Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Small business - South Africa - Marketing'

The research problem addressed in this study was concerned with the identification of factors that inhibit Small and Medium Enterprises from exporting their products to South Africa’s most important trading partners. To achieve this objective, a theoretical study was conducted to establish what literature reveals to be the most important trading partners, and the problems which businesses experience when they export their products to these destinations from the Eastern Cape. The information obtained in the literature study was analysed, and, in order to resolve the main problem, the research questionnaire was divided into four parts. • Part 1 consisted of biographical questions. • Part 2 consisted of questions aimed at establishing the reasons why organisations embarked on exporting. • Part 3 was concerned with what the respondents perceived as barriers to their export operations. • Part 4 was concerned with strategic decisions and the minimising of risk. The empirical results obtained indicate that, although inhibiting factors are a reality in exporting, these remain secondary to general market forces of supply and demand. It was shown that inhibiting factors do not play as big a role in the export process as the literature suggests.

Based on the importance of small and medium-sized family businesses, with regard to their economic contributions, as well as the fact that their high failure rates limit their ability to positively contribute to the economic growth of South Africa, this study focused on selected marketing and branding practices of South African family SMEs, and whether these practices influence their financial performance and ultimately their survival. Against this background, the primary objective of this study was to investigate selected marketing and branding practices adopted by family SMEs in the Eastern Cape. An overview of the literature was provided whereby the nature and importance of SMEs, and more specifically family SMEs, were described. The various challenges SMEs face were explored, with marketing and branding being identified as one of the main challenges that contributes to the high failure rate of family SMEs. In addition to the marketing challenges faced by non-family SMEs, family SMEs face extra marketing hurdles, given the overlapping subsystem of family and business. However, despite these challenges, family SMEs are able to make use of their familial aspect by marketing and branding the business as family-owned. A positivistic research paradigm and quantitative research methodology was adopted for this study, using a descriptive research approach. The primary data collection procedures involved selecting the population, the sample, sampling techniques, and sample size. For the purpose of this study, the population consisted of all family SME owners operating within the borders of the Eastern Cape province. From the population, a sample was selected using both judgemental and convenience sampling. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, which resulted in 325 usable questionnaires, giving an effective response rate of 65.00 per cent. Given the cross-sectional nature of this study, a survey research method using a structured, selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect the primary data. The scales used to measure the factors under investigation were developed based on previous research. In order to assess the validity of the ordinal scales, tests for unidimensionality were undertaken. Only factor loadings exceeding the 0.5 cut-off point were considered significant. Not all the items loaded as expected. Only five of the original six items intended to measure the dependent variable Perceived financial performance loaded onto this factor. The researcher, together with two experts in the field of marketing and family businesses, deemed the items for the dichotomous questions to show evidence of content validity. The reliability of the ordinal scales was assessed by calculating Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, whereby coefficients greater than 0.7 were deemed a scale to be reliable. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of greater than 0.7 were returned for all the factors measured using ordinal scales, except one factor namely Customer service differentiation. This factor was not considered for any further statistical analyses. The reliability of the dichotomous questions was assessed using the Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (K-R 20). For the purpose of this study, Kuder-Richardson values greater than 0.5 deemed the dichotomous questions to be reliable. Kuder-Richardson values of greater than 0.5 were reported for the dichotomous items relating to Branding of the family name, but not for Marketing function. However, given that the questions were used for descriptive purposes only, the items measuring Marketing function were used for statistical analysis. The independent variables returned mean scores of between 3.220 and 3.773, with the majority of respondents feeling neutral or agreeing with the statements measuring these factors. The dependent variable Perceived financial performance returned the highest mean score of all the factors with the majority of respondents agreeing with the statements measuring this factor. The dichotomous questions relating to the Marketing function indicated that majority of respondents did not have a written marketing strategy or a separate department that deals with marketing for their family business. The dichotomous questions relating to Branding of the family name revealed that in most instances the family name (surname) does not appear in the name, brand, logo or advertising material of the family business. Most of the independent variables (Promotion of family business, Family business image and Stakeholder perception) reported significant and positive relationships with each other. The independent variable Perceived financial performance reported significantly positive relationships with two independent variables, namely Product differentiation and Family business image. The multiple regression analyses undertaken revealed that only one of the independent variables, namely Product differentiation, had a significant positive influence on the dependaet variable Perceived financial performance. This study found that the independent variables Promotion of family business and Family business image did not have a significant influence on the dependent variable Perceived financial performance. The results of the two single regression analyses revealed that a significant positive linear relationship exists between Stakeholder perception and Promotion of family business, as well as between Stakeholder perception and Family business image. The findings of the analysis of variance found that Number of employees was the only demographic variable that exerted a significant influence on Product differentiation. The results also indicated that Age of respondent, Generation ownership and Nature of family business had an influence on Promotion of family business. However, the post-hoc Scheffé test revealed that only Generation ownership had a significant influence on Promotion of family business. The analysis of variance also found that the demographic variables Age of respondent, Generation ownership and Number of employees exerted a significant influence on Family business image; however, the post-hoc Scheffé found that only Generation ownership had a significant influence on Family business image. Based on the findings of this study, numerous recommendations were proposed to assist the owners of family SMEs to ultimately improve their business’s financial performance by adopting appropriate marketing and branding practices. The findings of this study showed that by adopting a Product differentiation competitive orientation, family SME owners can enhance their financial performance. It is hoped that the findings of this study will provide family SME owners with practical suggestions on how to use a product differentiation competitive orientation to ultimately increase their longevity, and that the suggestions for future research will inspire future researchers to continue investigating the unique marketing and branding practices of family SMEs.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
SMMEs have been touted as the major driver of any economy – they create jobs, reduce poverty level and generally improve the livelihood of a society. Even with these lofty advantages, SMMEs encounter numerous challenges. These range from lack of access to funding, poor education and understanding of small business management practices. Embedded in small business management practice, is the need to undertake proper marketing. Marketing has recently featured as one of the main challenges of small businesses. Lately several marketing channels have emerged in response to this challenge. These channels have been reported to have positive impact on the bottom line of businesses. This study sought to discover whether social media platforms are deployed within the hospitality sector in the Cape Metropole, Western Cape Province, South Africa, to enhance the growth of restaurants. The study was motivated by the lack of alternative marketing channels using social media platforms, especially in the hospitality industry in the Cape Metropole. Essentially, to achieve this aim, a survey was conducted of SMMEs with employment capacity of not more than 50 employees, specifically within the hospitality sector in the Cape Metropole. A quantitative methodology was applied, using a self-administered questionnaire, distributed to 100 SMMEs in the Cape Metropole. The method of data analysis was purposive. The findings of this research indicate that most of the sampled small businesses used social media platforms. The findings also suggest that SMMEs perceived social media to have moderately effective marketing tools, with WhatsApp as the most effective, followed by Facebook and Twitter. The findings suggest that most respondents used the platform to inform their clients about a business promotion; for new product marketing; for customer loyalty, and for socialising with clients. It was found that if the highest percentage, used for socialising, was then channelled towards strategic marketing, it would significantly boost small business marketing capabilities. This could fill the gap of sustainable marketing strategies.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since many Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have a lack of resources and knowledge of foreign markets, they tend to develop their activities in the domestic market ftrst. When the home market limits opportunities for expansion. pro-active SMEs naturally progress to international activities by exporting to foreign markets. This natural evolution culminates in decisions of how to enter foreign markets and which markets to enter. Selection of overseas markets and entry modes lies at the heart of any international strategy. The value of the small business sector is recognised in economies worldwide. The SMEs' contribution towards growth, job creation and social progress is valued highly and small business is regarded as an essential element in a successful formula for achieving economic growth. It is thus postulated that SMEs will be one of the driving forces to grow the South African economy. By gaining an understanding of the internationalisation process of International Active Enterprises it is hoped to provide the South African SMEs with a tool that can be used for their international expansion programs. The author starts by reviewing relevant and related literature. He then investigates and highlights the different schools of thought on intemationalisation by looking at process, models, strategy and motivation. The research then describes the different modes of market entry and continues by listing the basic factor categories for market entry mode selection. The penultimate step highlights the various factors for selection of foreign markets and applies these factors into a holistic market entry and mode selection model. Finally the internationalisation is focused on SME and more specifically South African SMEs. Their internationalisation behaviour is explained in the light of the model that was developed. The author explains the framework that will be used to model an international market selection and the mode of entry into that international market. This model can guide SMEs into initial international market entry and to make decisive choices as to which international market and mode of entry they select to penetrate international markets.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klein en medium grootte sake-ondernemings het 'n tekort aan bronne en kennis van oorsese markte en dienooreenkomstig ontwikkel hulle eers hul besigheidsaktiwiteite in die binnelandse markte. Wanneer die binnelandse besigheidsgroei-geleenthede versadig word, sal sodanige pro-aktiewe klein en medium grootte sake-ondernemings huI produkte begin uitvoer in 'n poging om nuwe markgroei te stimuleer. Hierdie natuurlike evolusie dwing die onderneming om besluite te neem oor hoe om sodanige buitelandse markte te betree, asook die markkeuse op sigself. Die markkeuse en markbetredings metodiek is die kern van enige internasionale strategie. Die ekonomiese waarde van die klein en medium grootte sake-ondememingsektor word wereldwyd erken. Hulle bydrae tot groei, werkskepping, en sosiale ontwikkeling word wyd erken. So word klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings dan gesien as 'n kardinale bestanddeel om ekonomiese groei te behaal. Dit word dus gestel dat klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings een van die dryfvere vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika sal wees. Die ondersoek van die intemasionaliseringsproses van buitelands-aktiewe ondernemings sal 'n model formuleer wat die Suid-Afrikaanse klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings kan bystaan met hul buitelandse markgroei. Die skrywer begin om die relevante literatuur te bestudeer en beklemtoon die verskillende denkwyses oor buitelandse groei deur te kyk na prosesse, modelle, strategiee en motiverings. Die navorsingstuk beskryf dan die verskillende metodes van markbetreding en Iys die verskillende faktore wat 'n invloed het op die betredingsvraagstuk. Die voorlaaste stap in die model beskryf die verskillende faktore wat 'n rol speel op die buitelandse markkeuse. Al hierdie mark- en betredingsfaktore word in 'n globale model gestruktureer. Laastens word daar gefokus op die Suid-Afrikaanse klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings en hulle internasionaliseringsoptrede word in die lig van die model geskets. Die skrywer verduidelik dus die raamwerk wat gebruik word om buitelandse markbetreding en markkeuse te modelleer. Hierdie model toon rigting aan klein en medium grootte sakeondememings se aanvanklike buitelandse belangstelling en ook hoe om daadwerklike besluite te neem oor buitelandse markbetreding en buitelandse markkeuses.

In view of the factors influencing and the steps in the design of a Website, building a successful Website will vary from business to business. This study investigates what is required from a small commercial and industrial property and services business to take their business online and create an effective Website. The environment of the property market reflected the role that government plays in the property industry and also the role of the private sector. Marketing in the real estate context indicated that if real estate agents have access to the right type of information, not only can they add value to their own organizations, but they can also capitalize on the same information to create added value for their clients. The elements of the marketing management process include four steps, namely to gather information, to set marketing goals and plan strategy, to organize and implement marketing strategy and to control the marketing activities. Marketing in the online environment showed that the Marketing Mix includes personalisation, privacy, customer services, community, site, security and sales promotion. The principles of online marketing revealed the important role of the customer and customer relationships. An investigation into the difference between e-commerce and online marketing made it clear that online marketing is one component of e-commerce. This study critically analysed the available literature in order to suggest a proposed framework of what should be included in the Website of a small commercial and industrial property and services business. In order to successfully research online marketing of commercial and industrial properties and services in a small business, a basic but thorough understanding of online marketing principles and Website content are important. In this study a qualitative research approach was followed where secondary sources were critically evaluated to design the required framework. Thereafter three Websites of marketing of commercial and industrial properties and services were content analysed to see whether anything else should be added to the framework. This would assist in taking a small business in commercial and industrial properties and services online. The framework suggests that the Website homepage content should include:  Business overview/information Products/services What’s new Search Employment opportunities Interactive feedback Customer service/ assistance Index/directory  Financial facts Links to other sites Online business services/utilities  Guest book Frequently Asked Questions Messages from CEO A purposeful sample of three Websites was then content analysed so as to provide the information necessary to reach the objectives of the study. The following Websites were included in the content analysis: Broll, which operates as a national agency with international associations. The firm renders services (Estate Agency) and does not own property. Bruce McWilliams Industries Pty Ltd is operative in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and surrounds. It is a family business that owns property, which it develops and markets itself. Seeff is a national agency. It renders services (estate agency) and does not own property. Lastly, a narrative of a small commercial and industrial property and services business was created by means of document analysis of a specific business. The researcher was allowed to study the documents and diaries of the business in order to provide a narrative for this business. This narrative can be used as part of the envisaged Website for the business.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Business Administration )) - Central University of Technology, Free State
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which certain selected factors serve as drivers of innovation in small accommodation businesses (SABs) in two developing economies in Southern Africa namely South Africa and Zimbabwe with the ultimate aim of assisting policy makers and support agencies in formulating innovation oriented strategies for the sector. Two samples were randomly selected from SABs in Zimbabwe and South Africa- two neighbouring Southern African countries. Parametric tests which include t-tests and one-way ANOVAs as well as Bonferonni tests as post-hoc measures were used to test whether SAB propensity to engage in different dimensions of innovation differs by gender; firm size, owner-managers’ years of experience and level of education respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlations were employed to assess the relationships between market orientation, learning orientation and innovation while Chi-square tests were performed to establish the inter-relationships between independent demographic variables, namely age, gender, education and work experience. In order to investigate whether there are any significant interaction effects between the age of the respondents and their experience in the accommodation sector on each of the five innovation measures, a series of two-way ANOVA tests were performed. Lastly, regression analysis was used to determine the relative efficacy of market orientation (MO), learning orientation (LO) and country in predicting innovation in a business. The results demonstrate that unlike firm size, gender and level of education, which have no association with innovation, there is a strong association between market orientation, learning orientation, owner/managers age and experience and innovation in the two countries. This positive association implies that SABs that are committed to, listen attentively to and learn proactively about their customers’ needs and expectations are better inclined to engage in all the different dimensions of innovation (product/service, process, marketing and organisational) than their counterparts who do not engage in these activities. Among other drivers of innovation, market orientation emerged as the main predictor implying that SABs that invest more in marketing tend to be better innovators than those that invest in learning irrespective of their country of operation. The study also revealed that younger owner/managers of SABs tend to be more innovative than their older, experienced counterparts. The study makes an important contribution to literature on the drivers of innovation in small accommodation businesses in developing economies by dispelling firm size, gender and level of education which were regarded as drivers of innovation across industries previously. Practice and policy wise, the study led to the development of a conceptual framework for investigating how best to drive innovation in local SABs in order to make them more competitive, survive and grow in the face of competition from large accommodation businesses that often happen to be multinational.

