Glassjar Limited produces cloud based software for tenants and landlords to manage their rental properties and finances. This project focused on implementing the Glassjar business plan in the lead up to the product’s launch at the end of the project period. The report summarises the planning processes involved in the project, reports the results and makes comparisons between the two.

Magister Economicae - MEcon / There is a general recognition and acceptance that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are important contributors to social and economic development. However, in Africa which hosts many developing economies, SMEs must endure numerous challenges that tend to repress small enterprise development. Formal cluster development programmes have been identified as one progressive way of assisting SMEs to overcome the obstacles. It involves deliberately instituting and supporting small enterprise clusters. Although this idea of formal clustering of firms is relatively new to Africa, cluster development programmes are increasingly taking the form of small business incubation. Business incubation essentially aims to provide a systematic method of rendering business support services to fledgling small businesses to help them continually rise above market challenges and thrive. Some governments in Africa have embraced the notion and are incorporating plans into their local economic development (LED) programmes to enhance small business development through incubation. Countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria have amongst the most conspicuous incubator programmes and cluster experiences on the African continent. This study interrogates the effectiveness of and hence the scope for formal business incubation or rigid clustering programmes in Africa. It assesses examples of both rigid and flexible clusters in a few African countries in order to identify their main differences and to thus establish some critical areas of business clustering needed for useful small and medium enterprise development in Africa. Upon reviewing case study literature, it is observed that formal incubation programmes are likely to be less effective in creating new SMEs compared to the more flexible clusters in Africa. Rigid clusters also tend to rely heavily on state funding, are more subjected to political interference, are prone to expansion capacity constraints, and are unlikely to sustain themselves financially in the long run. The study notes that rigid clustering mainly favours a high-tech environment. Hence, incubation programmes may be more suitable for advanced economies. For low-tech industries, on the other hand, formal business incubation may be inappropriate.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Small business development and growth is for no one as important as to the entrepreneur at the helm of a small business. Small business is also by no means not a big priority when the South African government is concerned. Not only does the government talk about small business developments but has in fact within the recent past contributed and established many enabling initiatives towards small business developing. Within the scope of this research report it is empowering to know that the single entrepreneur is not alone in his or her battle to push their individual businesses to higher altitudes. This helping hand is even more extended when a small business adapts the form of a franchise. Within such an environment entrepreneurs can expect business support not only from their local government but also through much more personal and incisive interactions from the franchisor. Although this form of conducting a business might seem like the most logical and safest way to enter into a small business, a few potential pitfalls are highlighted as well as certain alternatives to the franchise concept. Within the franchise business concept, Postnet is introduced firstly on a national basis where after an individual Postnet franchise is exposed to financial growth therapy. This is mainly achieved by conducting a thorough industry and SWOT analysis. Finally it is suggested that cost reducing strategies, combined with brand development, avoiding growth hampering factors, marketing initiatives and the continued strive towards the recognition and early adoption of industry related opportunities can never be substituted for any amount of government or franchisor support in order to establish and maintain sustainable growth within a small business. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die groei en ontwikkeling van 'n klein sake onderneming is vir niemand meer belangrik as vir die individuele entrepeneur wat aan die stuur van so 'n klein sake onderneming sit nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering gee ook veral baie aandag aan die ontwikkeling van klein sake ondernemings. Daar word nie net gepraat van klein sake ontwikkeling in regeringskringe nie, maar daadwerklike aksie is al geneem met verskeie inisiatiewe wat reeds die lig gesien het ter ondersteuning van klein sake ontwikkeling in Suid Afrika. Vanuit die fokus van hierdie verslag is dit bemoedigend om te weet dat die klein sake entrepreneur nie alleen hoef te veg om sy of haar individuele besigheid tot nuwe vlakke te dryf nie. Hierdie helpende hand word nog meer ondersteunend en persoonlik as 'n klein sake onderneming die vorm van 'n konsessie aanneem. Binne so 'n omgewing kan entrepreneurs meer as net ondersteuning van plaaslike owerhede verwag, maar persoonlike en interaktiewe insette vanaf die konsessie houer. Alhoewel hierdie tipe besigheidsformaat na die mees logieste en veiligste vorm van 'n klein sake onderneming mag lyk, word daar wel 'n paar potensiele lokvalle uitgelig sowel as alternatiewe strukture tot die konsessie besigheidsformaat. Binne die konsessie besigheidsformaat word Postnet bekendgestel, eerstens op 'n nasionale basis waarna daarvolgens die moontlikhede van finansiele groei ten opsigte van 'n individuele Postnet konsessie ondersoek word. Dit word hoofsaaklik bereik deur 'n industrie analiese en 'n "SWOT" analiese te doen. Laastens word bevestig dat koste verminderings analiese gekombineer met handelsmerk ontwikkeling, die venmelding van teenwerkende groei faktore, bemarkingsinisiatiewe en die volgehoue strewe na herkenning en vroegtydige aanneming van relevante industrie geleenthede, nooit vervang kan word vir enige hoeveelheid regerings of konsessie houer hulp ten einde volgehoue groei in 'n klein sake onderneming te handhaaf nie.

