M. Tech. Comparative Local Development / Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play a critical role in the economic development. Indeed, SMMEs have been recognised as major sources of poverty reduction, employment creation and incomes. It is therefore not surprising that policy makers and researchers, particularly in developing countries have acknowledged SMMEs as an important topic in development policy. Despite their belated discovery by policy makers and their contribution to the economy, their growth remains constrained by a number of key constraints including access to finance. Access to finance has a significant impact on the development or failure of SMMEs. That is to say, finance has increasingly been recognised as a major obstacle in the development of SMMEs. Without finance, SMMEs may not able to develop and sustain their businesses through innovation, hiring of additional staff and the addition of more facilities. The SMMEs sector is known to be very diverse. Indeed, Studies point that there is no single definition of SMMEs, they are defined differently in different contexts and most of SMMEs in Africa operate in the informal sector. This situation has challenged policy makers, making difficult the development of one size fits all policies. The objective in this study is to examine the problem of finance in SMME development and promotion in Africa and more particularly in Gabon and South Africa. The study examined the existing literature on SMMEs in general and more particularly the problem of access to finance in SMME development. The study highlights that SMME's access to finance is constrained by factors such as a lack of information, high interest rates, financial sector policy distortion, the high risk of SMME operations, blacklisting of SMME owners and a lack of government support awareness. In addressing this problem, a number of policies have been developed and include the market developing policies, the market enabling policies and the market harnessing policies.

With increased public environmental awareness and support for environmental protection, business success is becoming more dependant on environmental performance. Many large companies have acknowledged this and are engaged in corporate environmentalism to work towards the goal of ecological sustainability. The small business sector has an equally important role to play in sustainable development since their combined impact on the environment is significant. The extent to which the small business sector in South Africa has adopted a pro-environmental attitude however, has not been established. This research therefore attempts to ascertain the level of environmental awareness and practice within small business. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample population of small businesses in Edenvale, Gauteng. The sample population represented a variety of economic sectors. The quantitative data was analysed statistically by calculating the percentage of respondents or responses and by performing a test of proportions. The qualitative data was used to clarify the findings. The results suggested that the overall level of environmental awareness and practice within the small businesses was very low. Environmental issues were not considered to be a part of the business agenda as small business managers were unaware of the environmental impacts of their business activities. Moreover, there was a lack of both environmental pressures and information. The majority of the small businesses were therefore environmentally inactive. A small proportion of the businesses were environmentally reactive in that they had started to address environmental issues. This was however, only in response to environmental pressures and not through their own volition. Furthermore, unless subjected to environmental pressures or given incentives, the small businesses were not planning to integrate environmental practices into their business activities in the future. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

The restructuring of state assets was expected to contribute towards black economic empowerment and a broader redistribution of wealth to those who were previously excluded from participating actively in the economy of this country. However, there have been several accusations leveled at government. Some people believe that privatization of state assets has benefited a few. This has led to the enactment of the Broad based black economic empowerment act. There is also a concern from the communities and unions that privatization of state assets will result in poor service delivery and unemployment. The study was conducted through a quantitative methodology. The final questionnaire was administered to 40 taxi owners, 20 government employees, 20 contractors, 20 business owners and 40 local residents. Out of the 140 people, II 0 responded, thus a 79 % response rate, all was used for data analyses. The various variables (responses to individual questions) in the questionnaire were arranged to obtain a rating for each dimension covered. This procedure assumes equality of interval of the Likert scale and therefore the data is regarded as the least interval data (rather than ordinary data). The findings on the study showed that majority of the respondents were not in favour of privatisation. Recommendations made were as follows, the government through its education programmes in schools and in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) canters must educate citizens about socio-economic and political issues as well as familiarizing them with the government's macro - economic policy, in particular the GEAR policy. The government should only make partial privatization, and not complete/ whole privatization. / (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