The tourism sector has been identified as an industry that has the potential to make a substantial contribution to job creation, economic growth, and redressing past imbalances in South Africa as it has been recognised as an underexploited sector with considerable potential for growth. The majority of tourism enterprises fall within the definition of small businesses, which have been identified as the most appropriate enterprises through which the economic challenges facing South Africa can be addressed. Small businesses differ from their larger counterparts not only in terms of size, but also in regard to access to resources and marketing expertise. Not surprisingly, one of the issues identified as preventing this sector from reaching its full potential is access to markets. The focus of this study is to identify the primary factors driving the success of the use of the Internet for marketing in small businesses operating in the tourism sector in South Africa. If these factors can be identified, this will allow existing and emerging small businesses to access markets and retain customers more easily leading to a proliferation of these enterprises. A theoretical model was formulated from the literature in which the factors influencing the success of Internet marketing were identified. These factors can broadly be divided into generic (marketing or management) factors and Internet specific factors. The technological aspects of the Internet were not ignored, but regarded as a resource to be managed rather than an autonomous source of competitive advantage. This model was tested by making use of a large-scale empirical study. Convenience sampling was used and the data was collected from small tourism businesses (that is businesses with fewer than 100 employees) in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The factors were identified using exploratory factor analysis and the Cronbach alpha coefficients were assessed to confirm the reliability of these scales. Structural equation modelling was used as the principal mode of statistical analysis to measure the relationships amongst the variables in the model proposed in this study. A correlation analysis was used to measure the impact of marketing objectives on the success of Internet marketing. The primary determinants of the success of Internet marketing in small businesses operating in the tow-ism sector in South Africa were identified by the empirical study as: Product champion Links Alliances Owner-manager knowledge Entrepreneurial orientation Owner-manager vision Customer orientation Marketing objectives Interestingly, one factor, Strategic planning, recorded a negative influence on the success of Internet marketing. This is possibly because the owner-manager felt that this was a redundant exercise given the dominant and pervasive influence of the owner-manager in all spheres of the business. Nevertheless, if small tourism firms consider the factors identified in this thesis as essential aspects in the use of the Internet for marketing, this will allow them to overcome one of the biggest hurdles to their prosperity, namely, the access to markets.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) plays an important role in improving organizational competitiveness. Information technology has been instrumental in integrating functional areas within and outside firms. This research used empirical evidence to evaluate the state of EDI in the in the willingness of SME's to connect electronically to a large distribution centre in South Africa. Furthermore, it investigated the EDI adoption rate from the viewpoint of a small business. Many such businesses feel coerced by larger trade partners to adopt EDI or lose the customer.

South Africa's biggest challenge remains the high rate of unemployment especially among the country's youth. Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have been shown to be instrumental in many third world economies as a sustainable means not only to address unemployment but also to contribute significantly to economic growth. Despite government's good intentions and support, the South African SMME sector is not growing as expected and this is impacting negatively on unemployment creation in the country. Good business development services (BDS) is necessary to support SMMEs and specifically the Market Development Approach to the provision of BDS, where subsidies are replaced by private payment for services. Makana municipal area provided scope for analysing the constraints to the implementation of such business development services. Analysing the scope and magnitude of the constraints in this setting would contribute to understanding the constraints also in other parts of the country and help officials in local economic development make better informed decisions regarding support to SMMEs. Authors like Rogerson (2011), UNDP (2004), Miehlbradt and McVay, (2003), the Committee of Donor Agencies for SME Development (Blue book) (2001) and Bear et al., (2001) Gibson (2001), propose that the key to sustainable BDS is the implementation of the Market Development approach which focusses on for-profit activities in the provision of BDS to SMMEs. The aim of this study was to examine perceptions of key stakeholders towards SMME support and development, to identify the constraints to the implementation of a Market Development approach to the provision of business development services to SMMEs in the Makana area and to make recommendations to the Makana LED office of possible intervention strategies to address identified constraints. Purposive sampling was used to identify key stakeholders in SMME support in the Makana area in the categories of, big institutional buyers, public and private BDS providers as well the municipal LED office. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each stakeholder using questions shown in appendixes A to D. Perceptions of all key stakeholders were very positive with good intentions to support SMMEs. However, this was not consistent with procurement practice at the big institutional buyers. Constraints are summarized in the following five themes: Theme 1. Inconsistent practice in dealing with SMMEs across the organisation. Theme 2. Absence of a cooperative body or Chamber of Commerce. Theme 3. Fragmented Business Development Services. Theme 4. A lack of a culture of cost recovery. Theme 5. Limited awareness of BDS in the Makana area. A number of recommendations were suggested. Big institutional buyers like Rhodes University and Makana municipality need to take a longer term view and move the focus from employment creation to enterprise support which is a more sustainable and empowering source of employment (ILO, 2009). The Grahamstown Chamber of Commerce should become more representative and big institutional buyers also need to be convinced of the value of private BDS. Stakeholders should work together to combine resources to offer a comprehensive one-stop BDS for the Makana area (Chetty, 2009) and this comprehensive BDS should be provided according to the Market Development approach focusing on those services that lend themselves better to this approach whilst using subsidies only for those services with a low potential for cost recovery (UNDP, 2004).

It is commonly understood that the adoption and development of technological marketing capabilities by firms provides them with immense opportunities to transform their business practices and strategies, so as to strategically position themselves in the market and enhance firm performance. Nevertheless, little attention has, thus far, been given to the empirical investigation of the impact of adopting and developing the technological marketing on Porter‟s five competitive forces and firm performance of SMEs. The principal objective of this study was to fill this void by investigating the influence of the technological marketing on Porter‟s five competitive forces model (industry structure) of SMEs in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Secondarily, the study sought to determine the influence of technological marketing capability on firm performance of SMEs in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality; in order to ascertain whether or not the competitiveness of SMEs impacts on their firm performance; to determine whether or not SMEs adopt new and advanced technological capabilities when marketing their products/services and to examine whether or not SMEs adopt new and advanced technological capabilities in order to enhance their performance. The study employs a quantitative method in data collection. Sample data from 211 SME owners/managers in the retail and manufacturing sectors of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality was collected for the final data analysis of this project. The sample data was analysed by performing a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using AMOS 7 Statistical Analysis software. The principal finding of this study reveals that technological marketing has no significant impact on Porter‟s five forces. In addition, the results showed that technological marketing capability has a positive and significant influence on firm performance. The findings also revealed that SMEs adopt new and advanced technologies when marketing their products and services. The conclusions and implications of the research findings are provided and recommendations are suggested. The researcher recommended non technological strategies for improving SMEs‟ competitiveness and the following technological strategies to boost performance: creating a customer-centric e-commerce strategy, embracing outsourcing, joining e-business community and integrating information management into new marketing technologies. Strategies were also recommended to the government as the policy maker. These include introducing e-business finance arrangement, marketing hubs for SMEs and promoting synergies between technology vendor companies and the small enterprises. The study tried to address marketing technologies‟ policy deficiencies on the side of both SMEs and the government.

