The aim of this thesis is draw a business plan of concrete company. In theoretical part is adumbration of problems small and medium enterprises. Next chapter describes importance and individual parts of business plan. In practical part is applied the creation of business plan to existing medium enterprise named Karned Tools s.r.o. This plan may be used for internal purposes or for various forms of grant in case of request.

M. Tech. (Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The impacts of information systems (IS) are often indirect and influenced by human, organisational, and environmental factors, therefore measurement of information systems (IS) success is both complex and elusive. Researchers have created models for success emphasizing the need for better and more consistent success metrics. This study endeavoured to measure IS success in SMEs in Gauteng, South Africa in order to find out its impact on these businesses. This research proposed a comprehensive multidimensional model of measuring success of information system in SMEs which suggests that system quality, information quality, service quality, intention to use, user satisfaction, use, self-efficacy, individual benefit/impact, use and organisational benefits/impact are success variables to be used. Online survey questionnaire was distributed to one hundred and twenty-six (126) participants. The data collection instrument fulfilled the reliability and validity tests. The hypotheses were tested using regression analysis. The results enabled the derivation of a generic formal measure of IS success in SMEs with organisational benefits/impact variable as the subject of the formula. The formula can be used by SMEs to measure the success of IS in their respective organisations.

<p>Merenje inovativnih aktivnosti je važno da bi se moglo upravljati i uspe&scaron;nije poslovati preduzećem. Mnogi alati su se pojavili na trži&scaron;tu ali uglavnom svi su posmatrali uspe&scaron;nost preduzeća isključivo kroz finansijske aspekte. Model koji je uključivao sve aspekte u preduzeću, ne samo finansijsku komponentu i koji se pokazao kao efikasan alat je Balanced Scoredcard (BSC) model. Pojavom ovog modela stvara se sinergija na nivou celog preduzeća, jer pomoću ovog modela moguće je identifikovati strate&scaron;ke indikatore koje preduzeće treba da postigne da bi unapredilo svoje poslovanje. Ovaj rad posmatra trenutnu situaciju po pitanju inovacija i uvođenja inovativnih aktivnosti u poslovanje u preduzećima na teritoriji Republike Srbije, ali i to da li BSC model primenljiv za ocenu i praćenje inovativnih aktivnosti u preduzećima. Modifikovan BSC model uz pažljivo odabrane faktore sa fokusom na inovativne aktivnosti je dobar pomoćni alat za merenje i neprekidno praćenje performansi preduzeća. Primena ovakvih alata u malim i srednjim preduzećima bi unapredila i pobolj&scaron;ala njihovo poslovanje.</p> / <p>Measuring innovative activities is important in order to manage and operate the enterprise more effectively. Many tools appeared on the market, but most of them measured the business success based on financial results. The Balanced Scoredcard (BSC) model, however, included all the aspects of the company, not just a financial component, and it was proven to be an effective tool. The emergence of this model created synergy throughout the company, because this model enabled identification of the strategic indicators that the company should achieve in order to improve its business. This paper shows the current situation regarding to innovation and the introduction of innovative activities in business operations in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, but also explores whether the BSC model is applicable for the evaluation and monitoring of innovative activities in enterprises. A modified BSC model with very carefully selected factors with a focus on innovative activities is a good auxiliary tool for measuring and continuously monitoring the performance of the company. The application of such tools in small and medium-sized enterprises would improve their business.</p>

Background: Freno AB in Piteå has expanded rapidly in recent years and wishes to continue the expansion at aneven faster pace. At the same time, the company has noted that there are challenges to maintain high quality, goodeconomy and good marketability. The expansion sets demand on the finances for new premises and equipment aswell as for the development of new product models. The company shall also be able to provide aftermarket servicesand sell to new customers and market segments. In addition, there is requirements to develop skills in the newemployee’s and continuing to develop the existing employees. Furthermore, there are needs to invest in digitalsupport systems for design, production planning, logistics and financial functions as well as customer support andaftermarket.Freno´s goal is to ensure that the conditions for an expansion in each individual part is set before the expansion isstarted. The reason for the positioning is based on the fact, that there have been shortcomings in their businessactivities in most of the areas mentioned above and that many of the challenges lie in unclear communicationstructures. Task: In the thesis have I investigated how the company’s current knowledge and competence is transferred betweendifferent unites. The starting point has been stated in the fact that the employees are the ones who possessesinsight, knowledge and experience about the company's business and the opportunities and challenges that arecurrently in place. The study is based on the current state of Freno with a question about how streamlining communicationsbetween employees and departments can support a continued expansion. Method: The thesis is based on the methodology of Social Network Analysis, where the data regarding network,logic views and culture has been collected from the 12 employees. The interviewed answered via forms and hadthe opportunity to give open answers to some questions and give complementary information where deemed necessary.The required data was transferred to Excel and transformed into diagrams or further exported into Gephito create and understand the network configurations. The results were analyzed and interpreted via the theoreticalframework and cross referenced with other results to validate the conclusions. Results: The evaluation showed that competence and collaboration was not used in an optimal manner for maximizingproductivity. If the presented result is taken into consideration, will the company likely be able to predicthow strategic decisions can affect both existing and lacking communicational structures. A more transparent communicationbetween departments and with functioning support structure (i.e. production planning, updated schematics,goods, order stock with more) will probably affect the efficiency positively. Findings: The analysis showed that a combination between the bow-tie configuration, the imploded group structuresand a missing culture of the socio-technical multifunctional principle, inhibited the transfer and generationof new knowledge within the company. Causing a drift between the company’s knowledge and information needsand their combability view. The irregular network structures in combination with structural holes has made a heavyworkload on the centerpiece in the company. With that discovery was seven holes noted in the company network,which is assumed to have been handled by the centerpiece.Moreover, was a logical clash identified between the current and the previous CEO, changing the base for validatingactions and causing unclarity. Which in combination a chattered humane orientation culture and unclarity abouthow actions were validated via individual or groups acceptance. It was furthermore discovered that the workinstructions for the employed did define the employees influence via tools and technical support that enhanced thenetworks interaction patterns. Recommendations: The presented solutions includes team-building exercises, establishing a formal learningspace. Furthermore, is it recommended to establish up to seven formal meetings places and that knowledge typerequirements shall be identified and defined to secure what validates work related actions. It is also suggested toestablish mentorship protocols, in order to increase the knowledge transfer within the company and reduce therisks of bottleneck and locking effects. Keywords: Small to medium enterprises, iterative processes, Culture, resistance, influence, groupconfigurations, knowledge transfer, process perspective, social network analysis.

