M.Com. (Communications) / The purpose of this study was to place public relations officer in perspective internal and external social responsibility. the role of the with regard to make this possible, an in-depth qualitative study was undertaken, which was primarily based on a literature study. The concept of social responsibility was defined by situating the essence and extent of social responsibility within the theory of public relations. The' discussion of social responsibility was done within the perspective of the social system, and a system theoretical 'orientation -to social responsibility and public relations was explored. A clear distinction was drawn between internal and external social responsibility. The situation of social responsibility within the public relations domain was investigated by means of a critical analysis. This showed that the role of the public relations officer will have to change to accommodate new demands, and that a new corporative communications image of social responsibility has become necessary. The identification of specific problems in South Africa was discussed, and the development of a socially responsible policy based on these problems, received attention. Attention was given to the to facilitate the public social responsibility role of corporate communication relations officer in executing In conclusion, a qualitative research was conducted to analyse the attitude of a group of industrialists on the East Rand with regard to social responsibility. This was followed by a discussion of the results and conclusions of the study, and recommendations based on the findings of the research.

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.

Different forms of social responsibility practices have been prevalent in South Africa. Most of South African companies decided to bear the minimum costs when it comes to contributing to society. An improved version of social responsibility evolved since the transition in the 1990’s and South Africa’s re-integration into the global economy after lifting of economic sanctions. This came about after decades of large profit margins enjoyed by South African companies at the expense of low labour costs that led to inequalities in income distribution in South Africa. The social responsibility involvement/programmes are more or less the same across similar companies in South Africa. The reasons for business engaging in social responsibility are varied, ranging from poverty alleviation to sustainable development of society. Executives started to buy into the idea that social responsibility can be beneficial to the business and society. The changing attitudes regarding the role of business in society have made social responsibility an increasingly prominent issue over the past decades, but to decide on which projects will have a mutually beneficial impact on society and business, was one of the major challenges that companies have to face. It is against this background that the researcher investigated and compared the social responsibility practices of two selected financial institutions. The focus was on the practices of the two financial institutions in selecting targets for socially responsible involvement. This problem was supported by six secondary problems. The researcher first did a literature study to place social responsibility in perspective. The main purpose of the literature study was to identify and suggest how companies select the targets for said responsible involvement. An empirical investigation was conducted, focusing on Standard Bank and ABSA Bank. The demarcation of the study was restricted to these organisations as the assumption was made that their social responsibility practices are representative of the social responsibility practices of the financial services industry. The empirical study showed that the organisations under review did not have specific criteria that guide their selection of targets for social responsibility involvement. This highlighted an area of improvement on the social responsibility practices. The results of the literature study and the empirical investigation indicated that to be proactive in the field of social responsibility, criteria for selecting targets should be set and social responsibility practices should be linked to the corporate objectives and should form part of the strategic planning process. An affirmative approach to social responsibility will ensure that the two financial institutions be perceived as socially responsible.

The society in which we live is economically based and the greater part of our activities centres in the economy. Within this context, the Department of Trade and Industry recognized that small business development was an important area for government intervention. A long process of highlighting the importance of this sector and creating the right environment in which small businesses could grow and flourish was initiated at the level of policy and legislation. In the Labour Relations field, an attempt at achieving some measure of certainty in previously disputed areas was made through the passing of the Labour Relations Act of 1995. This study aims at exploring the effects of this Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. In fulfilling this aim, the focus was restricted to factors such as dismissal of workers, strikes and lock-outs, freedom of association and dispute resolution. The theory pertaining to Labour Legislation and small business development was obtained by means of conducting a comprehensive literature study. The literature study included all relevant perspectives on the Labour Relations Act and Government Policy on small businesses. From the study, a questionnaire was developed to test the impact of the Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. The empirical results, in general, indicated non-compliance with the Labour Relations Act and negative views on the value of the Act on the growth and development of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. From the literature study and the findings of the research questionnaire, it became apparent that: · A comprehensive audit of the small business sector in the Nelson Mandela Metropole is needed. The aim of the audit would be to review the current operations of the small business sector in the Metropole. This outcome will indicate the extent of understanding and compliance with the various aspects of the Labour Relations Act. · The acquisition of industrial relations knowledge and skills by owners and leaders in the sector is vital for the development of the sector. The Skills Development Act provides a funding framework for skills training that is relevant to a specific industry. The small business sector could benefit significantly from the provision of this piece of legislation. · A comprehensive support programme for SMME’s is a necessary prerequisite for the growth and development of the sector. The support system could include tax incentives, flexible labour legislation and training as indicated in the above paragraph.