Despite the fact that small family and non-family businesses in South Africa are important contributors to economic and social development, their failure rates are still high globally. Major contributing factors to this high failure rate are the lack of marketing skills and ineffective marketing practices. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to establish what marketing mix strategies are used by small family and non-family businesses in the Eastern Cape and the influence of these strategies on Perceived business performance. The literature review dealt with the nature and importance of marketing, and the traditional marketing mix strategies were elaborated on from a small family and non-family business perspective. The traditional marketing mix strategies (4Ps) identified as influencing the Perceived business performance of small family and non-family businesses, were classified as Product-, Pricing-, Place-, and Promotion strategies. From the literature review, it was evident that the traditional marketing mix strategies have been criticised by a number of studies as not reflecting the holistic marketing concept within the 21st century. Yet, despite its simplicity various studies still find the traditional 4P framework to be a strong staple of the marketing mix. In this study, a quantitative research design was adopted and an exploratory and descriptive research approach of a cross-sectional nature were undertaken. A convenience sampling technique was used owing to the inaccessibility of a small family and non-family business database. The sample size in this study consisted of 195 small family-owned businesses and 145 small non-family businesses operating within the borders of the Eastern Cape. The primary data in this study was gathered by means of a structured, self-administered questionnaire. The measuring instrument was developed by sourcing items from several existing studies. Small family and non-family businesses were approached by fieldworkers and asked to participate in this study. In total 400 questionnaires were distributed, of which 340 were usable for further statistical analyses. Therefore, an effective response rate of 85% was achieved in this study. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were confirmed by means of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and by the calculation of Cronbach„s alpha (CA) coefficients. The five usable factors that were extracted from the EFA were identified as Pricing strategies, Competitive distribution strategies, Communication process strategies, Low cost promotion strategies and Perceived business performance. The CA coefficient for Pricing strategies indicated that the scale measuring this factor was not reliable due to it falling below the accepted norm of 0.6 and, therefore it was disregarded from further analysis. The CA coefficients returned for the remaining usable factors extracted from the EFA were greater than 0.6, thus indicating the scales measuring these variables provided satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability. The findings of the descriptive statistics showed that the highest mean score reported was for the independent variable Competitive distribution strategies, followed by Communication process strategies and Low cost promotion strategies. Based on the mean, respondents indicated that they often utilise Competitive distribution strategies and Communication process strategies, and seldom utilise Low cost promotion strategies. Pearson‟s product moment correlations revealed that all the marketing mix strategies, for both small family and non-family businesses, investigated were found to be significantly and positively correlated with the dependent variable Perceived business performance, and amongst themselves. The findings of the MRA showed that utilising Competitive distribution strategies have a significant positive influence on the Perceived business performance of small family businesses. The finding implies that the more small family businesses in this study provide high-quality and competitive products through distributions process methods by setting timing objectives, using distributions selection criteria and changing the distribution channel when needed to continuously satisfy customers‟ needs, the more likely the business is to experience growth in profit and sales and having loyal customers who make regular purchases and recommend the business to others. This study found no relationship between Competitive distribution strategies and the Perceived business performance of small non-family businesses, as well as between Communication Process strategies and Low cost promotion strategies and Perceived business performance of small family and non-family businesses. The results of the t-tests revealed that no statistically significant relationship was found between the Type of small business ownership and any of the three independent variables, Competitive distribution-, Communication Process-, and Low cost promotion strategies. Furthermore, the results of the Chi-square test for independence reported no statistically significant difference between using the family name as a marketing or branding tool and the size of the small business in this study. The results, however, indicated that as the business size increases, the more small businesses use their family name as a marketing- or branding tool. From the 18 sets of null hypotheses that were formulated, to explore whether the demographical variables had an influence on the marketing mix strategies utilised by the small family and non-family businesses, only 11 multivariant analysis of variance (MANOVA) relationships could be established as being statistically significant. These include the Gender of the business owner/manager, Age of the business owner/manager, Management qualifications of the business owner/manager, Ethnicity of the business owner/manager, Position in the small business, Years small business is in existence, Working experience of the business owner/manager, Management working experience of the business owner/manager, Form of business ownership, Area of business premises and Target market of the small business. This study has addressed a gap in the current literature regarding the influence of marketing mix strategies on business performance among small family and non-family businesses in a developing economy such as South Africa. This study has furthermore attempted to enlarge the body of knowledge available on marketing, especially concerning Communication Process, Competitive distribution strategies and Low cost promotion strategies. The results of the study differ somewhat from existing literature, and therefore add to the body of knowledge on marketing. Furthermore, the findings of this study show that small family businesses utilising Competitive distribution strategies have a significant positive influence on their Perceived business performance, and in doing so makes a small contribution towards increasing the success rate of these small family businesses and in return positively contribute to the economic growth and development of South Africa.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The findings of this study regarding company and export profiles correlated largely with the findings of the various studies detailed in the literature review. Given the close correlation with other studies on the same subject, it is the researcher's belief that this study will have a broad application among prospective exporting SMEs, both regionally and nationally. The main findings are set out below. The review of the profile of manufacturing SMEs in the Western Capes uncovered: • a preference for their local markets; • the fact that trade frequencies are relatively high; • that the number of countries entered, represented a relatively narrow focus; • that Europe enjoyed significant support from the respondents; • that SADC and the rest of Africa attract relatively low levels oftradc. Although indicated in the national studies, it was still disappointing to discover the relatively low levels of export propensity (as defined by export sales as a function of total sales) prevalent among exporting SMEs. This was reflected by the fact that: • Only a small percentage of medium-sized SMEs are making inroads in this area. • The growth estimates for expected annual export sales are disappointing and possibly even pointing to a declining trend. The surveyed SMEs indicated that their expansion into international markets is motivated primarily by: • the utilisation of excess capacity; and • the opportunity to grow sales. There also seems to be an opportunist approach to the export development process stemming from that fact that: • Almost 50 % of finns responded to unsolicited orders. • Exporting SMEs are drawn into the process passively, rather than through a proactive and conscious decision. The apparent lack of a clear export orientation among exporting SMEs in the Western Cape is of particular concern, as evidenced by the factors identified above. Exporting SMEs have identified the arena of marketing management and market access as key barriers in the process of internationalising their businesses. In addition, they identified a lack of knowledge within this field of study within their organisations, as well as marketing support, as being the areas where they would most like assistance from policy makers. The following were identified as major barriers: • access to, and knowledge of specific markets, • representation in the various markets, and • an effective marketing function. The following represented the area of least knowledge: • international marketing management, and • market entry channels. The following represented the most effective ways in which policy makers could assist: • constraint elimination (Policy making or otherwise). • marketing support. The fundings of the review regarding the use of support institutions revealed that: • Only 45 % of exporting 8MEs actually make use of these institutions. • 72 % of sample indicated that they only make use of these institutions every six months or at even less frequent intervals. Given the findings under this section, it is apparent that those organisations with a vested interest in export promotion, and government in particular, should take particular note of these fmdings. It seems that at present the various export promotion bodies (state or private) are failing to attract 8ME exporters to their products and services, and in so doing make a meaningful impact on export promotion.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bevindings van hierdie studie ten opsigte van maatskappy- en uitvoerprofiele het grotendeels ooreengestem met dit wat gevind is in ander soortgelyke studies. Gegewe die nou-ooreenstemming met ander studies op dieselfde vakgebied, glo die navorser clat die studie by 'n groot aantal klein en medium (KMO's) uitvoerorganisasies aanklank sal vind, op beide streek en nasionale vlak. Die hoofbevindinge van die studie is soos volg: Die studie van vervaardigingsmaatskappye in die Wes Kaap het die volgende openbaar: • 'n voorkeur vir hul plaaslike markte; • die feit dat handelfrekwensies relatief hoog is; • dat die getal lande wat betree is, 'n relatiewe nou fokus verteenwoordig; • dat Europa noemenswaardige ondersteuning van die respondente geniet het; • dat SADC en die res van Afrika relatieflae vlakke van handel trek. AlhoeweI dit in nasionale studies aanduidend was, is dit steeds teleurstelend om die relatieve lae vlakke van heersende uitvoergeneigdheid onder uitvoer-KMO's te ontdek (soos gedefinieer deur uitvoerverkope as 'n funksie van totale verkope). Dit is weerspieel deur die feit dat: • Slegs 'n klein persentasie van medium-grote KMO's maak inslag in die area. • Die groei vooruitskattings vir verwagte jaarlikse uitvoerverkope was teleurstellend en wys moontlik na 'n dalende tendens. Die studie het getoon dat KMO's se motivering om die uitvoermark te betree deur onder andere die volgende gemotiveer word: • die gebruik van addisionele kapasiteit; en • die geleentheid om bruto opbrengs te bevorder. Die KMO's wat ondersoek is het aangedui dat hulle u:itbreiding tot die intemasionale mark hoofsaaklik gemotiveer is deur: • die aanwending van oorskotkapasiteit; en • die geleentheid om verkope te verhoog. Daar blyk ook 'n opportunistiese benadering te wees rakende die uitvoerontwikkelingsproses, voortspruitend uit die feit dat: • Sowat 50 % van die firma's het reageer op ongevraagde plasings. • Uitvoerende KMO's word passiewelik tot die proses ingetrek, eerder dan deur 'n proaktiewe en bewustelike besluit. Die oenskynlike gebrek aan 'n duidelike uitvoer orientasie tussen uitvoerende KMO's in die Wes-Kaap is van besondere kommer, soos verduidelik met die bogemelde gei"dentifiseerde faktore. Uitvoerende KMO's het die arena van bemarkingsbestuur en marktoegang identifiseer as sleutel hindemisse in die proses van intemasionalisering van hulle besigbede. Bykomend hiertoe het hulle 'n tekort aan kennis identifiseer binne hierdie studieveld in hulle organisasies, sowel as bemarkingsondersteuning, as die areas waar hulle die meeste ondersteuning benodig van beleidsmakers. Die volgende is identifiseer as sleutel hindemisse: • toegang tot, en kennis van die spesifieke markte, • verteenwoordiging in die verskeie markte, en • 'n effektiewe bemarkingsfunksie. Die volgende verteenwoordig die areas met die minste kennis: • internasionale bemarkingsbestuur, en • markbetredingskanale. Die volgende verteenwoordig die mees effektiewe wyse waarbinne beleidsmakers kan ondersteun: • beperkingseliminasie (beleidsmakers of andersins). • bemarkingsbystand. Die bevindinge van die oorsig bertreffende die gebruik van ondersteuningsinstellings het aan die lig gebring dat: • Slegs 45 % van die uitvoerende KMO's maak werklik gebruik van hierdie instellings. • 72 % van steekproef dui daarop dat hulle net van hierdie instellings elke ses maande of op minder gereelde intervalle gebruik maak. Gegewe die bevindinge onder hierdie afdeling, is dit duidelik dat daardie organisasies met 'n gevestigde belang in uitvoerpromosie, en vernaarn die staat, besondere kennis moet neem van die bevindinge. Op hede blyk dit dat die verskeie uitvoerpromosie- liggame (staat of openbaar) faal om uitvoerende KMO's te trek tot hulle produkte en dienste, en sodoende 'n betekenisvolle impak te maak op uitvoerpromosie.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the MTech: Internal Auditing In the Faculty of Business at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2010
The concept of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) was created and implemented by the South African Government in an attempt to improve the economy of South Africa, reducing the unemployment rate and eliminating poverty. As a basic objective, SMMEs strive toward sustainability, however in recent years sustainability is at an all time low as substantial a number of these businesses fail to become viable entities. Popular literature show that Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) retail SMMEs make ineffective use of their accounting resources, resulting in them making critical business decisions without understanding and interpreting their financial performance or financial positions. These decisions have a ‘toxic’ affect on their business sustainability and as a result, it is perceived that these SMMEs make inefficient use of financial performance measures. The key objective of this research is to establish what financial performance measures sourced from accounting resources are regarded as being critical for the sustainability of FMCG retail SMMEs during the current dispensation of an economic depression in South Africa. To achieve the above dispensation, applied research will be used using ‘action research’ as the primary research paradigm supported by questionnaires for the purpose of data analysis, results of which were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Recommendations culminate from the research to mitigate the research problem.

Economic stagnation in sub-Saharan Africa since 1970 is well documented. While the causes are varied, the paradigm of nationalistic state-led economic development has changed. Economic development occurs in a global marketplace. Manufacturing has shifted from developed to less developed countries, an opportunity that was seized in Asia and Latin America. South Africa’s labour, unskilled and costly by world standards, is at a disadvantage as an agile and competitive world market seeks skilled labour at the lowest cost. South Africa’s Gear economic policy suggests that 300 000 new jobs need to be created annually until 2004 in order to reduce unemployment. Small, medium and microenterprise growth is central to meeting this target. Numerous government structures to assist small enterprises have been created. Few, however, assist small business with the demands of the marketplace. Most focus on generic skills training and questionable small business finance. This thesis suggests that interfirm linkages between large and small enterprises is one strategy that can assist the growth of small business, create employment and, increase labour skills. International experience shows that generic training is less effective in promoting small business than linking business training to actual market-demands. Interfirm linkages, most often through subcontracting, is a strategy used successfully in Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil. Such linkages are usually government supported and provide incentives for both large and small businesses to work together productively. Three South African interfirm linkage case studies are critiqued. Case study findings indicate that interfirm linkages expose emerging businesses to market conditions, and can provide access to process technology training, low cost raw materials, creative finance, and new markets. Small business ‘learns by doing’ and also ‘learns while earning’. The state has a role in the development of a vibrant small, medium and microenterprise sector in South Africa. Current support strategies are largely unrelated to market conditions. Interfirm linkages are an approach that applies market forces in the development of small business. Government policy would be wisely directed to support such business interactions.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
This research study explored perceptions which small business owners and managers have of the impact that initiatives, aimed at revitalisation, have on small business development. The Woodstock Salt-River Revitalisation Framework (WSRRF, 2002) served to guide these initiatives in order to achieve their various objectives, which included, inter alia, the development of small business. Often, official initiatives cannot adequately meet the needs of all stakeholders. The benefits that are derived from these initiatives may differ amongst stakeholders owing to their varying expectations and perceptions. The main research problem that was identified relates to reasons why the impact of this framework initiative is currently not appropriately understood and, as a result, not effectively and efficiently implemented. Hence, this research study evaluates the extent to which the Revitalisation Framework has affected the development of small businesses within the study area.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup toumament could provide valuable opportunities for the tourism entrepreneur in Cape Town. This study focuses on the factors that affect the entrepreneurwho chooses to make tourism a career in Cape Town. The aim of the study is to examine the tourism entrepreneurs' ability to be sustainable and is focused on the single tourism owner operating a service business in the Cape Town CBO such as small tour operators, tour guides and accommodation agents. Using the quantitative research method, a questionnaire as well as individual interviews, the data collection techniques have helped to provide valuable information as to the influencing factors on entrepreneurship, operational challenges and the extemal environment affecting tourism business in Cape Town. The results which could be useful to an aspirant entrepreneur indicate that the survey participants were generally positive about the FIFA event and that success for them is the ability to understand the market and plan strategically in order to operate a business effectively that will meet specific market requirements.

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master Technologiae: Quality in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Beginning in the United States in December 2007, and with much greater intensity since September 2008, much of the industrialised world is being subjected to an economic downturn, which manifests in unemployment, small-business lending, and in particular, the closing of small business enterprises, etc. Customer satisfaction, quality and retention are global issues that affect all organisations, no matter whether they are large or small, profit or non-profit, global or local. In a globally changing landscape characterised by continuous structural changes and enhanced competitive pressures, the role of small business in society has become even more important as providers of employment opportunities and key players for the well-being of local and regional communities. Under the current global worldwide economic crisis, small business is considered to be a major force behind the South Africa‟s economy. Regarding the implementation of quality, probably the most serious constraints a small firm has is that the manager is almost constantly under time pressure, usually dealing with the urgent staff and operational matters.Especially in very small companies, the manager usually has to cope with to all issues irrespective of their nature, in addition to day to day duties such as record keeper, inventory management and scheduling. Ironically, it is this type of small business that needs quality solutions because quality strategies do not from the basis of the traditional small business enterprises, thus impacting on the successful management of the business environment.

Small businesses form an essential part of any country’s economy and these businesses are essential for growth and employment opportunities. It is however recognised that the success of small businesses are dependent on a few factors of which tax relief measures are one. The South African Government is supporting small businesses in our country through various initiatives and current small business tax relief measures form part of these initiatives. This study focuses on only two such tax relief measures namely section 12E of the Income Tax Act for entities that qualify as a small business corporation and Turnover Tax for entities that qualify as micro businesses. These two tax relief measures aim to give small businesses reduced tax rates to assist them to grow and contribute towards job creation in South Africa. The unemployment rate in South Africa in the second quarter of 2013 was 25.6%. This is thus one indication that the tax relief measures per section 12E of the Income Tax Act and Turnover Tax are possibly not meeting the objectives of assisting small businesses to grow and alleviate unemployment. This study focuses on researching the current small business tax relief measures in South Africa. The study thus commences with a literature review regarding the small business tax relief measures per section 12E of the Income Tax Act and Turnover Tax. It also includes detailed discussions regarding the criteria which should be met by small businesses to qualify for the tax relief per section 12E and Turnover Tax. The study then proceeds to obtain and analyse data through a questionnaire to accountants regarding their opinion of the current small business tax relief measures. Finally the study researches the objectives set out by SARS for section 12E of the Income Tax Act and Turnover Tax to determine whether these objectives have been met or not and to critically compare this to the responses from the accountants on the same subject. As a result this study will assist the South African Government to determine areas for possible improvement in the current small business tax relief measures. Improvements in such tax relief measures could then contribute positively towards the economy of South Africa as a whole. The small business tax relief measures were however limited to those already implemented in South Africa and further research could possibly be conducted regarding such tax relief measures in other developing countries similar to South Africa.
Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013.
lmchunu2014
Taxation
unrestricted

Competitive advantage is crucial for a business to be sustainable, yet many small- and medium-sized enterprises are not engaging in supplier development in order to achieve a competitive advantage. This empirical study was conducted on a sample of 64 small- and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing industry in Kempton Park, Gauteng. The factors that influence engagement in supplier development were analysed to assess whether supplier development can lead to competitive advantage and other benefits. The findings indicate that supplier development can create and improve competitive advantage, as well as lead to other benefits. Four factors were found to have a relationship with supplier development, and therefore could influence the decision to take part in supplier development. Small- and medium-sized enterprises can use tools such as supplier development in order to be competitive and have an advantage over their competitors. The awareness of operational performance measures, competitive advantage, judgment of the absence or existence of trust, and a buyer’s relative power can all influence participation in supplier development.

Thesis (MTech (Cost and Management Accounting))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
Background: Research has shown that a high percentage of SMMEs in South Africa are not sustainable, most of them failing in their infancy stage. In order to make sound decisions and achieve desirable results, owners/managers need to make use of budgets in managing their businesses. Utilisation of budgets is the core of financial planning and decision-making in manufacturing enterprises. Lack of utilisation of budgets in managing businesses can lead to business failure. There is need to conduct a study on the utilisation of budgets by SMEs in the manufacturing industry. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which SMEs in the manufacturing industry in the Cape Metropolis use budgets for managing their businesses. This was achieved by determining whether the SMEs in the manufacturing industry used budgets or not, what types of budgets were used, the purposes for which the budgets were used and what challenges if any were faced by these SMEs when using budgets. Methodology: Data was collected from 108 respondents by means of a questionnaire comprising closed-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyse the data in SPSS version 24. Frequency tables and pie charts were used to present the findings. Findings: The findings of the study reveal that most SMEs in the manufacturing industry in the Cape Metropolis use budgets for managing their businesses. The SMEs prepare budgets which are used for various purposes. The SMEs however face challenges when utilising budgets. Recommendations: Future interventions by Department of Small Business Development on financial planning should focus more on micro and very small enterprises. Other categories of enterprises may apply this information and emulate the utilisation of budgets from the SMEs in the manufacturing industry as they strive to survive and grow.

