An Investigation into the Dimensions that Result in Poor Growth in Short-Term Insurance Broking Firms in Zimbabwe: The Case of Perpro Insurance Brokers

Chimedza, Prudence (2014) An Investigation into the Dimensions that Result in Poor Growth in Short-Term Insurance Broking Firms in Zimbabwe: The Case of Perpro Insurance Brokers. Masters thesis, University of Zimbabwe.

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Abstract

The insurance industry remains an integral part of the wider economy because of the resource mobilisation role that it plays thus facilitating savings and investment. In recent years the chronic economic challenges affecting the country have not spared this sector. Insurance brokers play an intermediary and facilitatory role between insurance companies and consumers of insurance. Their growth is a good indicator of the good health or lack of it of the whole insurance industry. It is against this background that this research was founded. In undertaking this research, there are specific concepts that underpinned it. Firstly, effort was put on finding out how skills base affect the growth potential of broking companies particularly at Perpro Insurance Brokers. The research also looked at the concept of return on investments as this constitutes a significant revenue source for brokers. In a poorly performing economy like Zimbabwe’s, the returns from investment have remained subdued and there was need to find out how the growth of brokers has been affected by the returns on offer. It also looked at the regulatory environment in so far as it affects the ability of brokers to grow their functions in the industry. The fourth and final concept was on corporate governance. This subject has assumed international importance of late and it was important to conceptualise this study around the issues of corporate governance. The methodology used to acquire information from relevant sources was qualitative using semi-structured interviews and an interview guide. Previous studies focussed much on the poor growth dimensions in insurance companies and not on brokers and they relied on quantitative methodology. This research has gone further to take a more comprehensive approach by using the qualitative methodology as it explains how and why the concepts and dimensions cause the poor growth in the broking fraternity. In terms of conclusions, it came out that good skills base is an important ingredient in the growth of brokers and in particular at Perpro. Because of insufficient skills base, the returns on investments have been low. It also emerged that the regulatory environment has not assisted brokers to achieve the growth that they can potentially achieve. Lack of implementation of existing regulatory tools was identified in this research as a dimension of the poor growth in this industry subsector.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Geoffrey Obatsa
Date Deposited:	16 Feb 2018 11:51
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2018 11:51
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/3314

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