Owing to the fact that entrepreneurship is widely considered to be a mechanism for reducing unemployment, the purpose of the study was to assess whether final-year Commerce students in the predominantly rural provinces, the Eastern Cape Province and the Limpopo Province, have the intention to start their own businesses.The study draws heavily from entrepreneurial intent models and focuses on the relationship between three key variables, namely, exposure to entrepreneurship education, awareness of entrepreneurial support and social capital to establish whether they are related to the intention of final-year Commerce studentsto start their own businesses. The literature review concentrated on entrepreneurial intent and entrepreneurial intent models; government entrepreneurial support initiatives in South Africa and in other countries and their role in the development of entrepreneurial intent, emergence of new ventures and the growth of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs); entrepreneurship education and its role in enhancing entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial competencies and entrepreneurial intent;the influence of social capital on entrepreneurial intent and the different stages on the new venture life-cycle; and concludes with the link between entrepreneurship and the establishment of SMMEs. A survey was conducted among National Diploma (ND): Internal Auditing, Cost and Management Accounting and Financial information systems students (IAUD, CMA and FIS) (who had six months exposure to entrepreneurship education), ND: Entrepreneurship/Small Business Management (E/SBM) (who had three years exposure to entrepreneurship education) and ND: Management (without exposure to entrepreneurship education). The respondents for the study comprised 355 final year students of which 276 were from Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape Province and 79 were from Tshwane University of Technology (Polokwane Campus) in the LimpopoProvince.Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric statistics. The findings reveal that the majority of the respondents had the intention to start a business in the future.The entrepreneurial intent of the ND: E/SBM students was v stronger than the entrepreneurial intent of the ND: IAUD, CMA and FIS students and ND: Management students. Some significant relationships were found between entrepreneurial intent and the key variables of the study. / Business Management / D.Com. (Business Management)

This study shows that managers of short-term insurers may improve their financial results if they can identify and manage the factors that are critical to their financial results. The development and application of the concept of critical success factors are therefore used as a basis for this study. The study reviews the functions performed by short-term insurers, focusing on the effect these functions have on their cash flows. Selection and pricing of risk are discussed in detail. The underwriting cycle in South Africa, and several possible causes of the cycle are investigated. Reinsurance, claims handling and rilanagement expenses are important components of the cash flows of short-term insurers and are therefore examined in detail. The optimum risk level at various combinations of underwriting and investment income is empirically tested, using the financial results of several insurers. The study investigates different approaches to the measurement of financial success of insurers, and the return on shareholders' funds is found to provide the fairest and most reliable method. Empirical comparisons are made on the financial results of the insurers that participated in the study to distinguish between those that are financially successful and those that are not. To discover what the industry consider to be their critical financial success factors, a postal survey was done of key decision makers in the South African short-term insurance industry. Respondents identified several success factors, but did not include some success factors discovered during the review of the literature. Respondents apparently experienced difficulty in separating strategic issues from operational ones. The survey revealed that the pricing of risk is problematic for short-term insurers. The importance of the investment function is also underestimated by the industry. The study concludes that the combined systematic risk of the investment and underwriting portfolios is a critical success factor, along with the capital base of the insurer, the ability of the insurer to use the leverage provided by using policyholders' funds as free reserves and the size and direction of an insurer's cash flows. / Business Management / D. Com (Business Management)

