Development of a community-owned-professionally managed (CoProM) system of management for cassava SME`S

Abstract

In order to improve the management of community owned small and medium scale enterprises (SME's), a community/private partnership system of management dubbed Community-owned Professionally-Managed system of management (CoProM) has been developed for promotion to potential stakeholders. The system is seemingly a marriage of some aspects of a Cooperative and those of a limited liability company. Key components of the system include the establishment of a Management Board, and a Management Team, a clear definition of the roles and benefits of potential stakeholders, the establishment and implementation of a shareholding /dividend payment policy and a procedure for brokering partnerships. The application of the system is expected to improve the profitability of SME's and bring significant benefits to all stakeholders and most especially the communities within which the various processing plants are established