Amoh (2022) s udied Ghanaian SMEs and
ound ha when uel p ices adjus sha ply, small i ms ―do no
pe o m well,‖ su e ing lowe u no e and p oduc i i y. They
obse ed ha p ice shocks in uel – a key inpu o gene a o s and
anspo – sha ply wo sen business pe o mance. This inding
e lec s a wide A ican pa e n: in Nige ia, o example, emo al
o uel subsidies in 2012 mo e han doubled p ices and was widely
epo ed o aise ope a ing cos s and dep ess small business
g ow h. In Zimbabwe, SMEs simila ly no e ha s able uel p icing
is c i ical o e ec i e planning: business leade s old epo e s ha
p edic able uel cos s ―allow business owne s o plan, manage
anspo a ion expenses e ec i ely and main ain s eady p icing o
hei goods and se ices‖. They explici ly wa ned, ―P ice ola ili y
can be de imen al o he g ow h and iabili y o small and
ledgling companies‖. In o he wo ds, when uel p ices jump
unp edic ably, mic o-en e p ises may be unable o ac o
anspo a ion and ene gy cos s in o budge s o p icing plans,
unde mining any long- e m inancial planning. Con e sely, as
Zimbabwean SMEs celeb a ed in ea ly 2025, e en a single ac o
like uel cos s abiliza ion can g ea ly imp o e small i ms‘ abili y
o p ojec expenses and e enues.
Toge he , hese empi ical s udies indica e ha MSE planning in
Zambia and he egion is p edominan ly sho - e m and adap i e.
Fi ms a ely de elop de ailed mul i-yea plans in such con ex s;
ins ead hey inco po a e con ingency measu es (buy ex a uel o
keep cash ese e), adjus p oduc ion schedules, o swi ch p oduc s
in esponse o e e y new cos shock o ou age. While o mal
s a egic planning has been shown globally o imp o e small i m
ou comes when en i onmen s a e s able (B inckmann & Kim.,
2010), in con ex s like Ngombe he e idence sugges s ha
success ul mic o-en ep eneu s ely on lexible ac ics. Fo
example, Ghanaian i ms o en used in o mal coping s a egies –
cu ailing p oduc ion hou s, changing ou pu composi ion o
p ocu ing gene a o s – a he han elabo a e o ecas ing models. In
summa y, he li e a u e om Zambia and o he sub-Saha an
coun ies con i ms ha ex e nal unce ain ies such as powe
ou ages and uel p ice ola ili y se e ely cons ain small i ms.
SMEs plan by embedding esilience in o day- o-day ope a ions –
in es ing whe e possible in al e na i e ene gy o secu ing supply
chains – and by accep ing ha o mal long- e m plans mus gi e
way o eac i e adjus men s. This body o empi ical e idence hus
unde pins he heo e ical p edic ion ha MSE planning is a
con ingen p ocess d i en by he in e play o en i onmen al shocks
and limi ed esou ces. A summa y o he empi ical e iew is
shown in he syn hesis ma ix below.
Au ho (s)
Coun y/Region
Focus A ea
Key Findings
Type o
Unce ain y
Implica ions o MSE
Planning
(B inckman
n & Kim,
2015)
Global
Business planning
e ec i eness
Planning imp o es pe o mance,
bu ou comes depend on i m size
and en i onmen
Gene al
unce ain y
Planning mus be con ex -
sensi i e; s able en i onmen s
enhance bene i s o o mal
planning
(Agbola e
al., 2020)
Ghana
Powe ou ages
and SME
pe o mance
S ong nega i e co ela ion
be ween ou ages and SME
p o i abili y
Elec ici y
supply
ins abili y
SMEs su e ope a ional
losses; planning cons ained by
eac i e needs
(Ge ald e
al., 2020)
Zambia (Ki we)
Load shedding
and in o mal
en e p ise
ope a ions
Powe ou ages o ce educed
hou s, less e ige a ion, and los
e enue
Elec ici y
supply
ins abili y
Sho - e m, eac i e plans
domina e due o unp edic able
elec ici y supply
(Saah e al.,
2024)
Sou h A ica
Adap a ion o
SMEs o load
shedding
SMEs in es in gene a o s and
shi o manual labo bu ace high
cos s
Elec ici y
a ioning
C isis-d i en planning; high
cos o con ingency esou ces
unde mines long- e m s a egy
(Abebe ese
e al., 2021)
Ghana
Powe supply and
p oduc i i y in
manu ac u ing
Powe ou ages educe
p oduc i i y; i ms shi o low-
elec ici y p oduc s
Elec ici y
ou ages
Adjus ing p oduc mix and
p oduc ion iming becomes a
coping s a egy in planning
Mensah &
Amoh
(2022)
Ghana
Fuel p ice shocks
and SME
pe o mance
P ice spikes educe p oduc i i y
and p o i abili y in small i ms
Fuel p ice
ola ili y
SMEs unable o plan anspo
and ope a ing cos s; budge s
equen ly adjus ed
(A o deh &
Gyam i,
2024)
Sub-Saha an
A ica
Re iew o
MSMEs and
ene gy ins abili y
Dis up ions inc ease cos s and
educe p oduc i i y ac oss he
sec o
Gene al
in as uc u
e shocks
Rein o ces eac i e, sho - e m
coping measu es a he han
long- e m s a egic planning
FINDINGS
The s udy explo ed how Mic o and small en e p ises in Ngombe
Compound o Lusaka, Zambia, plan hei business du ing powe
ou ages and uns able uel p ices. The s udy e ealed ha mic o and
small en e p ises a e inding i di icul o plan. The business was
slow and hence, a e eco ding losses. They a e no able o ope a e
he way hey used o be o e he onse o load shedding and
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
77
luc ua ing uel p ices. Those ope a ing bu che ies and es au an s,
o example, a e inding i di icul o s o e oods u s esul ing in o
he oods going bad and losing ou .
DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF PARTICIPANTS
GENDER
Se en y-one pe cen (71%) o he pa icipan s we e male, while
wen y-nine (29%) we e emale
AGE DISTRIBUTION. The age dis ibu ion o esponden s was
as p esen ed in he able below.
AGE
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE (%)
18 - 30
4
40
31 - 45
5
50
46 - 60
1
10
61 and abo e
0
0
TOTALS
10
100%
The majo i y o pa icipan s we e be ween 31 and 45yea s old
(50%), hose in he age ange om 18 o 30 yea s we e 40% and
he leas we e aged be ween 46 o 60 yea s (10%). The age
composi ion showed ha he popula ion is you h ul.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Le el o Educa ion
F equency
Pe cen age (%)
G ade 12
5
50
Te ia y
3
30
G adua e
1
10
Below G ade 12
1
10
TOTALS
10
100 %
The indings e ealed ha i e (50%) o he esponden s ha e
eached G ade 12 le el o educa ion, h ee ha e e ia y educa ion,
while one is a g adua e and he o he one has no eached g ade 12.
Educa ional backg ound showed ha he popula ion is li e a e.
The indings o he s udy a e e alua ed in line wi h he objec i es.
OBJECTIVE ONE: WHETHER MICRO AND SMALL
ENTERPRISES IN NGOMBE COMPOUND MAKE PLANS
FOR THEIR BUSINESSES
Mic o and small en e p ises, in Ngombe compound make plans o
hei businesses. The businesses equi e some kind o planning.
Res au an owne s plan he menu o he day and so he need o
know he quan i ies o ing edien s o he dishes and how much i
would cos hem.
The s udy u he e ealed ha mic o and small businesses
ope a ing bu che ies, g oce s, and second hand clo hes, make a
plan o know he cos and p o i hey would ge ou o he daily
sales. The s udy e ealed ha ba be shops and hai salons also
make plans o know he c eams and hai accesso ies o pu chase o
se e he cus ome s be e . Mobile money agen s, mobile phone
epai e s, and welde s do no make plans. Howe e , hey eco d
hei ansac ions o show wha hey ha e done on daily basis.
The indings clea ly indica e ha mic o and small en e p ises,
hough ope a ing in an in o mal sec o , engage in some kind o
planning. This aligns wi h he demog aphic ea u es o you h ul
age and educa ional backg ound. The Millenniums and Gene a ion
X a e ad anced in he way hey conduc hei business. E en mic o
business is o plan because hey ha e basic educa ion and o he s
ha e en ep eneu ial skills. The en i onmen in which hey ind
hemsel es in has p e en ed hem om being in employmen o
o mal businesses. The en i onmen al unce ain ies such as load
shedding and uns able uel p ices has con ibu ed o hei ailu e o
plan o o engage in speci ic plans o single use plans, ha help
hem o su i e and suppo he amily.
OBJECTIVE TWO: HOW MICRO AND SMALL
ENTERPRISES CONDUCT PLANNING
Planning by mic o and small en e p ises in Ngombe compound is
eac i e, o manage c isis. F om he s udy, i is assumed ha
planning is con ingen . The plans made a e o emo e o minimize
isks o unce ain ies o allow he business achie e i s goals. The
plans help mic o and small en e p ises ake decisions o ind
solu ions o o e come he c isis. I is a means o designing and
implemen ing plans, p ocedu es, and mechanisms o de ec ing
c isis, p e en ing, con aining, eco e ing and lea ning om he
si ua ion.