Hierdie proefskrif handel oor 'n selfaktualiseringsbenadering tot bestuursukses binne 'n finansiele instelling. Die stand punt word gehuldig dat bestuurders wat reeds hoer vlakke van selfaktualisering bereik het oor die persoonlikheidskenmerke (intrapersoonlike, interpersoonlike en werkskenmerke) beskik wat tot bestuursukses lei. Hierdie standpunt, wat gegrond is op die uitgangspunte van die humanistiese benadering, is nog nie in finansiele instellings nagevors nie. Die volgende literatuurdoelstellings is in hierdie navorsing bereik: 'n Ge"integreerde beskouing van die vernaamste humanistiese persoonlikheidsteoriee, wat dien as metateoretiese raamwerk vir hierdie navorsing, is daargestel. - Die konsep selfaktualisering is omskryf en die persoonlikheidskenmerke van die selfaktualiserende persoon is ge"identifiseer. - Die konsep bestuursukses is omskryf en die persoonlikheidskenmerke van die suksesvolle bestuurder is ge"identifiseer. - Meetbare bestuursukseskriteria asook meetinstrumente vir die meet daarvan is ge"identifiseer. 'n Psigometriese toetsbattery is saamgestel uit die Algemene Gesondheidsvraelys, Verstandelike-helderheidstoets, Sestien-persoonlikheidsfaktorvraelys, Persoonlikeorienteringsvraelys, Rottervraelys, RGN Gevallestudietegniek-enbesluitnemingsvraelys en die Biografiese vraelys. Hierdie meetinstrumente is as klassifikasieveranderlikes gebruik om die meetbare komponente van die konstruk selfaktualisering by bestuurders van 'n finansiele instelling te meet. Besuursukses, as kriteriumveranderlike, is met die prestasiebestuurevaluering- en werknemer -effektiwiteitsvraelys gemeet. Uit die statistiese analise (meervoudigeregressie-analise) blyk dit dat 15 klassifikasieveranderlikes met bestuursukses verband hou. Die meervoudige korrelasie R (aangepas vir getal gevalle en getal klassifikasieveranderlikes) is gelyk aan 0,54. Daar is dus in hierdie navorsing 'n verband gevind tussen die konsepte selfaktualisering en bestuursukses soos gemeet by bestuurders van 'n finansiele instelling. Verskeie klassifikasieveranderlikes toon 'n paraboliese verband met bestuursukses. Dit dui daarop dat 'n relatiewe aanwesigheid of sterkte van spesifieke persoonlikheidskenmerke noodsaaklik is vir bestuursukses. lndien 'n sekere optimale punt egter oorskry word, het dit 'n nadelige effek op bestuursukses. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die evalueringstegnieke en psigometriese instrumente wat in hierdie navorsing gebruik is en wat 'n verband (reglynig of parabolies) met bestuursukses getoon het, binne die finansiele instelling gebruik kan word om bestuurders met bestuurspotensiaal te identifiseer. Aanbevelings is ten opsigte van die gebruikswaarde van die konsep selfaktualisering vir die praktyk en vir verdere navorsing geformuleer. / This thesis examines the self-actualisation approach to management success within a financial institution. The premise is that managers who have already reached high levels of self-actualisation possess the personality traits (intrapersonal, interpersonal and work traits) that lead to management success. This premise, which is based on the points of view of the humanistic approach, has not yet been researched in a financial institution. The following literature objectives were achieved in this research: - An integrated view of the major humanistic personality theories, which serve as metatheoretic framework for this research, has been compiled. - The concept of self-actualisation has been defined and the personality traits of the self-actualising person identified. - The concept of management success has been defined and the personality traits of the successful manager identified. - Measurable management success criteria as well as measuring instruments for measuring these criteria have been identified. A psychometric test battery has been compiled from the General Health Questionnaire, Mental Alertness Test, Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Personal Orientation Questionnaire, Rotter Questionnaire, HSRC Case Study Technique and Decision-making Questionnaire and the Biographical Questionnaire. These measuring instruments were used as classification variables to measure the measurable components of the selj-actualisation construct among managers of a financial institution. Management success, as a criterion variable, was measured using the performance management evaluation and employee effectiveness questionnaires. From the statistical analysis (multiple-regression analysis) it is evident that 15 classification variables relate to management success. The multiple correlation R (adjusted for number of cases and number of classification variables) equals 0,54. A relation has therefore been found in this research between the concepts of selfactualisation and management success as measured in managers of a financial institution. Several classification variables show a parabolic relation to management success. This indicates that a relative presence or strength of specific personality traits is essential for management success. However, when a certain optimal point is exceeded, this has a detrimental effect on management success. The conclusion is reached that the evaluation techniques and psychometric instruments used in this research, which showed a relation (whether rectilineal or parabolic) with management success, may be employed at a financial institution to identify managers with management potential. Recommendations in respect of the usefulness of the self-actualisation concept for the practical environment and for future research were formulated. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / DCom (Bedryfsielkunde)

