A Thesis submitted to the Wits School of Governance in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg 2015 / The Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in South Africa have a mandate to provide finance to private and public sector organizations for investments that facilitate development. The main aim of DFIs is to invest in areas where the market fails to invest adequately and where there are institutional failures. DFIs specialise in offering long-term advances and loans and where defaults are experienced by investors, they are able to re-structure the loans to facilitate easier repayments. However, there are allegations of maladministration and poor management within DFIs as well as a high failure rate of funded enterprises. This study set out to explore the effectiveness of the DFIs by reviewing their contribution to economic growth in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This study evaluated the role and effectiveness of four DFIs in the province, namely Ithala; Industrial Development Corporation (IDC); National Empowerment Fund (NEF); and Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal.The study attempts to answer the following questions: 1) Have the DFIs made a positive contribution to the economy in KZN based on their performance indicators? 2) How do the DFIs take funding decisions? 3) What is the success rate of the DFIs in creating sustainable businesses? 4) What support and monitoring mechanisms are in place in these DFIs to ensure that funded enterprises succeed? 5) What general performance issues face DFIs? The qualitative research approach was used in this study as the investigation was exploratory in nature. Data was collected using three different instruments: document analysis, structured questionnaires, and face-to-face interviews. The document analysis enabled the design and customization of the questionnaires used to collect data from different DFIs. Organisational effectiveness models and performance management theories were used as a reference to assess the effectiveness (performance) of the DFIs in KZN. The study found that the level of performance of the DFIs varied, as did their capacity and resources. All the DFIs made a positive contribution to the economy of the province, taking into consideration that some of the thriving small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) could not have started without the funding A review of the effectiveness of Development Finance Institutions in KwaZulu-Natal from these DFIs. There is however, massive room for improvement in DFI operations and level of contribution to the economy of the province. The study identified a number of weaknesses in the operations of the DFIs, such as their financial statements, which are characterised by high annual debt write-offs, high impairment rates, and low rates of loans and advance repayments. While there is evidence of job creation by each DFI, the rate thereof may not be commensurate with the costs involved. The study revealed that in some cases, funded enterprises are not supported to ensure that they succeed in creating sustainable businesses. A number of portfolios closed down prematurely leading to the need to write off loans. The yearly performance targets set by the DFIs are mostly not achieved; in some cases, these performance targets do not measure the actual performance towards the achievement of the DFI’s strategic objectives. There are too many DFIs in South Africa, some operational in all the provinces, a number of which were established during the apartheid era and may have been relevant at that time. At a macro level, there is a need to streamline DFIs in order to give relief to the fiscus. Increasing the efficiency of the DFIs would require a culture change with respect to information sharing and reporting to stakeholders. It is recommended that DFIs adhere to the funding criteria for each fund. This capacity to evaluate funding proposals needs to be reviewed continuously to avoid fruitless expenditure emanating from funding unsustainable business ventures. Effective monitoring of funded enterprises and implementation of an early warning system are recommended. Failure to repay loans and advances should have some consequences for enterprises in order to discourage perceptions of entitlement from most SMMEs, while at the same time DFIs should develop a tolerance level (a materiality framework) for non-performance of some of the loans and advances as a cost for creating/promoting entrepreneurship in South Africa. / MB2016

