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.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of a Degree of Master of Technology: Business Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, 2017. / Positive women entrepreneurial support can change the entrepreneurial spirit, attitude and perceptions among the women communities with specific references to rural women in the northern region of KwaZulu-Natal province. A lot of previous research survey about how SMMEs can improve women’s socio-economic challenges did not properly include those women living in the rural places such as KwaZulu-Natal. This study aims to analyse the use of SMMEs as a strategic tool for women’s socio-economic empowerment in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal. The study was conducted within the rural areas of northern KwaZulu-Natal using qualitative method. The sample for the study consisted of 250 respondents of rural women SMMEs. The respondents were selected using quota sampling. Respondents were asked to complete 2 page questionnaires with an interviewer present to assist. The data analysis was done by using SPSS version 24.0. The results were presented through tables and bar graphs. The main aim of the study was to investigate and describe the use of SMMEs as a strategic tool, to identify factors influencing the use and to examine to what extent they affect the use of SMMEs as a strategic tool for women empowerment. The findings of the study reveals that rural women SMMEs are mostly affected by external factors while on the other hand they also indicated that lack of proper training and entrepreneurial education have impact on the day- to -day running of their businesses. The study was limited by the exploratory nature and small sampling size. Therefore, generalisation of the findings should be done with care and further research is encouraged and should include other places in the area. / M

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / This study was premised on the knowledge that the democratic government of South Africa has availed a lot of funding for SMMEs to start or develop their ventures. This is because it is an accepted fact that this sector has the ability to grow the country’s economy. The study then aimed to ascertain the extent to which the competence of Small, Medium and Micro Entrepreneurs (SMMEs) can impact sustainable economic development in eThekwini Municipal Area of South Africa. The study scrutinized the ability of the SMME managers and operators on how they can utilize available resources effectively and efficiently to ensure that their enterprises contribute to sustainable economic growth. Also, the factors that militate the growth and performances of SMMEs in eThekwini Municipal Area were examined. The basis through which this study was undertaken was that of human behaviour of SMME managers, operators and business owners as to how they can contribute to the economic development and survive in the competitive market. Using simple random sampling, data was collected from various SMMEs in the eThekwini Municipal Area. A total of 229 entrepreneurs responded to the questionnaire, which made the sample of the study. This data was captured and analyzed on SPSS (version 24) and yielded both descriptive and inferential statistics. The key findings of the study were that the entrepreneurs alluded to the fact that knowledge, skills, value judgments, behavioural characteristics and social networks were all very important in establishing and running a successful business. A challenge that emerged from the respondents was that they were not well equipped to identify business opportunities. They were, however, taking good care of their environments and were using their businesses to employ community members. Some of them did contribute to community development programmes. The main recommendation that is made here is that potential entrepreneurs must be assisted with tools on how to identify business opportunities. This could also be an avenue for further research. / M

The debate concerning small firm access to finance continues. The proliferation of research of the issue underlines the importance attached in promoting a strong entrepreneurial culture within a country. Small firms are significant to economic growth if they are growing. Central to this significance is ascertaining the role of finance and in particular bank finance in accelerating small growth potential. The case study, through its ontological, epistemological and methodological position, draws on a document review and interview material from small firm owners and key informants to explore the role of bank finance in small firm growth. Case study evidence reveals that small firm owners do not intend to finance firm growth with bank finance but prefer to finance growth with internally generated funds. The owners indicate that non-financial and behavioural factors, such as, maintaining decision-making control, experience accessing bank finance, the perception of the banking relationship and growth aspirations of owners may be more important in dertermining the finance structure for firm growth. From the bank's perspective, findings suggest that risk assessment, financial viability of the enterprise and provision of collateral are more important in the lending decisions; findings supported by an analysis of selected documents. The small sample of small firm owners, bank representatives, experts and documents makes it difficult to generalize the findings. However, the findings are significant because exploring the issue from different perspectives presents invaluable insights, which can be investigated further to assist small firm owners, to develop finance products geared for small firm operations, and in the development of the knowledge base on finance-related issues in the South African context.