The choice of the geographical location of the premises for the business is of extreme importance for all kinds of enterprises, although for some it may be more important than for others. Some of the most important location factors are : social environment, climate, existing business environment, the attitude, regulations and tariffs of local authorities. The main purpose of this research is to map, and create a document for the small businesses (formal and informal businesses) in northwest greater Mafikeng. In pursuit of objective there will be at least, new knowledge and understanding of a specific geographic phenomenon (formal and informal businesses). The study is subdivided into seven major chapters. Chapter one includes the small-scale business sector in the South African context, statement problems, and objectives of the study and research hypotheses. The literature review (chapter two) covers a number of subtopics related to both the topic and objectives, to name few: an overview of small businesses, location, and size and diversity of small business, important and laws governing small business, education and training for small business. Methods of study and the research area (chapter three) cover the approaches and techniques used in this study. The research area includes the background information of the northwest greater Mafikeng. Maps analysis : spatial distribution of small businesses (chapter four) covers the analysis of spatial distribution of small businesses (non tax registered and registered) in northwest greater Mafikeng. Consumer perception (chapter five) covers the discussion report of the questionnaires from the sampled residents of northwest greater Mafikeng. Traders surveys (chapter six) follows with the discussion report of the interviewed conducted in the small businesspeople (non tax registered and registered) in northwest greater Mafikeng. Summary, conclusion and recommendations, (chapter seven) includes the main summary of the study, major conclusion and recommendations to government and local authorities. / M.A. (Geography) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

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.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study was conducted to determine the need of SMMEs with regard to the availability and organisation of information. Literature on the subjects of information that is available in SMMEs and how this information should be organised was studied to determine whether it provides SMMEs with enough knowledge to find external information and extract internal information. The literature regarding information management and organisation was also studied to determine whether it can be used by a owner/manager of an SMME to organise its information in such a way that it can be retrieved and used. The study also included an empirical part with the purpose of discovering the current practices regarding the collection, organisation and use of information in SMMEs. Twenty-four structured interviews were conducted in four towns, namely Kuilsriver, Stellenbosch, Upington and Makhado (Louis Trichardt). During the interviews a questionnaire was used to investigate the uses of computers, the availability and need for information from the external and internal environment, and lastly electronic and manual systems used to organise information. When the interviews were concluded the systems were, especially the electronic folder systems, further investigated through observation. This provided an excellent opportunity to discover the usefulness of a system and even what type of information is really available and needed. It was found that SMME owner/managers are mostly aware of internal information, but do not know how to extract it or what other application possibilities it has. External information is not widely available or used. The only external information available is that which the SMMEs are required to have by law. Information organisation, although critically important to all SMMEs, was mostly not done effectively. Electronic folder structures and manual filing systems are mostly used for information organisation, but they are not effectively used because of lack of skill and no other literature or association to turn to. To assist SMMEs in the development of a folder structure system a number of guidelines are provided that will help to design a natural or structured language system tailored to the specific needs of the business. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie is gedoen om vas te stel wat klein, medium en mikro ondernemings se behoeftes rakende die beskikbaarheid en die organisering van inligting, is. Literatuur wat hierdie twee onderwerpsareas dek, is bestudeer om vas te stel of dit genoeg kennis aan die ondernemings oordra om eksterne inligting op te spoor, en interne inligting te onttrek. Literatuur wat handel oor inligtingsbestuur en inligtingsorganisering is bestudeer om uit te vind of dit deur 'n eienaar/bestuurder van 'n klein onderneming gebruik sou kon word om inligting te organiseer, sodat dit weer opgespoor kan word. 'n Empiriese studie het ook deeI uitgemaak van die algehele studie en het daarop gefokus om vas te stel wat die huidige praktyke rakende versameling, organisering en gebruik van inligting in klein ondernemings is. Vier en twintig gestruktureerde onderhoude is in vier dorpe, naamlik Kuilsrivier, Stellenbosch, Upington en Makhado (Louis Trichardt), gevoer. Gedurende die onderhoude is 'n vraelys gebruik om ondersoek in te stel na die gebruike van rekenaars, die beskikbaarheid en gebruik van interne en eksterne inligting en, laastens, die elektroniese en handstelsels wat gebruik word in klein ondernemings. Na afloop van die onderhoude is stelsels verder ondersoek deur middel van observasie van veral elektroniese leergidsstelsels. Die observasie het 'n guldige geleentheid gebied om die bruikbaarheid van die stelsel en selfs die inligtingsbehoeftes van die onderneming te toets. Daar is bevind dat die eienaars/bestuurders van klein ondernemings wel bewus is van die interne inligting, maar nie die kennis het om dit te herwin of om inligting in ander prosesse toe te pas nie. Eksterne inligting word nie algemeen gebruik nie. Die enigste wat meestal voorkom is eksterne inligting wat volgens wet in die besit van die onderneming moet wees. Inligtingsorganisering is wel as van kritieke belang aangedui deur alle klein besighede, maar in die meeste word dit glad nie effektief toegepas nie. Elektroniese leerqidsstelsels en liasseerkabinette word algemeen gebruik, maar 'n tekort aan vaardighede en literatuur om leiding te gee veroorsaak dat hulle nie effektief gebruik kan word nie. Om klein besighede behulpsaam te wees met die ontwikkeling van leerstelsels is 'n aantal riglyne verskaf. Hierdie riglyne sal die klein besighede van hulp kan wees in die ontwikkeling van 'n natuurlike- of gestruktuurde taal stelsel wat by die behoeftes van die besigheid aangepas kan word.