This planning, he s udy e ealed is pu ely a me hod o managing
c isis in he ligh o p epa edness, knowledge awa eness, a ailable
capaci ies, skills and p e ailing managemen pa e ns by
moni o ing in e nal and ex e nal a iables ha b ing o h
unce ain ies, deal wi h and ge ou o i wi h he leas possible
losses.
OBJECTIVE THREE: TYPES OF PLANS MICRO AND
SMALL ENERPRISES MAKE
The s udy e ealed ha Mic o and Small En e p ises make plans.
The ype o plans hey make depend on he ype o business
engaged in, and he business ci cums ances o si ua ions ob aining
on he g ound. The cu en si ua ion on he g ound, powe load
shedding and uns able uel p ices, makes planning di icul o
anyone, including Mic o and Small businesses. Load shedding o
powe a ioning by Zambia Elec ici y Supply Company (ZESCO),
and he uns able uel p ices de e mined by he Ene gy Regula ion
Boa d (ERB), makes planning di icul . Res au an owne s,
Ba be shops and hai salons, bu che ies depend on elec ici y o
deli e hei se ices. All businesses, on he o he hand depend on
uel o sou ce hei supplies.
The s udy e ealed ha Mic o and Small En e p ises make single
use o speci ic plans. Speci ic plans sol e a pa icula p oblem
once only. Unique p oblems and non- epe i i e, such as load
shedding and non-speci ic uel p ices. A speci ic plan is p oblem
ailo ed. I is used o a pa icula si ua ion and canno be eplica ed
o ano he . The bes example o a single use plan is a budge . A
budge o a pa icula ac i i y is de eloped. Once implemen ed a
di e en ac i i y canno use he same budge . F om he s udy, he
es au an owne s make a menu o each day and a budge o he
ing edien s. The same budge canno be used o ano he menu.
The luc ua ing uel p ices make mic o and small en e p ises o
de elop a budge each ime hey a e es ocking hei g oce ies and
bu che ies. This is because anspo cos and he cos o i ems
change as uel p ices change.
The s udy e ealed ha long- ange plans a e no wo kable in
unce ain y si ua ions because hey p o ide guidelines o u u e
ac ions, and allow o uni y and uni o mi y o ac ions o mee
ecu ing ci cums ances a di e en imes. S anding plans a e made
o objec i es, s a egies, policies, me hods, and ules.
Copy igh © ISRG Publishe s. All igh s Rese ed.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17677945
78
CONCLUSION
The s udy indings ha e e ealed ha mic o and small en e p ises
o Ngombe Compound, engage in planning o hei businesses
despi e ope a ing in he in o mal sec o . The powe ou ages and
luc ua ing uel p ices lead mic o and small en e p ises o emb ace
single use plans, which a e made o a speci ic ac i i y and ime.
The ype o once-o plans made by mic o and small businesses in
Ngombe Compound is he budge . The s udy u he indica ed ha
he in o mal sec o is con ibu ing o economic de elopmen by
swallowing he unemployed indi iduals. Howe e , people
ope a ing in he in o mal sec o ace challenges and limi a ions.
Because o hei size and inancial limi a ions, mic o and small
en e p ises a e dis up ed by any en i onmen al and business
dis u bances such as powe a ioning and uns able ene gy p ices.
Thei pe o mance is hus, in luenced and he e o e, no able o
compe e wi h la ge en e p ises and g ow.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. The Go e nmen should suppo mic o and small
en e p ises in compounds like Ngombe wi h so loans o
help hem p ocu e al e na i e ene gy sou ces like
gene a o s. The unds can come om he Cons i uency
De elopmen Funds (CDF).
2. SME suppo and economic empowe men o ganiza ions,
such as he Ci izen Economic Empowe men
Commission (CEEC), can p o ide so loans a
subsidized in e es a es o enhance hei inancial
capaci y.
3. Mic o and small en e p ises a e educa ed om he
in o ma ion ob ained. Hence, aining ins i u ions can
conduc a aining o hem in planning, as a communi y
engagemen ac i i y.
4. Ene gy Regula ion Boa d (ERB) and Zambia Elec ici y
Supply Company (ZESCO) should come up wi h a
delibe a e policy o main ain uel p ices and load
shedding a leas o a qua e (3 mon hs) o enable sho
e m planning.
