This study investigates how knowledge is created in a small business organization. Knowledge creation refers to organizational learning which results in innovation. The research design was a qualitative, single site case study of three firms in the point of sale industry. Data collection took place during a six month field study and employed multiple methods including participant observations, interviews, document reviews, and field journal entries. The study was informed by a conceptual framework which focused on the importance of both tacit and explicit knowledge forms, multiple modes of knowledge conversion (socialization, externalization, combination, internalization), and a knowledge spiraling process. Six themes emerged from the data. The first theme, "the people are the business" indicated that individuals become a knowledge creating structure that transcends office boundaries. A second theme, "we just spend tons of time talking", emphasized the importance of dialogue and informal communication structures to the sharing of tacit knowledge. A third theme, "there hasn't been a new idea in a million years", illustrated the predominance of incremental rather than radical innovation, the strategy of mimicking concept successes, and the importance of learning with other organizations through strategic alliances. A fourth theme, "you learn from your mistakes", represented the experiential nature of learning within the firm. A fifth theme, "it's one of those crystal ball kind of things" depicted the intuitive nature of personal knowledge and its limitations. Finally, the sixth theme, "a day late and a dollar short" explored how time and money pressures both enhance and hinder knowledge creation within a small business context. By comparing the themes to the conceptual framework the study concluded that small business organizations create knowledge in accordance with the nature of interpersonal interactions as they occur in context. The theoretical knowledge spiral was reconceptualized as a web structure in order to accommodate more diversity of approaches to knowledge creation and the complex nature of innovations.

No description available.

This study investigates successful small Canadian firms that export. Four factors are considered from a theoretical perspective as variables that have affected the success of these firms. Regimes define the international and national environment. State support is studied as a strategic factor at the domestic level. Networks are considered as both strategic and organizational factors at the firm level. The study of internal factors considers organizational capability and strategy at the firm level. / The empirical research was conducted through field studies and a questionnaire that was completed during an in-depth interview with the president, founder or principal officer of 21 firms in the cross-sectional sample (in Ontario and Quebec) and telephone interviews for the 13 firms in the supplementary sample (in Nova Scotia and British Columbia). All interviews in Ontario and Quebec were videotaped and case records were developed for each firm. Additional data are based on information from the Industry, Science, Technology (Canada) data bank and the researcher's observations of principal actors and operations of the sample firms. / A Technological Skill and Product Maturity Typology is developed to categorize firms into quadrants according to product maturity and technological sophistication. The typology has been designed as an analytical tool to categorize firms according to strategic focus. This typology provides a framework for the analysis of firm needs and for the evaluation of the usage and effectiveness of support programs by firms. / This study offers a typology for classifying firms by start-up mode: the entrepreneur with a classic start-up, with a spin-off, with an acquisition, and with experience in an established firm. Mode of start-up was not significantly associated with specific strategic sectors. Results suggest that the qualities of the entrepreneur responsible for successful start-up are imprinted on successful small firms. This entrepreneurism provides significant strategic advantage for firms competing in international markets. / The results of this study indicate that small firms in diverse industries, with very different products and strategic advantages can use entrepreneurial leadership, strategy, and innovation to take advantage of changing international regimes, favourable domestic factor conditions, and state support to compete successfully in international markets.(Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Business Studies Unit--Durban University of Technology, 2008 / The ability of the South African Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme to promote economic growth and employment. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offers the Small Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP) incentive grant programme to qualifying manufacturers in South Africa. The status of the progress of this incentive grant programme is unknown. The DTI alluded to an impact study in the 2004 DTI Annual Report but no further reference or publication of results of the impact study has been made. The objectives of the study are to investigate the following three criteria of the SMEDP and to develop benchmarks and recommendations for future incentive grants offered by the DTI. • Rationale for implementation of SMEDP; • Exploration of SMEDP merits; and • Measure of SMEDP success. The study is a secondary analysis design with both qualitative and quantitative components. The qualitative component allows the researcher to reflect on the process by which the incentive programme under investigation came into being, whilst the quantitative component allows for comment on the result of the process as per the markers developed in the qualitative component of the design. There were 152 sample cases used in the study. The outcome measures are the output measures stated in the Medium Term Strategic Plan which are: • The number of jobs sustained. v i • The number of jobs created. • The number of Greenfield’s projects supported. • The fixed investment in Rand terms. • The improvement in employment levels. The DTI achieved certain of the stated objectives. The empirical data analysed confirms the achievement of these objectives. There is scope for further empirical investigation for the future development of incentive grants. The contribution of the SMEDP to economic growth and employment growth is evident and such government interventions should be continued. The recommendations from the study include further investigation into the following areas to improve the benefits provided by manufacturing incentive programmes: • Limit the incentive to a specified Rand value per job created; • Volume driven turnover growth not price driven turnover growth; • The continued inclusion of expansions in future programme; and • Specified sector programmes i.e. textile sector.

Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) and their related entrepreneurship are the focus of considerable policy and research interest as they contribute to mobilization of resources, job creation , and poverty alleviation , the total effect of which is GDP growth, economic development, and other socioeconomic benefits. Emerging research in developing countries seems to further confirm that, despite the problems and limitations facing the SMME sector, it is currently the most effective job creator, when many large firms are downsizing and retrenching labour. This study takes a closer look at the impact of human capital on the performance of Tanzanian Small and Micro Manufacturing Ventures (SMMVs) over the period 1997 - 2001. It involves a random sample of 200 ventures from 18 regions , grouped into the five zones of Mainland Tanzania. Of the surveyed entrepreneurs, 20% had tertiary education, 58% were exposed to some training , 54% had some occupational experience, and 60% had high need achievement (nAch) levels. With regard to employee human capital, 67% of the ventures had employees who attended some kind of training between 1997 and 2001, 49% had employees with less than 7 mean-years of schooling and 51% had employees with more than 7 mean years of schooling. Employee experience in their current firm varied: 50.5% of ventures had mean-employee experience between 1 and 6.25 years, while 49.5% had between 6.3 and 30 years. Examining the influence of employee and entrepreneur human capital on Tanzanian SMMVs gives the following main findings: • Entrepreneur need achievement (nAch) level is positively correlated with business performance, but its impact on the number ofjobs created, sales, and profit does not seem to be significant, other things remaining equal. • Entrepreneur education appears to have a significant impact on performance in terms of the number ofjobs created and sales. • Entrepreneur training appears to impact positively on the firm's sales and profit. • Employee expenence III the current firm appears to have a significant influence on performance in terms of sales and levels of profit. • Employee education and training appear to have significant and positive impacts on sales and profit. Further, business conduct was considered in terms of recruitment practice, training of employees, keeping of business records, and access to bank financing. The findings show that: • SMMVs with educated and trained entrepreneurs are better in all the conduct attributes tested in the study, that is, recruiting an educated workforce, keeping records, access to bank financing, and owning of another business. • Ventures with trained and educated employees are likely to keep more business records, and access more finance from banks than their untrained and uneducated counterparts. • It has also been found that the capacity to generate jobs between different enterprises is not equal. Edible food processing is likely to generate more jobs than other business activities in the study. Lastly, by regressmg a Cobb-Douglas production function on the data from Tanzanian SMMVs, physical capital, human capital of entrepreneur, and of labour are found to be significant predictors of output performance. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Small businesses constitute the bulk of enterprises in all economies in the world. Storey (2000:7) states that 95% of all firms in the European Community can be classified as small and that they provide more than half the jobs in this community. Such firms make a major contribution to employment and wealth creation, which appears to be increasing over time. It is thus not surprising to find that numerous studies have been conducted globally regarding entrepreneurship, and the value that small businesses add to the economies of countries. South Africa is no exception and most universities have added entrepreneurship programmes to their curricula. The study of small business however proved not be such a simple procedure mainly due to the following reasons: Firstly, there is no single definition of a small firm, secondly there are numerous small firms and it is difficult to estimate how many exist at any point in time as many don't register their existence. This leads to problems for researchers when estimating the size and contribution of the small business sector in any one country not even to mention the difficulties in trying to conduct comparative studies between countries or regions. Despite these problems it is believed that some good has come from the research and it can be argued that research with limitations are better than no research. The lack of loan funding has been given as one of the major constraints faced by small business owners who either wanted to start-up a business or who wanted to expand an existing business. It was the objective of this dissertation to investigate various issues regarding small business funding. The relationship between entrepreneurs and funding institutions was investigated, the utilization and source of funds, as well as other factors that influence the funding process if any, were also examined. In order to achieve the objectives of this study a group of entrepreneurs in die Kwazulu-Natal Midlands were interviewed with the help of a questionnaire. The study focussed on businesses in the Howick and Pietermaritzburg area. Questionnaires were initially posted to firms but the overall response rate was low and this necessitated the use of personal interviews. Once the quantitative data was collected it was captured using SPSS and analysed using Chi-Square tests, correlation and regression analysis. The findings of the study mostly correspond and confirm the findings of previous research done on the topic of financing small business and the various constraints affecting its performance. Most of the respondents did find the lack of finance as a major constraint during the start up phase of the business and used their own or family money to start their own businesses. The study also focussed on the relationship between the entrepreneur and his financier and it was found that most of the respondents had a good relationship with their financiers. The threat of competitors was listed as the major nonfinancial constraint affecting businesses surveyed in the sample. The supply of a loan to a firm was found to be related to the ability of the firm demonstrating the ability to generate high sales, rather than to the ability to produce a business plan. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

