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.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since many Small Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have a lack of resources and knowledge of foreign markets, they tend to develop their activities in the domestic market ftrst. When the home market limits opportunities for expansion. pro-active SMEs naturally progress to international activities by exporting to foreign markets. This natural evolution culminates in decisions of how to enter foreign markets and which markets to enter. Selection of overseas markets and entry modes lies at the heart of any international strategy. The value of the small business sector is recognised in economies worldwide. The SMEs' contribution towards growth, job creation and social progress is valued highly and small business is regarded as an essential element in a successful formula for achieving economic growth. It is thus postulated that SMEs will be one of the driving forces to grow the South African economy. By gaining an understanding of the internationalisation process of International Active Enterprises it is hoped to provide the South African SMEs with a tool that can be used for their international expansion programs. The author starts by reviewing relevant and related literature. He then investigates and highlights the different schools of thought on intemationalisation by looking at process, models, strategy and motivation. The research then describes the different modes of market entry and continues by listing the basic factor categories for market entry mode selection. The penultimate step highlights the various factors for selection of foreign markets and applies these factors into a holistic market entry and mode selection model. Finally the internationalisation is focused on SME and more specifically South African SMEs. Their internationalisation behaviour is explained in the light of the model that was developed. The author explains the framework that will be used to model an international market selection and the mode of entry into that international market. This model can guide SMEs into initial international market entry and to make decisive choices as to which international market and mode of entry they select to penetrate international markets. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klein en medium grootte sake-ondernemings het 'n tekort aan bronne en kennis van oorsese markte en dienooreenkomstig ontwikkel hulle eers hul besigheidsaktiwiteite in die binnelandse markte. Wanneer die binnelandse besigheidsgroei-geleenthede versadig word, sal sodanige pro-aktiewe klein en medium grootte sake-ondernemings huI produkte begin uitvoer in 'n poging om nuwe markgroei te stimuleer. Hierdie natuurlike evolusie dwing die onderneming om besluite te neem oor hoe om sodanige buitelandse markte te betree, asook die markkeuse op sigself. Die markkeuse en markbetredings metodiek is die kern van enige internasionale strategie. Die ekonomiese waarde van die klein en medium grootte sake-ondememingsektor word wereldwyd erken. Hulle bydrae tot groei, werkskepping, en sosiale ontwikkeling word wyd erken. So word klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings dan gesien as 'n kardinale bestanddeel om ekonomiese groei te behaal. Dit word dus gestel dat klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings een van die dryfvere vir ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika sal wees. Die ondersoek van die intemasionaliseringsproses van buitelands-aktiewe ondernemings sal 'n model formuleer wat die Suid-Afrikaanse klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings kan bystaan met hul buitelandse markgroei. Die skrywer begin om die relevante literatuur te bestudeer en beklemtoon die verskillende denkwyses oor buitelandse groei deur te kyk na prosesse, modelle, strategiee en motiverings. Die navorsingstuk beskryf dan die verskillende metodes van markbetreding en Iys die verskillende faktore wat 'n invloed het op die betredingsvraagstuk. Die voorlaaste stap in die model beskryf die verskillende faktore wat 'n rol speel op die buitelandse markkeuse. Al hierdie mark- en betredingsfaktore word in 'n globale model gestruktureer. Laastens word daar gefokus op die Suid-Afrikaanse klein en medium grootte sake-ondememings en hulle internasionaliseringsoptrede word in die lig van die model geskets. Die skrywer verduidelik dus die raamwerk wat gebruik word om buitelandse markbetreding en markkeuse te modelleer. Hierdie model toon rigting aan klein en medium grootte sakeondememings se aanvanklike buitelandse belangstelling en ook hoe om daadwerklike besluite te neem oor buitelandse markbetreding en buitelandse markkeuses.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To the world community at large globalisation has been a gradual process, whereas its impact in South Africa was more intensive and concentrated over a shorter period of time - in particular since South Africa's return to the international community in the early to middle 1990s, its economy, inter alia, has had to adjust to this phenomenon. It is within this environment that all enterprises constituting the South African economy also had to adapt and adjust to a new world environment. From the middle 1980s a new discourse in the literature on the effect of a "new" style of leadership (based on continuous learning, renewal, innovation and entrepreneurship) was reported on in which these leaders brought about significant change in organisations. These leaders recognise the need for change in their organisations. They create a new vision. They bring about change in their organisations to meet the challenges from the changing environment and have been accordingly recognised as transformational leaders. This leadership style has been extensively reported on in large organisations, in both the private and the public sectors. For example, literature and research abound on the impact of transformational leaders in large business enterprises (e.g. Lee lacocca of Chrysler, Jack Welch of General Electric) and government institutions, such as education, the military and health (e.g. Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Mahatma Ghandi of India). A review of the literature on the impact of transformational leadership in large organisations, without fail, reports significant manifestations of success in those organisations' growth, cohesion and development into' more successful and competitive units. Concomitantly, it is generally acknowledged by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, the Asian Development Bank and other organisations of similar position, that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shape the very foundation of the majority of successful economies. The impact of transformational leadership in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has not been measured and reported on in an empirical appraisal and surprisingly little has been forthcoming on the role and impact of transformational leadership in SMEs globally. However, from an entrepreneurial perspective, much has been researched and written on the qualities that support risk-taking, innovation and competition in SMEs. It is within this context that it was decided to investigate the concept of transformational leadership in entrepreneurs, i.e. that group of people who are generally referred to as the drivers of the economy. This dissertation reviews the literature on leadership practices and styles in organisations as a basis to specifically identify the co-producers of leadership in entrepreneurs in SMEs. It is within this context that an empirical study on aspects of transformational leadership in SMEs in a South African context was conducted. This empirical survey verifies the relationship between characteristics of these entrepreneurs and characteristics typically associated with transformational leaders, as manifested in large organisations. Therefore, given the above empirical evidence, the model developed for this study defines the qualities of a transformational leader which will enable those leaders/entrepreneurs (in SMEs with growth potential) to take their organisations from average performance levels to levels comparable to world-class leadership and competitiveness. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir die wêreldgemeenskap in sy geheel was globalisering 'n geleidelike proses, terwyl die impak daarvan op Suid-Afrika meer intensief en gekonsentreerd oor 'n korter tydperk plaasgevind het - meer spesifiek sedert Suid-Afrika se terugkeer gedurende die vroeë tot middel 1990s tot die internasionale gemeenskap waartydens die ekonomie, onder andere, tot hierdie verskynsel moes aanpas. Dit is binne hierdie omgewing waarbinne alle ondernemings wat die basis van die ekonomie vorm, tot die nuwe wêreldomgewing moes aanpas. Vanaf die middel 1980s is daar redevoering in die literatuur oor die invloed van 'n "nuwe" leierskapstyl (met die uitgangspunte van verandering, innovering en entrepreneurskap) waarvolgens hierdie leiers aansienlike verandering in hul organisasies teweegbring. Hierdie leiers begryp die noodsaaklikheid van verandering en skep sodoende 'n nuwe visie binne hulorganisasies. Hulle bring verandering binne hierdie organisasies teweeg en aanvaar die uitdagings vanuit die omgewing - hierdie leiers word as transformasieleiers uitgeken. Vanuit die oogpunt van beide groot, privaat- en openbare organisasies, word hierdie leierskapstyl omvattend vermeld; byvoorbeeld, in navorsing en literatuur is voldoende verwysings oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in groot ondernemings (bv. Lee lacocca van Chrysler, Jack Welch van General Electric) en in staatorganisasies, soos in opvoeding, die militêre asook gesondheid (bv. Nelson Mandela van Suid-Afrika, Mahatma Ghandi van Indië). 'n Literatuuroorsig oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap op groot organisasies dui sonder uitsondering op 'n beduidende invloed van sukses in die groei van hierdie ondernemings aan, asook beter spanwerk en die ontplooiing van meer suksesvolle en mededingengde eenhede binne hierdie organisasies. Insgelyks, word dit algemeen deur die Wêreldbank, die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds, die Europese Gemeenskap, die Asiese Ontwikkelingsbank en ander soortgelyke organisasies aanvaar dat klein tot middelgroot-ondernemings (KMOs) die onderbou van die meerderheid van susksesvolle ekonomië vorm. Vanuit 'n entrepreneuriese perspektief is 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid navorsing en publikasies reeds oor die faktore gedoen wat entrepreneurskap in KMOs ondersteun, naamlik risikoneming, innovering en mededining. Dog, vanuit 'n empiriese benadering, is daar nog nie navorsing oor die invloed van transformasieleierskap in KMOs gelewer nie. Dit is binne hierdie konteks dat die besluit geneem is om die konsep van transformasieleierskap in entrepreneurs te ondersoek, m.a.w. daardie groep mense waarna oor die algemeen as die dryfkrag van die ekonomie verwys word. As