Small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) play an important part in all economies but particularly in developing economies. Growth 'SMMEs seek to grow either in size, revenue and/or asset value by reinvesting available resources; these enterprises tend to spend their available resources on operational when it comes to information and communication technology (ICT). But these systems, whilst necessary are not sufficient. They are geared toward capturing data but not producing information. Business intelligence (BI) can provide decision-makers, who in SMMEs are predominantly owner-managers, with access to information that enables them to make informed decisions on where to apply limited resources. Because BI requires operational systems to be in place to gather the data it is the logical next step. Despite increasing discussion in the press and amongst BI practitioners, academic research with regard to BI in SMMEs remains sparse. Since the potential contribution of BI to SMMEs can only be assessed by first understanding current information practices and needs in such enterprises, the purpose of this study is to explore the use of use of BI to support strategic, tactical and operational decision-making. This research uses an interpretive approach to collect data using semi-structured interviews from the owner-managers of six knowledge-based growth SMMEs in South Africa selected through purposive sampling. The research results suggest that BI can play an important role in knowledge-based growth SMMEs but that support and guidance is needed to ensure that BI is used appropriately to fully exploit available data for decision-making in addition to expanding available data sources. Future research can adopt a more rigorous positivist approach to confirm the findings of this study, expand the population to other sectors in South Africa and/or SMMEs in other countries. An action research methodology can also be used to apply BI interventions in SMMEs to investigate specific BI solutions in-depth. The research may be of value to participating and other SMME owner-managers, policy makers, government agencies, business advisers, and academic researchers. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Information Science / unrestricted

The study aims to evaluate the Entrepreneurial Seed Fund Programme (ESFP) of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM). This Programme aims to provide seed funding to emerging and established businesses in order to start and/or grow their businesses. The Programme provides funding through a grant-in-kind by procuring the goods and equipment that the business needs. The businesses qualifying for the funding are not solely focusing on profit-making; they are addressing social issues through business activities in their communities. The population of the study includes five successful and unsuccessful beneficiaries and a questionnaire was designed in order to determine the contributing factors to the success or failure of the business and if the objectives of the Programme was realised. In conclusion, the ESFP can be regarded as a sustainable programme which contributed to job creation and social upliftment. The ESFP should be strengthened with a small business incubation programme in order to enhance its sustainability. / Public Administration & Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An effort to enhance job creation and to alleviate poverty amongst the youth as an important sector of the South African society has created a need to determine the relevance of training as a way of promoting SMME development in the KOSH area. Training is an important tool for SMME development. Based on the above analysis, the objectives of the study are to assess the relevance of training provided in relation to the economic profile and business opportunities in the KOSH area and to assess the effectiveness of training that is provided by various agencies in the KOSH area. The study also looks into the business and employment opportunities put in place to help youth participation after undergoing training. The study focuses on training as a tool for SMME development within the youth sector of the KOSH area. It mainly deals with the importance of training, which if conducted in a proper manner, should contribute to the development of SMME. While policies and institutions have been put in place to provide technical and business training skills in the KOSH area, targeting both women and youth who aspires to be entrepreneurs, there seem to be not significant expansion of the small business in order to create job opportunities. The status quo remains. Participants from these training programmes