South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, currently 23.90%. One way for the government and policy-makers of South Africa to address this dire statistic is through the fostering and promotion of entrepreneurship and small business creation. The benefits of entrepreneurship are numerous and can include: increasing a country’s productivity, enhancing the welfare and well-being of its citizens, reducing emigration rates, improving economic development and perhaps, most importantly, increasing employment rates. Worldwide, small businesses within the private sector have become indispensable to sustainable job creation and therefore it is of the utmost importance that small businesses in any economy develop, grow and succeed. Despite the fact that research pertaining to small businesses has increased over the years, little empirical evidence has been established. In particular, research into what makes small businesses successful has been limited. Entrepreneurial activity in South Africa remains less than ideal and therefore it is appropriate that research into the success factors of small businesses in South Africa be investigated. Furthermore, the survival of South African small businesses beyond four to five years of being in operation is estimated at only 20.00%. It is evident that a lack of knowledge exists and with respect to this research the factors found to be the most common determinants of success for small businesses in Port Elizabeth were determined and investigated. Convenience- and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify potential participants. In total 43 usable questionnaires were returned. Methodological triangulation was used to analyse the data, according to descriptive- and inferential statistics, as well as content analysis. This being so, the research was conducted within two paradigms, primarily, the positivist research paradigm and also the phenomenological research paradigm. The key findings of this study indicate personal factors to be the most important success factor group, while the environmental success factor group is considered the least important. The most important factors attributable to the success of participants’ small businesses include: maintaining good customer services skills and relationships; having a strong commitment to product/service quality; and having honest employees with sound professional ii knowledge and a positive morale. The least important success factors include: trade exhibitions and business fairs; small business legislation; and industry structure and competition. Finally, the hypothesis tests indicate that significant differences only exist between: the relationship statuses and business factors and the business sectors and environmental factors. The results of this research have significant practical implications for the various stakeholders of entrepreneurship. It is hoped that the results will add to the existing body of knowledge and in turn aid South Africa in becoming aware of the factors essential for small business success. In doing so, South Africa at large will be able to take full advantage of entrepreneurship and small business creation, which continue to remain well within its reach