Social entrepreneurs seek to create social value in various ways in the community. Notably, they encounter not only enabling factors but also face and attempt to deal with a variety of challenges in their endeavor to start and run social ventures. This academic paper adopts a single case study approach with the aims to explore challenges and attempts to deal with them, as well as enablers, in how Dr Govender sought to create social value within the community of Gelvandale in Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Famhealth Medipark was chosen because it is unique and has been considered as an example of successful social entrepreneurship in Port Elizabeth. In the light of this, there has not been any previous study particularly focusing on its challenges and enablers in adding social value in the community through a multi-disciplinary venture. This research is valuable as it builds our understanding of how social entrepreneurs create social value. This qualitative study uses a single case study to focus on incidents of challenges and enabling factors as experienced, recollected and expressed by Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur. A variety of data, such as interview data collected through sampling incidents in nine in-depth initial and follow-up interviews, documents, audio documentaries and emails, were used. Open coding and constant comparison was used to analyze data and induce themes. Findings depict that Dr Govender as a social entrepreneur was propelled by four enablers: (1) strong enthusiasm to create positive change in others within a community, (2) network to resources, (3) a nurturing world view, and (4) consistent self-sacrifice. Dr Govender also revealed that he faced four types of challenges in setting up and operating Famhealth Medipark (FHM) as a vehicle with the sole purpose of creating and adding social value to the community of Gelvandale. Predominantly, (1) limitation of finance, (2) overwhelming effect of multiple roles, (3) negative effects of the non-accredited status of the care-giver training programme, and (4) the predominance of a destructive mindset entrenched within the Gelvandale community were key challenges he faced and attempted to deal with in setting up and operating a social venture to ultimately create social value. Although other types of data have been used, the predominant reliance on primary data collected through in-depth interviews is one of the major limitations of this qualitative study. However, this qualitative and exploratory study provides insights into our understanding of not only challenges encountered by social entrepreneurs but also the various drivers that sustain their social mission. Recommendations were then made, based on the findings from the research conducted.

Skills development is one of the major challenges faced by South Africans, with more than 60 percent of the labour force being unskilled. This affects many industries around the country as are they forced to employ unskilled employees a development which has a negative bearing on the quality of products having a negative bearing on the quality of products. The Plastic Manufacturing Industry in the Eastern Cape Province is a prime example of firms that are affected by the short supply of skilled personnel on the labour market. Required skills range from business skills that are essential for the operating of a business, to technical skills that are essential for the employees who are involved in the production of goods and services. Training in skills has been proven to be a key to success. The primary objective of this study was to undertake an analysis concerning the significance of business skills and training needs for business success. Secondary objectives were to determine whether training in business skills as well as technical skills for the employees, could bring on success to the business. The study further went on to investigate the importance of training programmes for businesses. Research methodology included literature review and an empirical study, making use of the survey method through self-administered questionnaires. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, frequencies, Chi-square tests and linear regression and ANOVA. The Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure reliability of the research results. The research findings established that training in business skills and related types of skills was essential for the success of a business. The findings further showed that, due to training, there was improvement in sales, annual turnover, and product quality and employee skills. Recommendations included advice to invest in human capital through training which then should improve the quality of products. Further studies in other regions other than the Eastern Cape Province were recommended.

