It has been generally accepted within the developed and developing countries of the world that SMES contributes significantly to employment creation as the world population increases and that it also contributes to the economic growth of the areas they are situated in. Finance is the blood (life) of any business, for a business to be successful it needs steady successful access to funds and post financial support which leads to actualization of ideas, leads to investment and expansion, improves access to market amongst others. This is why the impact of development finance can never be over emphasized. The aims of the study are: To understand the extent to which small and medium businesses are supported through the availability of financial assistance in Matjabeng Municipality. To establish the survival rates of businesses that has been funded and or supported and whether they are or not sustainable. In achieving the aims and objectives of the research, the researcher looked at development funds both from the supply side and the demand side. The supply side which involved semi structured interviews with consultants of government parastatals (the FDC and DETEA) who are involved in financing Small Medium Enterprises in Matjhabeng municipality. The demand side involved administering of questionnaires to Entrepreneurs in the municipality who are registered with the Local Economic Department (LED), which led to the acceptance of the hypothesis of the research that development finance actually helps in the growth of small medium enterprises but in conjunction with post financial support such as bookkeeping, accounting, monitoring and evaluation. The researcher also discovered some findings amongst others which includes: The most effective ways entrepreneurs heard about funding in the municipality are through the media and word of mouth. Most of the entrepreneurs that received some type of funding are startups. More entrepreneurs that had access to funds also got some post financial business support. Financial assistance to entrepreneurs yielded improvements after respondents received financial assistance, the range of goods offered was improved and more jobs were created, entrepreneurs were able to obtain better business premises either by renting or buying and entrepreneurs had access to better equipment. Some of the recommendations of this study includes; The municipal government should help small and medium enterprises in the municipality by linking them to new markets. Effective monitoring and evaluation systems should be put in place by development funders and non-financial support services. Entrepreneurial skills development should be provided by the public and private agencies by organizing workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs in order to expose them to business opportunities that are sustainable and viable.

M.Com. (Business Management) / Statistics have shown that 227 companies and close corporations were liquidated during 1993. In addition 386 private persons, sole proprietors and partnerships were adjudged insolvent. These liquidations and insolvencies came about in all industries. By making use of ratio analysis, management can identify early danger signs and determine the presence of weaknesses in their business. There are some other critical factors and aspects that become evident from everyday trading activities that also point to danger signs. Management should be mindful and become aware of the danger signs at an early stage so that corrective action may be taken during a recessionary period. Numerous management aids in the field of financial discipline are at the disposal of management when applying corrective action. The core principles of effective asset management covering cash flow management, credit control, stock control and asset control should be employed to ensure survival during difficult times. Furthermore it is of critical importance that management makes use of the correct sources of financing and knows where to obtain it. It is also important that management addresses the other functional disciplines within the business. Management should continue the function of marketing and selling its products. Checklists containing useful questions should be applied to generate maximum sales. Production and sales should, however, be synchronised. Effective production management aids should be applied to create this harmony. It is also necessary that products be continually developed and that research into new areas be conducted. Management should handle labour relations and political and legal aspects with great sensitivity during recessionary periods. All employees deserve fair treatment and should be respected for their convictions. Appropriate general management principles should be applied at all times including effective leadership, motivation, communication and company philosophy. By making use of the proposed management aids, management can considerably improve the chances of the undertaking to survive a recession.

Includes bibliography. / The area of interest in which this Study is set is the linking of a company's business strategies with its strategic planning for IT (information technology). The objectives of the Study are: to investigate how the IT planning environment is changing for business enterprises in South Africa; to establish how successfully South African companies are managing IT strategically; to propose a new approach to strategic IT decision making that will help South African management deal with the major issues; to propose a way of implementing the approach. In Chapter 2, conclusions are drawn from an examination of the key strategic IT planning literature. It appears that fundamental changes are indeed taking place, and are producing significant shifts in the way researchers, consultants and managers think about IT. The survey of South African management opinion is described in Chapter 3. The opinions analyzed range over environmental trends, strategic decision making practices, and what an acceptable strategic IT decision making framework would look like. The need for a new, comprehensive approach to strategic IT decision making in South Africa is clearly established. In Chapter 4, a theoretical Framework is proposed as a new, comprehensive approach to strategic IT decision making. The Framework covers five strategic tasks: analysing the key environmental issues; determining the purposes and uses of IT in competitive strategy and organizational designs; developing the IT infrastructure, human systems, information systems, and human resources to achieve these purposes and uses; implementing the strategic IT decisions; and learning to make better strategic IT decisions. In Chapter 5, ways of implementing the Framework in practice are .identified. A means of evaluating its acceptability in a specific company is also proposed. The general conclusions of the Study are presented in Chapter 6. The Framework developed in this Study is intended for use, not directly by the IT decision makers themselves, but by the persons responsible for designing the IT decision making processes of the company. It is not, however, offered as a theory or a methodology. The aim is· simply to provide a conceptual "filing system", to help designers uncover and classify the IT strategy problems of their own company, to identify the tools their decision makers need, and to put appropriate problem solving processes in place.