vertrekpunt ondersoek hierdie verhandeling die literatuur met betrekking tot leierskapgebruike en -style in organisasies, om sodoende meer spesifiek die medeprodusente van leierskap in entrepreneurs in KMOs te bepaal. Vanaf hierdie vertrekpunt word die empiriese ondersoek geloods en voltooi om die teenwoordigheid van transformasieleierskap in KMOs in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Die empiriese navorsing bevestig die verwantskap tussen die eienskappe van hierdie entrepreneurs en die eienskappe wat tipies aan transformasieleiers in groot organisasies toegeskryf word. Gegewe die bogenoemde empiriese bevindinge omskryf die model (wat gevolglik vir hierdie studie ontwikkel is) die eienskappe van transformasieleiers wat vir leiers/entrepreneurs (in KMOs met groeimoontlikhede) van nut sal wees om sodoende hulondernemings tot prestasievlakke te neem wat met wêreldleierskap en mededingingheid vergelyk kan word.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: One of the biggest problems facing businesses in the future will be the conservation of the environment. The purpose of this study is to determine how a company can implement a socially responsible ecological strategy successfully, and more specific the companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The study consists of two sections, namely an in-depth theoretical literature study into the implementation of a socially responsible ecological strategy and secondly an empirical study on the implementation of such a strategy. The focus is on the different stages in the strategic implementation process, namely the formulation and planning phases, the implementation phase and the exercising of control over the implementation process. An attempt is made to bring the strategy implementation process into relation with the implementation of a socially responsible ecological strategy which will ensure the successful implementation of the strategy. Aspects surrounding the environmental issues were also integrated in this study, namely green activism in South Africa, current legislation and the influence of the green consumer on the welfare of companies. The results indicated that almost two thirds (66,67 %) of the companies in this study are following a socially responsible ecological strategy. These companies who do follow a socially responsible ecological strategy are also more strategic orientated than companies who do not follow a socially responsible ecological strategy. Companies are well aware of the influence that the green consumer can have on their businesses, but green activism has not yet gathered momentum in South Africa to put companies under pressure ensuring to follow a socially responsible ecological strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die bewaring van die omgewing is een van die grootste aktuele vraagstukke van die toekoms wat ondernemings in die gesig staar. Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal hoe 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie suksesvol geïmplementeer kan word, met spesifieke verwysing na maatskappye genoteer op die Johannesburgse Aandelebeurs. Die studie bestaan uit twee gedeeltes, naamlik 'n indiepte teoretiese literatuurstudie na die implementering van 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie en tweedens 'n empiriese ondersoek na die implementering van sodanige strategie. Daar word gefokus op die verskillende stadia in die strategiese implementeringsproses, naamlik die formulerings- en beplanningsfase, die implementeringsfase en die uitoefening van doeltreffende beheer oor die implementeringsproses. Verder word gepoog om die strategie implementeringsproses in verband te bring met die implementering van 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie wat die suksesvolle implementering van die strategie sal verseker. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na faktore rondom die omgewingskwessie, naamlik groen aktivisme in Suid-Afrika, huidige wetgewing en die invloed van die groen verbruiker op die welvaart van die onderneming. Die resultate toon dat feitlik twee derdes (66,67 %) van die ondernemings in hierdie studie wel 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie volg. Hierdie ondernemings wat 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie volg is ook meer strategies georiënteerd as ondernemings wat nie 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie volg nie. Ondernemings besef die invloed van die groen verbruiker op die welvaart van hulondernemings, maar groen aktivisme het nog nie inslag gevind in Suid-Afrika om ondernemings onder druk te plaas om 'n sosiaal verantwoordelike ekologiese strategie te volg nie.

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The new South African government, following the 1994 first free democratic election, inherited a country torn apart by apartheid, with large portions of the population suffering from social and economic deprivation. A society divided along racial lines with many of these divides supported by State policies. Ten years into South Africa's democracy, apartheid's social and economic legacies remain. The majority of the nearly 45 million South Africans still live in conditions closely resembling those of more than a decade ago. In September 2000 at the United Nations Millennium Summit 150 heads of states committed to a set of objectives, if successfully implemented, would see by 2015 a reduction in poverty, improve lives of the less fortunate and protect environmental resources. These