This historical study chronicled events of the development and implementation of the Paris Small Business Development Center at Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas from 1986-2006. Data was collected from primary and secondary sources and oral histories through personal interviews. The analysis included a brief history of higher education and the service mission and situated the study in the broader context as an extension program in higher education. This study provided a brief history of the U.S. Small Business Administration and America’s Small Business Development Center Network as a background for the study. This study is significant to scholars in the field of higher education for a number of reasons. It provides a historical analysis of a service program that extends the college to the community and demonstrates higher education and its role in economic development. It adds to the current body of research by advancing an understanding of a past to contemporary knowledge. Finally, by integrating historical perspectives from multiple disciplines in higher education, what happened and the context in which it happened can be more fully appreciated. This study also contributes to practical knowledge as it deepens the understanding of significant events and processes that contributed to the success of an outreach program in higher education.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Khayelitsha was developed as a dormitory town on the outskirts of Cape Town in the late 1980’s with little intention by the government of the time to actively stimulate local economic development within the area. Since 1994 one of the biggest South African challenges is to ensure that dormitory townships, like Khayelitsha, are developed appropriately to create jobs and to allow for the evolution of quality living environments. Many types of government investment initiatives came to life in the past 20 years, complemented by initiatives to draw in private sector investment in these areas. Nevertheless, the economic development discrepancy between Khayelitsha and other areas in Cape Town remains stark. This study shows that to date development initiatives did not focus enough on the stimulation and development of local entrepreneurial enterprises. Clustering of these enterprises occurs around key areas, like shopping centres, which act as a catalytic factor for other support initiatives aimed at SMME development. The study identifies key areas of local small and micro-businesses clustering in Khayelitsha and evaluates the underlying growth factors. It then presents key suggestions regarding policy interventions to support local entrepreneurial development. These suggestions were two pronged. Spatial interventions focused on recommendations regarding development nodes, activity routes and alternative zoning practices. General business support initiatives relates to access to finance, education and training, mentoring, business incubators and business networks. In general the study highlights the importance of public-private partnerships in small business support.

Thesis (M.Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2005 / Refer to Document

This research inquiry asked, "How can the District of Mission involve leaders in private industry in creating strategies to develop the local workforce and economy?" An action research approach was used to engage local employers and employment service providers in an inquiry in the District of Mission. This study drew upon literature on entrepreneurial leadership, job creation, social capital, and knowledge transfer. Two qualitative methods, in-depth interviews and a conversation café, were used to uncover the essential factors and conditions that facilitate entrepreneurial leadership and workforce development on a regional basis. These findings were triangulated against the experiences of exemplar entrepreneurs. The findings revealed that effective leaders cultivate a culture of high performance and that systems integration and personal relationships are key to entrepreneurial leadership and workforce development. The recommendations enable people from diverse backgrounds to identify shared concerns and common interests to support community economic development.

The Local Business Service Centre (LBSC) programme launched by the government of the Republic of South Africa in 1995 to provide business development services to small business, moreso in the Black communities, did not live up to expectations. This is according to the responses of a sample of 400 small business owners who were researched regarding the effectiveness of the LBSC programme, with a usable questionnaire response rate of 37.8%. The purpose of this ex post facto research, conducted in 2006 and 2007, was to evaluate the impact of the LBSC programme on small businesses in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The results will assist in developing strategies for the delivery of business development services (BDSs) that would meet the expectations of all stakeholders. This is the challenge facing South Africa. The better-known service centres include the Small Business Development Centres in the United States of America and Business Link in the United Kingdom of Great Britain; and international brands like the Enterprise Development Centres sponsored by the International Labour Organisation. These centres provide business development services such as information, basic management training and referrals to more advanced services. The quantitative research was based on a questionnaire consisting of 42 variables and one open-ended question. The questionnaire was sent to 400 small business owners who had received counselling from the LBSCs. The questionnaire was developed from a literature review on service centres in the developed and developing world; the qualitative studies of Bloch&Daze in 2000 and Urban-Econ in 2002 which were conducted nationally, and structured qualitative interviews with former government officials and existing LBSC owners. The open-ended question solicited respondents to specify the type of service centre that would meet their requirements. According to the four-point Likert scale used, most respondents “disagree” that the LBSCs were effective, and the rating was just shy of the 2.5 median. Three factors emerged from the responses: “capacity and professionalism”; “productive relationship” and “empowering association”. According to a t-test and an analysis of variance (Anova), there was no statistical difference between the means and mid-points of the independent variables for the three factors which indicated “disagree”, except “capacity and professionalism” and “empowering association” in terms of turnover. The independent variables included the age of the SMME owner, the qualifications of the owner, the turnover, the number of employees and the age of the entity. The researcher has recommended an eight-point SMME development strategy as the basis to introduce a new generation of service centres to stimulate entrepreneurship and provide business development services. The recommended eight-point strategy will also assist to assess new business development services centres being introduced by various governments. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Business Management / unrestricted