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building / Literature is replete with what constitutes barriers and challenges to the development of small, midsized and micro enterprise (SMME) contractors, often referred to as emerging contractors. The International Labour Organization (1987) proposed three solutions geared towards contractor development in developing countries. This research alludes to the importance of understanding the South African context wherein these proposed solutions are operational. The research begins with efforts made by the new democratic government, post 1994, to addressing the institutionalised inequalities - legacies of the previous regimes (colonization and apartheid) - via black economic empowerment, preferential procurement and construction industry development board (CIDB) legislations amongst others. The CIDB was instituted to promote amongst others the sustainable participation of emerging contractors in the construction industry; it is in this context that the national contractor development programme emerged. This research concerns itself with matters of knowledge or lack thereof as the underlying factor responsible for underdevelopment of emerging contractors. To do this, it looks at knowledge theories including its creation and transfer mechanism vis a vis organizational learning in an attempt to answer the question of nature and characteristics of learning in a specified contractor development programme (CDP). This research is a cross-sectional study that lends itself to an interpretivist paradigm and inductive logic with qualitative methods (semi-structure interviews). This research does not cover mentorship and its theories. It also does not cover issues of improvements to knowledge transfer between emerging contractors and mentor-engineers. The research concluded that much as knowledge transfer was observed within the contractor development programming, it occurred within a context and was content specific. However it is difficult to describe knowledge transfers in its entirety as it is multi-layered in nature and complexity of the make-up of emerging contractors and their interactions / GR2018

Masters of Management in Finance and Investment Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, 2016 / It is known that entrepreneurship has great advantages on the economy as a whole. In South Africa, SMEs constitute majority of business in the formal sector. Yet, many firms struggle and some diminish because of finance. Many do not have access to external finance as such this study proposed internal finance to be an avenue that can be explored. This paper argues that access to internal finance leads to firm growth. Thus the following research question is proposed: To what extent does internal finance impact the growth of SME in South Africa and how? A second question is proposed as there are different types of internal finance: What component of internal finance is available for South African SMEs and to what extent does it affect their growth? Moreover, the other factors of firm growth and, further, their impact on internal finance were focused in order to fully understand the relationship between internal finance and firm growth. The study employed a sample of SMEs registered on the AltX section of the JSE. A panel data set was used in combination with Fixed Effects Method and Random Effects Model to run simple and multiple linear regression analysis to obtain results. A significant but ambiguous relationship between internal finance and firm growth was found. The study further recognized a negative relationship between internal finance and the two types of internal finance: retained earnings and fixed assets. In addition, the study established equity, debt, and taxes to have a significant impact on firm growth and internal finance. These three factors are proposed to be the underlying factors of both firm growth and internal finance. Though performed on listed SMEs; these findings would allow policy makers to design policies that truly promote SME growth. / XL2018

Thesis (Ph.D. (Development Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / Rural entrepreneurship is a relatively young sector in the entrepreneurship field, but it has emerged as one of the most important tools for rural economic growth in developing nations like South Africa. A majority of poor people live in the rural areas and face the challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, appalling socio-economic conditions, and inequalities. Therefore, rural entrepreneurship is regarded as a vital tool for accelerating Local Economic Development (LED) and improvement of the quality of life of the rural people and their communities. Rural entrepreneurship stimulates economic development by improving economic conditions, creating employment, reducing poverty and improving the overall standard of living of the rural populace. Theoretically, there is clear consensus that rural entrepreneurship has the potential to reduce poverty, unemployment, economic inequalities and low income as well as value creation and improving standards of life in rural areas through the creation of new enterprises. Entrepreneurial activities stimulate the local economy and create employment opportunities through the creation of new enterprises in the rural areas. Thus, entrepreneurship development is seen as one of the important components of LED and the development agenda in most developing countries. However, entrepreneurial success is dependent on various factors, internal or external, such as the need for achievement, locus of control and desire for personal control of business, human capital, infrastructure, training, communication network, financial support, business