M. Tech. (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Apart from the contribution and success of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through job creation, poverty alleviation and economic growth, there are still organisational factors such as organisational politics and job stress, which hamper the success of these enterprises. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of organisational politics on job stress among SME employees in Matlosana Local District. The target population concentrated on SME employees within Matlosana Local District in North West province, with the population size of N=431 respondents. A quantitative approach was applied, with the use of a cross sectional survey (questionnaire) to gather information on general political behaviour (GB), get ahead (GA), pay and promotion policies (PP), time stress (TS) and anxiety (AX). Data analysis was conducted with the use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) version 25.0. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was applied in examining and testing the relationships between observed constructs and their causal latent constructs while Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesised relationships between constructs. The findings of the study revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between organisational politics and job stress. The findings also emphasised that organisational politics is considered as a hindrance-related stressor that hampers the proper functioning of individual employees. This study concludes that organisational politics are the social ills of every organisation, it is upon the management of the SMEs to apply good human resource management policies to curb the politics. Contrary, if the organisational politics are not managed well, it will result in impacting the job outcomes such as job stress.

M. Tech (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is to stimulate economic growth and competitiveness in many countries. The same applies to South Africa, where the SME sector has grown tremendously to become the engine and the lifeblood of the economy by becoming a contributor to social and economic development through employment creation and constant input to the gross domestic product. However, despite these contributions, South African SMEs face numerous challenges and opportunities which might negatively or positively impact their prospects for growth, success and sustainability. This study aimed to investigate the business growth challenges and opportunities facing SMEs in the Sedibeng Region. Through a review of literature, some challenges were identified, namely, the limited access to financial, managerial competencies, economic variable, regulations and laws, crime and corruption and lack of appropriate technology and high cost of production. Despite these challenges, SMEs are faced with some opportunities which have been created by the government to facilitate their growth, with examples including the SEDA, Ntsika Apex Fund, Khula, the National Small Business Act, Black Economic Empowerment, National Development Plan (NDP) and the Local Economic Development (LED). A four-section questionnaire was then developed using adapted measurement scales and distributed to 230 SMEs in the Sedibeng region. Respondents were selected using the non-probability convenience sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS (Version 25.0). After testing for validity and reliability, descriptive statistics were applied in testing the perceptions of respondents towards the challenges, opportunities and business growth. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied to assess the factor structure of the collected data. Pearson correlations were used to test for the strength and direction of associations between challenges, opportunities and business growth. Regression analysis was applied in testing whether challenges, opportunities and business growth (business sustainability and external business aspects). Two SME challenges, namely, crime and technology and economic aspects, were extracted in the EFA. Additionally, two SME opportunity factors, namely ‘information technology’ and ‘environment’ were extracted in the EFA. In the same procedure, two SME growth factors, namely, external business aspects and business sustainability, were extracted. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive and significant associations between all challenges, opportunities and business growth factors. In the regression analysis, both challenges and opportunities positively and significantly predicted SME growth. The study concludes by suggesting recommendations for limiting the impact of the identified challenges on business performance.

D. Tech (Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are economic drivers and key in job creation in emerging economies. In the past, the difficulties faced by women have deprived them of opportunities to establish and run successful businesses. Previous research reveals that women’s involvement in businesses creates sustainable economic growth, thereby reducing poverty. Women-owned SMEs in South Africa receive minimal government support, and many women lack the resources required to run a business successfully. Ensuring growth and profitability in women-run enterprises can alleviate the extent to which women have been disadvantaged in South Africa. In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women have a significant role in creating jobs, which can grow the South African economy. This study aimed to determine the influence of strategy implementation in women-owned SMEs in South Africa, specifically Gauteng Province. The study considered constructs such as strategy implementation, financial performance and SME survival in women-owned SMEs. Against this background, a deductive reasoning based quantitative approach was adopted using a cross-sectional survey design to assess the connection between the constructs under consideration. The final sample consisted of 347 women entrepreneurs and managers and employees of selected SMEs in various regions of Gauteng Province. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Scientists (SPSS) version 25.0 software. Statistical analyses techniques applied in the study included descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, person correlations and regression analyses. The results of the study showed that corporate and business strategies exert a significant influence on SME financial performance. However, operational strategy was statistically insignificant. Financial performance, in turn, influenced SME survival. Additionally, all three strategies, namely, corporate, business and operational, significantly influenced SME survival. Thus, the financial performance and ultimate survival of women-owned SMEs in South Africa are both dependent on strategy formulation and implementation. The research is practical in that its results may be used as a reference source for ideas in strategy formulation and implementation in stakeholder committees. The results may then be directed towards alleviating the challenges facing women-owned SMEs in South Africa and stimulate their chances of success. The study, therefore, has implications in generating employment, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of women-owned SMEs. Theoretically, the study contributes by closing the gap in literature within the area of the nexus between strategy implementation, financial performance and SME survival in the context of South Africa.