set of objectives, summarized into eight goals, became known as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The Eight Millennium Development Goals' fundamental objective is to provide guidelines for the cooperation between rich and poor countries to reach equitable global human development, the eradication of hunger and extreme poverty and the agreed access to healthcare and education for all men, women and children. The eight goals are: • Goal one: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger • Goal two: Achieve universal primary education • Goal three: Promote gender equality and empower women • Goal four: Reduce child mortality • Goal five: Improve maternal health • Goal six: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases • Goal seven: Ensure environmental sustainability • Goal eight: Develop a global partnership for development. The South African Government, being a signatory to these eight goals was not only faced with addressing the social and economic imbalances it inherited. The Government was faced with the challenge of put processes and polices in place that would address its internal issues and find ways of improving the lives of the less fortunate in accordance with the eight millennium development goals. The South African government, through becoming a signatory to the goals, has given its commitment to achieving these eight goals within the designated timeframes. The underlying assumption in this research project is that Government alone cannot succeed in achieving these eight goals within the required timeframes. Former president Nelson Mandela, when commenting on corporate social responsibility, stated that if the Government's Reconstruction and Development program was to be successful. South African business was needed to realize this goal. The main purpose of this research project is to get an overview of the Corporate Social Investment strategies implemented by the top 100 listed companies in South Africa and to determine if these strategies to will place South Africa in a position to successfully meet the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse regering wat aan bewind gekom het na die eerste vrye demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 het 'n land geerf wat deur apartheid uitmekaar geskeur is en waarin groot gedeeltes van die bevolking onder 'n sasiale en ekonomiese agterstand gebuk gegaan het. Die samelewing was op rassegrondslag verdeel en baie van die verdelings is deur regeringsbeleid ondersteun. Na tien jaar van demokrasie in Suid-Afrika bly die sasiale en ekonomiese erfenis van apartheid steeds staan. Die meerderheid van die byna 45 miljoen Suid-Afrikaners leef steeds in omstandighede wat baie dieselfde is as die van meer as 'n dekade gelede. Tydens die Verenigde Nasies sa Millenniumspitsberaad in September 2000 het 150 staatshoofde hulself verbind tot 'n stel doelwitle. As hierdie doelwitte suksesvol ge'r'mplementeer sou word, sou dit teen 2015 'n afname in armoede teweegbring, die lewens van minderbevoorregtes verbeter en omgewingshulpbronne beskerm. Hierdie stel doelwitte, opgesom as agt punte, staan bekend as die Verenigde Nasies se Millenniumontwikkelingsdoelwitte. Die basiese uitgangspunt van die agt Millenniumontwikkelingsdoelwitte is om riglyne daar te stel vir die samewerking tussen ryk en arm lande met die oog op die bereiking van gelyke menslike ontwikkeling wereldwyd, die uitwissing van honger en die uiterste armoede, en die ooreengekome toegang tot gesondheidsorg en opvoeding vir aile mans, vroue en kinders. Die agt doelwitte is: • Doelwit een: Uitwissing van uiterste armoede en honger • DoeJwit twee: Daarstelling van universele primere onderwys • Doelwit drie: Bevordering van geslagsgelykheid en bemagtiging van vroue • Doelwit vier: Vermindering van kindersterftes • Doelwit vyf: Verbetering van moedergesondheid • Doelwit ses: Bestryding van MIVNIGS, malaria en ander siektes • Doelwit sewe: Versekering van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid • Doelwit agt: Ontwikkeling van 'n wereldwye vennootskap vir ontwikkeling. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, as ondertekenaar van hierdie agt doelwitte, moes nie aileen die sasiale en ekonomiese wanbalanse wat hulle geerf het, uit die weg ruim nie. Die regering het oak te staan gekom voar die uitdaging om prosesse en beleid daar te stel wat interne probleme sou oplos en om maniere te vind om die [ewens van die minderbevoorregtes te verbeter ooreenkomstig die agt Millennium-ontwikkelingsdoelwitte. As ondertekenaar van hierdie doelwitte het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering homself verbind tot die bereiking van hierdie agt doelwilte binne die ooreengekome tyd. Die onderliggende aanname in hierdie navorsingsprojek is dat die regering aileen nie binne die vereiste tyd hierdie a9t doelwitte suksesvol kan bereik nie. Voormalige president Nelson Mandela het in kommentaar op korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid daarop gewys dat die Suid-Afrikaanse sakesektor noodsaaklik is vir die suksesvolle bereiking van die doelwitte in die regering se program van Heropbou en Ontwikkeling. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is am 'n oorsig te kry oar die korporatiewe maatskaplike beleggingstrategiee van die boonste 100 genoteerde maatskappye in SuidAfrika en om te bepaal of hierdie strategiee Suid-Afrika in 'n posisie sal plaas am die Verenigde Nasies se Millenniumontwikkelingsdoelwitte teen 2015 suksesvol te bereik.