are pursuing their traditional form of business and there is little, if any, innovation and diversification in economic activities in this sector. Conclusions based on the study indicate that training should be an integral component for any SMME development strategy. Programmes promoting entrepreneurial culture should target all studying young people, and also those not enrolled at institutions of learning. The private sector seems to be playing a minimal role in the provision of training. This sector's contribution in training programmes, in a partnership with pubic institutions, is lacking. After care services to trainees is not provided for adequately. Planning for effective SMME training in the KOSH area should further take into consideration technology, social, economic, political and institutional factors which are affecting it at the moment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 'n poging om werkskepping te bevorder en armoede onder die jeug te verlig, as 'n belangrike fokuspunt in die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap, is dit belangrik om te bepaal wat die relevansie van opleiding is ter bevordering van SMME ontwikkeling in die KOSHgebied. Gebaseer op 'n ontleding in die verband is die oogmerke van die studie om 'n waardebepaling te doen ten opsigte van die toepaslikheid van opleiding in die KOSH-gebied, en om die doeltreffendheid van opleiding wat veskaf word deur die onderskeie agentskappe in die KOSH-gebied te evalueer. Die studie fokus op opleiding as instrument vir SMME ontwikkeling. Dit ontleed hoofsaaklik die belang en waarde van die opleiding wat, indien korrek toegepas, kan bydra tot die ontwikkeling van SMME's. Alhoewel beleid en institusionele reelings voorsiening maak vir opleiding in tegniese- en besigheidsvaardighede, en bemarking spesifiek fokus op vrouens en die jeug wat entrepreneurskap bevordering betref; blyk dit dat daar nie beduidende groei is in die skepping van werksgeleenthede nie. Die status quo word gehandhaaf; deelnemers volg hul tradisionele vorme van ondernemerskap of besigheid en daar bestaan min, indien enige vernuwende denke en diversifikasie in ekonomiese aktiwiteite. Samevattings gebaseer op die studie dui daarop dat opleiding 'n integrale element van enige SMME-ontwikkelingstrategie moet wees. Programme ter bevordering van 'n interpreneurskultuur moet gerig wees op beide jongmense in akademiese instellings en die nie-skoolgaande jeug. Vennootskapspogings deur die private- en openbare sektor, skyn te kort te skiet aan koordinering in die verskaffing van opleiding. Die privaat sektor se rol is onvoldoende en daar word nie vir 'n nasorgdiens voorsiening gemaak nie. Beplanning vir effektiewe SMME opleiding in die KOSH-gebied moet verder tegnologiese, sosiale, ekonomiese, politiese, en institusionele faktore in aanmerking neem wat dit tans beinvloed.

The study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of the interventions made by the Mogale City Plato mentorship programme to promote growth and sustainability of SMMEs. Though there have been interventions through the Plato mentorship programme to help develop SMMEs, there is still a high failure rate of small businesses in MCLM. The study will therefore evaluate if the Plato mentorship programme achieved its envisaged aim. A structured research instrument (questionnaire) was used to collect data through a self-administered survey. Questionnaires were distributed to the respondents by the researcher, and 100% of the questionnaires were returned for analysis. The results of the study showed that Mogale Plato mentorship programme adds value and advances small businesses and entrepreneurship. The study concluded that owners that took part in the MCLM Plato mentorship programme acknowledged that the programme was effective and increased business performance. The study showed that owners are faced with different challenges in running their businesses, which spoke volumes regarding the effectiveness of the mentorship programme. The findings also revealed that a majority of business owners benefited from the assistance received from MCLM Plato mentorship programme. The study recommends that MCLM sets up an office for mentoring individuals/groups in the municipality. This means that within MCLM, there should be a mentoring office and training twice a month that is aimed at helping business people know how to improve their businesses and manage challenges and take advantage of opportunities around them. The study also recommends that the municipality to create an incubating site for new owners/managers. The new owners/managers could share common services such as secretarial services, bookkeeping, and boardrooms / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)

