M. Tech. Comparative Local Development / Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play a critical role in the economic development. Indeed, SMMEs have been recognised as major sources of poverty reduction, employment creation and incomes. It is therefore not surprising that policy makers and researchers, particularly in developing countries have acknowledged SMMEs as an important topic in development policy. Despite their belated discovery by policy makers and their contribution to the economy, their growth remains constrained by a number of key constraints including access to finance. Access to finance has a significant impact on the development or failure of SMMEs. That is to say, finance has increasingly been recognised as a major obstacle in the development of SMMEs. Without finance, SMMEs may not able to develop and sustain their businesses through innovation, hiring of additional staff and the addition of more facilities. The SMMEs sector is known to be very diverse. Indeed, Studies point that there is no single definition of SMMEs, they are defined differently in different contexts and most of SMMEs in Africa operate in the informal sector. This situation has challenged policy makers, making difficult the development of one size fits all policies. The objective in this study is to examine the problem of finance in SMME development and promotion in Africa and more particularly in Gabon and South Africa. The study examined the existing literature on SMMEs in general and more particularly the problem of access to finance in SMME development. The study highlights that SMME's access to finance is constrained by factors such as a lack of information, high interest rates, financial sector policy distortion, the high risk of SMME operations, blacklisting of SMME owners and a lack of government support awareness. In addressing this problem, a number of policies have been developed and include the market developing policies, the market enabling policies and the market harnessing policies.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 133, [5] leaves / Project Management is the wave of the future. This discipline and its evolution continues to be one of the principal means by which operational and strategic changes are managed in the enterprise. The importance of Project Management for organisational success will expand, rather than wane, in years to come. Projects, particularly large scale complex ones with multiple stakeholders, are failing at alarming rates despite a wide spectrum of efforts to solve the problem. The lack of meaningful results and outcomes is due, in part, to the fact that organizations tend to operate on a set of unproven assumptions concerning project objectives, business requirements, user expectations, motivations, agendas, schedules, costs and time frames. The management dilemma is that Transnet has committed R 65 billion to projects in the hope of developing its core businesses to that of world-class standards as a logistics service provider in South Africa. Transnet’s capital project division, Protekon, is responsible for managing the projects committed to this R 65bn capital expenditure. Transnet’s perception of Protekon’s failure to successfully deliver projects could result in appointments of external consultancies such as Hatch McDougal and Guba (HMG – an engineering consultant firm). Whereas, previously, Protekon was the monopoly service provider of engineering and project management skills within Transnet, Transnet’s sub-divisions appear to be utilizing outside consultancies more frequently. The reason for procuring engineering and consultancy services external to Transnet, among others, is the perception that Protekon is performing poorly in delivering successful projects. The outsourcing of work, fuelled by the negative perception of Protekon’s performance, directly impacts on the profitability of Protekon in the short to medium term. The objective of this dissertation was firstly to investigate the effect of Protekon’s involvement in Transnet’s project success; and secondly, to recommend strategies to improve the rate of project success, that could be applied within Transnet and Protekon.

With increased public environmental awareness and support for environmental protection, business success is becoming more dependant on environmental performance. Many large companies have acknowledged this and are engaged in corporate environmentalism to work towards the goal of ecological sustainability. The small business sector has an equally important role to play in sustainable development since their combined impact on the environment is significant. The extent to which the small business sector in South Africa has adopted a pro-environmental attitude however, has not been established. This research therefore attempts to ascertain the level of environmental awareness and practice within small business. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample population of small businesses in Edenvale, Gauteng. The sample population represented a variety of economic sectors. The quantitative data was analysed statistically by calculating the percentage of respondents or responses and by performing a test of proportions. The qualitative data was used to clarify the findings. The results suggested that the overall level of environmental awareness and practice within the small businesses was very low. Environmental issues were not considered to be a part of the business agenda as small business managers were unaware of the environmental impacts of their business activities. Moreover, there was a lack of both environmental pressures and information. The majority of the small businesses were therefore environmentally inactive. A small proportion of the businesses were environmentally reactive in that they had started to address environmental issues. This was however, only in response to environmental pressures and not through their own volition. Furthermore, unless subjected to environmental pressures or given incentives, the small businesses were not planning to integrate environmental practices into their business activities in the future. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