The fresh hake processing lines at Seavuna fishing company in Mossel Bay are not consistently achieving their volume output standards and this is resulting in higher processing costs and loss of processing opportunities. The company’s senior management are concerned about this trend and require a complete review of the effectiveness of the resources deployed on the lines. This with the view of establishing the causes of poor process volume output. In order to resolve the process inefficiency challenges mentioned, this study used both empirical and time studies to investigate the effectiveness of the company’s resources directly deployed in the processing unit. The study focused on investigating the human factor, machinery and equipment, the environment and the current efficiency standards. Relevant literature in the field of process efficiency improvement was consulted to assist in identifying factors that are known to cause process inefficiencies, and also to establish which improvement techniques would be relevant in correcting the situation. From the Literature reviewed, it was evident that a ‘one size fits all’ solution to resolving inefficiencies is almost non-existent and that a solution that is relevant to the problem is more effective. In addition, a benchmarking exercise was also done to establish how Seavuna’s current volume output standards fair against its major rivals. Once data from both studies were collected, the results were analysed using the some of the basic quality tools. Thereafter, lean manufacturing principles were used to attempt to resolve the current efficiency challenges. The study recommended that the company construct a business strategy and a corresponding organisational culture to direct its continuous improvement interventions. The use of strategic quality planning would go a long way in assisting the company to execute some of the interventions recommended.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) represent about 90% of global businesses. SMEs account, on the average, for about 50% of gross domestic product (GDP) of all countries and up to 60% of employment. In South Africa, SMEs account for about 91% of all formally registered business entities, contributing to about 57% of the GDP and providing about 60% of all formal employment. However, SMEs are said to contribute up to 70% of all industrial pollution globally. SMEs individually perceive little or no impact on the environment and may attempt to relieve themselves of environmental responsibility. Although, the environmental footprint of individual SMEs may be small, collectively they contribute substantially to environmental damage globally. Research on environmental activities of SMEs is rare and mostly neglected. This research attempts to close this gap by exploring the understanding, practices, barriers and motivation for environmental practices by SMEs in South Africa. This research was realised through semi-structured interviews of nine SMEs located in Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / pagibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

M.Com. (Business Management) / The overall aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the wage-setting institutions, including bargaining councils and minimum wages, on the creation and long-term survival of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa. The objectives of the study focused on (i) gaining an understanding of how the legislative requirements impact on SMMEs; (ii) investigating what needs to be done to assist small companies in order to cope with the burden of compliance with "the prescriptions and provisions of the law; (iii) demonstrating how the current wage setting mechan-isms are partly responsible for the promotion of capital intensive firms at the expense of small- and medium sized entities; (iv) investigating how other countries approach the issue of exemption of small businesses from the stringent requirements of labour legislation; and (v) exploring the possibility for the establishment of a separate dispensation that may be utilised to govern the wage-setting environment for the SMME sector. The study commenced with the review of different literature sources. First, the importance of the SMME sector in wealth creation and the role of the government in developing SMMEs were dealt with. Existing constraints and problems, other than labour-related factors, facing the SMMEs were identified with the sole purpose of highlighting the general conditions under which they operate. The support offered by government and other stakeholders in developing SMMEs in South Africa were also discussed. Second, an overview of wage-setting institutions that shape the South African labour market, i.e. the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), bargaining councils and the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) was provided. For the purposes of this study, two case studies (i.e. Sweden and Egypt) were chosen and a comparative analysis of these case studies focusing on the wage setting environment was performed, with the hope of drawing important lessons for South Africa. The cross-case analysis revealed that there are differences and similarities in the nature of wage-setting institutions that are found in Sweden, Egypt and South Africa. The lessons for South Africa are that there is a need (i) of strengthening of the role of NEDLAC (tripartism); (ii) of recognising the fact that globalisation is not a myth but a reality, even for SMMEs; (iii) of creating an institutionalised dialogue for the SMME sector, i.e. SMME representative body; and (iv) of expanding the role of workplace forums in the South African environment to facilitate meaningful collective bargaining at local level. Following the cross-case analysis, the research findings on the effects of wage-setting institutions on SMMEs were presented. This was achieved by examining empirical evidence. First, an analysis of collective bargaining and minimum wages was conducted by focusing on the different aspects of the wage-setting institutions that may be considered to have an impact on the creation and long-term survival of small and medium enterprises. This was followed by an exploration of empirical evidence if there is a need for creating a separate dispensation, i.e. two-tier labour market, for the SMME sector in South Africa. Despite an intense scrutiny of the relationship between wage-setting institutions and their effects on SMMEs, the study found that there are no discernible impacts on small and medium businesses. As a result, this study proposes that the policy framework for developing a suitable environment for small and medium businesses in South Africa should be based on targeted strategic policy interventions rather than general measures such as tax reduction or labour market deregulation. These strategic policy interventions are given as recommendations of this study. In concluding the study, the following recommendations are made: • Strengthening of the social dialogue and collective bargaining in South Africa through the expansion of the role of workplace forums; • The establishment of a separate dispensation for SMMEs in South Africa, e.g. two-tier wage system, is not necessary; • A case is made for the establishment of a SMME representative body or bodies, independent of large companies, to collectively represent the interests of smaller businesses in general or in a particular sector of the economy or a geographical area in South Africa; • A need for a shift in small and medium-sized enterprise policy in the South Africa away from "one size fits all" approach to clustering SMMEs in economic sectors that have growth potential; and • SMME policies need to be re-focused to address the economic challenges the country faces due to external competition and globalisation, and this will ensure a more co-ordinated approach to the development of SMME policy in South Africa.

