Magister Commercii - MCom / The Internet is now facilitating the provision of an increasing number of services. Thus, technology has become a more integrated part of people‟s daily routine. Some of these technologies include electronic communication, online banking, and shopping as well as electronic learning - to name but a few. However, for various reasons, such as limited formal education (which is a key promoter of reading and writing skills), access and skills, not everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from the use of these technologies. The unequal distribution of opportunities of such nature is often broadly referred to as the digital divide. That is the gap between those who have access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those who do not. One noted challenge that influences the use of ICT consists of socioeconomic conditions, which together elicit high levels of poverty. An identified strategy for uplifting these areas was (and still is) entrepreneurship, notably small businesses. These small businesses however, generally have very short and mostly unsuccessful lives. As a result the government at all levels (national, provincial and local) has endeavoured to provide support to these businesses. Some of this support is provided through mediums, such as the Internet (here named “electronic support”) to assist these small businesses. This support, which comes from government, is however, not being fully utilised by the intended beneficiaries. Thus, the small businesses are not benefiting from the support provided. Consequently, many are still experiencing a short and unsuccessful existence. This research thus analyses the small businesses in areas of the greater Cape Town, which are characterised by high levels of poverty and unemployment. Previous studies in these areas have reported the lack of ICT related skills, also known as electronic skills (e-skills), as one of the reasons for the low uptake of electronic support (e-support). This e-support is provided by various levels of government through selected agencies (service providers). In essence, this study is aimed at investigating the influence of e-skills in the access and use of the provided e-support by owners of small businesses. Considering that the lack of adequate e-skills has been identified as influencing the use of e-support, the study also aims to identify the e-skills needed to fully utilise the provided e-support. The approach to this investigation included a review of pertinent literature and devising a conceptual model. This model was then tested in the empirical setting of this study. This setting included: (i) Providers of e-support (various specialised government agencies) and (ii) the intended beneficiaries of this esupport, i.e. small businesses in the previously disadvantaged areas (PDAs) of the greater Cape Town. Through the use of case study methodology and face to face interviews, it was found that many small business owners were not able to appropriately use the provided e-support. This was due to their lack of e-skills, which resulted in their inability to use ICT. Additionally, some were unaware of the existence of the e-support or the service providers. During the review of pertinent literature done as part of the study, an e-skills framework was designed. The framework identified the e-skills considered necessary in order for small business owners to effectively utilise the provided e-support and other technologies. The e-skills framework suggested by this study could be used as a tool to assist: (i) The providers of e-support to understand the usage of their services and enable (ii) a more informed understanding of the need for appropriate e-skills among small business owners, in relation to their use of the provided e-support. Additionally, (iii) small business owners should be in a better position to recognise the benefits of using technology, especially the Internet. The contribution of this study is seen as twofold. Firstly, it should assist the providers and users of e-support. This is done by addressing the practical side of the provision and usage of these services. Secondly, the study contributes an informative e-skills framework related to the effective use of esupport. This study also furthers academic knowledge in the area of the investigation, and suggests further directions for research. Considering, the limited small business sample (only participants from three PDAs), the generalisation of this study is limited. This limitation does not however, influence the validity of this research, or the credibility of the findings.