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the advent of low priced and easy to use computing capability, information systems have become more accessible to smaller business. Despite the increased availability and affordability, the perception exists that many small businesses are reluctant to adopt technology that might enhance their operations. Besides the opportunities brought about by information systems, this exposes businesses to additional risks and confusions. The purpose of this study was to identify the state of use of various information systems, the perception held about the business value of information systems and the factors that influence the adoption of these systems by small businesses in the Western Cape. Based on previous research in information systems adoption and theories from the technological innovation literature, ten variables under the four broad categories of decision-maker characteristics, organisational characteristics, information systems characteristics and external influences were specified as primary determinants of adoption. These variables are the decision makers' innovativeness, information systems knowledge and computer self-efficacy, the business size, the availability of slack financial resources, employees' information systems knowledge, the importance of information to the business, the perceived relative advantage of using information systems, the social expectations about information systems use, and competitive pressure. A distinction was made between the initial adoption decision and the extent of adoption. Data for the study was collected by means of a survey of 89 small businesses with less than 60 employees. Discriminant analysis was used to identify determinants for the initial decision to adopt information systems, while structural equation modelling was used to identify the factors that influence the extent of adoption. The findings in this study suggest that the computer self-efficacy, information systems knowledge and innovativeness of the decisionmaker, business size, perceived relative advantage and competition are important determinants of the decision to adopt information systems. Once adopted, the decisionmaker's innovativeness, business size, employee's information systems knowledge and competition were found to further influence the extent of adoption. Although small businesses generally have a very positive view about the advantages of using information systems, there is still scope for growth in information systems use in this sector. The most common use for information systems is at an operational level. Very few small businesses make strategic use of information systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ontwikkeling van relatief goedkoop en gebruikersvriendelike rekenaartegnologie het inligtingstelsels meer toeganklik vir kleinsakeondernemings gemaak. Ten spyte hiervan, bestaan 'n persepsie dat klein besighede traag is met die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels om hulle operasionele metodes te verbeter. Inligtingstelsels ontwikkel nuwe geleenthede vir kleinsakeondernemings, maar dit veroorsaak ook addisionele risikos en verwarring. Hierdie studie poog om die omvang van inligtingstelselgebruik, die persepsies omtrent die gebruik daarvan, en die faktore wat die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels in kleinsakeondernemings beïnvloed in die Wes Kaap te ondersoek. 'n Model wat gebaseer is op vorige studies van inligtingstelsel gebruik in kleinsakeondernemings, asook die teorie van tegnologiese innovasie, word opgestel en getoets. Die model identifiseer en omskryf tien veranderlikes in vier kategorieë wat die ingebruikneming van inligtingstelsels beïnvloed. Die vier kategorieë is die eienskappe van die besluitnemer in die onderneming, eienskappe van die onderneming, eienskappe van die inligtingstelsels self en eksterne faktore. Die besluitnemereienskappe wat ondersoek is, is innovasie, kennis van inligtingstelsels, en rekenaarselfvertroue. Vier sakeondernemingseienskappe, te wete grootte, beskikbaarheid van spaar finansiële bronne, inligtingstelselkennis van personeel en die belangrikheid van inligting vir die onderneming, is ondersoek. Onder die inligtingstelseleienskappe is die persepsie van die relatiewe voordeel wat inligtingstelsels aan kleinsakeondernemings bied gemeet, en die eksterne faktore wat ondersoek is, was die status wat geassosieer word met die gebruik van inligtingstelsels asook druk as gevolg van kompetisie. Onderskeid is getref tussen die besluit om inligtingstelsels te gebruik en die vlak van penetrasie van inligtingstelsels in die kleinsakeonderneming nadat die aanvanklike besluit geneem is. Data is ingesamel deur middel van 'n vraelys, wat deur 89 klein besighede voltooi is. Die grootte van die kleinsakeondernemings het gewissel tussen eenmansake en sakeondernemings met maksimaal sestig werknemers. Multiveranderlike statistiese metodes is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Daar is bevind dat die besluitnemer se rekenaarselfvertroue, sy inligtingstelselkennis, sy innovasie, die grootte van die sakeonderneming, relatiewe voordeel, en kompetisie belangrike invloede is ten opsigte van die besluit om inligtingstelsels aan te neem. Nadat die besluit geneem is om wel inligtingstelsels te gebruik, word die mate van gebruik bepaal deur die innovasie van die besluitnemer, die grootte van die sakeonderneming, die werknemers se kennisvlak van inligtingstelsels en kompetisie. Oor die algemeen beskou kleinsakeondernemings inligtingstelsels as voordelig, maar dit lei nie noodwendig tot die ingebruikneming daarvan nie. Daar is steeds heelwat moontlikhede vir groei in die gebruik van inligtingstelsels in hierdie bepaalde sektor. Kleinsakeondernemings maak hoofsaaklik gebruik van stelsels om hulle bedryf te verbeter maar wend dit selde strategies aan.