The study aims to evaluate the Entrepreneurial Seed Fund Programme (ESFP) of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM). This Programme aims to provide seed funding to emerging and established businesses in order to start and/or grow their businesses. The Programme provides funding through a grant-in-kind by procuring the goods and equipment that the business needs. The businesses qualifying for the funding are not solely focusing on profit-making; they are addressing social issues through business activities in their communities. The population of the study includes five successful and unsuccessful beneficiaries and a questionnaire was designed in order to determine the contributing factors to the success or failure of the business and if the objectives of the Programme was realised. In conclusion, the ESFP can be regarded as a sustainable programme which contributed to job creation and social upliftment. The ESFP should be strengthened with a small business incubation programme in order to enhance its sustainability. / Public Administration and Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Zulu / The environment in which a business operates consists of various forces which exert positive or negative influences on the business. Since they contribute to or deter from the achievement of business objectives, it is essential that they be identified and investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental forces which affect the operations of small, medium and micro independent caterers in Cape Town. In this context, the micro, market and macro-environments were examined. It is hoped that the results of the study will assist these caterers in their awareness of pertinent factors in their business environment, as well as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats arising therein. They can use this information in strategy development, to reach their objectives, and to enhance their competitive advantage and profitability. Primary data was collected from the business owners or managers through an online survey. The survey covered firmographic business details, as well as demographic details of the owners/managers. Thereafter, their opinions were elicited regarding the impact of various factors in their business environment. The main findings are the following: The greatest positive impacts on the small, medium and micro independent caterers are the abilities of the owners/managers, relationships with suppliers, the internet, and the control of materials and production processes. The greatest challenges faced are financial resources, marketing strategies, online services, competitors, customer demands, the current state of the economy and legal regulations. / Die omgewing waarin 'n onderneming werksaam is, bestaan uit verskeie magte wat die onderneming positief of negatief kan beïnvloed. Aangesien dit tot die onderneming se doelstellings kan bydra of keer dat die onderneming dit bereik, is dit noodsaaklik dat dit geïdentifiseer en ondersoek word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die omgewingsmagte te bepaal wat die werksaamhede van klein, medium en mikro-onafhanklike spyseniers in Kaapstad beïnvloed. In hierdie konteks is die mikro-, mark- en makro-omgewings ondersoek. Die hoop is dat die bevindings van die studie hierdie spyseniers sal help om bewus te wees van die toepaslike faktore in hul sakeomgewing asook hul sterkpunte, swakpunte, geleenthede en bedreigings wat daarin tot stand kom. Hulle kan hierdie inligting gebruik om 'n strategie te ontwikkel om hul doelstellings te bereik en hul mededingingsvoorsprong en winsgewendheid te bevorder. Primêre data is van sake-eienaars of -bestuurders verkry deur 'n aanlyn opname. Die opname het die onderneming se firmografiese besonderhede asook die eienaars/bestuurders se demografiese besonderhede gedek. Daarna is hul menings oor die invloed van verskeie faktore in hul sakeomgewing gevra. Die volgende is bevind: Die grootste positiewe invloede op klein, medium en mikro-onafhanklike spyseniers is die eienaars/bestuurders se vermoëns, verhoudings met verskaffers, die internet en die beheer van materiale en produksieprosesse. Die grootste uitdagings was finansiële hulpbronne, bemarkingstrategieë, aanlyn dienste, mededingers, klante se eise, die huidige stand van die ekonomie en wetlike regulasies. / Indawo eliqhubeka kuyo ishishini inamasolotya amaninzi asenokuba nefuthe elihle okanye elibi kwishishini elo. Njengoko la masolotya encedisa okanye ethintela ukuphunyezwa kweenjongo zeshishini, kubalulekile ukuba anakanwe kwaye aphandwe. Injongo yesi sifundo yayikukuphonononga amanqanaba