A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Wits Business School Johannesburg, 2018 / Developing SMMEs has become a growing phenomenon within emerging economies. This is because enterprise development is designed to achieve a positive socioeconomic impact by encouraging and investing in entrepreneurship (Peters et al., 2004). Therefore, understanding the performance of business incubators, and how they enable SMMEs to contribute to economic development, is critical for policy makers who have an urgent mandate of growing the South African economy (AlMubaraki & Busler, 2011). This study argues that business development strategies that adopt a blanket approach towards supporting SMMEs operating in different sectors and levels may not be appropriate, given the dynamics of different ventures. This study investigates and compares the effect of sector specific business incubators versus mixed sector business incubators in improving SMME performance to inform policy makers about the state of entrepreneurship of enterprises that engage with incubating organisations. The methodology used in this study was quantitative and cross sectional in nature. One hundred and five responses were received from SMMEs that graduated from a business incubator to assess how their performance has improved over time. The findings revealed that relationships do exist between sector specific business incubators and job creation as well as turnover, but this relationship is not significant. The findings also suggest that there was no significant statistical difference when comparing sector specific to mixed sector business incubators in job creation and turnover. Business incubators should have specific touch points and interventions targeted at different levels of the entrepreneurial process, thus, working towards addressing the diverse needs and challenges pertinent to emerging businesses operating in different industries. The findings which emerged from this study provide a decent base to further explore how sector specific and mixed sector business incubators improve SMME performance / MT 2019

Focusing on the policy context for social entrepreneurship in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), this dissertation examines the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the processes of development of the municipality because; social entrepreneurship is increasingly being recognised as a mechanism for creating social and economic value. Social entrepreneurs play a significant role in fulfilling unmet societal needs and in filling gaps, particularly in areas where government and the market fall short. Based on this view, this study raises questions about the integrated policy guiding social entrepreneurship for better development outcomes. It aims to contribute to the body of literature on social entrepreneurship and development by examining the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the development of the communities at the local level. Using the Grounded Theory method, this study found that there is no integrated policy on social entrepreneurship in the NMBM and that the deficiency created by the lack of an integrated policy engenders Social Revisioning. The substantive theory of Social Revisioning emerged from the data to explain the processes through which social entrepreneurs participate in the development of communities when there is no integrated policy on social entrepreneurship. In response to the deficiencies in the policy context, differentiated and autonomous entities within and outside of the municipal government step in and support social entrepreneurs to provide services and participate in the processes of development. However, even though Social Revisioning can be used to address the policy deficiencies in social entrepreneurship and development, the differentiations and autonomy that characterise the entities, role players and processes embodied in Social Revisioning prevent cohesion among them and again beg for an integrated policy that will incorporate them.

