The study examines the relationships between the financial sector and small businesses, and the small business policy framework in South Africa. The study also measures the perception of the Business Chambers and Commercial Banks on the effectiveness of financial sector support to small businesses in the Gauteng area through a questionnaire. The Small Business Development Policy of 1996 outlines the functions of various small business support institutions such as Ntsika Enterprise Promotion Agency, Khula Finance Ltd, the DTI institutions and the Provincial SMME Desks. Ntsika was established in 1996 to implement the national small business strategy. It provides non-financial support to small businesses through a number of programmes including Local Business Service Centres (LBSC), Tender Advice Centres (TAC), and Manufacturing Advice Centres (MAC). These non-financial support services are essential for creating access and utilisation of financial resources. Khula was also established in 1996 to provide loan guarantees to small businesses in order to increase their access to finance through commercial banks. Khula manages a number of programmes namely business loan schemes, guarantee schemes, Khula start funds and equity funds. Khula guarantees 80 percent while commercial banks bear 20 percent of the risk. This has enabled small business without collateral to have access to financial resources. The DTI provides a number of incentive schemes for registered small businesses, namely, Standard Leased Factory Building Scheme (SLFBS), Small and Medium Manufacturing Development Programme (SMEDP), Economic Empowerment Scheme (EES), Venture Capital Scheme (VCS), Normal Finance Scheme (NFS), Import Finance Scheme (IFS), Short-term Export Finance Guarantee Facility (STEFGF), and Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (EMIA). The Provincial SMME desks are established to represent the interests of small businesses and to contribute to the implementation of the national small business strategy. The DTI incentive schemes provide the necessary infrastructure and contribute towards increasing the performance in the small businesses sector. The small business support programmes are evaluated using a number of criteria, namely, the small entrepreneurs’ awareness of the programmes, if small businesses ever approached these schemes, if small businesses received assistance, what quality of assistance was offered, the cost of assistance, employment creation, poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. Small businesses face a number of challenges such as the lack of competent human resources, low profit margins, inadequate financing, stiff competition from large monopolistic and well established businesses, inadequate marketing strategies, unfavourable policy and legal environment, lack of information about government support initiatives, cyclical sensitivity of their products, and high inflation rates. The selection criteria of commercial banks is based on factors such as whether or not the borrower is organised and knowledgeable, his competence in terms of understanding accounting, management, and financial and marketing aspects of the business, the borrower’s character, his capability, capital contribution, credit rating, insurance coverage, and collateral pledged, the purpose of the loan, local economic conditions, and the length of lending relationship. However, in South Africa lending criteria is more inclined towards the ability to pledge collateral instead of the viability of the project being financed. Commercial banks face a number of risks when lending to small businesses. The most common risk is the credit risk which results from the inability of the small businesses to honour their financial obligations. High failure rate in the small business sector also contribute towards high credit risk to commercial banks. The study concludes that there is a need for mentorship programmes in the small business sector in order to increase the success rate. The government should also assist commercial banks to reduce their stringent requirements in order to accommodate small businesses. Viability based lending is recommended. The government should facilitate provision of non-financial services in order to address internal incapacities of small businesses. More research is required in the small business sector to create awareness about potential benefits accruing to the financial sector and the economy as a whole. More players are required in the commercial banking sector in order to enhance competition. The government should reduce barriers to entry into the banking sector. The government should educate the population on the importance of personal savings in order to reduce over-dependence on financing from commercial banking sector. Women are still marginalised in terms of accessing funds from commercial banks. However, they have low rate of default and pose lower credit risk to commercial banks. The government should level the playing field to facilitate access of women to financial resources. / Prof. R.R. Mears Mrs. J.M.M. Viljoen.