This study analysed the impact of the palm oil industry on smallholder and subsistence farmers in the Rumonge region of Burundi, the second poorest country in the world. Burundi has widespread poverty and suffers severe capacity constraints, and skill shortages brought about, in part, by ethnic civil war, political conflict and internal displacement. Ingrained animosity has disrupted farming, escalated poverty and hampered development projects such as palm oil farming. Little research has been conducted into the causes and possible solutions to these problems. Using sustainable development theory and agricultural development theory, this study addressed this gap by considering the potential benefits of sustainable palm oil production in the context of the socio-economic challenges facing Burundi. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study targeted four villages of Rumonge District, including Kizuka, Busaga, Dama and Birimba. A combined total of 300 respondents was derived from these four villages. Findings of the quantitative study suggest that palm oil had a positive impact on the social and economic lives of rural communities in Rumonge District;. However, challenges remained in capacity, farming skills and resources. Results from qualitative interviews and focus groups confirmed that earnings from palm oil could be used to support education, skills transfer through family ties; and employment of local people. However, from the perspective of environmentalist activists, it was indicated that while palm oil generated economic benefits for local communities, at the same time traditional farming methods led to pollution and degradation of the natural environment. Qualitative findings further showed that small-scale palm oil farmers faced numerous challenges which often led to the failure of some of their ventures, such as access to funds, lack of technical support, lack of knowledge in utilising business networking, low skills levels, limited understanding of land rights issues, civil conflicts and rising production costs. Additional problems were noted regarding environmental problems and the disappearance of wildlife. The study confirmed the need for small-scale farmers to be adequately capacitated with information, training, resources and technical support to be able to use sustainable farming methods in order to enhance yields. The study contributes to knowledge by identifying how rural smallholder farmers can design more extended longer-term plans to improve their livelihoods, particularly concerning how palm oil production can address the socio-economic problems facing the people of Burundi. / Development Studies / D. Phil. (Developmental Studies)

The thesis is engaged in business and marketing information databases about economic subjects registered in the Czech Republic which are available on the Czech market. It monitors the rise and development of databases in general, deals with the databases of businesses and provides an overview of the most important providers of information about companies and their information products. Analyzes two selected databases of companies and describes the practical examples of their usage from marketing manager's point of view.

Research shows that due to a lack of strategy in managing human resources (HR), small businesses frequently close within the first 5 years of operation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that HR managers used to maintain business operations for longer than the first 5 years. The targeted population comprised 2 owners of small business in North Carolina who used HR strategies successfully to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. Data collection methods included face-to-face, semistructured interviews and the review of the company documents associated with owners of the businesses and their attempts to remain in operation for longer than 5 years. A modified van Kaam method was used for data analysis. Three key themes emerged from data analysis: (a) effective leadership, (b) organizational structure, and (c) work climate. The results of the study indicated that HR strategies are critical to the sustainability of small businesses. The implications for positive social change include providing guidance to owners of small businesses regarding effective HR strategies that might help to sustain small businesses and their roles in job creation, innovation, competition, and economic growth in the United States.

Drawing on the concept of sexual geography, this study examines the social and political meanings of sexualized spaces in the urban geography of Portland, Oregon between 1970 and 2010. This includes an examination of the sexual geography of urban spaces as a deliberate construct resulting from official and unofficial public policy and urban planning decisions. Sexual geographies, the collective and individual constructions of sexuality, are not static. Nor are definitions of deviant sexual practices fixed in the collective consciousness. Both are continuously being reshaped and reconstructed in response to changing economic structures and beliefs about sex, race and class. Primary documents are used to build a conceptual geography of sexualized spaces in Portland at points between 1970 and 2010 with an emphasis on the policy and urban planning decisions that inform the physical designations and social meanings of sexualized spaces including prostitution zones, pornography districts and gay entertainment areas.

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This study attempts to understand prostitution from their definition of the situation. It differs in its method from other studies on prostitution in that the investigation was based on the prostitutes' own perspectives as interpreted by the researcher using the interpretative epistemological tradition. A comparative analysis of prostitution in two economically stable African Countries, namely Nigeria and Botswana was made. This study investigated society's perception of prostitutes and how it impacts upon their empowerment and emancipation as vulnerable members of the society and their participation in prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDS. Also the role of governments and individuals in creating and sustaining prostitution, an extensive insight to the modus operandi of prostitution and suggestions on how best to address prostitution in society, were discussed. A triangulated methodology of three hundred and twenty five sexworkers (325) that includes a quantitative study of two hundred and five sex workers complimented with a qualitative study of one hundred and twenty sex workers participating in focus group discussion and case studies informed the study. The findings of the research suggest that in the prostitutes' own definition of the situation; prostitutes contribute to the maintenance of societal equilibrium, the society creates and sustains prostitution. Economic need rather than lack of morals creates prostitutes and their situation of vulnerability as women is being reinforced by their status as prostitutes. Violence from partners that includes the police and the inability to reprimand their clients, are some hazards of prostitution and these result in their mobility and creates a challenge in adequately addressing the issue of prostitution in society, including their limited participation in the control of STDs. Respondents in Botswana had a very good knowledge of STI's /HIV/AIDS and had no difficulties in going to hospital in the event of any STD's as compared with Nigerian respondents. The Nigerian respondents' indulged in self-medication with antibiotics and traditional herbs mixed in local gin before and after a sexual act, rather than go to hospitals. The research findings should assist the government and international community's policies and programmes aimed at addressing prostitution and STDs/HIV/AIDS. / Sociology / D.Litt. et Phil.(Sociology)

