M.B.A. / Since the first democratic elections of April 1994, the government of South Africa has been grappling with a wide range of social and economic development issues. The development and promotion of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) is one of these critical issues. This is seen as vital for job creation, income generation and the promotion of sustainable and equitable economic growth. It is the view of government that the SIVIME sector also deserves attention because it has been neglected in the past. It is also widely acknowledged that SMMEs play a vital role in absorbing labour, penetrating new markets and expanding the economy in creative and innovative ways. The stated general objective by the government was the need to create an enabling environment in which small businesses would flourish. There was an intensive process of consultations with key stakeholders on the SMME sector. This took the form of the 1994 White Paper (discussion paper) on Strategies for the Development of an Integrated Policy and Support Programme for Small, Medium and Micro-Enterprises in South Africa, the President's Conference on Small Business in 1995 and the Second National Conference on Small Business in 1997. The highlight of these efforts was the enabling of the institutional support framework via the National Small Business Act of 1996 which aimed at providing a supportive environment for small business development. Several institutions were created under this act at national, provincial and local levels with the following aims and objectives: To coordinate the overall national policy on small business development. To mobilize the maximum involvement by all stakeholders. To facilitate the provision of financial and non-financial support services. In general, to represent the interests of the SMME sector. The aim of this study was to investigate how effective the government policy on the development and promotion of small business has been. The focus was the Northern Province, one of the nine provinces in South Africa. The researcher was specifically interested in looking at the establishment of the institutional framework at provincial and local government level, whether the products developed for small business support have been well-marketed to the SMME sector and whether the small business sector was benefiting from these products. There were three main aspects to the conduct of the study. Government officials in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Northern Province were interviewed. Institutions that have been set up to provide support services to small business were also visited and officials at these institutions were also interviewed. Further information was obtained from existing documentation at the DTI and from the institutions offering support services to small business. A survey of the SMME sector in the Northern Province was conducted. A designed questionnaire was presented to a representative sample of small businesses. The data obtained from interviews and existing documentation has been summarized descriptively. The data from the questionnaires has been analysed statistically. Graphical illustrations have been used to enhance the presentation. Conclusions, recommendations and some final reflections are also included.

Throughout the world, corporate or good governance has become such a dominating terminology in the ever -increasing business vocabulary. Its fast rise and strategic relevance to the global business communi ty is part ly due to the desi re by the business leaders wor ldwide to be seen to be doing something about the scourge of corporate failures resulting f rom poor governance. The objective of the research was to establish to what extent Smal l and Medium Enterpr ises (SMEs) comply with good governance principles and practices. The SMEs in the Port Elizabeth CBD were chosen as the representative population of the SME sector throughout the country. The research methodology included: A li terature study to determine, on the one hand the current good governance pract ices global ly, and on the other the role, relevance and the challenges of the SMEs in the South Af rican Economy. An empir ical study in order to obtain the empir ical evidence concerning SME compliance to good governance principles and pract ice. This was done through a survey of SME sector in the Port Elizabeth CBD. Lastly, the conclusion and recommendations. The conclusion was reached, inter alia, that the major ity of SMEs do not comply wi th good governance principles and pract ices for various reasons. Therefore the following recommendations were made: Recommended that the organisational accountants appointed in terms of the law should not confine themselves to the financial aspects of the business only, but also look at governance of these small businesses. Recommended that a sub-code for SMEs be developed. Recommended that the existing code of governance be amended to include a clause that requires large and establish businesses to insist on good governance in the SMEs they deal with at any level. Recommended that the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should develop a qualification or unit standard on good governance to facilitate training on good governance. Since good governance knowledge is a key competence for every manager, especially senior management. It is recommended that institutions of higher learning should have good governance in their curriculum.

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.

The situation in South Africa throws up a trickier and more unconventional challenge. The country has symptoms of a spatial realm that is not fully connected with the urban systems (spatially, socially, or structurally) and is certainly disconnected from the rural economy. This is the realm of the country’s townships and informal settlements. Conceptually, they are relics of the country’s special past, but the policies of post-apartheid South Africa have inadvertently kept their contemporary reality alive. In many ways, the townships and especially the informal settlements are similar to the slums in much of the developing world, although never was a slum formed with as much central planning and purpose as were some of the larger South African townships. This paper undertakes to understand the growth strategies of black township entrepreneurs in South Africa. This paper also undertakes to investigate the perceived influence of education, government policies, access to funding, market constraints, crime and social norms on the development or perceived growth strategies for black township entrepreneurs. Propositions are made and tested through conducting interviews with individuals involved with the dynamics presented by this subject on a day to day basis. Evidence collected is interpreted into knowledge and finally recommendations are made.

Research Purpose: Customer focus has become increasing critical in order for organisations to effectively compete. Organisations operate in continuously changing environments, with dynamic customer needs requiring that organisations frequently revisit their strategic objectives. Supply chain integration provides organisations with an opportunity to keep up with these changing environments, offering a platform for collaboration with external partners. This research explores three of the customer-focused supply chain capabilities and their relationship with organisation’s operational efficiency and overall performance Research Methodology: A quantitative and descriptive correlational research approach was conducted, with a self-administered online survey questionnaire sent to selected employees of FMCG organisations. A basis of the research was formed through a literature review focused on supply chain integration, in particular on the three forward-integration capabilities of customer-closeness, use of integrative technologies, and information and knowledge sharing. The research carried out descriptive analysis and correlational testing between the forward-integrated supply chain capabilities, and operational efficiency and overall organisational performance effects. Research Findings: analysis carried out suggests that the three forward-integration capabilities contribute positively to process improvement of supply chain integration efficiency and organisational performance. Organisations should increase focus on their relationship with customers, embrace the use of technology and employ information as a strategic resource. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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.

D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies) / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a growing field in South Africa with companies dedicating substantial financial and human resources to social, economic and environmental development. However, limited research has been conducted of CSR as an emerging field of enquiry and practise in Development Studies and of its contribution to social and sustainable environmental development. The aim of the study was to gain knowledge and understanding (verstehen) about how CSR is conceptualised and implemented in South Africa with the view to making recommendations that could grow CSR as an integral component of sustainable development in society. In order to achieve this, a qualitative research design was adopted for the study which was of an applied nature as the findings were to inform theory and practise. The study was undertaken through the use of a non-probability purposive sampling method which entailed study and analysis of ten multi-industry listed companies in South Africa. The companies were selected based on pre-determined criteria and involved both nationally based and subsidiaries of multinational companies. In view of the fact that CSR involves active engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders, the perspectives of internal and external stakeholders were solicited. Internal stakeholders involved CSR managers and practitioners while external stakeholders identified were representatives from trade unions, NGOs, Tripartite institutions, government officials, community leaders and the actual beneficiaries of the companies' CSR initiatives. In total, thirty (30) respondents were selected from the different stakeholder groups that were made up as follows: ten (10) respondents from the companies, ten (10) from the external stakeholders which included representatives from the following sectors: government, Non-governmental Organizations (NGO), trade unions, Tripartite institutions and Business and lastly, ten (10) representatives which comprised the community beneficiaries of the CSR programmes.

M.Com. / Small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) prioritization is a collaborative effort by both the government and the private sector. The SA government called for support through the 1995 White Paper on National Strategy for the Development and Promotion of Small Business. The recent establishment (May 2014) of the Ministry of Small Business Development reinforces the strategic role of SMMEs in the South African economy. The prominent role played by SMMEs cannot be overemphasized...