SMMEs play a crucial role in the economy of South Africa. They create employment, contribute significantly to the GDP and close the income gap. The growth and sustainability of SMMEs is important and government had put in place a number of policies, programs and strategies to address the plight of SMMEs. Institutions exist by public and private mandate to support the development of the SMME sector. However, internal constraints such as weak quality control hinder such growth and generally lead to low levels of entrepreneurial activity and high rates of business discontinuity. Generally, SMMEs are known for losing customers and resultantly discontinuing after establishment. Research needed to be conducted to establish the quality management practices of medium-sized enterprises. Available knowledge lacked practical orientation on quality management practices and rather focused more on development trends, problems and needs of SMMEs. Published research did not provide much knowledge on how medium-sized enterprises respond to the customers’ expectation of quality thereby pointing to a need for this study. The purpose of the study was therefore devised to determine whether medium-sized enterprises in the city of Mbombela are aware of and committed to quality management in order to satisfy their customers and to identify the quality management practices applied by the enterprises. The research was quantitative and was conducted using a non-experimental survey design. Participants were a group of 95 medium-sized enterprise owners or managers of which 47 returned the research instrument allowing the survey to obtain a response rate of 49.5%. The medium-sized enterprises were selected using probability based stratified random sampling. A standardised survey questionnaire was used to collect field data and a MoonStats program was used to perform statistical analysis and interpretation. The findings revealed that medium-sized enterprises in the city of Mbombela have a high level of quality awareness at the level of the owner or manager, are oriented towards customer and apply quality management practices in their operation. However, the level of quality awareness declines at the level of administrative, artisan or trade and general staff and the enterprises do not participate and compete in business excellence models and quality awards to assess their management practices, measure their growth and seek recognition. The study recommends that medium-sized enterprise owners and managers should raise the level of quality awareness amongst their staff and evaluate their management practices on a regular basis. Government, SMME development and support agencies should coherently promote business excellence models and quality award programs to medium-sized enterprises and provide incentive for participation in such programs as this will ensure that due diligence is paid to the development of the enterprises. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2014. / The majority of craft retail outlets in Cape Town are owned by immigrants mostly from the SADC and elsewhere on the continent. However, a notable proportion of African immigrant-owned survivalist and micro businesses that do not grow and develop into small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). Despite many studies conducted on craft businesses generally, little information exists on factors affecting the growth of African immigrant-owned craft businesses. The main objective of this study is to determine these factors. This study focused on four craft markets in the Cape Town area: Greenmarket Square, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Hout Bay.The population of the study comprised all African immigrants at the selected craft markets and the municipal managers responsible for managing these selected markets. The sample frame of this study constitutes African immigrant entrepreneur-owned businesses that are three or more years old, registered and located in one of the selected markets. The study utilised a mixed method approach to collect and analyse data. Questionnaires (Quantitative) were administered to 122 African immigrant entrepreneurs and in-depth interviews (Qualitative) were conducted with the three municipal managers responsible for the four selected craft markets. Quantitative data was analysed separately using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, and face-to-face interviews were analysed by means of content analysis. The results of both methods were presented in tabulated format. Pushed by the need to survive and pulled by the many tourists in South Africa, African immigrant entrepreneurs turned to the craft business. In terms of the challenges faced, it was noted that limited access to finance and difficulty in acquiring a business location were start-up challenges, whereas the growth challenges were the seasonal and irregular nature of trade and xenophobia. Emanating from the findings of this study, recommendations were made to municipality managers to persuade the financial agencies to extend their funding assistance to deserving African immigrant entrepreneurs. Local government should grant immigrants trading permits and relax some of the restrictions to allow them to have a stall and do business. The municipalities should organise workshops to educate African immigrant entrepreneurs on the benefits of selling unique products and anti-xenophobic sentiment.

Thesis (MTech (Retail Business Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a vital role in employment creation and economic growth. As South Africa experiences population growth, so does the township small business industry. Township refers to those areas that were previously reserved for Blacks, Coloured and Indians under the discriminatory apartheid government. The characteristics of these areas included the following: poor infrastructure, high crime, low income and generally exclusion from mainstream economic activities According to the top three liquor manufacturers and brand distributors that claim about 80% of the total market share by volume and revenue (South African Breweries, Distell and Brandhouse Beverages) the township market makes the largest contribution to their business revenue. These giants are recording growth every year, but the development, growth, sustainability and success of the township liquor retail market is static and unsatisfactory. How township liquor retailers can achieve sustainable growth is not yet clear. The significant contribution made by the industry to the economy and job creation has been recognised by industry role players at large. The Department of Trade and Industries (DTI) has also expressed its commitment to supporting this industry as one that shows potential for growth and sustainability. This particular sector needs assistance to improve the success and sustainability of township liquor retailing, especially with the creation of employment opportunities. The objective of this study, then, is to develop an industry specific framework that identifies and addresses the critical success factors (CSFs) for township liquor retailing. The study is based on qualitative interviews carried out with industry experts (as an exploratory study) and liquor retailers from two of Cape Town’s townships, namely Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.