REFERENCES
1. Abebe ese, A. B., Ackah, C. G., & Asuming, P. O.
(2021). P oduc i i y Losses and Fi m Responses o
Elec ici y Sho ages: E idence om Ghana. Wo ld Bank
Economic Re iew, 35(1).
h ps://doi.o g/10.1093/wbe /lhz027
2. Agbola, F. W., Dog u, T., & Gun e , U. (2020). Tou ism
Demand: Eme ging Theo e ical and Empi ical Issues. In
Tou ism Economics (Vol. 26, Issue 8).
h ps://doi.o g/10.1177/1354816620956747
3. Anamuah, M., Igna ius. H, & Amoh, M. (2022). E ec o
uel p ice adjus men on small and medium en e p ise
pe o mance in Sekondi-Tako adi me opolis.
4. A o deh, T. K., & Gyam i, S. (2024). Op imizing
esiden ial demand esponse in Ghana h ough i e a i e
echniques and home appliance end analysis. Heliyon,
10(4). h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25807
5. Banda, F., & Hapompwe, C. (2023). An Assessmen o
In o mal Sec o ‘s Business Regis a ion Pa e ns: Na u e
and Size among Mic o, Small and Medium En e p ises in
Lusaka. Jou nal o Economics, Finance and
Managemen S udies, 06(01).
h ps://doi.o g/10.47191/je ms/ 6-i1-39
6. Bojana, L., Mo gan, D., & Ho man, K.A. (2020).
Quali a i e da a collec ion in an e a o social dis ancing.
In e na ional Jou nal o Quali a i e Me hods, 19
7. B inckmann, J., & Kim, S. M. (2015). Why We Plan:
The Impac o Nascen En ep eneu s‘ Cogni i e
Cha ac e is ics and Human Capi al on Business
Planning. S a egic En ep eneu ship Jou nal, 9(2).
h ps://doi.o g/10.1002/sej.1197
8. Ga onne, C., & Da idsson, P. (2013). Business planning,
inno a ion and pe o mance in nascen i ms. Aus alian
Cen e o En ep eneu ship Resea ch Exchange.
9. Ge ald, B., Ga y, S., & F ank Pa son, T. (2020). E ec
o Load Shedding on Small Scale En ep eneu s: A Case
o Ki we Dis ic o Zambia. Economy, 7(2).
h ps://doi.o g/10.20448/jou nal.502.2020.72.104.109
10. Lo, P., & Sugia o, S. (2021). S a egic Planning in
SMEs: A Case S udy in Indonesia. Jou nal o Asian
Finance, Economics and Business, 8(2).
h ps://doi.o g/10.13106/ja eb.2021. ol8.no2.1157
11. Masoud, M., Sa ah Oma , S., & Al Qe shia, N. (2022). A
Sys ema ic Re iew o S a egic Planning & S a egic
Pa ne ship on SME Pe o mance. Jou nal o Posi i e
School Psychology, 6(8).
12. Milne , J. S., Golob, T. F., Denham, S. A., Basse , H.
H., Way, E., Kalb, S., Wa en-Kho , H., Zinsse , K., Ha,
C., Sha p, C., Goodye , I., Zi , Y., A bel, R.,
Kupe min z, H., A ieze , O., & Donaldson, L. (2002).
Pe o mance-D ien O ganiza ional Change: The
O ganiza ional Po olio. Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA
Donaldson L (2001). The Con ingency Theo y o
O ganiza ions. Eu opean Child and Adolescen
Psychia y, 17(6).
13. Nan, W., & Pa k, M. (2022). Imp o ing he esilience o
SMEs in imes o c isis: The impac o mobile money
amid Co id-19 in Zambia. Jou nal o In e na ional
De elopmen , 34(4). h ps://doi.o g/10.1002/jid.3596
14. Nyuu , R. B. (2015). Unlocking he po en ial ba ie s on
SMEs‘ up ake o scena io planning. Jou nal o S a egy
and Managemen , 8(2). h ps://doi.o g/10.1108/JSMA-
01-2014-0007
15. O ley, D. (2016). The con ingency heo y o managemen
accoun ing and con ol: 1980-2014. Managemen
Accoun ing Resea ch, 31.
h ps://doi.o g/10.1016/j.ma .2016.02.001
16. Saah, P., Mbohwa, C., & Madonsela, N. S. (2024). The
Role o Adap i e Managemen in he Resilience and
G ow h o Small and Medium Size En e p ises.
In e na ional Re iew o Managemen and Ma ke ing,
14(1). h ps://doi.o g/10.32479/i mm.15139
