The Effect of Business Management Practices on the Performance of Small Scale Businesses Owned by Women in Tanzania

Despite the effort of government and development agencies to promote the economic position of women through supporting their business effort, there seems to be very little progress. This paper examines the effect of business management practices on the performance of small scale businesses owned by women in Dar es Salaam Region. The study utilised a case study design from a sample of 84 respondents. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires, focus group discussion guides and interview guides. The findings of the study reveals that business management practices have significant positive effect on performance of women owned enterprises. The study found out that business management practises help women in  making business plans, to know the products they deal and how to deliver them to the customers, the practice of making budgets, help in guiding how to secure trade products, paying rent, spending and paying interest on loans among others. Basing on the study findings, this study recommends that women dealing with small scale business need training on how to improve their management, change their entrepreneurial behaviours and be able to adopt new attitudes that will enable them to achieve growth of their enterprises.