environment, economic climate, competitiveness, risk-taking propensity, confidence, and regulatory environment. These factors may determine or influence the success of enterprises, thereby hampering LED efforts in a particular locality. Literature further reiterates the importance of rural entrepreneurship development towards accelerating economic development of local communities in the developing countries. Entrepreneurship development is regarded as a driving force of local economic growth and development in the developing countries. Many developing countries are faced with numerous socio-economic challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, stagnant economic growth and poor living conditions. Entrepreneurship development has become an important policy agenda and priority for employment creation, poverty reduction and economic growth and development of communities in many developing countries. Thus, many developing countries have turned their focus on entrepreneurship development as an important mechanism and driver of economic development with expectations of addressing these challenges. Despite such efforts, entrepreneurship development in developing countries faces challenges such as financial, human, management, lack of access to markets, lack of capacity, lack of infrastructure and appropriate regulations. These challenges affect and undermine the potential of entrepreneurship to stimulate LED and address challenges affecting many developing countries. The role of local government in creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities and LED to thrive is widely acknowledged in most developing countries. Local governments in developing countries have become important vehicles for the promotion and implementation of LED and the creation of enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities to take place. LED in these developing countries is driven mainly by globalisation and decentralisation as an important strategy to local development. Globalisation and decentralisation play an important role in reconfiguring of planning approaches to local and regional development in developing countries. The observations above are also prevalent in South Africa, where entrepreneurship development is one of the national development policy imperatives. However, South Africa has a low entrepreneurial rate compared to other developing countries because of various factors including those highlighted above. Lack of entrepreneurial spirit or culture is increasing highly in the country. Entrepreneurship development and LED practice in South Africa is shaped by overwhelming policies and legislations, which seek to support and encourage entrepreneurship and LED. These regulatory frameworks are aimed at creating conducive and enabling environment for LED and entrepreneurial activities to take place. Local governments have a constitutional obligation to promote social and economic development as well as improving the overall standard of living of local communities within the municipal area. In the process, municipalities must work collectively with local people and local stakeholders to develop their communities. LED has been adopted as one of the strategies to local growth and development of communities in South Africa. Despite LED efforts, the country continues to grapple with societal challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality and stagnant growth of the economy. Currently, municipalities are plagued with various challenges and are in a dire state that threatens the ability to fulfil their constitutional and developmental mandate of promoting social and economic development. The aim of this study was to investigate rural entrepreneurship and its implications towards LED in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. To achieve this aim, the study adopted descriptive, positivist case study design, and used the concurrent mixed methods approach to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The study sampled 54 rural entrepreneurs around three Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) of Mokopane, Mapela and Bakenberg in Mogalakwena Local Municipality as well as key informants from Small Enterprise Development Agency, Local Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and Municipal LED Unit. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from rural entrepreneurs whereas an interview schedule was used to solicit data from key informants. The study findings affirm that rural entrepreneurship plays a significant role towards LED through poverty alleviation, employment creation, economic opportunities, income generation, value or wealth creation, migration and overall improvement of the standard of living of local communities in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Rural entrepreneurship is seen as one of the stimulators of economic activities in rural areas within the municipality. Despite the affirmation, the study found that rural entrepreneurs are faced with persistent challenges such as lack of access to finance and markets, lack of skills or capacity, stiff regulations and completion, crime, lack of infrastructure, lack of support by the municipality and poor participation or integration in LED. These challenges inhibit entrepreneurial activities to take place, thereby threatening the survival and success of rural enterprises. Therefore, the study recommends measures such as creation of an enabling regulatory environment, financial support models for entrepreneurs, skills development and training, recognition and integration of rural entrepreneurs in LED fora and promotion of entrepreneurship culture to maximize the potential of rural entrepreneurship in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Additionally, future research is also important to tap into the niche area of rural entrepreneurship.