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / This research assignment investigated the determinants of liquidity in the South African securitised real estate sector over the period 1992 to 2012. The main findings suggested that market capitalisation is the most important driver of liquidity and that in contrast to other studies, the levels of insider ownership and shareholder equity do not influence liquidity. Dividend yield and, to a lesser extent, share price level was also found to be positively related to liquidity, which was surprising given the findings in literature. Good managers can therefore enhance share performance and value by focusing on building market capitalisation and maintaining high dividend pay-outs.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa’s construction industry plays a key role in the development of the economy, not least through creating jobs and wealth. However, currently the distribution of economic benefits being enjoyed by construction companies is highly skewed, with a very small number of large firms being awarded a big stake of public-sector tender awards. It is against this background that government departments and institutions, including the Coega Development Corporation, have developed and implemented SMME-development programmes. They recognise the development of emerging contractors as an engine to alleviate unemployment and poverty in our country, especially among the youth. It can also be seen as a tool to spread the wealth of the construction industry more widely. These efforts resulted in a sharp influx of emerging contractors on the entry-level grades of the Construction Industry Development Board’s database. The study analyses the current situation of SMMEs in the construction industry and the challenges hindering their growth and development. Although the study focuses on the Coega Development Corporation’s SMME-Development Programme as implemented by the CDC’s Small Business Unit, the lessons from the sample survey and programme analysis are meant to have broader relevance. This relates in particular to the need to encourage and help dynamic and well-managed SMMEs to advance faster on the road towards highergrade contracts. It also stresses the need to get closer co-operation between the different players in efforts to support small-construction entrepreneurs.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Small, Medium and Micro enterprise (SMME) development was identified by the South African government as a priority for creating jobs to solve the problem of the high unemployment rate in South Africa. The government focused primarily on SMMEs in previously disadvantaged communities. SMME training can be approached from different angles. The main areas of concern are: • Business skills training o Covers all the conventional management training areas in a business • Technical skills training o Addresses the ability to use knowledge or techniques of a particular discipline to attain certain ends • Entrepreneurial skills training o Involves the birth and growth of a business enterprise and includes, among other entrepreneurial traits, creativity and innovation, risk propensity and need for achievement. If small business owners are not in a large team environment, with colleagues to offer advice and tasks being covered by people with different strengths, then it is hardly surprising that they make wrong moves in business. This supports the idea that learning from the real experience of a mentor who has been in business proves to be an effective training model for the SMME environment. A number of initiatives are aimed at building the capacity of small business owners in the Western Cape, South Africa. This study will focus on a new initiative presented by the Small Business Academy (SBA) at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). This initiative is an entrepreneurial development programme for small business owners from Khayelitsha, combining an academic training programme with a mentoring programme in one single development programme. The programme was a pilot programme and needed to be evaluated throughout the process. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pilot programme in terms of the selection of participants and mentors, the academic training programme and the mentoring journey. The study proves to highlight the successes of the programme as well as adjustments needed to improve its effectiveness. The evaluation of the programme was crucial for the following critical reasons: • To ensure success and growth of the programme and its expansion to other parts of South Africa and Africa in the future.• To ensure future funding for the programme, as it is at present subsidised by the USB and corporate sponsorships. • To ensure the necessary adjustments to the programme in order to improve its effectiveness. Key findings of the programme were that the pilot programme was extremely successful in all three aspects evaluated. The best of the best were selected, the participants excelled academically and the programme achieved a graduation rate of sixty seven per cent. The mentoring journey had an immense impact on the participants’ view of approaching their way of doing business.