Taking cognisance of the increasingly important role that copreneurial businesses play in national economies, the unique challenges that they face, and the lack of research attention given to such spousal teams, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the more effective functioning of copreneurships in South Africa by identifying the factors that impact on their success. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the Perceived success of copreneurships in South Africa, as well as the conditions required for the effective and harmonious functioning of such spousal partnerships. This study seeks to incorporate previous findings and studies on team effectiveness and spousal relationships into a comprehensive conceptual model. After conducting a comprehensive literature study, as well as examining the different teamwork models proposed and the study by Farrington (2009), it became clear that successful teams have validated their proficiency with regard to two types of factors, namely, relational-based and organisational-based factors. Within these two categories of factors, 14 independent variables were identified and hypothesised to influence the measures of effectiveness of copreneurships, namely the dependent variable Perceived success; and the intervening variable Financial performance. All of the factors in this study were clearly defined and operationalised. Reliable and valid items sourced from Farrington’s (2009) measuring instrument, as well as several measuring instruments used in other studies, were used in the operationalisation of these factors. In addition, several items were self-generated from secondary sources. Respondents were identified using the convenience snowball sampling technique, and a structured questionnaire was made available to them. The data gathered from the 380 usable questionnaires was subjected to various statistical analyses. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument was confirmed by means of an exploratory factor analysis, and Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated for this purpose. The original intervening variable Financial performance could not be confirmed as originally intended in the conceptual model. Instead, Financial performance split into v two separate variables which were named Financial performance and Growth performance. The original dependent variable Perceived success was confirmed by the factor analyses. The relational- and organisational-based factors could not be confirmed as originally intended in the conceptual model. Instead, seven new relational- and seven new organisational-based factors emerged, and where necessary these factors were renamed. The primary statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the independent and dependent variables in this study, was Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). Owing to the sample-size restrictions, the conceptual model could not be subjected to SEM as a whole. Instead, seven submodels were identified and subjected to further analysis. The following independent variables were identified as influencing the dependent and intervening variables in this study: • Spousal relationship • Commitment to spouse • Equal status • Commitment to the business • Emotional attachment • Non-family involvement • Personal needs alignment • Leadership • Competencies • Internal context In order to investigate the influence of the various demographic variables on the intervening and dependent variables, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multiple Linear Regression analysis and t-tests were performed. How leadership occurs in a copreneurial business, the tenure of the business, the location of the business, the status of the copreneurship, the level of spousal involvement in the business and the vi number of employees were found to have an influence on the intervening and dependent variables of this study. By empirically investigating copreneurships, this study has added to the limited amount of family business literature on these complex partnerships. By way of the conceptual models developed in this study a significant contribution has been made towards understanding the factors influencing the success of copreneurships. As a result, this study presents recommendations and suggestions to assist couples in managing their copreneurships in such a way as to nurture their marriage relationships and at the same time enhance the performance of their businesses.

The South African economy and especially its retail environment are continuously experiencing the impact of globalisation. The continuous expansions of large public retail businesses that consist of numerous chain stores are evident in both the local and international arena. South Africa has witnessed large amounts of foreign direct investment (FDI) invested into its retail sector. The above mentioned facts hold a serious challenge for small and medium retail businesses in South Africa (SMEs). In order for SME retail businesses to stay competitive against these global retail businesses, it needs to be able to withstand the competition in the environment it operates. This is not always an easy challenge given the limited access to resources that the majority of SME businesses have access to. This study presents how South African SME retail businesses can remain competent and profitable in spite of serious competition from large retail businesses of both local and international origin. In order to suggest recommendations for South African SME retail businesses to be more competent in relation to large retail businesses, the researcher identified some areas of improvement, which is perceived to be the most important for enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. These variables include uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management. These variables were researched to understand how they affect SME retail businesses and where tested using quantitative analysis to ascertain if managers and owners of SME retail businesses believed that these variables would help them to improve the level of competitiveness in relation to large retail businesses. The results indicated that SME owners and managers felt that uniqueness, entrepreneurial leadership, cost effectiveness, technology and quality management all contributes to the competitiveness of their business. Empirical evidence shows that owners and managers of SME retail business felt that all of the above factors will result in their SME retail business being more competitive as compared to large retail businesses. The former will lead to better chances of success which again are most likely to lead to increased probability.

In view of the important role that small businesses play in the economic development of most economies in the world, including South Africa (Adeniran & Johnston, 2012:4088; Kongolo, 2010:2290), as well as the survival challenges that they face, the purpose of this study was to propose a framework for effective mentoring. This framework can be used to develop the business management skills of black small business owner–managers which will eventually increase the survival of small businesses in South Africa. As such, the primary objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the conditions required for effective mentoring of black-owned small businesses by empirically identifying the factors that influence effective mentoring of these businesses. If mentoring programmes for black-owned small businesses can be effective, the high failure rate of these businesses could be reduced, which may influence the South African economy positively. This study sought to review previous findings and theories on mentoring and small business development, and then contextualise these to black-owned small businesses. A comprehensive literature review revealed potential factors which could influence the effectiveness of mentoring of black-owned small businesses. Four categories of these factors were identified, namely relational-based, non-relational based, cultural and demographical factors. These factors guided the collection of primary data in this study.

This research seeks to advance knowledge of the current state of entrepreneurship and small businesses in South Africa, and reports on a review of 32 articles and 244 research abstracts in the field. The studies as a whole indicate that entrepreneurs in South Africa require more knowledge in the fields of: Networking in business, Internationalisation of business, Entrepreneurship training. Since the 1990s, research in entrepreneurship has grown in terms of the number of articles published and conference papers presented. In many countries entrepreneurship has also become part of the political agenda as it is perceived as a possible solution to high unemployment rates. In addition, interest in entrepreneurship has heightened during the 2000s, especially in business schools. Much of this interest is driven by student demand for courses in entrepreneurship, either because of genuine interest in the subject, or because students see entrepreneurship education as a useful hedge given uncertain corporate careers. Most of the entrepreneurship research abstracts reviewed for this study focused on race, gender and ethical issues in South Africa. These three research topics focused on: Attitudes and experiences of black women: differ from other racial groups in business with the results indicating that black women were competent and highly-motivated, but lacked communication skills and Western business orientation. Many black women also desired equality although their male counterparts opposed this. Black women also lacked role models and career guidance. Different population groups participate in the economy: reflect regional, income, expenditure, skill, occupational and labour differences, including labour supply and demand. Ethics concerns: include whether it should be taught in the human resources management curricula taught in universities. From the findings it appeared that entrepreneurship research in South Africa is fairly similar to international research contexts. As entrepreneurship and small businesses are diverse and multi-disciplinary, the studies reviewed indicated a wide range of different models, theories, frameworks, and combinations of these. However, the theoretical richness of the studies reviewed was, in many cases, relatively low, and only a few of the studies could be regarded as highly-theoretical. In addition, the presentation of the various theories and models applied was very often inadequately reported. It is also important to note that altogether between 7 and 11 percent of the studies were without any well-argued theoretical framework. Thus, researchers in the field should discuss the theoretical frameworks applied in their empirical analyses, to ensure this will improve the theoretical understanding of the phenomenon. Although this study made use of the mixed-method approach to conduct the research, it is also important to note that, in 12 percent of cases, methodological issues were poorly described. Most of the studies often did not describe the data collection response rate provide sample demographic and firm size details as well as identify the target industry. These details were often missing or loosely defined. The reasons for the selection of a certain research approach were also poorly explained, making many of the research studies deficient or limited methodologically. These omissions present a challenge, not only to authors in the field, but also to reviewers and editors in academic journals, as this impacts on the scientific rigor of published papers. On the basis of published papers reviewed, it seems that, personally-administered data collection works best in South Africa. From the research studies undertaken in South Africa, it is evident that much has been researched in the areas of gender (specifically the role of women in business), entrepreneurship training and ethics in business. It is evident that during the 1980s, no research was conducted in South Africa in the areas of family businesses and entrepreneurship training, while international research focuses on these topics. During the 1990s, no research focused on networking in small businesses, and. during the 2000s, there was a lack of research on internationalisation of businesses as only six articles were published from 2000 until 2011 on these topics. This highlights a need for internationalisation research especially as it is well-documented that the South African economy cannot survive if it does not take cognisance of its international competitors. On the basis of the articles and abstracts reviewed, the current state of knowledge concerning entrepreneurship and small businesses in South Africa was assessed, especially the need for the internationalisation of South African small businesses. Moreover, research studies could also focus on the obstacles encountered in the internationalisation process of South African small businesses.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis, presented in six thematic chapters, investigates an approach for promoting the growth of small businesses in South Africa. Chapter 1 motivates the thesis by discussing the contested role of small businesses in reducing unemployment and fostering social equity. Chapter 2 reviews the small business development policy in South Africa and explicates the socioeconomic conditions underpinning the policy. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are empirical analyses using data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys of 2003 and 2007, and the World Bank Financial Crisis Survey of 2010 to determine key impediments to the growth of small businesses and characteristics of firms creating and retaining most jobs in South Africa. Chapter 3 uses two methods to investigate the key impediments. The first method is based on a count of obstacles that entrepreneurs rate as seriously affecting enterprise operations. The second estimates the effects of the obstacles on growth through sequential multivariate regressions and identifies binding constraints for different categories of firms. It emerges that medium-sized firms are mildly affected by most obstacles but micro and small firms are significantly affected by crime, electricity and transportation problems. The chapter provides important insight on the sequencing of interventions to address the impediments to growth. Chapter 4 studies the finance constraint. It evaluates the importance of the constraint firstly by assessing whether firms rating finance as a serious problem underperform firms rating the problem as less important. Thereafter, the chapter studies the experiences of firms when seeking external finance and identifies four levels of the finance constraint. Using an ordered logit model and a binary logit model, the chapter explores the profile of financially constrained firms. Results show that firms owned by ethnic groups disadvantaged in the apartheid era are more likely to be credit-constrained. The results also suggest that the likelihood of being credit-constrained decreases with higher levels of formal education. The results inform policy on the types of firms that financial interventions must target. Chapter 5 builds on a growing body of evidence which shows that a small proportion of firms in an economy account for over 50 percent of net new jobs. The evidence from the literature suggests that such high-growth enterprises have distinct characteristics that could make it possible for interventions to nurture or for other firms to emulate. The chapter employs two methods to investigate the characteristics of high-growth firms. The first is logit regression, which the investigation uses to determine characteristics of firms that create more jobs than the average firm. The characteristics are also interacted to identify interaction terms most associated with growth. The second method is quantile regression, which makes it possible to assess the importance of each characteristic for firms in different levels of growth rates. The results show that the typical high-growth firm is more likely to be black-owned. The results of the chapter however highlight the need for further research into characteristics that may perhaps explain high-growth firms more robustly than variables in the survey instrument. The research ends with a summary, a discussion of areas of further research, and policy recommendations in Chapter 6.

Thesis (MTech (Cost and Management Accounting))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.
Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa are perceived to be failing partly due to ineffective management practices. Using a questionnaire survey, this study sought to determine the inventory-management practices of SMMEs operating in the Cape Metropole, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the inventory-management practices currently used by these entities. In addition, the study sought to determine the challenges, if any, that are experienced by SMMEs from the inventory-management practices currently used. This study was motivated by a dearth of research on inventory-management practices of SMMEs. The findings of the study revealed that most of the SMMEs used ‘Rule of Thumb’ as an inventory-management practice. Regarding the effectiveness of the practices used, the study revealed that the SMMEs investigated were perceived to be moderately effective, with SMMEs practising good inventory management techniques such as warehousing, stocktaking, budgeting, good ordering habits and segregation of warehouse duties. In relation to the challenges faced by SMMEs from the inventory-management practices currently used, the findings suggested that theft, shortage of inventory, errors due to incompetent staff, physical inventory not matching up with records and an inability to keep up with the demand of the customers were some of the main challenges faced. This study contributes to the literature on inventory-management practices of SMMEs and fills the gap of knowledge in this neglected area of research. The findings of this study are of significance to the decision-makers of SMEs as they will be enlightened on the best practices and different inventory-management practices that are vital for their businesses’ survival and that have been adopted by their competitors. This should enable them to evaluate their own inventory-management practices and to decide whether to improve, change or continue with their current practice. The South African Government could also draw on the findings of this research to inform its future intervention strategies meant to improve the survival rates of these entities. This could be in the form of the creation of short courses meant to assist SMMEs to improve their inventory-management practices.