The service industry has been growing fast as national economies grew therefore becoming a major contributor to national gross domestic products (GDP). This growth in the services sector has led to questions around the issue of service quality. The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of service, assess the level of service quality in commercial real estate leasing and identify possible quality improvement measures. In carrying out the study, the service quality model developed by Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry (1988:14), SERVQUAL, was used. The study was based on the leasing services of the broking department of one of the leading commercial real estate companies operating in Durban. The study was restricted to the Durban market. A non-probabilistic sample of 120 customers was drawn from a list of lease transactions concluded in the last one year. From this sample, 84 questionnaires were successfully completed either by way of a face to face interview or by telephone, showing a response rate of 70 percent. Data was collected using a questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL model and adjusted by the researcher in order to be relevant to the commercial real estate industry. The questionnaire comprised two sections each with 22 questions divided into the five determinants of service quality, which are service tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. The first section of 22 questions was on customer expectations of service while the second section of 22 questions was on customer perceptions of service quality received and factor rating at the end. Factor analysis of survey response data was used to analyze the data and draw conclusions. The study findings are that commercial real estate service quality determinants match those in other industries except for rank and order. In general, service quality was found to be below customer expectations and commercial real estate firms need to work on ways to improve it. The study is limited to the specific settings of customers of property brokers in the Durban commercial real estate market. It is uncertain as to whether the findings can be generalized to other areas. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

The restructuring of state assets was expected to contribute towards black economic empowerment and a broader redistribution of wealth to those who were previously excluded from participating actively in the economy of this country. However, there have been several accusations leveled at government. Some people believe that privatization of state assets has benefited a few. This has led to the enactment of the Broad based black economic empowerment act. There is also a concern from the communities and unions that privatization of state assets will result in poor service delivery and unemployment. The study was conducted through a quantitative methodology. The final questionnaire was administered to 40 taxi owners, 20 government employees, 20 contractors, 20 business owners and 40 local residents. Out of the 140 people, II 0 responded, thus a 79 % response rate, all was used for data analyses. The various variables (responses to individual questions) in the questionnaire were arranged to obtain a rating for each dimension covered. This procedure assumes equality of interval of the Likert scale and therefore the data is regarded as the least interval data (rather than ordinary data). The findings on the study showed that majority of the respondents were not in favour of privatisation. Recommendations made were as follows, the government through its education programmes in schools and in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) canters must educate citizens about socio-economic and political issues as well as familiarizing them with the government's macro - economic policy, in particular the GEAR policy. The government should only make partial privatization, and not complete/ whole privatization. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

The choice of the geographical location of the premises for the business is of extreme importance for all kinds of enterprises, although for some it may be more important than for others. Some of the most important location factors are : social environment, climate, existing business environment, the attitude, regulations and tariffs of local authorities. The main purpose of this research is to map, and create a document for the small businesses (formal and informal businesses) in northwest greater Mafikeng. In pursuit of objective there will be at least, new knowledge and understanding of a specific geographic phenomenon (formal and informal businesses). The study is subdivided into seven major chapters. Chapter one includes the small-scale business sector in the South African context, statement problems, and objectives of the study and research hypotheses. The literature review (chapter two) covers a number of subtopics related to both the topic and objectives, to name few: an overview of small businesses, location, and size and diversity of small business, important and laws governing small business, education and training for small business. Methods of study and the research area (chapter three) cover the approaches and techniques used in this study. The research area includes the background information of the northwest greater Mafikeng. Maps analysis : spatial distribution of small businesses (chapter four) covers the analysis of spatial distribution of small businesses (non tax registered and registered) in northwest greater Mafikeng. Consumer perception (chapter five) covers the discussion report of the questionnaires from the sampled residents of northwest greater Mafikeng. Traders surveys (chapter six) follows with the discussion report of the interviewed conducted in the small businesspeople (non tax registered and registered) in northwest greater Mafikeng. Summary, conclusion and recommendations, (chapter seven) includes the main summary of the study, major conclusion and recommendations to government and local authorities. / M.A. (Geography) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