M.Com. (Business Management) / The aim of this research study was to suggest the business sophistication levels of the informal sector hairdressing salons in Cosmo City. This aim was achieved through two research objectives, namely; identifying the characteristics that categorise the hairdressing salons as informal sector enterprises under the umbrella of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs), and determining the business management practices that are currently implemented by the hairdressing salons. South Africa’s informal sector has the potential to contribute towards poverty alleviation and employment amongst the semi–skilled and unskilled poor. However, businesses in this sector apply less developed business management practices as compared to their formal counterparts. Furthermore, the challenges faced by these enterprises in implementing sound business management practices contribute to a lack of sophistication in their business operations, which in turn reduces their performance and sustainability. The adoption of good business management practices can have a significant impact on the performance of an enterprise, as well as on its productivity and output. This is true for an enterprise of any size. As a business becomes more mature in the implementation of business management practices, the longer that enterprise’s sustainability horizon may become. The research was conducted amongst Cosmo City’s hairdressing salon and the data was collected by means of interviewer–administered questionnaires. A total of 24 out of the 36 hairdressing salons that were identified to participate in the research study completed the questionnaires. The study employed a qualitative research approach during the data collection process; however the data analysis was quantitative in nature. In support of the first research objective, it was confirmed that the hairdressing salons operated within the informal sector, specifically in the lower end Business Sophistication Measures (BSM) categories 1, 2 and 3. With regards to the second research objective, it was confirmed that particularly because the informal sector hairdressing salons had low BSM they lacked good business management practices. Due to the size and nature of their operations, low managerial competence and skills, limited business support, small–scale marketing initiatives, the lack of documentation of policies and procedures and inadequately maintained business information; the informal sector hairdressing salons are too undeveloped to embrace good business management practices and as such have lower to low medium business sophistication levels that may prevent further growth and sustainability.

D.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / In South Africa, the full time training for Homeopathy consists of a five year Masters Degree programme offered at two tertiary institutions; the University of Johannesburg and Durban University of Technology. An outcome of training states that graduate homeopaths must have competency in establishing a private practice. Graduates in homeopathy invest a minimum of five years, but not uncommonly in excess of seven years before graduating, which has considerable time and cost implications. Research has shown that most graduates struggle to establish viable private practices but unfortunately there is a lack of theoretical or research-generated knowledge available to help address the problem. The purpose of the study is to develop a model to facilitate success when establishing a Homeopathic private practice in South Africa. A theory-generating, qualitative, phenomenological research design that was exploratory, descriptive and contextual was used. The sampling method was purposive, using snowball sampling. The methodology utilised the four step strategy for theory and model development as indicated by Chinn and Kramer (2011). The interviews of eighteen participants, from five provinces in South Africa, who run successful homeopathic practices were transcribed and analysed using Rapley (2011:274-275) and Creswell (2013:193-225) analysis for phenomenological studies and Tesch’s inductive, descriptive coding approach (in Creswell, 1994:155-156). Four themes emerged from the data. In theme one, participants experienced initial start-up anxieties which were exacerbated by a perceived lack of practical experience and they indicated their ability to build expertise and self-confidence through the mobilisation of external and internal resources. In theme two, participants experienced challenges inherent in establishing a new practice and expressed how they developed innovative homeopathic practices by means of diversification, differentiation and service excellence. iv In theme three, participants experience that inter and intrapersonal competencies and professional integrity contribute to generating patient trust and word of mouth referrals. In theme four, participants experience the need to mobilise self-support in order to mitigate pressures associated with creating a successful practice. From the data the central concept was identified as ‘the need to facilitate the personal and professional competencies in homeopaths which lead to the establishment of successful private practices’. This was then conceptualised and together with the theoretical definitions and relationships, forms the foundation of a model to facilitate success when establishing a homeopathic private practice in South Africa. The model is graphically represented and described. Guidelines for the implementation of the model, which unfolds in three phases, namely undergraduate, new graduate and maintenance phase, are given. The model is evaluated according to the criteria given by Chinn and Kramer (2011) and deemed to be clear, simple, general, accessible, and important to homeopaths. In addition to being a frame of reference for graduate homeopaths in South Africa, information gained can potentially be used to augment Homeopathic training. The theory generated from the study can form the foundation for further research in this, or related fields.