South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, currently 23.90%. One way for the government and policy-makers of South Africa to address this dire statistic is through the fostering and promotion of entrepreneurship and small business creation. The benefits of entrepreneurship are numerous and can include: increasing a country’s productivity, enhancing the welfare and well-being of its citizens, reducing emigration rates, improving economic development and perhaps, most importantly, increasing employment rates. Worldwide, small businesses within the private sector have become indispensable to sustainable job creation and therefore it is of the utmost importance that small businesses in any economy develop, grow and succeed. Despite the fact that research pertaining to small businesses has increased over the years, little empirical evidence has been established. In particular, research into what makes small businesses successful has been limited. Entrepreneurial activity in South Africa remains less than ideal and therefore it is appropriate that research into the success factors of small businesses in South Africa be investigated. Furthermore, the survival of South African small businesses beyond four to five years of being in operation is estimated at only 20.00%. It is evident that a lack of knowledge exists and with respect to this research the factors found to be the most common determinants of success for small businesses in Port Elizabeth were determined and investigated. Convenience- and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify potential participants. In total 43 usable questionnaires were returned. Methodological triangulation was used to analyse the data, according to descriptive- and inferential statistics, as well as content analysis. This being so, the research was conducted within two paradigms, primarily, the positivist research paradigm and also the phenomenological research paradigm. The key findings of this study indicate personal factors to be the most important success factor group, while the environmental success factor group is considered the least important. The most important factors attributable to the success of participants’ small businesses include: maintaining good customer services skills and relationships; having a strong commitment to product/service quality; and having honest employees with sound professional ii knowledge and a positive morale. The least important success factors include: trade exhibitions and business fairs; small business legislation; and industry structure and competition. Finally, the hypothesis tests indicate that significant differences only exist between: the relationship statuses and business factors and the business sectors and environmental factors. The results of this research have significant practical implications for the various stakeholders of entrepreneurship. It is hoped that the results will add to the existing body of knowledge and in turn aid South Africa in becoming aware of the factors essential for small business success. In doing so, South Africa at large will be able to take full advantage of entrepreneurship and small business creation, which continue to remain well within its reach

Thesis (MTech (Internal Auditing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010
Developing countries face the great challenge of balancing growth with equity and justice. Growth, in all its fairness, should translate into equitable opportunity for all, but as is observed, the distributional effect of growth often does not filter down to the majority of the socially and economically disadvantaged communities. It is imperative in these situations to embark on a process of developmental change to improve the quality of life of the majority of the disadvantaged community. South Africa used this strategy to endeavour to encounter or reverse the political history of the country, by encouraging entrepreneurs of previously disadvantaged racial groups through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to open small businesses. The South African Government believes that the development, growth and sustainability of the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) sector will help the country to decrease the high unemployment rate, and lead the country as a whole to a sustainable economical development. Research has shown that this aim can no longer be achieved by only facilitating access to finance to entrepreneurs. They argue that some management strategies such as risk management should be introduced, understood and applied by small business owners, in order for their businesses to go beyond their actual estimated survival period referred as 3 to 5 years maximum. This research provides background to which risk management techniques are applied within the ambit of small enterprises. The data were collected from eighty eight companies drawn from a possible of 150 small enterprises found in the Cape Metropole. The analysis of data of those who responded has shown that very few SMME owners, managers, entrepreneurs or key designated employees make use of risk management tools and techniques within their businesses, to achieve growth and sustainability. However, the majority agreed to the high importance of risk management in the success of a business enterprise.

Given the predicted increase in the number of family businesses owned and/or managed by siblings (Sibling Partnerships), as well as the lack of understanding and research attention given to such sibling teams, the purpose of this study was to contribute to the more effective functioning of such family businesses in South Africa by identifying the factors that impact on their success. With this purpose in mind, the primary objective was to identify, investigate and empirically test the possible influences of, and relationships between, various factors and the Perceived success of Sibling Partnerships. This study sets out to integrate prior findings and theories on team effectiveness and family relationships, to find support for these theories in the family business literature, and to incorporate these findings into a comprehensive model. The literature study revealed 5 main categories (context, composition, structure, processes, and people) of constructs influencing the Perceived success of sibling teams. Within these 5 main constructs, 13 underlying independent variables were identified and hypothesised to influence measures of effectiveness of sibling teams, namely the dependent variable Perceived success, and the 2 intermediate variables Financial performance and Family harmony. Of the 13 underlying independent variables, 6 were categorised as task-based and 7 as relational-based factors. In addition, hypotheses were formulated for possible relationships between the various task-based constructs (context, composition and structure) and the processes and people constructs. Each construct was clearly defined and then operationalised. Operationalisation was done by using reliable and valid items sourced from tested measuring instruments used in previous studies, as well as several self-generated items based on secondary sources. A structured questionnaire was made available to respondents identified by means of the convenience snowball sampling technique, and the data collected from 371 usable questionnaires was subjected to various statistical analyses. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, and Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument. The 6 task-based latent variables were confirmed by the exploratory factor analysis. However, all the other latent variables, as originally intended in the theoretical model, could not be confirmed. Instead, 3 dependent variables were identified, namely Financial performance, Growth performance and Satisfaction with work and family relationships, and 6 relational-based constructs, with some changes, did emerge. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was the main statistical procedure used to test the significance of the relationships hypothesised between the various independent and dependent variables. Because of sample size restrictions the conceptual model could not be subjected to SEM as a whole; consequently 10 submodels were identified and subjected to further analysis. The following independent variables were identified as influencing the dependent variables in this study: • Internal context • Complementary skills • Leadership • Shared dream • Fairness • Sibling relationship • Non-family members • No other family members (spouses and non-active siblings) In addition, the factors Complementary skills, Leadership, Past parent involvement, No present parent involvement, and No other family members, were identified as significantly influencing the relationship between the siblings involved in the Sibling Partnership. Furthermore, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multiple Linear Regression analysis and t-tests were undertaken to determine the influence of demographic variables on the dependent variables. How ownership is shared in a family business involving siblings, the shareholding between the siblings themselves, and the nature of leadership between the siblings, has been found to influence the iv dependent variables in the present study. In addition, a Sibling Partnership is likely to perform most effectively when it is composed of a relatively young sibling team that has a small age gap between the members, and business performance will improve as the siblings gain work experience together, and as the number of employees increase. This study has added to the empirical body of family business research by investigating a particularly limited segment of the literature, namely Sibling Partnerships in family businesses. By identifying and developing various models that outline the most significant factors that influence the success of such family business partnerships, this study offers recommendations and suggestions for managing family businesses involving siblings, in such a way as to enrich their family relationships and to improve the financial performance of their businesses.

The rise of microfinance in South Africa as a development trajectory has dismissed ideas that small business enterprises have no significant contribution to the economic growth and development of the country. The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of microfinance service providers on the success and sustainability of small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. By applying descriptive statistics, 2 ordinary least square regression analyses as well as correlation matrix; the results reveal that microfinance has a positive and significant impact on the success and sustainability on small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The research findings hold a variety of implications for Government and policymakers. The study recommends that the microfinance sector must be under good governance through the microfinance regulatory and supervisory structures, since the sector contributes a great deal towards one of the most important objectives of the Post-Apartheid Government. Further, small business entrepreneurs must be well exposed to the requirements, standards and norms which govern the financial sector. This is particularly important in terms of the National Credit Act provisions.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To the world community at large globalisation has been a gradual process, whereas its impact in South Africa was more intensive and concentrated over a shorter period of time - in particular since South Africa's return to the international community in the early to middle 1990s, its economy, inter alia, has had to adjust to this phenomenon. It is within this environment that all enterprises constituting the South African economy also had to adapt and adjust to a new world environment. From the middle 1980s a new discourse in the literature on the effect of a "new" style of leadership (based on continuous learning, renewal, innovation and entrepreneurship) was reported on in which these leaders brought about significant change in organisations. These leaders recognise the need for change in their organisations. They create a new vision. They bring about change in their organisations to meet the challenges from the changing environment and have been accordingly recognised as transformational leaders. This leadership style has been extensively reported on in large organisations, in both the private and the public sectors. For example, literature and research abound on the impact of transformational leaders in large business enterprises (e.g. Lee lacocca of Chrysler, Jack Welch of General Electric) and government institutions, such as education, the military and health (e.g. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Mahatma Ghandi of India). A review of the literature on the impact of transformational leadership in large organisations, without fail, reports significant manifestations of success in those organisations' growth, cohesion and development into' more successful and competitive units. Concomitantly, it is generally acknowledged by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and other organisations of similar position, that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shape the very foundation of the majority of successful economies. The impact of transformational leadership in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has not been measured and reported on in an empirical appraisal and surprisingly little has been forthcoming on the role and impact of transformational leadership in SMEs globally. However, from an entrepreneurial perspective, much has been researched and written on the qualities that support risk-taking, innovation and competition in SMEs. It is within this context that it was decided to investigate the concept of transformational leadership in entrepreneurs, i.e. that group of people who are generally referred to as the drivers of the economy. This dissertation reviews the literature on leadership practices and styles in organisations as a basis to specifically identify the co-producers of leadership in entrepreneurs in SMEs. It is within this context that an empirical study on aspects of transformational leadership in SMEs in a South African context was conducted. This empirical survey verifies the relationship between characteristics of these entrepreneurs and characteristics typically associated with transformational leaders, as manifested in large organisations. Therefore, given the above empirical evidence, the model developed for this study defines the qualities of a transformational leader which will enable those leaders/entrepreneurs (in SMEs with growth potential) to take their organisations from average performance levels to levels comparable to world-class leadership and competitiveness.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir die wêreldgemeenskap in sy geheel was globalisering 'n geleidelike proses, terwyl die impak daarvan op Suid-Afrika meer intensief en gekonsentreerd oor 'n korter tydperk plaasgevind het - meer spesifiek sedert Suid-Afrika se terugkeer gedurende die vroeë tot middel 1990s tot die internasionale gemeenskap waartydens die ekonomie, onder andere, tot hierdie verskynsel moes aanpas. Dit is binne hierdie omgewing waarbinne alle ondernemings wat die basis van die ekonomie vorm, tot die nuwe wêreldomgewing moes aanpas. Vanaf die middel 1980s is daar redevoering in die literatuur oor die invloed van 'n "nuwe" leierskapstyl (met die uitgangspunte van verandering, innovering en entrepreneurskap) waarvolgens hierdie leiers aansienlike verandering in hul organisasies teweegbring. Hierdie leiers begryp die noodsaaklikheid van verandering en skep sodoende 'n nuwe visie binne hulorganisasies. Hulle bring verandering binne hierdie organisasies teweeg en aanvaar die uitdagings vanuit die omgewing - hierdie leiers word as transformasieleiers uitgeken. Vanuit die oogpunt van beide groot, privaat- en openbare organisasies, word hierdie leierskapstyl omvattend vermeld; byvoorbeeld, in navorsing en literatuur is voldoende verwysings oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in groot ondernemings (bv. Lee lacocca van Chrysler, Jack Welch van General Electric) en in staatorganisasies, soos in opvoeding, die militêre asook gesondheid (bv. Nelson Mandela van Suid-Afrika, Mahatma Ghandi van Indië). 'n Literatuuroorsig oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap op groot organisasies dui sonder uitsondering op 'n beduidende invloed van sukses in die groei van hierdie ondernemings aan, asook beter spanwerk en die ontplooiing van meer suksesvolle en mededingengde eenhede binne hierdie organisasies. Insgelyks, word dit algemeen deur die Wêreldbank, die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds, die Europese Gemeenskap, die Asiese Ontwikkelingsbank en ander soortgelyke organisasies aanvaar dat klein tot middelgroot-ondernemings (KMOs) die onderbou van die meerderheid van susksesvolle ekonomië vorm. Vanuit 'n entrepreneuriese perspektief is 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid navorsing en publikasies reeds oor die faktore gedoen wat entrepreneurskap in KMOs ondersteun, naamlik risikoneming, innovering en mededining. Dog, vanuit 'n empiriese benadering, is daar nog nie navorsing oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in KMOs gelewer nie. Dit is binne hierdie konteks dat die besluit geneem is om die konsep van transformasieleierskap in entrepreneurs te ondersoek, m.a.w. daardie groep mense waarna oor die algemeen as die dryfkrag van die ekonomie verwys word. As vertrekpunt ondersoek hierdie verhandeling die literatuur met betrekking tot leierskapgebruike en -style in organisasies, om sodoende meer spesifiek die medeprodusente van leierskap in entrepreneurs in KMOs te bepaal. Vanaf hierdie vertrekpunt word die empiriese ondersoek geloods en voltooi om die teenwoordigheid van transformasieleierskap in KMOs in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Die empiriese navorsing bevestig die verwantskap tussen die eienskappe van hierdie entrepreneurs en die eienskappe wat tipies aan transformasieleiers in groot organisasies toegeskryf word. Gegewe die bogenoemde empiriese bevindinge omskryf die model (wat gevolglik vir hierdie studie ontwikkel is) die eienskappe van transformasieleiers wat vir leiers/entrepreneurs (in KMOs met groeimoontlikhede) van nut sal wees om sodoende hulondernemings tot prestasievlakke te neem wat met wêreldleierskap en mededingingheid vergelyk kan word.

The focus on entrepreneurs as drivers of the economies of nations has catapulted them into the forefront of the local and international marketplace. This has led to a demand for entrepreneurial education and training resulting in a plethora of different and often divergent views. One commonality that has emerged is that entrepreneurship can be taught; although it cannot be taught in conventional and traditional ways. It requires a move from traditional education and training to more enterprising participative and supportive forms of business development. It requires investments of time, resources and support. Incubators are facilities that are engaged with entrepreneurs and offer a variety of support including education and training. This study has assessed the effectiveness of training offered by the Seda Nelson Mandela Bay ICT incubator. There has been limited research undertaken on entrepreneurial education and training in an incubator setting. This study followed the qualitative paradigm. The sample comprised of 10 small businesses at the Seda Nelson Mandela Bay ICT incubator. Empirical data was obtained by interviewing the owners of the small businesses using an interview schedule. Issues such as the most effective training programme, content that it contained, methodology used and quality of the facilitator and applicability of the training programme were explored. The study found that the small businesses were opportunity driven rather than necessity driven and that the incubator served as a bridging facility in moving the businesses from the informal sector to the formal sector. The content of the training programmes was found to be effective when a mix of both theoretical and practical is offered especially with an emphasis on the underlying entrepreneurial themes of confidence, persistence and uncertainty and so on. It also found that training programmes should be linked to the life cycle of the business and address the specific needs of the small business owner. The start-up phase requires very specific training. Most of the facilitators were found to be experienced and empathetic. However, only a few were using a wider range of preferred learning styles favoured by entrepreneurs such as role playing, simulation, brainstorming and problem-solving techniques. The study also found that when generic training programmes are offered there was less recall on the part of the trainees. The management team of the incubator is an important determinant of the success of the incubatees and it is recommended that they need to be well versed in their sector and have good networking skills. There is a strong link between the theoretical and the practical content of training programmes especially where the emphasis is more on the practical content. It is recommended that facilitators pay attention to their relationship with trainees as it is a critical success factor in the training programme. Training programmes offered over a period of time add more value to the incubatee. This might be because of the mentoring and counselling that is available after each training module is completed. Finally, more research needs to be undertaken on the quality and effectiveness of training programmes offered by incubators to small businesses.