Low levels of entrepreneurial activity and success have led to calls for mentorship as a support mechanism to increase the success rate of entrepreneurial ventures in the economic landscape of South Africa. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of entrepreneurs regarding mentorship and to ascertain whether the entrepreneurs perceived mentoring to be a valuable support mechanism in growing their business. The impact of gender on the perception formation was analysed as well as the necessary attributes that ensures an effective relationship. A two phased qualitative case study approach was utilised with unstructured mentor interviews and in depth entrepreneur interviews. The research established that mentorship was mutually beneficial to both the mentors and entrepreneurs. The latter experienced immense personal benefits on a business and emotional level whereas the impact on business growth was identified as being an increase in revenue. Women were found to be more positive about mentoring than their male counterparts. Previous entrepreneurial experience, trust and empathy were stipulated as vital factors in the establishment of a successful relationship. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This study intended to establish whether there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success of the explosives manufacturing and marketing industry within South Africa. The five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (autonomy, innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk-taking and competitive aggressiveness), were used in the study to establish a link between them and the perceived success of the business. A literature study was conducted prior to the survey being distributed and links between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success were found in other studies. The various studies indicated that the dimensions act either independently or interdependently. Various significant relationships were found in other industries between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. To conduct the empirical study, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division. The questionnaire was distributed by sending out an e-mail containing link that connected the respondents to the questionnaire. After the respondents had completed the survey, a data analysis was done by the statistical department of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The reliability of the data was tested by calculating the Cronbach alpha coefficients. The instrument data was found to be reliable and could be interpreted as a valid data source. The questionnaire used two dependable variables to measure the business’s perceived success, namely business growth and business development and improvement. The five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions were measured against the dependable variables. A total of 139 respondents’ surveys could be utilized for the analysis. The research within the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division indicated that there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. Three of the dimensions indicated a significant relationship with regard to each other, and that of the perceived success of the business. These dimensions were Autonomy, Innovativeness and Pro-activeness. Autonomy and Innovation indicated a significant relationship pertaining to the perceived performance factor of growth within the business and Autonomy while pro-activeness indicated a significant relationship relating to the perceived performance factor of business development and improvement. Recommendations were made to the business to nurture the corporate entrepreneurial environment within the company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study intended to establish whether there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success of the explosives manufacturing and marketing industry within South Africa. The five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (autonomy, innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk-taking and competitive aggressiveness), were used in the study to establish a link between them and the perceived success of the business. A literature study was conducted prior to the survey being distributed and links between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success were found in other studies. The various studies indicated that the dimensions act either independently or interdependently. Various significant relationships were found in other industries between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. To conduct the empirical study, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division. The questionnaire was distributed by sending out an e-mail containing link that connected the respondents to the questionnaire. After the respondents had completed the survey, a data analysis was done by the statistical department of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The reliability of the data was tested by calculating the Cronbach alpha coefficients. The instrument data was found to be reliable and could be interpreted as a valid data source. The questionnaire used two dependable variables to measure the business’s perceived success, namely business growth and business development and improvement. The five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions were measured against the dependable variables. A total of 139 respondents’ surveys could be utilized for the analysis. The research within the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division indicated that there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. Three of the dimensions indicated a significant relationship with regard to each other, and that of the perceived success of the business. These dimensions were Autonomy, Innovativeness and Pro-activeness. Autonomy and Innovation indicated a significant relationship pertaining to the perceived performance factor of growth within the business and Autonomy while pro-activeness indicated a significant relationship relating to the perceived performance factor of business development and improvement. Recommendations were made to the business to nurture the corporate entrepreneurial environment within the company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

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This thesis explores the role of corporate venture capital (CVC) investment in business growth strategy. It is particularly concerned with identifying the CVC investment options for business development and growth. Business growth strategy involves choices of products (and services) or markets for an organisation to enter or exit. An organisation has a choice between penetrating its existing markets, developing new products for its existing markets, bringing its existing products into new markets, or diversifying its activities by introducing new products into new markets. A framework linking CVC investment with business growth strategy is developed and is used for identifying the relevant contribution which the different CVC investments make to business growth. Firms interested in diversifying their investment portfolio utilise CVC for this purpose. These investments, however, support organisational growth when they are aligned to business strategy, defined by the goal of increasing demand for existing products (or services), bringing new products to existing markets faster, protecting against a competitive threat which involves offering existing products to new markets, and developing new products in new markets. There are instances where CVC investments can be used as a channel for later stage funding of corporate venturing projects. This thesis highlights the fact that contrary to both popular wisdom and academic arguments, CVC funds can still be successful when they function like independent venture capital funds, with reliance on financial return on investment as critical to their success. They are, however, able to endure by executing this practice in line with the corporation’s business growth strategy. Using archival data collected from three case studies over a 34-year period, the framework developed from literature review is applied as a basis for understanding how CVC investment can be linked to business growth strategy.