The informal sector, a sector which is formed by small businesses, plays the pivotal role in Southern African countries’ economic development and has predominately acted as a source of entrepreneurship essential to economic restructuring. It also acts as a social buffer for mitigation of the imbalances created by falling growth in the formal sector. Currently the sector appears the most viable alternative for employment creation to formal sector. The research notes that the economic crisis has exacerbated unemployment and poverty in Southern Africa in general, and Lesotho in particular. Low rate of labour absorption in the formal sector has meant that informal sector provides the best opportunity for unemployment reduction and poverty eradication. Further, it offers alternative employment and a source of income supplementation to formal sector workers as the formal sector is now not able to generate adequate employment opportunities. Factors contributing to failure of small businesses include lack of management skills/practices, marketing, financial, poor coordination and networking especially formation of partnerships, lack of knowledge of succession and strategic planning, poor access to credit and other problems such as lack of support from the government, and high tax rates. The infrastructure is inefficient and directly and indirectly hinders development and employment. Many small business owners are entrepreneurial but lack support both financially and institutionally. Measures are outlined to improve access to finance, formation of partnerships through buying syndicates, and access to relevant training. A vacuum exists in developing policies so governmental support to small businesses is also important in economic development. Recommendations are made on the restructuring of educational curricular through the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) so as to address the environmental needs and also those of small business owners in the country. The key conclusion is that because small businesses are the breeding ground for new and emerging entrepreneurs, they have a major role in job creation for the expanding labour force in Lesotho. Lesotho government, relevant private agencies and chambers of commerce are urged to assist specifically the developing small businesses in Lesotho. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

With many studies on small business entrepreneurship indicating high failure rates, South Africa is no exception. However, the small business is a critical sector of the South African economy, as it contributes significantly to the country's job creation, innovation, empowerment, economic growth and development. The government has also identified the SME sector as the pinnacle for its important national development strategies. As failure seems to be higher at the entry level, it becomes important that all business opportunities are properly investigated. This study first looks into the divesture of a poor performing business, K.H. Foods Services CC trading as Steers. The aim is to assess entrepreneurally whether the business indeed needs to be divested. As the funds from the divesture were to be re-invested, an investigation of a new business opportunity is undertaken. A Chicken Licken franchise is chosen as a better mode of entry into the Richmond market. A cost-benefit analysis was done for both cases. The results of the analysis reinforced the decision to divest and invest. The analysis also gave an indication that the new business was a better investment option when compared to other investment alternatives such as a financial institution investment and an insurance lump-sum investment. The new business venture showed better returns on capital invested, and its payback period was shorter than other investment options. These analyses were supported by a consumer survey. The purpose of the survey was to test whether a need existed in Richmond for a Chicken Licken franchise, and most importantly, to establish whether this franchise will enjoy the support of Richmond consumers. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was used to collect a relevant data from a representative sample of all adult resident population of Richmond who visit public places. The quantitative data was captured and analysed using the 'Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Additionally, a multiple regression model was formulated and tested to examine the demand for Chicken Licken in the Richmond region. The results suggested an overwhelming support for a Chicken Licken franchise business in Richmond. Based on this survey and other strategic analyses, the decision was taken to open a Chicken Licken outlet in Richmond. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

No description available.

The study examines an aspect of indigenous Nigerian entrepreneurship, focusing on the cross-border trade in South-Western Nigeria. An almost total ignorance of how the traders go about their business, coupled with an unwelcoming trading environment, appear to have caused the antipathy of policy planners, and dearth of academic research in the area. The dearth of research is of particular concern here hence the need to "go back to basics", as it were, and focus the research in the first instance, on what the trade is in fact all about. The study focuses therefore on a descriptive analysis of the cross-border trade itself as an indigenous exporting activity, in particular the role of the small businesses who, in numerical terms at least, dominate the trade. It is expected that this will lead to future, more sector and area-specific studies on the subject. The cross-border trade takes place in an environment of illegality, corruption, and an unstable local economy, which makes trading conditions difficult, and would ordinarily seem to prevent traders from exercising their enterprise other than for mere survival on the economic fringes. Policy planners are also quick to argue that the trade is merely a smugglers' arena that contributes nothing to national development and in fact needs to be eliminated in aid of the development process. These reinforce the development literature which envisages only a limited role for indigenous entrepreneurship in economic development. The findings in this study however suggest another interpretation. It is argued that the trading environment as it is in fact provides opportunities which seem to have encouraged the emergence of an entrepreneurial class, and that though largely invisible, greater capital accumulation than is usually thought appears to be taking place, suggesting a more significant role for indigenous entrepreneurs in the development process. Between chapters 1 and 5, a case is presented for why existing trade and development theories have only a limited application to the development process in less developed countries like Nigeria. Chapters 6 and 7 introduce the surveys which indicate the performance and strategy of a sample of producers and traders. Subsequently relying mainly, but not exclusively on anthropologically-oriented material, the study focuses, in chapters 8 and 9, on the actors and activities in three cross-border trade routes, exploring the ways in which the traders relate to one another and to other participants in the trade. Further attention is paid to the ways in which the trade survives, evolves and develops, in spite of considerable environmental difficulties. While the study does not dispute that there are several smugglers and other law-breakers in the cross-border trade traffic, it argues further that considerable legitimate, but unrecorded trade goes on across the borders by several dedicated producers and traders. Certain theoretical implications arising from the study are discussed as areas for further study, while other, more practical recommendations, are suggested to policy planners, which may be beneficial both to them and to the traders in the future developments of the trade.