It has been generally accepted within the developed and developing countries of the world that SMES contributes significantly to employment creation as the world population increases and that it also contributes to the economic growth of the areas they are situated in. Finance is the blood (life) of any business, for a business to be successful it needs steady successful access to funds and post financial support which leads to actualization of ideas, leads to investment and expansion, improves access to market amongst others. This is why the impact of development finance can never be over emphasized. The aims of the study are: To understand the extent to which small and medium businesses are supported through the availability of financial assistance in Matjabeng Municipality. To establish the survival rates of businesses that has been funded and or supported and whether they are or not sustainable. In achieving the aims and objectives of the research, the researcher looked at development funds both from the supply side and the demand side. The supply side which involved semi structured interviews with consultants of government parastatals (the FDC and DETEA) who are involved in financing Small Medium Enterprises in Matjhabeng municipality. The demand side involved administering of questionnaires to Entrepreneurs in the municipality who are registered with the Local Economic Department (LED), which led to the acceptance of the hypothesis of the research that development finance actually helps in the growth of small medium enterprises but in conjunction with post financial support such as bookkeeping, accounting, monitoring and evaluation. The researcher also discovered some findings amongst others which includes: The most effective ways entrepreneurs heard about funding in the municipality are through the media and word of mouth. Most of the entrepreneurs that received some type of funding are startups. More entrepreneurs that had access to funds also got some post financial business support. Financial assistance to entrepreneurs yielded improvements after respondents received financial assistance, the range of goods offered was improved and more jobs were created, entrepreneurs were able to obtain better business premises either by renting or buying and entrepreneurs had access to better equipment. Some of the recommendations of this study includes; The municipal government should help small and medium enterprises in the municipality by linking them to new markets. Effective monitoring and evaluation systems should be put in place by development funders and non-financial support services. Entrepreneurial skills development should be provided by the public and private agencies by organizing workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs in order to expose them to business opportunities that are sustainable and viable.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is made of stand-alone essays on the capital structure and financing of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana and South Africa. Chapter Two reviews issues on SME development in Ghana and South Africa. Chapter Three compares the capital structures of large, quoted firms and SMEs in Ghana. The results show that quoted firms exhibit higher debt ratios than those of SMEs. The results suggest that age, size, asset structure, and profitability of the firm affect the capital structures of quoted firms and SMEs. For the SME, it is evident that level of education and gender of the entrepreneur, industry, and location of the firm are also important in explaining their capital structure. Chapter Four examines the determinants of bank financing of SMEs in Ghana. The results reveal that bank financing accounts for less than a quarter of SMEs’ debt financing, with short-term bank credit representing the greater proportion of bank finance. The results show that age, size, asset tangibility, and growth of the firm have positive associations with long-term bank debt, while profitability is negatively related to long-term bank debt. The short-term debt indicates a positive relationship with size, but negative relationships with profitability, and growth. Chapter Four also investigates the awareness and use of various financing schemes available to the Ghanaian SME sector. The results reveal low awareness and usage levels of these financing initiatives. Chapter Five explores the determinants of Ghanaian small and medium sized non-traditional exporters’ (NTEs) choice of formal/informal finance. The results show that NTEs depend on formal financing sources with bank finance representing the greater percentage of NTEs’ financing. The results suggest that, newer firms depend more on formal finance and less on informal finance. The results show positive relationships between formal finance and size, and growth of the firm. Chapter Six assesses how corporate governance affects the performance of SMEs in Ghana and what the implications are for financing opportunities. The results reveal that better corporate governance structures lead to better performance of SMEs. The paper concludes that the adoption of good corporate governance structures could lead to better management decisions and enable SMEs to attract financing resources. Chapter Seven examines the relationship between agency factors and the capital structure of quoted SMEs in South Africa. The results indicate that firms with one institutional blockholder are able to monitor the opportunistic behaviour of management more effectively than those with more than one institutional blockholders. Chapter Eight looks at the financial market and financing choice of SMEs and large firms in South Africa. The results indicate that developments in the financial market affect both longterm debt/equity and short-term debt/equity decisions of large firms. However, for SMEs, it is the long-term debt/equity decision that is affected by the financial market. The final essay examines the effect of debt policy on the performance of SMEs in Ghana and South Africa. The results indicate that long-term debt and total debt ratios negatively affect performance of SMEs. These findings have important implications for policy-makers, entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bestaan uit losstaande essays oor die kapitaalstruktuur en finansiering van kleinen middelgrootte-ondernemings (KMO's) in Ghana en Suid-Afrika. Hoofstuk Twee kyk na kwessies oor KMO-ontwikkeling in Ghana en Suid-Afrika. Hoofstuk Drie vergelyk die kapitaalstrukture van groot genoteerde maatskappye en KMO's in Ghana. Die resultate dui daarop dat genoteerde maatskappye groter skuldverhoudings as KMO's toon. Hierdie resultate wys ook dat ouderdom, grootte, batestruktuur en die winsgewendheid van die maatskappy die kapitaalstruktuur van genoteerde maatskappye en KMO's beïnvloed. Dit is vir die KMO voor die hand liggend dat die opvoedingsvlak en geslag van die entrepreneur, die bedryf en die ligging van die maatskappy ook belangrik is om die kapitaalstruktuur daarvan te verduidelik. Hoofstuk Vier ondersoek die bepalende faktore vir bankfinansiering vir KMO's in Ghana. Die resultate toon aan dat bankfinansiering rekenskap gee van minder as 'n kwart van die KMO se skuldfinansiering en dat korttermynbankkrediet die grootste gedeelte van die bankfinansiering verteenwoordig. Die resultate toon aan dat ouderdom, grootte, die tasbaarheid van bates en maatskappygroei op 'n positiewe verwantskap met langtermynskuld dui, terwyl winsgewendheid 'n negatiewe verband met langtermynbankskuld het. Die korttermynskuld toon 'n positiewe verwantskap met grootte maar 'n negatiewe verwantskap met winsgewendheid en groei aan. Hoofstuk Vier ondersoek ook die bewustheid en gebruik van verskeie finansieringskemas wat aan die Ghanese KMO-sektor beskikbaar is. Die resultate bring 'n lae bewustheid en gebruiksvlakke van hierdie finansieringsinisiatiewe aan die lig. Hoostuk Vyf verken die bepalende faktore van die Ghanese klein- en middelgrootte nie-tradisionele uitvoerders (NTU's) se keuse van formele/informele finansiering. Die resultate toon aan dat NTU's op formele finansieringsbronne staat maak en dat bankfinansiering die grootste persentasie van die NTU's se finansiering uitmaak. Uit die resultate kan afgelei word dat nuwer maatskappye meer op formele finansiering staat maak en minder op informele finansiering. Die resultate dui op 'n positiewe verwantskap tussen formele finansiering en grootte, en die groei van die maatskappy. Hoofstuk Ses evalueer die invloed van korporatiewe bestuur op die prestasie van KMO's in Ghana en watter implikasies dit vir finansieringsgeleenthede inhou. Die resultate toon aan dat beter korporatiewe finansieringstrukture by KMO's tot beter prestasie lei. Hierdie essay kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die aanvaarding van goeie korporatiewe bestuurstrukture tot beter bestuursbesluite kan lei en KMO's in staat kan stel om finansieringsbronne te lok. Hoofstuk Sewe ondersoek die verwantskap tussen agentskapfaktorering en die kapitaalstruktuur van genoteerde KMO's in Suid-Afrika. Die resultate dui daarop dat maatskappye met een institusionele blokhouer die opportunistiese gedrag van bestuur meer doeltreffend kan monitor as dié met meer as een institusionele blokhouer. Hoofstuk Agt kyk na die keuses wat KMO's en groot maatskappye in Suid-Afrika ten opsigte van finansiële markte en finansiering maak. Resultate toon aan dat ontwikkelings in die finansiële mark besluite oor die langtermynskuld/aandelekapitaal sowel as die korttermynskuld/aandelekapitaal van groot maatskappye beïnvloed. By KMO's is dit egter besluite oor langtermynskuld/aandelekapitaal wat deur die finansiële mark beïnvloed word. Die laaste essay ondersoek die uitwerking van skuldbeleid op die prestasie van KMO's in Ghana en Suid-Afrika. Die resultate toon aan dat langtermynskuld en totale skuldverhoudings die prestasie van KMO's negatief beïnvloed. Hierdie bevindinge het belangrike implikasies vir beleidmakers, entrepreneurs en die bestuurders van KMO's.

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006
The emphasis on economic development of rural communities, especially small businesses within it has attracted the attention of most local, regional and national governments and non governmental agencies alike. As we move towards technology-oriented global market, community development now becomes a veritable strategy for ''pushing back the frontier of poverty" and maintaining socio-economic stability. This research argues that the deployment and use of appropriate e-commerce technology to facilitate this strategy is useful, and possibly, more suitable than any other tool or strategy. The research further examines the opportunities offered by ecommerce for small business development within the Western Cape. A framework that describes how e-commerce can support the addressing of the specific developmental needs of this community was developed. Six pilot communities involved in the pilot for the Cape Gateway Access Project initiated by the Centre for e-Innovation (Cel) of the Provincial Government of the Western Cape were investigated to find out how appropriate technologies are put to use and how they can be effectively deployed to promote entrepreneurship in these rural communities. The findings of this research reveal that the use of e-commerce by rural communities is a bit complicated. It is found that the availability and use of appropriate e-commerce technologies extend beyond provision of access, to provision of support outside technology and multi-stakeholder approach to addressing the economic situation of rural communities. The findings provide the basis for the recommendations and conclusions drawn in this research. However, the few entrepreneurs identified within the communities are found to be at different stages of e-commerce use. In general, most of the community members are unconsciously engaged in some form of e-commerce ranging from 828, 82C and G2C' , though not as significant as one would have envisaged.

Bibliography: pages 145-152.
This thesis examines manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Western Cape, drawn from three leading industries in the manufacturing sector: clothing, furniture, and panel beating and metal works. The aim of the study is to analyze factors that contribute to the success of black manufacturing enterprises. To this end, the study isolated a group of black SMEs regarded as successful in terms of comparative studies in other countries. A sample of 20 SMEs was selected and detailed interviews formed the basis of the analysis. The information gathered during this process was analysed using Porter's model of competitiveness. A central finding of the survey is that the profile of a successful enterprise would include an entrepreneur with post-school training, a motivation for independence and enhancement of self-esteem, a participative relationship between workers and management, and a good relationship with customers. Most of these entrepreneurs attained competitiveness independent of support institutions (private or public). Entrepreneurs interviewed mentioned that their performance could be enhanced by effective support in marketing and exporting, finance, training, information and, technology, and subcontracting. The conclusion is therefore that the support envisaged in terms of the national strategy for SMEs' advancement, would assist the individual enterprise's quest for competitiveness.

Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
South Africa is currently not considered a wine-drinking nation. The consumption per capita rate is very low, especially for a wine-producing country. To date, the wine industry has grown due to exports allowed since sanctions were lifted in 1994. With the export market set to decelerate over the next few years, the wine industry will have to develop the domestic market, especially the black consumer market for future growth. The emerging black market of South Africa has materialised as the strongest buying influence in the economy. They have an overwhelming desire to have access to a lifestyle, which in the past was not possible. While they are status and lifestyle orientated, they want products and brands that are aspirational and close to them. Understanding this market and the potential they pose is vital for the wine industry’s future. Wine marketers need to understand this target market’s thoughts and perceptions around wine, as this market is still largely untapped. The emerging black market has had little exposure to wine compared with other alcoholic drinks such as beer, brandy and the ready-to-drink category and the wine industry will have to look at a comprehensive strategy to target them. It is the purpose of this study to provide detailed insights into the emerging black market of South Africa in connection with wine consumption. Initially, a literature review was conducted to investigate this target market and the wine industry’s current situation. Various marketing tools were discussed designed to specifically target the emerging black market. Based on this information, a consumer survey was conducted amongst black MBA students of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). The data was analysed and conclusions were drawn that answered the questions and objectives of this study. The analyses showed that the wine industry should focus on the women segment of the emerging black market, as they are the current group interested in wine. Other main findings included that wine needed to be positioned as an aspirational product; that brand ambassadors in large social networks should be identified; and finally that the wine industry and all its stakeholders should work together to educate the emerging black market and collectively apply the various marketing techniques found to be popular.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the phenomena's in the marketing industry of the past decade is the increased use of database marketing. Database marketing involves the collection, processing and dissemination of vast amounts of consumer information in order to compile detailed consumer databases. The increasing popularity of database marketing can be attributed to various factors. Consumer information can now be obtained easier, cheaper and faster due to the availability of information technology. It has become easier to segment consumer markets and it is possible to identify consumer trends. It is possible to make predictions of consumer behaviour or buying patterns because consumer databases provide a more complete consumer profile with information ranging from demographics, psycho graphics to life-style information. Database technology improves the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing campaigns because marketers can analyse the available information and select the most appropriate marketing strategies and tactics, while concentrating efforts on the most profitable consumer. Marketers therefore waste less effort, money, and other resources by not promoting to individuals who are unlikely to react upon such offers. Widespread databases assist marketers in offering products that are more reasonably priced and more precisely tailored for smaller, more homogeneous market segments. Improved product and service offerings as well as the availability of a wider variety of products and services will likely result in higher consumer satisfaction and could build consumer loyalty. Therefore, marketers use consumer information to improve the overall marketing strategy and individual customer service. Consumers are concerned about database marketing practices because consumers believe some data practices invade personal privacy. The need for privacy has always been inherent to human nature and the concept of privacy dates back to early mankind. One should however differentiate between an individual's basic need for privacy from a general perspective and privacy within a consumer-marketer context. Privacy from a general perspective refers to one's territoriality and need for physical seclusion, whereas consumer privacy mainly relate to the privacy of personal information. Bennett, as well as Stone and Stone proposed that a state of privacy exist when a consumer can control social interaction, unwanted external stimuli, and the dissemination of personal information as well as being able to make independent decisions without outside interference. Consumers' need for privacy is however, in conflict with the need for social interaction and the need to participate in commercial exchange relationships. The more a person interacts with other members of society, the more the person could expect to compromise some privacy. This implies that when consumers participate in a business transaction, or where an exchange relationship exists between the database marketer and consumer, consumers could expect that a degree of privacy will be lost. Consumer groups however, argue that some marketing practices invade the reasonable amount of privacy consumers should be able to expect. The raising consumer concern for privacy is attributable to several reasons. The primary driver of consumer concern is the general lack of knowledge on data collection and use. Other reasons for the raising privacy concern include the type of information collected and the amount of control consumers have over subsequent use of data; the use of personal information to identify specific individuals; collection and use of sensitive information, such as medical and financial data; the volume of information collected and used; secondary information use; the use and dissemination of inaccurate databases; the collection and use of children's data; the lack of tangible benefits received in exchange for information provided; and the use of consumer information for financial gain. Consumers have also expressed concern about electronic database marketing practices because of the secrecy in data collection and use. However, privacy concerns may vary depending on consumers' cultural orientation, age, perception on what constitutes good marketing ethics or the specific methods employed to obtain consumer data. One could distinguish between several consumer clusters when considering consumers" attitudes on database marketing practices and personal privacy. In this regard the typical South African consumer is classified as a "pragmatist". Pragmatists are concerned with privacy to the extent they are exposed to database marketing activities. The South African database marketing industry is still in its infancy phase and as the industry progress, and consumers become more knowledgeable, privacy concerns are likely to increase. It is important to address the issues that raise consumer privacy concerns and to find solutions for ensuring sustainable database marketing practice in future. Marketers' information needs and consumers' privacy needs should somehow be balanced in order to withhold government intervention. Compromises from both sides are necessary to reach a more balanced relationship between the two parties. The successful outcome of the privacy debate will depend on marketers' understanding of consumer privacy issues and by addressing these accordingly.Several approaches exist for regulating database marketing practices that invade consumer privacy: the implementation of information technology, self-regulation and government intervention. Self-regulation is preferred for regulating database marketing practices, whereas privacy-enhancing information technology is recommended as a supplemental tool for protecting consumer privacy. Government regulating seems to be the last resort because of unnecessary restrictions that might be imposed on database marketing activities. Recommended models for regulating database marketing activities and for protecting consumer privacy in South Africa are the Registration Model, together with elements of the Data Commissioner Model. These models were proposed after careful consideration of characteristics, unique to the South African database marketing industry. The models place the responsibility for data protection with the database marketer and the South African government, rather than with the consumer. The Registration Model and the Data Commissioner Model seems a viable combination for implementation in South Africa because these models acknowledge the fact that South African pragmatic consumers are not well educated and informed enough on privacy invading database marketing practices. This combination rarely involves any consumer participation and therefore suits the typical apathetic nature of South African consumers. The Registration Model acts like a notice system where an agency, currently the Direct Marketing Association of South Africa, develops principles of fair information practices to which registered marketers need to comply with. A commission, an element of the Data Commissioner Model, has power to investigate consumer complaints, constrain development of databases, review data practices and advise on improvements on data collectors' systems. The commission could also monitor advancements in information technology that may enhance consumer privacy. The only problem with these models seems to be that the agency and or the commission have no authoritative power to enforce compliance with principles and codes of conduct. Industry self-regulation in conjunction with some governmental control and the application of information technology seems to be useful in providing adequate levels of consumer privacy and data protection. Such a combination might strike a balance between South African consumers' need for privacy and South African marketers' need for consumer information.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Een van die verskynsels in die bemarkingsindustrie oor die afgelope dekade is die toenemende gebruik van databasisbemarking. Databasisbemarking behels die insameling, prosessering en verspreiding van groot hoeveelhede verbruikersinligting met die doelom gedetailleerde verbruikersdatabasisse saam te stel. Die toenemende gewildheid van databasisbemarking kan toegeskryf word aan verskeie faktore. Inligtingstegnologie maak dit baie makliker, goedkoper en vinniger om verbruikersinligting te bekom. Dit raak al hoe makliker om verbruikersmarkte te segmenteer en dit is moontlik om verbruikers tendense te identifiseer. Voorspellings kan ook gemaak word ten opsigte van verbruikersgedrag en aankooppatrone omdat die omvang van inligting in verbruikersdatabasisse strek vanaf demografiese, psigografiese tot lewenstylinligting en daarom 'n baie meer volledige verbruikersprofiel bied. Databasistegnologie verbeter die doeltreffendheid en effektiwiteit van bemarkingsveldtogte omdat bemarkers beskikbare inligting kan analiseer en die mees gepaste bemarkingstrategieë en taktieke kan selekteer, terwyl programme gerig kan word op die mees winsgewinde verbruiker. Bemarkers sal dus minder moeite, geld en ander hulpbronne vermors deurdat bemarkingsprogramme nie gerig word op individue wat heel waarskynlik nie op sulke aanbiedinge sal reageer nie. Omvangryke databasisse help bemarkers om goedkoper produkte te bied wat meer presies ontwerp is op kleiner, meer homogene marksegmente te dien. Verbeterde produk en diens aanbiedinge tesame met die beskikbaarheid van 'n wyer verskeidenheid van produkte en dienste, sal heel waarskynlik hoër verbruikersatisfaksie tot gevolg hê en kan verbruikerslojaliteit bewerkstellig. Dus, bemarkers gebruik verbruikersinligting om die algehele bemarkingstrategie en individuele diens aan verbruikers te verbeter. Verbruikers het belang by databasis bemarkingspraktyke omdat verbruikers glo dat sommige data praktyke inbreuk maak op persoonlike privaatheid. Die behoefte aan privaatheid was nog altyd inherent aan die menslike natuur en die konsep van privaatheid dateer terug tot vroeë beskawings. Daar behoort egter 'n onderskeid getref te word tussen 'n individu se basiese behoefte aan privaatheid vanuit 'n algemene perspektief en privaatheid vanaf 'n verbruiker-bemarker konteks. Privaatheid, vanaf 'n algemene perspektief, verwys na 'n individu se persoonlike ruimte en die behoefte aan fisiese afsondering, teenoor verbruikersprivaatheid wat hoofsaaklik verband hou met die privaatheid van persoonlike inligting. Bennett, sowel as Stone en Stone het voorgestel dat 'n mate van privaatheid heers wanneer 'n verbruiker beheer het oor sosiale interaksies, ongewenste eksterne prikkels, die verspreiding van persoonlike inligting, sowel as om in staat te wees om onafhanklike besluite te neem sonder invloed van buite. Verbruikers se behoefte aan privaatheid is egter in konflik met die behoefte aan sosiale interaksie en die behoefte om deel te neem aan kommersiële transaksies. Hoe meer 'n persoon in wisselwerking tree met ander lede van die gemeenskap, hoe meer kan die persoon verwag om 'n mate van privaatheid op te offer. Dit impliseer dat wanneer verbruikers deelneem in 'n besigheidstransaksie of waar 'n ruilverhouding bestaan tussen die databasisbemarker en verbruiker, kan verbruikers verwag dat 'n mate van privaatheid verlore sal gaan. Verbruikers kan 'n redelike mate van privaatheid verwag, maar verbruikersgroepe argumenteer dat sommige bemarkingspraktyke inbreuk maak op hierdie redelike verwagting van privaatheid. Die toenemende verbruikersbelang by privaatheid is toeskryfbaar aan verskeie redes. Die primêre dryfkrag agter verbruikers se belang is die algemene gebrek aan kennis oor data insameling en gebruik. Ander redes wat bydrae tot die toenemende belang by privaatheid sluit in die tipe inligting ingesamel en die hoeveelheid beheer verbruikers het oor die daaropeenvolgende gebruik van data; die gebruik van persoonlike inligting om spesifieke individue te identifiseer; die insameling en gebruik van sensitiewe inligting, soos byvoorbeeld mediese en finansiële data; die hoeveelheid inligting wat ingesamel en gebruik word; sekondêre gebruik van inligting; die gebruik en verspreiding van onakkurate databasisse; en die insameling en gebruik van verbruikersinligting om finansieël voordeel daaruit te trek. Verbruikers het ook belang getoon teenoor elektroniese databasis bemarkingspraktyke as gevolg van die geheimhouding oor data insameling en gebruik. Die belang by privaatheid mag egter varieër afhangende van verbruikers se kulturele oriëntasie, ouderdom, persepsie van wat goeie bemarkingsetiek behels of die spesifieke metodes gebruik om data aangaande verbruikers te bekom. Daar kan onderskei word tussen verskeie verbruikersgroepe wanneer verbruikershoudings teenoor databasis bemarkingspraktyke en persoonlike privaatheid oorweeg word. In hierdie verband kan die tipiese Suid-Afrikaanse verbruiker geklassifiseer word as 'n pragmatis. Pragmatiste is besorg oor privaatheid tot die mate waartoe hulle blootgestel is aan databasisbemarkingsaktiwiteite. Die Suid-Afrikaanse databasis industrie is nog in die beginfase en soos die industrie groei en verbruikers meer ingelig raak, sal besorgdheid oor privaatheid heelwaarskynlik ook toeneem. Dit is belangrik om die kwessies wat besorgdheid oor verbruikersprivaatheid veroorsaak aan te spreek en om oplossings te vind om volhoubare databasisbemarkingspraktyke in die toekoms te verseker. Daar moet gepoog word om bemarkers se behoefte aan inligting en verbruikers se behoefte aan privaatheid in ewewig te bring om sodoende owerheidsinmenging te voorkom. Opofferings van beide partye is nodig om 'n meer gebalanseerde verhouding tussen die twee partye te bewerkstellig. Die suksesvolle uitkoms van die privaatheidsdebat sal afhang van bemarkers se begrip vir verbruikersprivaatheidskwessies en om dit dienooreenkomstig aan te spreek. Die regulering van databasisbemarkingspraktyke wat inbreuk maak op verbruikersprivaatheid kan verskillend benader word: die implementering van inligtingstegnologie, self-regulering en owerheids-inmenging. Self-regulering word verkies as basis om databasisbemarkingspraktyke te reguleer, terwyl privaatheids-bevorderende inligtingstegnologie aanbeveel word as bykomende gereedskap om verbruikersprivaatheid te beskerm. Owerheidsregulering word gesien as die laaste uitweg as gevolg van onnodige beperkinge wat dit mag plaas op databasisbemarkingsaktiwitei te. Die voorgestelde modelle vir die regulering van databasis bemarkingsaktiwiteite en vir die beskerming van verbruikersprivaatheid in Suid Afrika, is die Registrasie Model, tesame met elemente van die Data Kommissaris Model. Hierdie modelle is voorgestel nadat eienskappe, uniek aan die Suid Afrikaanse databasisbemarkingsindustrie, deeglik oorweeg IS. Die modelle plaas die verantwoordelikheid van data beskerming in die hande van die databasisbemarker en die Suid-Afrikaanse owerheid, eerder as by die verbruiker. Die Registrasie Model en die Data Kommissaris Model blyk 'n uitvoerbare kombinasie vir implementering in Suid Afrika te wees, omdat hierdie modelle die feit inagneem dat Suid Afrikaanse pragmatiese verbruikers nie goed genoeg opgevoed en ingelig is oor die databasisbemarkingsaktiwiteite wat inbreuk maak op privaatheid nie. Hierdie kombinasie behels selde verbruikersdeelname en is daarom gepas by die tipiese apatiese aard van Suid Afrikaanse verbruikers. Die Registrasie Model dien as 'n kennisgee-stelsel waar 'n agentskap, tans die Direkte Bemarkings Assosiasie van Suid Afrika, beginsels vir regverdige inligtingspraktyke ontwikkel waaraan geregistreerde databasisbemarkers moet voldoen. 'n Kommissie, 'n element van die Data Kommissaris Model, het mag om verbruikersklagtes te ondersoek, die ontwikkelling van databasisse aan bande te lê en om datapraktyke te hersien en advies te gee oor verbeteringe in die stelsels van data-insamelaars. Die kommissie kan ook ontwikkelinge in inligtingstegnologie wat verbruikersprivaatheid bevorder, monitor. Die enigste probleem met hierdie modelle blyk te wees dat die agenstkap en die kommissie geen gesag het om te verseker dat beginsels en kodes van goeie gedrag afgedwing word nie. Industrie self-regulering, tesame met 'n mate van owerheidsbeheer en die implementering van inligtingstegnologie blyk nuttig te wees om voldoende vlakke van verbruikers-privaatheid en data beskerming te verseker. Dié kombinasie kan moontlik 'n balans vind tussen Suid Afrikaanse verbruikers se behoefte aan privaatheid en Suid Afrikaanse bemarkers se behoefte aan verbruikersinligting.