This thesis formed part of a existing longitudinal study. The overall study is an outcome of research done to understand success and failure issues in Africa, which is an attempt to understand the impact of a short entrepreneurial training programme on the performance of small scale enterprises over time. The study is unique in the South African context in that it is the first short term, 3 days, entrepreneurial training programme that is assessed by means of a longitudinal method incorporating a control group.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study was conducted to determine the need of SMMEs with regard to the availability and organisation of information. Literature on the subjects of information that is available in SMMEs and how this information should be organised was studied to determine whether it provides SMMEs with enough knowledge to find external information and extract internal information. The literature regarding information management and organisation was also studied to determine whether it can be used by a owner/manager of an SMME to organise its information in such a way that it can be retrieved and used. The study also included an empirical part with the purpose of discovering the current practices regarding the collection, organisation and use of information in SMMEs. Twenty-four structured interviews were conducted in four towns, namely Kuilsriver, Stellenbosch, Upington and Makhado (Louis Trichardt). During the interviews a questionnaire was used to investigate the uses of computers, the availability and need for information from the external and internal environment, and lastly electronic and manual systems used to organise information. When the interviews were concluded the systems were, especially the electronic folder systems, further investigated through observation. This provided an excellent opportunity to discover the usefulness of a system and even what type of information is really available and needed. It was found that SMME owner/managers are mostly aware of internal information, but do not know how to extract it or what other application possibilities it has. External information is not widely available or used. The only external information available is that which the SMMEs are required to have by law. Information organisation, although critically important to all SMMEs, was mostly not done effectively. Electronic folder structures and manual filing systems are mostly used for information organisation, but they are not effectively used because of lack of skill and no other literature or association to turn to. To assist SMMEs in the development of a folder structure system a number of guidelines are provided that will help to design a natural or structured language system tailored to the specific needs of the business. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is gedoen om vas te stel wat klein, medium en mikro ondernemings se behoeftes rakende die beskikbaarheid en die organisering van inligting, is. Literatuur wat hierdie twee onderwerpsareas dek, is bestudeer om vas te stel of dit genoeg kennis aan die ondernemings oordra om eksterne inligting op te spoor, en interne inligting te onttrek. Literatuur wat handel oor inligtingsbestuur en inligtingsorganisering is bestudeer om uit te vind of dit deur 'n eienaar/bestuurder van 'n klein onderneming gebruik sou kon word om inligting te organiseer, sodat dit weer opgespoor kan word. 'n Empiriese studie het ook deeI uitgemaak van die algehele studie en het daarop gefokus om vas te stel wat die huidige praktyke rakende versameling, organisering en gebruik van inligting in klein ondernemings is. Vier en twintig gestruktureerde onderhoude is in vier dorpe, naamlik Kuilsrivier, Stellenbosch, Upington en Makhado (Louis Trichardt), gevoer. Gedurende die onderhoude is 'n vraelys gebruik om ondersoek in te stel na die gebruike van rekenaars, die beskikbaarheid en gebruik van interne en eksterne inligting en, laastens, die elektroniese en handstelsels wat gebruik word in klein ondernemings. Na afloop van die onderhoude is stelsels verder ondersoek deur middel van observasie van veral elektroniese leergidsstelsels. Die observasie het 'n guldige geleentheid gebied om die bruikbaarheid van die stelsel en selfs die inligtingsbehoeftes van die onderneming te toets. Daar is bevind dat die eienaars/bestuurders van klein ondernemings wel bewus is van die interne inligting, maar nie die kennis het om dit te herwin of om inligting in ander prosesse toe te pas nie. Eksterne inligting word nie algemeen gebruik nie. Die enigste wat meestal voorkom is eksterne inligting wat volgens wet in die besit van die onderneming moet wees. Inligtingsorganisering is wel as van kritieke belang aangedui deur alle klein besighede, maar in die meeste word dit glad nie effektief toegepas nie. Elektroniese leerqidsstelsels en liasseerkabinette word algemeen gebruik, maar 'n tekort aan vaardighede en literatuur om leiding te gee veroorsaak dat hulle nie effektief gebruik kan word nie. Om klein besighede behulpsaam te wees met die ontwikkeling van leerstelsels is 'n aantal riglyne verskaf. Hierdie riglyne sal die klein besighede van hulp kan wees in die ontwikkeling van 'n natuurlike- of gestruktuurde taal stelsel wat by die behoeftes van die besigheid aangepas kan word.