Comprehensive research has been done on organisational behaviour, entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship and corporate entrepreneurship. Literature is however less clear on which organisational behaviour components influence corporate entrepreneurship. This creates a problem for managers and business leaders when they want to influence the entrepreneurial spirit within an organisation. This study summaries the literature on organisational behaviour variables and corporate entrepreneurship, as well as the limited findings linking the two concepts. The empirical study focuses four areas: testing validity and reliability of the measurements used in the study; the correlation between organisational behaviour components and corporate entrepreneurship; the ability of organisational behaviour components to predict corporate entrepreneurship; and finally testing if the grouping of organisational behaviour variables is justified. This cross sectional study was done in 12 non-listed and 5 listed companies in South Africa. Randomly selected employees completed 862 questionnaires. They represented all the local ethnic groups, both genders, and were from all organisational levels. The results of the empirical study indicated that the measurements used in the study were all acceptable being reliable and valid. The correlation between the selected organisational behaviour components and corporate entrepreneurship were all strong and significant, with goal setting the strongest, followed by performance management, then transformational leadership, and communication. The correlation with shared decision making, organisational culture, and power were less strong but still significant. The organisational behaviour components together declare a 46.5% variance in corporate entrepreneurship with organisational culture and goal setting contributing significantly and uniquely. Grouping the organisational behaviour variables in individual level, group level and organisational level, as suggested by many authors, did not provide a satisfactory solution. Suggestions to managers on where to focus when they want to foster corporate entrepreneurship were made. The limitations as well as suggestions for future research were discussed in the final instance. / Graduate School of Business Leadership / D.B.L.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The annual report issued by Jozini Municipality (2012) for the financial year 2010/2011 shows that the growth and development of small, micro and medium-sized business enterprises is adversely affected by the lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of access to SETA-accredited skills based training opportunities, poor socioeconomic conditions, and poor infrastructural development. The purpose of the study was to identify and quantify factors that are known to affect entrepreneurial growth and skills development in the Jozini Municipality region of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study shows the relationship between skills development, service delivery, entrepreneurship and socio economic empowerment in line with alleviation of poverty among the rural population in KwaZulu-Natal.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The objective of the research study was to analyse specific socio-cultural barriers affecting the success of female entrepreneurs in Rustenburg. The methodology involved a collection of primary data from a random sample of n=50 female entrepreneurs, through one-on-one interviews administered with structured questionnaires. The study also considered secondary data that was collected by means of reviewing publications and journals. The key findings from this study clearly provide an analysis of challenges that female entrepreneurs face, which include business management challenges, personal or psychological challenges that form a major component of socio-cultural barriers and, lastly, socio-cultural challenges in comparison to their male counterparts.

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 (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Entrepreneurship potentially offers to make a contribution to some of South Africa's most crucial problems for instance poverty and an extremely high youth unemployment rate. Furthermore it empowers people not to wait for others or external factors to change their destiny, but to become pro-active. Literature indicates that there is internationally a renewed interest in entrepreneurship (as demonstrated in research and the number of tertiary institutions offering entrepreneurship education), with a resulting sophisticated body of knowledge becoming available. In South Africa limited success was reported on the renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship. Although the proportion of entrepreneurs in the country compares favourably to international figures, the proportion of necessity entrepreneurs (people who start businesses as a result of the absence of other options) is considerably lower than that of other developing countries and the success rate of businesses is below the international average. Entrepreneurs often do not have the business skills needed to identify business opportunities and manage a business. In the development of business attitudes, knowledge and skills formal education received extensive attention, but informal education may play a more important role to build positive attitudes, while practical experience is also essential to skills development. The economic future of South Africa will be closely linked to the emerging generation of entrepreneurs. The research indicated that they are willing to take on the challenges, but need help with developing the necessary knowledge and skills. Special measures should be taken to include people from previously disadvantaged population groups, women and rural areas in skills development programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Entrepreneurskap kan 'n beduidende bydrae lewer om ernstige probleme in die Suid- Afrikaanse samelewing soos armoede en die hoë werkloosheidsyfer onder die jeug te help verbeter. Dit kan ook help om mense te motiveer om self iets aan hulle situasie te probeer doen. Die literatuurstudie het getoon dat daar 'n internasionale golf van belangstelling in entrepreneurskap is. Meer en meer bestuurskole sluit dit in by die vakke wat hulle aanbied en daar is 'n sterk toename in navorsing oor entrepeneurskap. Suid-Afrika is deel van hierdie nuwe golf, maar het nog heelwat uitdagings op hierdie gebied. Die persentasie plaaslike entrepreneurs vergelyk goed met internasionale syfers, maar die aantal mense wat deur nood gedwing word om hulle tot entrepeneurskap te wend, is laer as die gemiddelde persentasie van ontwikkelende lande waarvan die statistiek bekend is. Dit wil ook voorkom asof die persentasie van besighede wat nie in die langtermyn suksesvol is nie, hoër is as die internasionale syfer. 'n Groot persentasie van die sakelui beskik nie oor die vaardighede om sake-geleenthede raak te sien en besighede te bestuur nie. Opleidingsgeleenthede moet nie net fokus op formele opleiding nie, maar moet informele opleiding en geleenthede vir praktiese ervaring insluit. Op ekonomiese gebied gaan die nuwe geslag entrepreneurs 'n beduidende rol speel in Suid-Afrika se toekoms. Die onderhewige navorsing het getoon dat hierdie groep mense gretig is om hierdie uitdagings te aanvaar, maar hulp nodig het om hulle daarvoor toe te rus. Dit is van wesenlike belang dat alle groepe ingesluit moet word in hierdie toerusting, veral groepe wat op die oomblik nog gemarginaliseerd is soos bruin en swart bevolkingsgroepe, vroue en mense van plattelandse gebiede.