Internationally, in both developed and developing countries, it has been accepted that SMMEs are the backbone and the driving force of economic growth and job creation. In South Africa, SMMEs account for approximately 60 per cent of all employment in the economy and more than 35 per cent of South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Ntsika, 1999:38; Gumede, 2000:67 and Berry et ai, 2002 in Kongolo, 2010:235). SMMEs are often the vehicle by which the lowest income people in our society gain access to economic opportunities. The sector represents 97.5 per cent of the total number of business firms in South Africa and that it contributes 42 per cent of total remuneration. SMMEs account for some 3.5 million jobs and have between 500 000 and 700 000 businesses (Abor and Quartey, 2010:2337). Due to the above-mentioned contribution, the South African government initiated a number of SMME support programmes aimed at promoting, growing and developing the SMME sector. As a result, a number of national government agencies such as the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Khula Finance Limited, the National Development Agency (NDA), the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and many other national , provincial and local government organizations were established post 1994. However, despite the concerted efforts by government to develop the sector, SMMEs are, after 17 years of democracy, still faced with enormous challenges such as access to markets, information, appropriate technology, finance, to mention but a few. Of the above-mentioned challenges, access to finance is on top of the list of these. This study, therefore, is aimed at investigating external, institutional and internal constraints impacting on SMME access to finance in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipal area. The study is also aimed at ascertaining which of the abovementioned constraints have the greatest influence to SMME access to finance. In developing the framework of the study, recent empirical research conducted around the country and internationally on constraints influencing SMME access to finance (Bbenkele, 2007:18; Ganbold, 2008:45; Mahadea and Pillay, 2008:99; Chenesai, 2009:135; Zindiye, 2009:78; Fatoki and Garwe, 2010:2765; Pandula, 2011 :257) was drawn upon. In order to meet the objectives of the study, a simple random sample survey of 50 SMMEs in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) jurisdiction was conducted. The profile of the SMMEs was very similar to that of other studies that focused on constraints to SMME access to finance. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from SMME owner-managers and a response rate of 60 percent was achieved . The results of the study indicated that the high cost of credit and interest rates and Value Added Tax (VAT) registration were the key external factors that impacted on SMME access to finance. Generally, SMMEs are viewed by lending institutions as high risk category. Therefore, even though interest rates have come down significantly, the cost of credit and interest rates still remain a constraint. The study also found that even though the South African Revenue Services (SARS) has increased the VAT threshold to R1 million (South African Revenue Service, 2007: 29), SMMEs still struggled to register for VAT. With regards to the institutional factors, the study revealed that ineffective support services provided by private and public SMME support agencies, the lack of communication of these services (access to information) and the lack of the subsequent follow-up services were the key constraints to SMME access to finance. The results of the study indicate that those firms with good track record, high annual turnover, sophistication and diverse skills, good credit record, good cash flow, proper financial records, bankable and viable business plans, collateral and registered for VAT were more likely to have access to finance than their counterparts. The main conclusion of the study is that the internal factors turned to have the greatest influence to SMME access to finance. However, there is more to be done by private and public SMME support agencies and lending institutions to address the above-mentioned institutional constraints which have a negative influence to SMME access to finance. It is recommended that more in-depth empirical research be conducted on the support services provided by private and public SMME support agencies in terms of the services that they offer the effectiveness of the services and how these are communicated to potential customers. It is also recommended that training workshops aimed at addressing the intemal constraints identified be conducted. Also recommended is the development and implementation of sector-specific mentoring programmes for the owner-managers. Strategies to improve the awareness of support services provided by SMME support agencies need to be developed. This would ensure the effective use of these services by SMMEs. It is also recommended that SMME support agencies and lending institutions staff be trained in order to better understand and be more responsive to the owner managers' needs. Linkages with tertiary institutions in planning and conducting the training needs to be made.