SMMEs play a crucial role in the economy of South Africa. They create employment, contribute significantly to the GDP and close the income gap. The growth and sustainability of SMMEs is important and government had put in place a number of policies, programs and strategies to address the plight of SMMEs. Institutions exist by public and private mandate to support the development of the SMME sector. However, internal constraints such as weak quality control hinder such growth and generally lead to low levels of entrepreneurial activity and high rates of business discontinuity. Generally, SMMEs are known for losing customers and resultantly discontinuing after establishment. Research needed to be conducted to establish the quality management practices of medium-sized enterprises. Available knowledge lacked practical orientation on quality management practices and rather focused more on development trends, problems and needs of SMMEs. Published research did not provide much knowledge on how medium-sized enterprises respond to the customers’ expectation of quality thereby pointing to a need for this study. The purpose of the study was therefore devised to determine whether medium-sized enterprises in the city of Mbombela are aware of and committed to quality management in order to satisfy their customers and to identify the quality management practices applied by the enterprises. The research was quantitative and was conducted using a non-experimental survey design. Participants were a group of 95 medium-sized enterprise owners or managers of which 47 returned the research instrument allowing the survey to obtain a response rate of 49.5%. The medium-sized enterprises were selected using probability based stratified random sampling. A standardised survey questionnaire was used to collect field data and a MoonStats program was used to perform statistical analysis and interpretation. The findings revealed that medium-sized enterprises in the city of Mbombela have a high level of quality awareness at the level of the owner or manager, are oriented towards customer and apply quality management practices in their operation. However, the level of quality awareness declines at the level of administrative, artisan or trade and general staff and the enterprises do not participate and compete in business excellence models and quality awards to assess their management practices, measure their growth and seek recognition. The study recommends that medium-sized enterprise owners and managers should raise the level of quality awareness amongst their staff and evaluate their management practices on a regular basis. Government, SMME development and support agencies should coherently promote business excellence models and quality award programs to medium-sized enterprises and provide incentive for participation in such programs as this will ensure that due diligence is paid to the development of the enterprises. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

The South African mining industry has been, and continues to be, the main contributor of the country’s GDP. The listed mining companies have a great contribution to the market capitalisation of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE, 2014). Pre-1994, the mining companies had been under scrutiny for a wide range of negative environmental and social impacts in their operational areas. The mining companies were accused of a lack of sustainability plans, carbon emissions, land rehabilitation plans, pollution and lack of community engagement (Buccasa, 2013). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a platform for the mining industry to correct the errors of the past and to contribute towards socio-economic development and environmental concerns. Through the implementation of CSR initiatives, the mining companies have brought about a significant change in the lives of people affected by mining industry. In return, the mining companies have built a good reputation which had been tarnished in the past. The objective of the study was to explore the role of CSR in the mining industry and determine how CSR initiatives had impacted the lives of the beneficiaries in the mining sector. The research identified three sustainability dimensions, which are: environment, social aspects and economic aspects. The aim of the study was to establish whether CSR initiatives have contributed towards sustainable development. The study established how the JSE/SRI listed mining companies reported CSR and determined the types of initiatives implemented. The study identified the similarities and differences in the CSR initiatives being implemented by 10 selected mining companies listed in the JSE/SRI index. The study also identified sustainable development issues faced by the South African mining industry. The study reviewed how these mining companies reported their CSR and identified regulating bodies and codes that promoted CSR. The study also determined the role that the JSE/SRI index plays towards the development of CSR and sustainable development in the mining sector in South Africa. Integrated reports and sustainability reports of the mining companies were used for data collection to establish how these companies reported CSR and disclosed their CSR strategies on the internet. The mining companies which were analysed were mining companies listed in the JSE/SRI index from 2010 – 2014. The JSE/SRI index is aligned with global sustainability guidelines and locally relevant corporate responsibility standards. The study determined the significance of JSE/SRI listing towards the development of CSR; in relation to environmental, social and economic development in the mining industry.