Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The leasing out of the shops to foreign owners in the rural areas in Greater Letaba Municipality by black businessmen is of concern to those involved in the economic development of the municipality. An exploratory business analysis approach was used to analyze this report. The previous local shop owners and foreign shop owners were interviewed to get the aspects that made the former fail to successfully run their business. The problem statement and objectives of the research are outlined by comparing the three shop owners through tables, and this paved the way for the researcher to understand different models used to run their businesses. Both local and foreign shop owners used the pricing strategy though their price differed. The foreign shop owners, present local shop owners and previous shop owners have, in terms of management been dealing with pricing, competition and system and equipment. The analyses of findings are presented also in the form of tables. The present local shop owners and foreign shop owners operate more or less the same. They network and buy more stock in order to sell it cheaper. The recommendation and conclusions will assist businesses not to fail in future.

M. Tech. Entrepreneurship / Looks at how bed and breakfast managers in Bushbuckridge perceive the attributes of the internet as an advertising medium. It also looks at the advertising media that are currently used by bed and breakfast accommodations businesses in Bushbuckridge for both local and international customers.

M. Tech. Public relations management / The objective of this study was to determine how a South African company such as Tiger Brands Limited perceives the use of CSR as a strategic communication tool. Underpinned by Carrolls four pillars of CSR, the study assessed the perception and extent of CSR practices as a strategic communication tool within that company. Of specific interest to this study was the extent to which CSR was perceived to be aligned to the companys various responsibilities, how positively or negatively these alignments were viewed, as well as the reasons put forward for all these views.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The important role that Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play in creating jobs and income generation cannot be overemphasised. While the contribution of small businesses to the economic development is acknowledged, small businesses are faced with many obstacles that limit their growth and/or survival and most of them ultimately close down. This study examined the problems and challenges faced by shebeens and taverns in Soshanguve Township. These problems and challenges were attributed to the following factors; capital, managerial skills and experience, government support, legislation and regulations, competition with big businesses, criminal activities and entrepreneurial capabilities.

M. Tech. Business Administration (MBA) / The objective of the study was to identify factors that have enabled Chinese footwear and textile products to thrive in the Central Business District of Johannesburg. China has become Africa's largest trading partner. Over 800 Chinese companies currently trade in 49 countries in Africa resulting in a 10-fold increase in trade between 2000 and 2010. Since the early 1990s, 800 local textiles producers have ceased operation, and over 60,000 jobs have been lost. Accordingly, the South African Government imposed import duty on Chinese textiles products in August 2006. Moreover, Chinese entrepreneurs experience logistical bottlenecks in importing products, language barriers, and still have to comply with government requirements. Also, consumers have become price-sensitive considering the arguably inferior quality of Chinese products. In spite of the hurdles highlighted above, Chinese textiles enterprises are more successful than their competitors. The results of this study showed that the relative success of Chinese footwear and textile companies in comparison with local enterprises was attributed to the practice of rewarding employees with gifts, the provision of training to employees on entrepreneurial skills, and the ability to keep accurate records on business activities. Findings of the study are valuable to stakeholders such as the local footwear and textile enterprises as well as the South African Department of Trade and Industry and the South African Chamber of commerce and Industry.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research it to investigate factors that can sustain T1 category small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that provides service at Impala Platinum Mine in Rustenburg. The population for the study was 53 SMEs owners/directors, convenient sampling was used and a sample of 26 percent responded to the questionnaire.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration, Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, Faculty of Commerce, 2008. / It is estimated, that 90% of small businesses in South Africa fail within the first two years of their operation. The South African Government has improved business support services to small businesses. However, it has called on all South Africans to become involved in supporting small businesses and not to leave this responsibility to a single role player. Improving individual entrepreneurial capabilities should therefore be a focus area for all stakeholders involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship in South Africa. Changes brought on by growth, competition and many other factors, frequently require businesses to quickly identify alternatives, for driving significant improvements in their businesses. Business assessment tools generally provide a framework to assist business leaders to review the operations of their businesses. It was against this background that this research study was undertaken. The main aim of this research study was to develop a guide which can be used to assess small businesses. This study identified and evaluated six business diagnostic tools currently used nationally and internationally. The information gathered from evaluating these assessment tools were verified through discussions with five expert business practitioners who have relevant experience and knowledge on assessment tools. A self – assessment can be defined as a comprehensive, systematic and regular review of an organization‟s activities and results. Of the six assessment tools evaluated, it was found that the Baldrige Quality Programme, best satisfied the research questions, in terms of applicability of content, procedures and effective administration of diagnostic tools. The guide for self - assessments for small businesses was therefore, developed by using the Baldrige Quality Programme as a benchmark. This research study demonstrated, by means of an exploratory case study methodology, that self - assessment diagnostic tools do have a critical role to play in improving entrepreneurial and organizational performance of small businesses. Through the use of the self - assessment guide, developed in this study, entrepreneurs have an opportunity to take an integrated approach towards the improvement of business leadership, management and general business capabilities. This self - assessment guide fully involves the small business owner in the planning, implementation and monitoring phases of operating his or her business. There is also an element of skills transfer designed into the administration aspects of the tool, as guidelines are included in the tool, where possible. The researcher strongly feels that the use of this self - assessment tool can contribute to enhancing the success rate of small businesses in South Africa.

Submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Business Administration, Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / The purpose of this study is to identify the influence of customer-supplier relationships through facilitation of credit on the development of Micro enterprises in the Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Area of KZN. This study originates from the fact that there are many SMME‟s in South Africa, absorbing about 15 million people (DTI, 1995:7). Even though this sector is providing most of the employment in the country, they still find it difficult to arrange funds to start or expand their businesses. Lending institutions do not want to provide finance for them, and if they do, they do it with reluctance and reservations. As a result, SMME‟s are not able to grow and develop into big businesses. This is a quantitative and exploratory research study which was used to explore, for the first time in Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal area, the relationship between customer-supplier relationships and accessibility of credit facilities. The study made use of questionnaires to obtain the respondents‟ perceptions on the research questions developed. A questionnaire that consisted of 35 questions was distributed to 50 SMME owners in Adams Mission, Madundube and Umbumbulu (AMU) villages. Cronbach‟s reliability analysis was not applied as it was not appropriate for use with this questionnaire. The research showed that a relationship between customers and suppliers assists SMME‟s to obtain access to credit facilities. Added to this, SMME owners, who had access to credit facilities, experienced positive changes in their businesses. This serves to prove that access to credit is essential for the development of SMME‟s. As a result, recommendations to train and educate SMME owners on how to manage their businesses, how to apply for credit and the requirements needed for applications have been set out.

The impact of change and transformation on small businesses has compelled them to face a multitude of new challenges. The successful application of the selected strategies depends largely on an understanding of the predisposing and prevailing business dynamics and variables that impacts on their profitability, continued sustainability and future growth. There is increased attention that is focused on the turnover factor of small business in South Africa and this gives added need for extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis. International experience suggests that small businesses are a pervasive feature of the economic landscape in the developed world. The intensity and growing proportions of small business failure in South Africa is alarming. The problem not only presents management with new dilemmas, but also presents a challenge to researchers who are faced with the task of identifying through rational and scientifically valid processes, the underlying causes of the high failure rate amongst small businesses. Previous studies suggest that government regulations and franchised business have proven to be successful due to the infrastructure support offered by the franchisor. Since retail service station dealers operate within a highly regulated industry and within a franchised environment, this study examines the reasons for failure and success within the Retail Fuel Industry sector in South Africa. It was anticipated that there are a number of factors that influence success and failure from both within and outside the control of the fuel entrepreneur. While some researchers have identified gender, education levels and age as critical success factors, others suggested that management factors and occupational experience are key drivers. The fuel retail industry is regulated and seeks to reward efficiency through a retail fuel margin. This study provides new insights and important clues concerning the failure amongst fuel retailers. The closure of the business did not result in the physical disappearance of the establishment but rather in a transfer to new ownership. The purpose of this study is to conduct a more in-depth and comprehensive qualitative research using the case study methodology, which will investigate the causal factors that lead to the high mortality rate of fuel retailers in South Africa. The non-fuel aspect of the business comprises the shops and quick service restaurants and presents another dynamic to fuel retailing. This was investigated to fully address the research question. The case study analysis also attempted to quantify the level of support that franchisees received. There was sufficient evidence from the research findings to nullify the rival proposition that success and failure of fuel retailers was only a function of sales and volume. The case study evidence supported the research proposition that the reasons for failure and success were due to factors other than size. The 47% per annum failure rate recorded in the study was attributed to a number of factors from both within and outside the control of the fuel entrepreneur. While gender, education levels and age were not found to be critical success factors, the ability to manage the key components of target costs was critical. The management of manpower costs and the efficient application thereof was found to be the most significant variable in the cost build up and differentiated successful and failed retailers. There was also evidence of substantial imposed costs from both the regulatory environment and the franchisor. The monthly adjustment of fuel prices had an impact on working capital and generally resulted in net stock price losses. Both these variables were not factored into the calculation of the retail fuel margin resulting in the understating of the true costs. The loose regulatory environment also marginalised the fuel retailer. It was found that the oil companies optimised their fuel delivery regimes at the expense of the small business owner through the automatic replenishment system of wet stocks, controlled through a central ordering system. While, wet stock control mechanism was in place for the fuel business, the non-fuel business received limited support for stock and shrinkage management. The case study evidence also supported the retailers view on the inadequate level of business support and training. This was an important finding and such poor orientation negatively influenced the quality of the due diligence checks and business valuation. In many cases, the budgeting was optimistic with little or no recourse for remedial action leading to eventual failure. Statistical analysis indicated that the two groups differed significantly with regard to the mean difference between Shop sales and Budgeted Shop sales. It appears that in the case of the success group that the shop sales mean was much higher than budgeted mean, while in the case of the failure group the mean was lower than budgeted mean. Failure to achieve the shop budgets did contribute to failure. Important recommendations are made based on the case study findings. This includes the establishment of a central training unit, an industry valuation model and a more relevant regulatory regime aimed at removing the imbalances between the oil company and the retailer in terms of delivery and payment methodology. / Thesis (PhD.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

The research study investigates some of the problems or challenges faced by SMMEs in the Mafikeng and Mmabatho area of the North West province. It strives to find out the extent to which these problems occur and the impact they have on these businesses. The research focuses on a number of major problems considered to be hindering the growth of SMMEs in this area, namely the lack of entrepreneurial management, financial skills, accessing finance and the role played by lack of financial and mentoring support on the success or failure of SMMEs. Some of the significant findings of this study are that the majority of the businesses fail because of lack of access to finance, lack of entrepreneurial skills and lack of mentoring support from the government. The government and banks should make it easier for SMMEs to access finance. The government should act as collateral for SMMEs to secure finance from commercial institutions. The government should involve the private sector in training SMMEs to acquire entrepreneurial skills. This will help SMMEs to run their businesses professionally and therefore become sustainable. This will impact positively to the economic growth, in terms of job creation to the entire province