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Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics
Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613679839608832 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Myres, Kerrin |
| author_browse | Myres, Kerrin |
| author_facet | Myres, Kerrin |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109236 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:59.298Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/109236 Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics Myres, Kerrin ichelp@gibs.co.za Pratt, Matthew UCTD Impact investing Hybrid organisations Tensions Logics Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. This study investigated how impact investors that operate with an Africa mandate can practically navigate the competing logics of profit maximisation and social development. The researcher draws primarily on hybridity theory to help explain why these tensions exist and how hybrid firms, such as impact investors, can easily manage these tensions so as to avoid mission drift and retain mission alignment. The researcher employed a qualitative research design, where 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior practitioners in the field and other stakeholders who are closely related to the field. The findings were then analysed using Atlas.ti, with data saturation being reached after nine of twelve interviews. The findings show that Impact investors in Africa manage the tension between the logics of profit and development by incorporating a sequenced design process to assess the various impact and profitability metrics. This is achieved by combining an impact-first pre-screening with a commercial viability assessment, and it is this commercial viability assessment that acts as a signal of impact durability. Furthermore, impact investors institutionalise hybridity through these design choices, which then embed both logics into everyday decisions. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth 2026-03-23T09:44:22Z 2026-03-23T09:44:22Z 2026-05-05 2025 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109236 en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Impact investing Hybrid organisations Tensions Logics Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title | Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title_full | Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title_fullStr | Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title_short | Balancing profit and purpose: how impact investors in Africa navigate competing logics |
| title_sort | balancing profit and purpose how impact investors in africa navigate competing logics |
| topic | UCTD Impact investing Hybrid organisations Tensions Logics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109236 |