Abstract:
This study was aimed to investigate the mediating
role of process innovation on the relationship between
entrepreneurial training and the business performance of
women food vendors in Ilala Municipality, Tanzania.
Understanding this relationship is important since
entrepreneurship is regarded as a crucial aspect of economic
development in general and within informal economies that
theory of innovation, the study used a quantitative method to
analyse data from 349 women food vendors, using partial
least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The
results indicate that entrepreneurial training has a positive
impact on process innov
= 0.327, p < 0.001). The mediation analysis demonstrates
that training has a statistically significant indirect effect on
performance through process innovation (
0.001), suggesting that mediation accounts for 43% of the
total effect. These findings suggest that there is a value in
developing more targeted training programs related to
process innovation projects, as well as support for better
business performance. Ultimately, it is critical for decision
makers and trade practitioners involved in development to
co-design skills programs pertaining to capacity building and
innovation that are geared toward building up informal
economy development and sustainability. In this respect, this
study recommends the incorporation of entrepreneurial
training blended with process innovation to realize
measurable business performance. Future research might
examine the longer-term effects of such interventions beyond
This study and considers the use of digital tools in creating an
environment of innovation for women entrepreneurs.