Purpose: with the recent establishment of Small Business Development department, the ministry is tasked and will be responsible for ensuring that the business environment is enabling for new Small to Medium businesses. The real issue and the point of interest in researching this particular dissertation is the available literature around the issue of the SME sector which indicates that new SMEs in South Africa do not move from the first stage (existence) to other stages such as survival, success, take off and resource maturity. The study seeks to inaugurate two specific challenges (difficulties in accessing finance and to examine if there is sufficient non-financial SME incubators and mentorship programs post funding allocation). The area of study focused on SMEs that are concentrated in highly populated areas of Gauteng. Methodology: The study was conducted using qualitative research and a questionnaire was used as a data collection tool. The researcher was able to get valuable information on stakeholders in the SMME sector. This was done through the use of questionnaires to businesses, government funders and incubators. Results: when posed with a question of the start-up capital, a mere 17% responded to having obtained financial assistance from government institutions, 20% from friends and family while a massive 60% indicated they have used own capital to start businesses. When the researcher posed the question of the reasons that often leads to failure, approximately 23% of businesses mentioned lack of working equipment as the core reasons for the business failure while 17% indicated that lack of business opportunities or rather contracts of supply from government departments as the main impeding factor which resulted to failure. In terms of the availability of incubators, approximately 67% of respondents indicated that there were no business incubators available in their areas of business. Approximately 57% of businesses mentioned the inability to obtain loans from government funding institutions was the major business constraint that often leads to failure. The researcher posed a question to business incubators personnel that participated in the study to gain perspective as to why do they think SMEs fail within the first year of operation. Approximately 40% of respondents alluded that, barriers to entry by big corporates in South Africa force Small and Medium Enterprises out of businesses. Other participants added that the South African government procurement system does not provide opportunities to small businesses due to lack of experience. All government funding institutions participants mentioned that in most cases SMEs finance applications are rejected due to the fact that businesses fail to present viable business proposals that show the ability for business to remain operating for a long time Implications: The above analysed study findings indicate that there is a huge gap between small businesses and government funding institutions in terms of the awareness of the available financial support to SMEs. From the government perspective, it was indicated that businesses submit business plans that are not viable. There needs to be the middle ground where business plans compilation support currently provided by SEDA awareness should be spread across SMEs operating in the highly populated areas of Gauteng. Recommendations: Access to finance is a major constraint hindering the growth and success of small enterprises. The South African government has established a number of financial support programmes aimed to assist SMEs. With these financial support programmes, most of the SMEs are unsuccessful due to the fact that they cannot easily access those funds and as a result they remain stagnant for a very long time or end up shutting down. Conclusion: The effect of credit rationing is the potential loss of opportunity and or reduction in the scale of a business, neither of which is a desirable outcome. At the most fundamental level, there are lost opportunities for the borrower and the lender. There are implications for the wider economy also. SMEs are a key source of innovation, competition and choice.

Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2010
Governments worldwide have acknowledged the impact of Small, Micro and Medium (SMME) organisations on job creation, improvement of people’s standards of living and hence an overall impact on the economy. Women are playing an important role in contributing to countries’ economic development and better governance, and the well-being of their communities and households. In March 2007, about 45% of women were owning and managing a business. In a country like South Africa with a high unemployment rate a provision of better opportunities for women could lead to improvements in poverty reduction and accelerated economic growth. However in South Africa women involvement in entrepreneurship has remained constant despite a number of initiatives by the government. The existence of gender-related barriers thwarts the economic potential of women as entrepreneurs and workers. Such barriers have an adverse impact on enterprise development, productivity, and competitiveness in the economy. Consequently, addressing gender-specific barriers and other challenges to entrepreneurship and leveraging the full participation of women in the development of South Africa together represents a significant opportunity to unleash productive potential and to strengthen economic growth. It is therefore important to understand the environment in which these women operate and the challenges they face. The literature indicates that despite significant progress in creating an enabling environment for SMMEs, much work remains, with a majority of enterprises remaining in the nascent and 'baby business' phases (less than 3.5 years in existence). Research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) suggests that the survival rate for start-ups in South Africa is low and that the opportunity forentrepreneurial activity is the lowest of all the reviewed developing countries (Allen et al, 2007:8; the DTI, 2008:48) A quantitative study design was employed for this project. A closed-ended questionnaire was sent out, focusing on women in small business in Capricorn District Municipality as a unit of analysis. Capricorn District Municipality has one thousand four hundred 1400 registered women business. One-hundred-and-fifty (150) questionnaires were sent out to the respondents and fifty two (52) questionnaires were returned. The research findings indicated that 29% of the women sought advice from business development services and from local business support centre respectively. While 23% of the women sought advice from business women association and 17% sought advice from other sources. 27% of the women indicated lack of business skills as the main stumbling block in the establishment of business while 23% indicated that they encountered inadequate access to finance and credit facility as the main problem of starting business. Most of the women consulted were from small and micro-enterprise, the writer could not get their views of the experiences in other sectors. The other challenges were that the sample was relatively small due to difficulties experienced in getting the number of women in small business in the Capricorn District Municipality.

The research problem addressed in this study is to determine what affect current labour legislation has on small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMME’s), in particular with regard to the procuring of Government contracts. To achieve this objective a literature study was undertaken to ascertain what knowledgeable people believed was the affects of labour legislation on SMME’s. The literature study included all relevant labour legislation promulgated by the Government since 1994 The literature study was then used to develop a questionnaire to test the degree to which SMME’s, operating in the Municipal areas of East London and King Williams Town, abided by the relevant labour legislation. The empirical results, in general, indicated a strong adherence to labour legislation. Those organisations that had not strictly adhered to labour legislation were, in most instances, not successful in securing contracts offered by Government or parastatals. The results indicated that all the role-players, namely businesses, trade unions and knowledgeable people have valid arguments both for and against labour legislation. Each group, is however, still concerned and suspicious that in one way or another, they will be placed at a disadvantage with respect to the others positions, and this places a serious strain on the South African economy.

M.Ing.
This research provides an assessment of export potential for a small South African Enterprise. An investigation will be conducted on export as a viable option for improving the small South African manufacturing enterprise's future outlook. Through the years following Apartheid, the manufacturing sector has diminished from once a protected self sufficient industry to an industry open to foreign competition due to the effects of globalization. The advent of reduced skilled workforce as a result of "brain drain" and lack of investment in education has also not helped any local enterprise in achieving growth easily, therefore the need to look at other growth mechanisms including export. Included is a brief overview of the export process procedure; the current and future social economic position of the country, and how the South African government's current policies aim to improve the local Small Medium Enterprises (SME) competitiveness. The export marketing plan, plus the necessary tools and plans for a business to initialize its first steps into export is also investigated and in the last chapters, a case study using a local business will be conducted using and adapting the export function for its own benefit.

M.Comm.
Although the marketing concept has been the cornerstone of the modern marketing discipline for twenty years, insufficient attention has been given to its implementation. In recent years there has been renewed interest from academics and practitioners regarding the marketing concept and market orientation. Market orientation, the skills and competencies related to it have accordingly prevailed in the marketing and management literature. This resurgence of interest is not surprising, since the implementation of the marketing concept represents the foundation of high quality marketing practice. Market orientation is a business philosophy that makes the customer the focal point of the company's entire operation. Becoming market orientated therefore requires significant changes in the culture, processes and structure of the traditional organization. Market orientated organizations nonetheless has an important competitive advantage in providing customer value and achieving superior performance. Market orientation is therefore a significant cause of business success. All over the world it has been recognized that the small business sector plays an important, if not critical role in the social and economic development of a country. This also applies to South Africa. Small businesses inadvertently have been more reluctant than larger firms to embrace the marketing concept to obtain organizational goals. The relative importance of both small businesses and market orientation in the business environment led to this study concerning the market orientation of small businesses. Therefore the research problem chosen for this study is to determine the market orientation of small businesses in South Africa.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2010.
Many researchers undertook research about small, medium and micro enterprise in South Africa. Although there are numerous articles and a lot of previous research surveys about SMMEs in South Africa, USA, UK, Taiwan, China, Australia and many other countries, no research has been done in South Africa with regard to the use of marketing strategies by SMMEs in rural areas with specific reference to KwaZulu-Natal rural areas. Therefore, the assumptions and the confusion that surrounds rural owners‘/managers‘ awareness, perceptions and the use of marketing strategies in their areas highlight the need and create interest for marketers to conduct more research on this particular area. There were number of other important reasons such as the failure rate of SMMEs, high rate of unemployment and the large numbers of people moving from South African rural to urban areas due to unemployment and poverty. The study was conducted within the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal province, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. The sample for the study consisted of 374 respondents of owners/managers of SMMEs. The respondents were selected using quota sampling. Respondents were required to complete a 10 page questionnaire with an interviewer present to assist. The overall aim of the study was to investigate and describe the use of marketing by SMMEs, in order to identify factors influencing the possible insufficient use of marketing, so as to improve rural SMME marketing, and thus reduce SMME failure. The results of the research revealed that there was a lack of marketing knowledge and expertise and limited use of marketing strategies by the owners/managers of the rural SMMEs. There were also some external and internal factors contributing to the use of marketing strategies by the rural SMMEs. This means that marketers in South Africa cannot simply apply the marketing strategies and marketing theories in this situation. It is also important for marketers to conduct more specific research studies to determine the suitable marketing strategies for the rural businesses, as the rural situation is different from the urban situation.

This study investigates the application of conventional marketing tactics of 93 hawkers in the East London Central Business District (CBD). Its focus is on what is being practiced in this informal trading environment from a marketing point of view. To this end the primary objective was to determine the extent of the use of generally accepted principles of common (conventional) marketing in primarily black owned or managed hawker businesses in the East London CBD area. Secondary objectives centred around the degree to which new or unknown marketing tactics were implemented and to identify any influencing factors and the relevance of these to marketing. An in-depth analysis of the marketing environment of the hawker and East London region is depicted and the literature review of the relevant theory relating to the marketing of small businesses is covered and debated thoroughly. A three section questionnaire covering demographic information (Section A), the extent of the use of researcher-identified generally accepted marketing tactics (Section B), and an open ended question identifying which marketing tactics and their ranking the hawkers used in order to achieve marketing success (Section C) was implemented through interviews with 93 hawkers in the East London CBD. Although many of the individual questions results produced interesting statistics, conclusions from analysis of the composite results indicate a fair application of the marketing concept (29%) a slightly higher percentage applying the societal marketing concept (51,6%) and 38,6% of hawkers in the East London CBD applying the marketing mix. The top 3 of 7 marketing tactics identified as being used to achieve good marketing performance were customer service, stall/product presentation and the offering of a discount or discounted pricing. No significant correlations existed between the demographic statistics and the application of any particular marketing tactic. The significant influencing factors noted were the hawkers zero tolerance for competition, the lack of any long term planning, no delayed gratification or building of capital and the strong need to belong to a group or association. It was concluded that much needs to be done to investigate methods of improving the application of marketing tactics but more importantly to analyse the reason for many of their actions. Special attention is recommended to be placed on obtaining further insight and support for the observed influencing factors in order to be able to state them as fact.
Business Management
M.Comm.

M. Tech. Entrepreneurship
The high failure rate of small businesses in the Soweto area is a source of great concern. Many small businesses are unable to sustain themselves for an extended period due to their inability to retain current customers and attract potential clients into their establishments. The other factor that threatens these businesses is that too little effort is expended towards marketing. The aim of this study was to establish how effective entrepreneurs in the Soweto area are applying marketing communications tools, especially internet marketing, with a view to obtain and increase customer support for their small, medium and micro-sized enterprises.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Management Sciences (Marketing), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016.
Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are known to be important for the development of economies in developing countries. This is so because SMEs create jobs therefore reducing unemployment and alleviating poverty. The South African government has done a lot to help SMEs grow and become established businesses. They offer, among other things, financial assistance and expert advice in the field of marketing, technology and venturing into foreign markets (SEDA, 2014). However, it seems that it is difficult for SMEs to establish themselves in the different sectors such as the Manufacturing, Retail, Service, Financial and Agricultural sectors. They complain among other things, of financial constraints and the global economic crisis (NCR report 2011). Olawale and Garwe (2010) go on to say that, SMEs in South Africa have a high failure rate compared to other countries and only about 7% of new SMEs become fully established firms. The reason for this might be the inability of those firms to utilise marketing and in particular branding to market their firms. Branding is the process of stamping a product, which the marketer offers with some identifying name, mark or a combination of both (Sawant 2012). Thus branding creates individuality in the product or service offered facilitating it to be distinguished and recognised in the market from competitors. For this reason different aspects of branding especially brand dimensions will be explored to identify shortcoming of SMEs branding practices to assist them survive the dynamic business environment. The study involved SMEs in KwaZulu Natal in the manufacturing, retail, agriculture and financial services sectors. To address the research problem a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. Participants, more specifically those from the very small SME category, were selected and questionnaires were distributed to them. Those participants who responded to the questionnaire, in depth interviews were held with them. In both approaches a convenient samplings technique were used to select participants. The data will be analysed by using normal descriptive statistics and content analysis. The problem under investigation in this study is that SMEs in KZN may lack the ability to harness branding in support of their business survival. SMEs are limited financially when it comes to creating a brand. Randall (2000) says that companies face a number of challenges when it comes to creating a brand such as mature markets, brand proliferation, consumer revolt, management failure, fragmentation of media and retailer power. The contribution of the study is to help SMEs in KZN to understand branding and especially brand dimensions to assist them survive the dynamic business environment. The study found that SME owners have an understanding of brand creation and management. However, they agreed that more needs to be done when it comes to creating strong brands. SMEs express the brand dimension of sincerity and competence when branding their products. They face financial constraints, lack of creativity and competition as some of the challenges when it comes to creating brands.
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