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of the entrepreneurial development programme (EDP) implemented by the Soshanguve Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Centre (SMTDC) in supporting existing and nascent entrepeneurs to establish and grow their small manufacturing venture. South Africa, like most developing countries, has a high unemployment rate, low economic growth and a dismal early-stage entrepreneurial activity. EDP's are developed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in successfully starting and managing their ventures.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on corporate entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship. Current research on the subject focuses on traditional theory of intrapreneurship in which the creation, structure and focus of business ventures feature prominently. Central to an intrapreneurship inquiry however, are the people who make up the organisation and their interaction within the organisation through structures and processes. Many members in an organisation can initiate and be involved in entrepreneurial activities, but the lack of autonomy and access to resources can restrict them from doing so. This study proposes a solution to these problems by focusing inwards into organisations and examining ways to foster intrapreneurship. It also emphasises the influence of executive leadership on organisational outcomes. In addition it proposes an answer to the question of how internal structures and processes can facilitate intrapreneurship and how management's relationship with staff can promote intrapreneurship. Through this the study adds to the current understanding of intrapreneurship. The study examines the relationship of a proposed intrapreneurship model to organisational performance, particularly financial performance. Lastly it examines intrapreneurship in context. Once an organisation behaves intrapreneurially, positive results could follow, therefore the relationship between one of the possible results, that of improved financial performance and intrapreneurship is researched in this study. Financial data form the basis of the calculation of many measures of performance. Organisations, however, are generally not willing to supply researchers with hard financial data. A possible way to overcome this problem is to measure financial outcomes through the interpreted views of management, for example that sales increased or decreased, rather than stating the absolute value. However, this is a subjective measure and the researcher decided to overcome this problem by concentrating the study on a sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for which published financial data is available. The published financial data forms the basis for the calculation of an index that is used to discriminate between better and weaker financial performance of organisations. The study identifies nine dimensions of the construct Intrapreneurship, which were factorised into three key factors. Two of the key factors focus externally and one internally. The final intrapreneurship model that emerges from the study represents the organisation's innovativeness, proactiveness, and management's influence on organisational structures, processes and internal relations. This model represents product lines and changes, research and development leadership, new techniques employed in the organisation, the organisation's competitive posture and its risktaking propensity, its environmental boldness and the decision-making style of management in terms of external opportunities. The model also addresses internal structures and processes, as well as relations in terms of intrapreneurial goal setting - a system that promotes, facilitates and manages creativity and innovation. It addresses an intracapital system for supplying resources and it facilitates communication. The model allows for staff input to management, a degree of intrapreneurial freedom, a problem-solving culture and empowered staff. Finally, it provides for the championing of intrapreneurs hip by management. In the study, hypotheses are set to establish if a relationship exists between intrapreneurship and financial performance and to examine intrapreneurship in context. The influence of organisational age, organisational size and the organisation's share Beta on intrapreneurship, is examined. The conclusions of the study can be summarised as