Submitted in fulfillment of part of the requirements for the Masters of Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / In South Africa, emphasis is being placed on the importance of establishing small and medium sized business enterprises. There is acknowledgement in the extant literature of the value of these enterprises as job creators and useful drivers for economic growth and innovation. Given the growth in small businesses, attention in this study is given on comparing the critical success factors between those businesses that are owned by foreigners and those owned by locals. Relationships between the two groups have not always been fruitful across the country, yet synergies can be generated to shed light into how both groups cannot only co-exist but operate optimally in managing their businesses. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore (comparatively) the critical success factors between foreign and locally owned small businesses. A qualitative, exploratory study was conducted using interviews with five (5) foreign owned and five (5) locally owned small business conducted within the Ndwedwe area of Kwazulu-Natal. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Upon analysis of the data, three themes emerged as critical success factors affecting local and foreign owned businesses: (1) the underlying motives of starting a business enterprise, (2) the nature of business environment and (3) the necessity of formal or/and informal education in running a business. Interestingly, these themes appeared common in both groups. Furthermore, each of these factors affecting the success of small business was accompanied by poor community infrastructure and the unavailability of support and funding from government, including reimbursement during occurrence of natural disasters. Existence of sufficiently a strong business enterprise motive based on research findings is vital in any research undertaking. Substantially, an empirical angle to map more than one overriding motive for a business enterprise provides an opportunity to evaluate business success or failure based on the grounded motives. These motives may progressively incorporate the analyses of business environments, use of indigenous business knowledge and consideration of business education (formal and informal). Findings from this study encourage knowledge-sharing and interaction of SMEs in order to improve business enterprise development in Ndwedwe. The findings of this study also magnify the factors that are deemed critical to the success of small businesses and may be useful in mapping out recommendations on strategies and frameworks that affect either foreign or locally owned business. Based on the findings of this study, a network hub that places emphasis more on interdependence rather than isolated working between foreign and local owned businesses is encouraged. Through collaboration and sharing of experiences, small businesses in South Africa may potentially thrive. Furthermore, the findings of this study stipulate that SMEs need to have long-term plans and grounded motives on starting businesses. This will not only encourage SMEs to plan but will also develop educational strategies where SMEs can work together and share aptitudes to engage in strategic planning related to entrepreneurial success. / M

In the contemporary business environment, a plethora of retail literature exists which examine the influence of CSR on the business. However, literature that explores Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the liquor retail sector has been relatively sparse. This study explored CSR in Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) liquor retail outlets in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to investigate the engagement of SME liquor retailers in CSR practices, to ascertain whether a relationship exists between providing employee training on responsible retailing of alcohol and CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to investigate whether employee involvement in decision making influences CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to ascertain whether a relationship exists between the practical actions to reduce alcohol-related harm and CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to investigate whether SME liquor retailers do social good as an expression of CSR as well as to determine whether SME liquor retailers are influenced by stakeholders to engage in CSR initiatives. Both primary and secondary data sources were used in this study. A quantitative research design was used in conducting this research. Convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling technique, was used to select a sample of 94 from the sample frame of 123 SME liquor retailers. The survey method, by way of a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) as statistical software was used to analyse data. The Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. The findings of this research revealed that Stakeholder influence, employee involvement in decision making and employee training in responsible retailing of alcohol have an influence on the CSR practices of SME liquor retailers. The study also identified the safety and practical measures that SME liquor retailers are practicing as a way of reducing alcohol related-harm. A recommendation to stakeholders, such as suppliers and government to find more strategies of influencing SME liquor retailers to practice CSR, was made. Lastly, recommendations were made to SME liquor owners and managers on how to improve their CSR practices.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Business Administration )) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2013. / A major concern for developing countries including South Africa is the high levels of unemployment, poverty and inequity. Developing countries have accordingly been pre-occupied with finding solutions to these problems. Drawing on the success of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) from the developed countries such as the US and the UK, developing nations have embraced the idea of promoting development through SMMEs. But the overall performance of the small business sector in most developing countries has rather been dismal and as such have not been able to contribute optimally to the development agenda. Adopting a strategic management perspective, this study hypothesised that an integration of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market orientations (MO) glued together by innovativeness (INNO) would yield superior outcomes than the stand-alone effects of these strategic postures. To test the hypothesis, a sample of 198 small scale agricultural enterprises (SSAEs) in the Vryburg region was surveyed. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed on the data generated. The empirical findings showed that EO + MO + INNO interactively exhibited positive and significant correlation with the performance (sales growth and profitability) of SSAEs in the Vryburg region. However, the inter-correlations of EO + MO + INNO with business performance were practically moderate. The moderate correlations create opportunities for strengthening the entrepreneurial and market orientations and innovativeness of SSAES and in fact small businesses in general. An intensive and co-ordinated intervention of government and NGOs in transforming the small business sector into the real engine of growth of the economy is imperative. The study also attempted to predict firm performance holding EO + EO + INNO as predictor variables. Multi linear regression and multinomial logistic regression analysis however did not yield significant predictions of performance of SSAEs. This outcome provides a launch pad for further research into the proposed model in different settings because this study was mainly exploratory and executed in a rural and agricultural environments. Notwithstanding, the study made important contributions to the literature. It showed that it was possible to integrate EO + MO + INNO (previously viewed by many authors as exclusive constructs) into a single business model for the synergic enhancement of small business performance. It is hoped this would stimulate economic growth and development especially in developing countries.