Thesis ( MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / This study focuses on the role of the minibus taxi industry in promoting the development of small businesses at Mankweng taxi ranks. This area of study has not been thoroughly researched; therefore, existing literature on the role of the taxi industry in promoting the development of small (especially informal) businesses is limited. This lack thereof does not help in casting a clear sense of how the taxi industry benefits small businesses around their operation centres. Therefore, this study specifically investigated the role of the minibus taxi industry in promoting the development of small businesses at Mankweng Taxi Ranks. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed, with the use of structured questionnaire and focus group interviews as techniques to collect data from Mankweng Taxi Ranks. The study had a target population of 300. Stratified random sampling was chosen for small businesses while random sampling was employed for taxi operators, and purposive sampling was applied for employees at Mankweng main taxi offices. This study had a sample size of 300, sampled differently with 180 participants forming part of stratified random sampling and 110 participants forming part of random sampling. Two different questionnaires were prepared for both small businesses and taxi operators. Questionnaires were randomly distributed to small businesses (30 hawkers, 15 filling stations, 69 street produce sellers, 15 car washers, 15 restaurants, and 36 caterers) and 110 taxi operators at different taxi ranks such as Mankweng, Boyne, Ga-Mothapo, Solomondale and Dikgale. Additionally, the focus group interviews were purposively conducted with 10 employees working at Boyne, as it is the main office of the Mankweng Taxi Association, and they hold more administrative information relating to the taxi business. The findings of the study show that, the taxi industry play a significant role in promoting the development of small businesses. The study further reveals that, poor business plans, inadequate working conditions, taxi violence, reckless driving, and a lack of funding affected the investigated businesses, as well as lack of exposure to new products, confronted the Mankweng Taxi Association. There seems to be a huge gap, both in research and government policy, that, seeks to promote the development of small businesses depending on the environment, and infrastructure, in which these businesses operate. Additionally, this study reveals the nature of the taxi industry and its crucial role in benefiting small businesses. All stakeholders in the taxi industry need to create an environment that, encourages the spirit of harmony, active cooperation and development dedicated to the betterment of the taxi industry.

El presente trabajo consiste en una investigación documental sobre los Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial y su impacto de internacionalización en las MIPYME en el Perú bajo el marco de la Alianza del Pacifico, lo cual se realizó un análisis acerca de los modelos de CDE aplicados en diferentes países de Latinoamérica. De esta manera, la investigación documental incluye un marco teórico en el que se observa y definirán conceptos como el contexto de la Alianza del Pacifico, las herramientas de los Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial y el concepto de las estrategias de internacionalización. La metodología que se empleó para llevar a cabo la investigación fue la revisión y análisis bibliográfico de modelos de centros de desarrollo empresarial enfocado en la implementación e impacto en diferentes países de Latinoamérica. Así mismo, se realizó el análisis en dos entrevistas a expertos del tema en cuanto el potencial de las MIPYME y su desarrollo con la herramienta de los CDE. Los resultados del análisis dieron la importancia de desarrollar un modelo de CDE en el Perú con el objetivo de que las MYPES puedan ser sostenibles e internacionales. Además, dicho trabajo resalta el rol importante que tiene AP en cuanto el desarrollo de CDE y su integración entre los países de la alianza. / The present work consists of a documentary research about the Business Development Centers and their impact of internationalization in the small companies in Peru under the framework of the Pacific Alliance, which made an analysis about the models of SBDC applied in different Countries of Latin America. In this way, documentary research includes a theoretical framework in which concepts such as the context of the Pacific Alliance, the tools of the Business Development Centers and the concept of internationalization strategies are observed and defined. The methodology used to carry out the research was the review and bibliographic analysis of models of business development centers focused on the implementation and impact in different countries of Latin America. Likewise, the analysis was carried out in two interviews with experts on the subject regarding the potential of small companies and their development with the advice of SBDC. The results of the analysis gave the importance of developing a model of SBDC in Peru with the objective that small companies could be sustainable and international. In addition, this paper highlights AP's important role in the development of SBDC and their integration among alliance countries. / Tesis