follows: There is a relationship between financial performance and intrapreneurship as represented by the key factor management. The key factor management is a significant predictor of financial success. Organisations with higher levels of intrapreneurship are therefore more likely to be financially successful than those organisations with lower levels of intrapreneurship. The key factors that represent the proposed model each correlates moderately with the financial index. The key factor added by this study to the traditional model of intrapreneurship, improve the correlation and enrich the model. The study confirms the view that organisations can be intrapreneurial, regardless of size, which is measured by both employee count and annual turnover. This finding dispenses with the popular view that only small organisations can be entrepreneurial. The study furthermore confirms the view that older organisations could be less intrapreneurial. The study finds that younger organisations tend to be more proactive in their approach in the areas of new techniques, competitive posture, risk-taking propensity and environmental boldness, as well as in respect of decisions to exploit opportunity. The study also indicates significant correlation between organisations' share Beta coefficient and two of the three key factors that comprise intrapreneurship. This confirms the notion that intrapreneurial organisations could be more prone than their counterparts, to volatile market movements of their shares. The study does not propose a definitive model, but presents a practical model that can be implemented - a model that could improve organisations' results, specifically in the area of financial performance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op korporatiewe entrepreneurskap of intrapreneurskap. Huidige navorsing oor die onderwerp konsentreer op tradisionele teorieë waarin die skep, strukturering en fokus van besigheidsondernemings prominent is. Die werklike fokus van intrapreneurskap behoort egter die mense waaruit die organisasie bestaan, asook hulle interaksie deur middel van strukture en prosesse in te sluit. Baie individue in organisasies kan moontlik entrepreneuriese aktiwiteite inisieër of kan betrokke raak daarin, maar kan aan bande gelê word deur die gebrek aan bemagtiging en deur gebrekkige toegang tot hulpbronne. Hierdie studie het 'n oplossing vir die probleem ten doel deur organisatories na binne te fokus, asook deur voorstelle gerig daarop om intrapreneurskap te bevorder. Die studie poog voorts om die vraag te beantwoord hoe interne strukture en prosesse intrapreneurskap kan fasiliteer en hoe intrapreneurskap bevorder kan word deur te fokus op die verhouding tussen bestuur en personeel. Hierdeur word 'n bydrae gelewer ten opsigte van intrapeneurskapsnavorsing. Die studie ondersoek ook die verwantskap tussen 'n voorgestelde model vir intrapreneurskap en finansiële prestasie. Die studie ondersoek verder kontekstuele intrapreneurskap. Intrapreneurskap in 'n organisasie behoort positiewe resultate tot gevolg te hê. Die verwantskap tussen een van die positiewe resultate, naamlik finansiële prestasie en intrapreneurskap word daarom in die studie ondersoek. Finansiële data vorm die basis van baie metings van organisatoriese prestasie. Dit is egter baie moeilik om spesifieke finansiële inligting van maatskappye te bekom en daarom maak navorsers soms gebruik van uitvoerende personeel se siening van finansiële inligting, byvoorbeeld ten opsigte van die vermeerdering of vermindering van verkope. Dit is egter 'n subjektiewe oordeel en gevolglik fokus hierdie studie eerder op 'n sektor van die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs, omdat gepubliseerde inligting aangaande genoteerde maatskappye geredelik beskikbaar is. Hierdie inligting word gebruik as basis vir die berekening van 'n indeks sodat organisasies wat swakker en beter finansieel presteer, onderskei kan word. Die studie identifiseer nege dimensies van die konstruk Intrapreneurskap. Hierdie dimensies is deur middel van faktoranalise gereduseer tot drie dimensies, waarvan een na binne en twee na buite projekteer. Die finale model vir intrapreneurskap behels proaktiwiteit, innovasie, en bestuur se invloed op stelsels, procedures en verhoudinge. Die model verteenwoordig die uitgangspunt ten opsigte van 'n aantal produkte en die veranderinge aan produkte, navorsing en ontwikkelingsleierskap, die organisasie se mededingende posisionering, risiko neming, die omgewingsdurf en bestuur se besluitnemingsprofiel ten opsigte van benutbare geleenthede. Die model verteenwoordig verder bestuur se invloed op interne strukture en prosesse asook verhoudinge wat betrekking het op die insluiting van intrapreneurskap in die daarstel van doelwitte en 'n stelsel wat kreatiwiteit bevorder, fasiliteer en bestuur. Dit skep 'n sisteem van intrakapitaal wat hulpbronne verskaf, en verteenwoordig oop en nie-territoriale kommunikasie. Die model maak voorsiening vir personeel se insette en laat intrapreneuriese vryheid toe. Dit stel 'n oplossingskultuur ten opsigte van probleme, asook personeelbemagtiging, voor. Laastens stel dit voor dat