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.

Thesis (PhD (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The turbulent, rapidly changing knowledge economy has forced enterprises to become more entrepreneurial in order to capitalise on new opportunities and to create value. Previous research has shown the financial and non-financial benefits of corporate entrepreneurship (CE), but the implementation and management of CE remains problematic. Despite heightened awareness and interest by both scholars and practitioners in studying and better understanding entrepreneurship within large organisations, CE is still regarded as an emerging field of inquiry. Furthermore, limited research has thus far been conducted on CE and entrepreneurial intensity (EI) in the South African context. A review of the CE literature revealed a research gap that culminated in the following research question: How do the antecedents to CE influence the entrepreneurial intensity of firms active in e-business operating in South Africa? To address the research question stated above a literature review of antecedents to CE, and entrepreneurial intensity was conducted, and an empirical study was executed. The literature review emphasised five salient internal antecedents to CE: management support for CE; autonomy of employees; rewards for CE; time and resource availability; and flexible organisational boundaries. The external antecedents which influence CE were identified as munificent, opportunity-rich environments, and hostile environments filled with threats. Other factors that also play a role in influencing the level of entrepreneurship in enterprises are the type of industry, size and age of a company, managerial influence and the role of the individual in the CE process. The level of entrepreneurship was defined as entrepreneurial intensity, a function of frequency and degree of entrepreneurship. To address the research problem, empirical cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted in two stages. The sample selected for the study was companies active in e-business operating in South Africa and aware of innovation practices. Two groups of companies were identified, namely JSE companies and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) companies. The key respondent targeted in JSE companies was the Information Technology (IT) Manager or the Chief Information Office (CIO), while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Sales Manager was the key respondent in ICT companies. The population consisted of 715 companies. The response rate for first stage of the study was 44%, while the response rate was 20% for the second stage of the study. Measurement instruments were adapted, developed and revised where necessary to ensure the reliability and validity of the data. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that internal antecedents to CE have a significantly stronger influence on degree of entrepreneurship than munificent, external factors. This finding underlines the important role managers can play in providing a supportive climate for CE. The prominent internal antecedents in this study were management support for CE, autonomy of employees and rewards for CE. The findings also emphasised the importance of a positive, munificent business climate, as perceived by managers inside the organisations. Furthermore, the findings suggested that the more frequently enterprises act entrepreneurially, the higher their degree of entrepreneurship should be. Differences in EI, degree of entrepreneurship, internal and external antecedents were also discernable between JSE and ICT companies, with ICT companies showing higher levels of entrepreneurship than JSE companies. Moreover, the findings suggested that the size of a company did not influence EI, but the age of companies showed a negative relationship with EI, degree of entrepreneurship and the internal antecedents to CE. It appears that as companies become older, their internal environments become less supportive of entrepreneurial behaviour. The most important contribution of this study is the testing of CE-theories in the South African context. The managerial implications of the behavioural model tested in the study are that top and middle management could create a supportive environment for CE, while munificent environments encourage entrepreneurial behaviour. Measurement instruments have been developed, which may be used by managers, consultants and other researchers to measure these phenomena in future. Furthermore, the findings suggest that there are country differentials with regard to CE, while opportunities for further research were also identified.