Knowledge about personal branding, the development and sustaining of a personal brand and the link between personal branding and career success did not exist in a scientifically structured manner. The purpose of this study was to understand what the elements of personal branding are and what it takes to develop a personal brand in the corporate environment. It was also important to identify whether personal branding is key to career success. The systematic literature review procedure was used to identify, analyse and critically evaluate both empirical studies and popular literature relating to personal branding. The current body of knowledge was ill defined and a six step model detailing how to develop and maintain a personal brand was developed as a result of a content analysis of the available popular literature. A measure of a complete personal brand within the workplace was subsequently developed. In this study, the hypotheses of a possible relationship between personal branding and career success (performance appraisal score, 360 leadership evaluation and talent board placement) were tested. It was found that talent board placement was statistically significant and practically related to personal branding. The study was the first to provide a measurement tool as well as empirical evidence on the relationship between personal branding and career success and, as such contributed significantly to the body of knowledge. This study also opened avenues for further research. / Daar was min kennis oor ’n persoonlike handelsmerk, die ontwikkeling en handhawing van ’n persoonlike handelsmerk, en die verband tussen ’n persoonlike handelsmerk en loopbaansukses in die wetenskaplike domein beskikbaar. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die elemente van ’n persoonlike handelsmerk te begryp, asook om te bepaal wat dit behels om ’n persoonlike handelsmerk in die korporatiewe omgewing te ontwikkel. Dit was ook belangrik om te bepaal of ’n persoonlike handelsmerk deurslaggewend is tot loopbaansukses. ‘n Sistematiese literatuuroorsig is gedoen om empiriese studies asook gewilde literatuur oor ’n persoonlike handelsmerk te identifiseer, te ontleed en krities te evalueer. Gegewe beperkte akademiese kennismateriaal, en na aanleiding van die inhoudsontleding van die beskikbare gewilde literatuur, is ’n sesstapmodel ontwikkel om aan te dui hoe ’n persoonlike handelsmerk ontwikkel en gehandhaaf kan word. Na aanleiding hiervan is ’n instrument ontwikkel om ’n person se handelsmerk omvattend in die werkplek te meet. Dit is gevolg deur hipoteses van ’n moontlike verband tussen ’n persoonlike handelsmerk en loopbaansukses (prestasiebeoordelingtelling, 360-leierskapevaluasie en talentplasing) te toets. Die studie het bevind dat ’n persoonlike handelsmerk statisties beduidend en prakties relevant is tot talentplasing. Hierdie navorsing lewer ’n omvattende meetinstrument vir die meting van ’n persoonlike handelsmerk, asook empiriese bewyse rakende die verhouding tussen ’n persoonlike handelsmerk en loopbaansukses. Die studie maak in dié opsig ‘n beduidende bydrae tot die gebrekkige akademiese kennismateriaal wat oor hierdie onderwerp beskikbaar is. / Ulwazi nge-branding yomuntu siqu, ukuthuthukiswa kanye nokuqhubekela phambili kwe-brand yomuntu siqu kanye nokuxhumana phakathi kwe-brand yomuntu siqu kanye nokuphumelela emsebenzini bekuyizinto ebezingahlelekile ngendlela yesisayense. Inhloso yalolu cwaningo bekuwukuqondisisa ukuthi ngabe iyini imikhakha ye-branding yomuntu siqu kanye nokuthi yini okudingekayo ukwenza ibrand yomuntu siqu emkhakheni wezamabhizinisi. Bekubalulekile nokubheka ukuthi ngabe i-branding yomuntu siqu isemqoka kangakanani ekuphumeleleni emisebenzini. Inqubo yokubuyekeza imibhalo ngendlela ehlelekile iye yasetshenziswa ukuphawula, ukuhlaziya kanye nokuhlola izifundo ezinobufakazi ezenziwe kanye nemibhalo edumile maqondana ne-branding yomuntu siqu. Imikhakha yolwazi ekhona ibingachazekile kahle, kanti kuye kwalandelwa imodeli yezinyathalo eziyisithupha echaza imininingwane ngokwenza kanye nokugcina i-brand yomuntu siqu, iye yenziwa ngakho-ke kwase kuhlaziywa ingqikithi yemibhalo edumile ekhona. Kwenziwe i-brand yomuntu siqu ephelele emkhakheni wezemisebenzi. Kulolu cwaningo, kuhlolwe i-hypotheses yobudlelwane phakathi kwe-branding yomuntu siqu kanye nokuphumelela emsebenzini (amaphuzu ohlolo lokusebenza ngendlela efanele, uhlolo lobuholi obungu 360, kanye nokubekwa kwebhodi yamathalente endaweni efanele) kuye kwahlolwa. Kutholakale ukuthi ukubekwa kwebhodi yamathalente endaweni efanele yinto esemqoka ngokwamastatistiki kanti futhi kuhambisana ne-branding yomuntu siqu. Ucwaningo belungolokuqala ukuhlinzeka ngethuluzi lokukala kanye nocwaningo obunobufakazi obubambekayo ngobudlelwane phakathi kwe-branding yomuntu siqu kanye nokuphumelela emsebenzini, kanti-ke, lokhu yikho okuye kwaba nomthelela obabalukile kulwazi. Lolu cwaningo luvule imikhakha lapho okungenziwa khona ezinye izinhlobo nemikhakha yocwaningo. / Business Management / DBL

Der Erfolg von Genossenschaftsbanken ist von einer Vielzahl betriebswirtschaftlicher, volkswirtschaftlicher und demografischer Faktoren abhängig. Die Arbeit untersucht den Einfluss auf den Geschäftserfolg bei über 900 deutschen Instituten. Wesentliche Erfolgsfaktoren sind dabei die Lage (städtisch, halbstädtisch oder ländlich), die Betriebsgröße, die Kreditquote, die Eigenkapitalquote sowie Steigung und Niveau der Zinsstrukturkurve.:Abbildungsverzeichnis Tabellenverzeichnis Abkürzungs- und Symbolverzeichnis 1 Einleitung 2 Einordnung und Zielsetzung 3 Theoretische Analyse 5 Schlussbetrachtung Anhang Literaturverzeichnis