Lic.-avh. Stockholm : Tekniska högskolan, 2004.

D. Comm. / Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) form the majority of enterprises in the South African economy. The South African government has identified the SMME sector as one of the potential enablers to achieve its objectives of improving job creation opportunities, reducing poverty and creating a more equitable distribution of wealth.

Innovative high-technology SMEs have become a major influencing factor in the success of any modern economy and they increasingly compete in the globalised world with limited resources. Previous research on SMEs at firm level has always taken into consideration the constraints of the resources that an SME faces and the implications of this on their performance and business growth. SMEs have to develop their own unique skills and capabilities, allocating their limited resources appropriately to be able to respond to the changes in the external business environment that pose risks to the success of their innovation and its commercialisation. Having an innovation strategy is very important: to have a clear goal and a path to achieve the set goal. This helps high-technology SMEs to decide which factors can influence the success of their innovations, leading to business growth by developing dynamic capabilities to respond to the external changes by allocating their resources at their disposal. This thesis is an empirical analysis of innovation strategy and its role in the business growth of high-technology SMEs. This research study is carried out at firm level. It draws on Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capability theory to explore innovation strategy factors contributing to the better performance of the firm. Four hypotheses were proposed based on the theoretical framework developed through the literature review. They were tested using empirical data. The primary data were collected using quantitative methods through survey questionnaire. Data was collected from 106 high-technology SMEs in the UK. Technological factor, marketing factor, entrepreneurial factor and risk from the business environment were identified as four important factors which are part of an innovation strategy. The results of the study suggest three revised factors: technology, entrepreneurial and government-related risk factors. The initial risk related to business environment was amended to government-related risk factors based on the measurement variables which were loaded to the factor. However, one hypothesis based on the marketing factor failed to support the proposed positive influence on business growth and hence rejected. This calls for further research on the marketing factor in high-technology SMEs. This study recognises the reason behind this paradoxical result, which could be the nature of the high-technology firms participating in this study, which are more dependent on technology-push rather than marketing pull and they do not confirm with the established norms of marketing for the business growth of their firm. This study contributes to the development of knowledge and practice at multiple levels. The research developed a theoretical framework to establish the innovation strategy factors and its influence on business growth and this is validated through empirical data. At the practice level, the results of the study could be used by high-technology SMEs in the UK, and any other high-technology SMEs which are based in a similar economy and business environment, to have better information about innovation strategy. The study could also help policy makers, propose better policy to support innovation of high-technology SMEs in UK.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019 / The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of insufficient business planning and good management of SMEs in Gabon have on SMEs’ to survive and grow. Thus, the study examined the relationship between business strategies and SMEs’ organisational sustainability in Libreville (Gabon).The study was a descriptive one which made use of positivist philosophy and adopted quantitative approach. As such a questionnaire which was designed from themes extracted from literature survey was used to gather data from a sample of 30 SMEs. The findings indicated that the lack of business strategy encountered in SMEs in Libreville lead partly to the failure or setbacks of the operation of the organisations. Most common reasons of the failure of SMEs were related to the absence of business plan, the lack of leadership, and lack of appropriate management system. The recommendations are to improve the SMEs in terms of good leadership, importance of business plan, management control system; strategic business management, organisation and employees performance. It further revealed that for the purpose of organisational sustainability, business strategies are regarded as critical aspects to consider for avoiding non-conformances while running businesses. The significance of the study is the framework to identify and optimise business strategies in order to promote successfully SMEs. The study shows the interest of owners of SMEs to set up appropriate business strategies.