achaphazela ukusebenza kwamashishini okupheka azimeleyo, amancinci, aphakathi namancinci kakhulu eKapa. Kule meko, kwaqwalaselwa iindawo zokusebenza ezincinci kakhulu, ezinkulu kakhulu neemarike. Kuthenjwa ukuba iziphumo zesi sifundo ziya kubanceda oosomashishini bokupheka ukuze baqaphele imibandela ebalulekileyo malunga nomsebenzi wabo, baqonde amandla, ubuthathaka kunye namathuba avelayo kolu shishino. Bangalusebenzisa olu lwazi ekuqulunqeni amacebo obulumko okuphumeza iinjongo zabo kunye nokomeleza amathuba abo okuphumelela kukhuphiswano nokwenza inzala. Kwenziwa uhlolo zimvo kusetyenziswa i-intanethi ekuqokeleleni ulwazi ngqo kubanini nabaphathi bamashishini. Olu hlolo zimvo lwaqwalasela iinkcukacha ezingundoqo zamashishini kwakunye nesibalo sabanini/abaphathi bamashishini. Emva koko, kwafunwa izimvo zabo malunga nefuthe lemiba ethile kwiindawo zabo zoshishino. Okuphambili okwafunyaniswayo koku: Okona kukhulu okuchaphazela kakuhle amashishini okupheka azimeleyo amancinci, aphakathi namancinci kakhulu ngamandla okuba nakho abanini/abaphathi, ulwalamano nabo bathengisa izixhobo zokuqhuba ishishini, i-intanethi, kunye nolawulo lweenkqubo zokuvelisa. Eyona mingeni iphambili yimithombo yemali, amacebo okubhengeza ishishini, iinkonzo zokuthenga ngeintanethi, abakhuphisani, izinyanzeliso zabaxumi, isimo sezoqoqosho esigqubayo kwakunye nemigaqo yomthetho. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Abstracts in English, Afrikaans and Tswana / This study explores whether the turnover tax system (TTS) fulfils its intended function of being a simplified tax system, using primary and secondary data. Structural-functionalism and the tax canons form the theoretical foundations for this study and are used to guide the questionnaire design, data collection process, identification of the overarching themes and the data analysis. Semi-structured interviews are utilised to solicit information from the selected participants, using convenience and snowball selection techniques. The participants believe that the TTS is not functioning as a fully simplified tax system, as not all the tax canons and structural functionalism principles of an effective tax system are being met. The concept of the TTS is perceived as good, although the administration thereof and the South African Revenue Service officials’ knowledge on the TTS are seen to be inadequate. Various recommendations are provided to improve the TTS. / Hierdie studie het ten doel om te bepaal of die omsetbelastingstelsel (“TTS”) sy beoogde funksie vervul – naamlik dié van ʼn vereenvoudigde belastingstelsel, deur die gebruik van primêre en sekondêre data. Strukturele funksionalisme en die belastingbeginsels vorm die teoretiese grondbeginsels vir hierdie studie en word gebruik om die vraelysontwerp, data-insamelingsproses, identifisering van die oorkoepelende temas en die data-ontleding te lei. Halfgestruktureerde onderhoude word gebruik om die uitgesoekte deelnemers om inligting te vra met behulp van gerieflikheid- en sneeubalselekteringstegnieke. Die deelnemers glo dat die omsetbelastingstelsel nie as ʼn ten volle vereenvoudigde belastingstelsel funksioneer nie, aangesien nie al die belastingbeginsels en strukturelefunksionalismebeginsels van ʼn doeltreffende belastingstelsel gevolg word nie. Die konsep van die omsetbelastingstelsel word as goed beskou, hoewel die administrering daarvan, sowel as die kennis wat die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens se amptenare ten opsigte van die omsetbelastingstelsel het, as ontoereikend beskou word. Verskeie aanbevelings word gedoen om die omsetbelastingstelsel te verbeter. / Thuto ye e lebeledišiša ge e le gore poelo ya tshepedišo ya lekgetho (TTS) e kgotsofatša mohola wo e nepetšwego wona e lego wa go ba tshepedišo ya lekgetho yeo e nolofaditšwego ka go šomiša tshedimošo ya motheo le ya tlaleletšo. Tšhomišego ya sebopego le melao ya motšhelo go hlama metheo ya dikgopolo ya thuto ye le go e šomiša go hlahla tlhamo ya letlakalapotšišo, tshepedišo ya go kgoboketša tshedimošo, tlhaolo ya merero ya go tlaleletša le tekolo ya tshedimošo. Dipoledišano tša go hlamega gannyane di šomišwa go hwetša tshedimošo go batšeakarolo bao ba kgethilwego, go šomišwa kgonagalo le mekgwatiro ya go kgetha ka go ya godimo. Batšeakarolo ba dumela go re TTS ga e šome bjalo ka tshepedišo ya go tlala ya lekgetho, ka ge e se metheo ka moka ya melao ya lekgetho yeo e fihlelelwago. Lereo la TTS le lemogwa bjalo ka le kaone, le ge tshepedišo ya lona le tsebo ya bašomi ba Ditirelo tša Lekgetho tša Afrika Borwa ya TTS e bonala e sa lekana. Ditigelo tše mmalwa di tšweleditšwe go kaonafatša TTS. / College of Accounting Sciences / M, Phil. (Accounting Sciences)