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This study investigated how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is understood within the KwaZulu-Natal dental technology industry, as an indication of the position of the industry nationally. The objectives of this study were to provide clarity regarding how the members of the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal perceive CSR, to determine what is being practised in terms of CSR, and to provide possible insights into how the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal might understand and consider CSR principles going into the future. This is a qualitative study conducted in the interpretive paradigm. The conceptual framework utilised for the study was Carroll’s CSR pyramid (1991) which was reviewed by Ferrell et al. (2010). For the purpose of this study CSR was understood to encompass the economic, legal and ethical aspects of running a business. It further extended into an understanding of philanthropy that goes beyond the primary purpose of a business. Simple random sampling was used to select participants for individual semi-structured interviews. The data collected was analysed using thematic content analysis. This study found that CSR is an unfamiliar term amongst dental laboratory owners and dental technicians. Dental laboratory owners and technicians failed to understand that CSR involves not only the basic aspects of running a business which are economic advancement but also compliance with legislation and ethics considerations. This study found that the poor understanding of CSR by dental laboratory owners and dental technicians stems from a poor understanding of basic business principles as was revealed in reported practices of the industry participants that lacked business ethical consideration. The perceived lack of participation in the industry by the South African Dental Technicians Council was seen to be a contributing factor to unethical behaviour within the industry. A degree of localised philanthropy was found to be practised by some in the industry. However, such practice was not generally accepted as a norm and that the industry should necessarily take cognisance of. The results generated by this study indicate that the dental technology industry’s lack of knowledge and understanding of CSR are such that industry should be informed and educated in CSR practices and that a coordinated approach to CSR practice by the industry is needed.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Quality, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Creativity and innovation drive organisational progress and is being heralded as the next competitive frontier for organisations. This study was initiated by current research which showed that the soft (infrastructure) quality management practices which focuses on people and culture had a greater effect on the pursuit of quality and innovation than the hard (core) quality management practices which focuses on techniques and methodology. Adopting a culture of innovation and creativity in quality instead of mere compliance, should drive the corporate quality strategy. This study made use of qualitative and quantitative research techniques by reviewing national and international related literature and used a questionnaire to investigate 54 ISO 9001 accredited South African organisations, respectively. It also investigated the degree to which creativity and innovation are practiced in these organisations, thereby exploring the gap between the importance of a factor to an organisation and the practice of the same factor. Results from Chapter 4 show that implementing innovation, the role of management and the role of government in encouraging innovation are very important but insufficiently practiced. The questionnaire revealed that hard/core factors are sufficiently practiced in quality but that the soft/infrastructure factors, which are important to innovation, are not. The respondents indicated that pursuing both quality and innovation simultaneously is an important goal and that the external and internal environment impact on innovation as much as the characteristics of the individual does. A model which attempts to consider all the factors that impact on innovation and quality is proposed. The model, called the Qic Model, consolidates previous research on innovation and quality through the Composite Model of Innovation and Quality and then proposes a tool called the Qic Assessment Matrix which can be used to strategically position an organisation or assess effort in innovation and quality. / Durban University of Technology

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. / Durban University of Technology.