This study discusses South Africa’s tax incentives for small businesses and identifies shortcomings and areas of concern within the tax incentive regimes. A comparison of small business tax incentives provided by Australia, India, and the United Kingdom is made with South Africa’s small business tax incentives to identify similarities and differences, and new lessons are learned from the approaches of other countries. As a result of the comparison with the tax dispensations available to small businesses in other countries, the study recommends additional tax incentives that could be implemented by South Africa. Only those tax incentives that are available in other countries but not in South Africa that were deemed worthwhile were recommended to be introduced in the Republic. Recommendations were also made based on the gaps identified in South Africa’s small business tax incentives. / Taxation / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

This study attempts to understand prostitution from their definition of the situation. It differs in its method from other studies on prostitution in that the investigation was based on the prostitutes' own perspectives as interpreted by the researcher using the interpretative epistemological tradition. A comparative analysis of prostitution in two economically stable African Countries, namely Nigeria and Botswana was made. This study investigated society's perception of prostitutes and how it impacts upon their empowerment and emancipation as vulnerable members of the society and their participation in prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection including HIV/AIDS. Also the role of governments and individuals in creating and sustaining prostitution, an extensive insight to the modus operandi of prostitution and suggestions on how best to address prostitution in society, were discussed. A triangulated methodology of three hundred and twenty five sexworkers (325) that includes a quantitative study of two hundred and five sex workers complimented with a qualitative study of one hundred and twenty sex workers participating in focus group discussion and case studies informed the study. The findings of the research suggest that in the prostitutes' own definition of the situation; prostitutes contribute to the maintenance of societal equilibrium, the society creates and sustains prostitution. Economic need rather than lack of morals creates prostitutes and their situation of vulnerability as women is being reinforced by their status as prostitutes. Violence from partners that includes the police and the inability to reprimand their clients, are some hazards of prostitution and these result in their mobility and creates a challenge in adequately addressing the issue of prostitution in society, including their limited participation in the control of STDs. Respondents in Botswana had a very good knowledge of STI's /HIV/AIDS and had no difficulties in going to hospital in the event of any STD's as compared with Nigerian respondents. The Nigerian respondents' indulged in self-medication with antibiotics and traditional herbs mixed in local gin before and after a sexual act, rather than go to hospitals. The research findings should assist the government and international community's policies and programmes aimed at addressing prostitution and STDs/HIV/AIDS. / Sociology / D.Litt. et Phil.(Sociology)

This study examines the factors appear to lead to the failure of small businesses in the Kagiso Township. The high failure rate can be partially attributed to the lack of support that the small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) receive from support institutions as well as to their own internal weaknesses. Strategies are recommended that will help small businesses be more successful. The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Results indicated that the most common causes of business failure were lack of knowledge regarding legal matters, lack of funding and a general lack of business acumen. The study recommends that government should improve the effectiveness of its support mechanisms and that record keeping and cash flow management training is critical for SMEs. These recommendations, if applied properly, will ensure small businesses' success in Kagiso and the rest of South Africa. / Economics / M.Tech. (Business Administration)