bestuur die voorstanders van intrapreneurskap moet wees. In die studie word twee hipoteses daargestelom die verwantskap tussen finansiële prestasie en intrapreneurskap, asook kontekstuele intrapreneurskap te ondersoek,. Die resultate van die hipoteses kan as volg opgesom word: Daar is 'n verwantskap tussen finansiële prestasie en intrapreneurskap soos voorgestel deur die sleutelfaktor bestuur. Die sleutelfaktor bestuur is dus 'n betekenisvolle voorspeller van finansiële prestasie. Organisasies met hoër vlakke van intrapreneurskap kan daarom moontlik beter presteer as hulle eweknieë met laer vlakke van intrapreneurskap. Die drie sleutelfaktore van die voorgestelde model toon elk ook 'n positiewe korrelasie met die finansiële indeks. Die faktor wat by die tradisionele intrapreneurskapmodel gevoeg is, verbeter die korrelasie met die indeks. Die studie bevestig die standpunt dat die grootte van 'n organisasie, soos gemeet deur omset en aantal werknemers, nie 'n invloed op intrapreneurskap het nie. Hierdie bevinding is in teenstelling met die wanvoorstelling dat slegs klein organisasies intrapreneuries kan wees. Die studie bevestig ook dat ouer organisasies waarskynlik minder intrapreneuries sal wees. Jonger organisasies sal waarskynlik meer proaktief wees deur gebruik te maak van nuwe tegnieke, deur mededinging, riskoneming en deur omgewingsdurf. Die studie wys ook op die betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen organisasies se Beta (B) waarde van hul aandele en twee van die drie sleutelfaktore waaruit intrapreneurskap bestaan. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat organisasies wat meer volatile relatief tot die mark is, 'n groter skommelingstendens het wanneer hulle met die totale mark vergelyk word. Die studie probeer nie om 'n allesomvattende model vir intrapreneurskap voor te stel nie, maar probeer eerder om 'n prakties implimenteerbare model daar te stel wat moontlik positiewe resultate kan lewer, veral in die area van finansiële prestasie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African business environment is undergoing drastic changes. Unemployment is on the increase, globalisation is becoming a serious factor to contend with, competition in many industries is increasing and the South African government is pursuing more international investments. All these factors contribute to these changes. Many companies are rationalising to ensure competitiveness within the South African economy and to ensure that products are competitive with international brands entering South Africa. Increasing unemployment in South Africa is forcing individuals to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. The only method to curb this wave of unemployment is to invest in a small to medium size enterprise. Entrepreneurs in the USA have permanently altered the economy of the USA in the past 30 years. It is felt that this entrepreneurial spirit will also change the South African economy in years to follow. This research project analysed and discussed the window of opportunity for a small to medium size enterprise manufacturing plastic wrapping. The Plastics Industry Analysis Framework was developed to ensure a comprehensive insight into the plastics industry of South Africa. This framework is the combination of the Five Forces Model of Competition and the General Framework for an Industry Analysis, both developed by Michael Porter. The research found that the plastics industry is currently undergoing drastic changes, specifically in regard to South African legislation. It was also found that the plastics industry historically grew by 5% per annum, however, in recent years this growth was negative. Since 1998 the plastics industry reduced in size by 7,1%. Legislation in regard to plastic bags has had a major impact on the plastics industry. The research found that nearly 2000 additional jobs have been lost. The research found that the window of opportunity for a small to medium size plastic wrapping enterprise is limited. The effect of the new legislation on plastic bags is not clearly known, however, it has already negatively influenced the plastics industry. Opportunities do exist within other market sectors of the plastics industry of which recycling and export market sectors are prime examples. Future opportunities within the plastics industry will have to be carefully analysed to ensure success of any new venture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse sake-omgewing ondergaan tans drastiese veranderinge. Verhoogde vlakke van werkloosheid, die bedreiging van globalisering, die kompetisie tussen industrieë, sowel as die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se strewe na internasionale beleggings, dra alles by tot hierdie veranderinge. Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye rasionaliseer nie nét om kompeterend te bly binne die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie nie, maar ook dat hulle produkte kompeterend moet wees teenoor internasionale handelsmerke wat Suid-Afrika binnekom. Die verhoogde vlakke werkloosheid forseer individue om 'n entrepreneuriese denkwyse te ontwikkel. Belegging in 'n klein tot medium grootte besigheid is die enigste manier om werkloosheid teen te werk. Entrepreneurs in die VSA het dié land se ekonomie in die laaste 30 jaar permanent verander. Daar word gespekuleer dat hierdie entrepreneuriese denkwyse in die toekoms kan bydra tot veranderinge in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Hierdie studie het die geleentheidsvenster van 'n klein tot medium grootte vervaardiger van plastiekfilm ondersoek. 'n Analitiese raamwerk is ontwikkel om 'n volledige begrip van die Suid-Afrikaanse plastiekbedryf daar te stel. Die raamwerk is saamgestel uit navorsing van Michael Porter, met spesifieke verwysing na kompetisie binne industrieë en 'n algemene raamwerk om industriëe te analiseer. Die ondersoek het getoon dat die plastiekbedryf tans drastiese veranderinge ondergaan, met verwysing spesifiek na Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing. Histories het die plastiekbedryf jaarliks met 5% gegroei, maar negatiewe groei is die afgelope jare waargeneem. Sedert 1998 het die plastiekbedryf met 7,1% in grootte gekrimp. Wetgewing, met betrekking tot plastieksakke, het 'n groot impak op die plastiekbedryf gehad. Navorsing het getoon dat ongeveer 2000 bykomende werkgeleenthede verlore gegaan het. Die ondersoek het bewys dat die geleentheidsvenster vir die klein tot medium grootte plastiekfilm vervaardiger, beperk is. Hoewel die totale uitwerking van die nuwe wetgewing op plastieksakke nog onbekend is, is daar reeds 'n negatiewe tendens in die plastiekbedryf waargeneem. Geleenthede bestaan egter in verskeie ander marksektore binne die plastiekbedryf waarvan herwinning- en uitvoermarksektore voorbeelde is. Deeglike analise van geleenthede in die plastiekbedryf kan sukses in 'n toekomstige besigheid verseker.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Entrepreneurship is important to the growth of economies across the world. The businesses surveyed in this report are affiliated to the Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum and were winners and finalists in the Businessperson of the Year Competition. The Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum (WECBOF) was created to facilitate business opportunities and exposure for black and coloured people in the Western Cape. The Cape Flats have played an important role in the economy of the Western Cape in part as a result of an abnormal internal migration over the last 50 years. This population movement was the result of coloured people being affected by specific policies passed by the government of the time, in particular the Group Areas Act (Republic of south Africa, 1950). Through an analysis of empirical data this research project endeavours to facilitate a better understanding of the way in which entrepreneurs operating in small and medium business enterprises affiliated to the Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum (WECBOF) achieved success or ended in failure. This analysis hopes to contribute to the body of knowledge relating to entrepreneurship development in South Africa and in particular within the Western Cape. This research project adopts a statistical analysis approach by means of a questionnaire to examine the issues that relate to the success factors of entrepreneurs affiliated to the Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum. The results are presented in tabular format.

This thesis formed part of a existing longitudinal study. The overall study is an outcome of research done to understand success and failure issues in Africa, which is an attempt to understand the impact of a short entrepreneurial training programme on the performance of small scale enterprises over time. The study is unique in the South African context in that it is the first short term, 3 days, entrepreneurial training programme that is assessed by means of a longitudinal method incorporating a control group.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, 2016 / This study was to identify the extent of Generation Y entrepreneurs’ social media usage in terms of weak-tie alliance maintenance and creation and also alliance creation. A sample group of entrepreneurs in the Johannesburg were chosen by using social media as a channel. By using the researcher’s social capital and also the different characteristics that are unique to these SNSs (social network sites), such as Twitter advertising, a sample group was created. A digital survey was distributed to the selected entrepreneurs by using an online platform. By using hypothesis testing and a multiple regression model, it was identified that entrepreneurs tend to favour maintaining weak-ties over creating weak-ties using SNSs, and alliance creation on SNSs does not seem too common, but it was highlighted that when entrepreneurs do create alliances, they tend to favour weakties that they have created on SNSs. The overall picture is that entrepreneurs have an inclination not to use SNSs to create weak-ties and alliances, this could come down to a number of factors such as trust and education, and there could also perhaps be no SNS that supports alliance creation to the extent that entrepreneurs need. / XL2018