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the role of the cultural analysis component in an international strategy of South African companies. It highlights general and country-specific cultural trends that emerged from the research. It also provides a basic cultural analysis framework that can be used as a general guideline for companies planning international expansion. The research methodology included both primary and secondary data analysis. The primary data were gathered through face-to face interviews; the secondary data examined journals, articles, the Internet and case studies. The interviews used a mix of open and closed questions to extract the most accurate responses from interviewees. Trompenaars' "Seven Dimensions Framework" served as a basis for the design of the interview questions, as well as for the analysis of the responses. Seven South African companies, spanning across different industries were interviewed. They included Engen Petroleum Limited in the petrochemical industry, Dole South Africa in the fruit export industry, Nando's International in the restaurant industry, Dimension Data in the information technology industry, Denel (Ply) Ltd in the anms and weaponry industry, SABMiller pic in the beer industry and Barloworld Limited in the brand management industry. Countries that were discussed with each of these companies respectively were: Southern Africa, Middle East, Malaysia & Indonesia, United States of America, Poland & Hungary, The Czech Republic and Russia. Several general trends leading to a successful international expansion emerged from the research. Along with the long-term focus, flexibility and commitment that are required, relationship-building proved to be the most essential ingredient for creating a successful international venture. Relationship-building was achieved when the internationalisation team demonstrated cultural sensitivity, respect, humility and patience, all attributes that are needed when interacting cross-culturally. The research also identified specific country cultural trends. For example, in Southern Africa, a developmental focus on the part of the internationalisation party is crucial to future success. In the Middle East, acknowledging rank was important. Recognising the communitarian philosophy and strict hierarchy in Malaysia and Indonesia was a key aspect of an effective strategy. In the United States, clarity, confidence and decisiveness proved important. Poland, Hungary, The Czech Republic and Russia required that logic be the basis on which business is conducted. The basic cultural analysis framework presented in the research follows a step-by-step approach. Step one requires that basic information about the country be gathered e.g .: population size, language, etc. Step two entails visiting the target country to gather additional data. Step three involves deciding on the best strategy to enter the target country e.g.: partnerships, jOint ventures, strategic alliances. The final step includes deciding who will manage the foreign operation e.g. locals versus ex-patriats. In conclusion, for businesses interested in expanding internationally. the role of cultural analysis cannot be over-emphasised. It is the one component of an internationalisation strategy that is the most essential, yet the least understood. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die rol van die kulturele analiseringskomponent van Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye se internasionale strategie. Dit lig uit algemene en besondere kulturele tendense wat eie is aan 'n spesifieke land, soos wat dit uit die navorsing na vore gekom het. Dit verskaf ook 'n basiese analiseringsraamwerk wat benut kan word as 'n algemene riglyn vir maatskappye wat internasionale uitbreiding beplan. Die navorsingsmetodologie sluit in die analisering van beide primere en sekondere data. Die primere data is ingewin deur direkte onderhoudvoering, terwyl die sekondere data die bestudering van vaktydskrifte, artikels, die Internet en gevallestudies behels het. Tydens onderhoude is beide oop en geslote vrae gestel ten einde die mees akkurate antwoorde van die respondente te verkry. Trompenaars se "Sewe Dimensies Raamwerk" het gedien as grondslag vir die ontwerp van die onderhoudsvrae, sowel as vir die analisering van die antwoorde. Daar is onderhoude gevoer met sewe Suid·Afrikaanse maatskappye wat verskillende industriee verteenwoordig . Dit sluit in: Engen Petroleum Beperk in die petrochemiese industrie; Dole Suid-Afrika in die vrugte·uitvoerbedryf; Nando's Internasionaal in die restaurantberyf; Dimension Data in die inligtingstegnologiebedryf; Denel (Edms) Bpk. in die wapentuigbedryf; SABMiller plc in die bierbedryf en Barloworld Beperk in die handelsmerk-bestuursbedryf. Lande wat afsonderlik met elkeen van hierdie maatskappye bespreek is, het ingesluit: Suidelike Afrika, die Midde-Ooste, Maleisie en Indonesia, die Verenigde State van Amerika, Pole en Hongarye, die Tsjeggiese Republiek en Rusland. Verskeie algemene tendense wat tot 'n geslaagde internasionale uitbreiding lei, het uit die navorsing na vore gekom. Saam met die langtermyn fokus, buigsaamheid en toegewydheid wat vereis word, is daar bewys dat die opbou van goeie verhoudings die mees noodsaaklike bestanddeel is vir die daarstelling van 'n geslaagde internasionale onderneming. Die opbou van goeie verhoudings is verkry toe die internasionaliseringspan kulturele sensitiwiteit, respek, nederigheid en geduld aan die dag gelê het - eienskappe wat nodig is wanneer daar oor kultuurgrense heen verkeer word. Die navorsing het ook kuturele tendense geidentifiseer wat eie is aan 'n spesifieke land. In Suidelike Afrika is byvoorbeeld 'n fokus op ontwikkeling deur die internasionaliseringspan gebiedend noodsaaklik vir toekomstige sukses. In die Midde Ooste was die erkenning van posrang belangrik. Die erkenning van die filosofie van gemeenskaplikheid en strenge hiarargie in Maleisie en Indonesia was 'n sleutelaspek vir 'n doeltreffende strategie. In die Verenigde State was duidelikheid, selfvertroue en beslistheid belangrik. Pole, Hongarye, die Tsjeggiese Republiek en Rusland het vereis dat logika die grondslag moet wees waarvolgens sake bedryf behoort te word. Die basiese kulturele analiseringsraamwerk wat in hierdie navorsing aangebied word, volg 'n stapsgewyse benadering. Die eerste stap vereis dat basiese inligting oor 'n land ingesamel moet word , byvoorbeeld: bevolkingsgrootte, taal, ens. Die tweede stap behels 'n besoek aan die teikenland om bykomstige data in te samel. Die derde stap behels die besluitneming oor die geskikste strategie waarmee sake aangepak kan word, byvoorbeeld: vennootskappe, gesamentlike ondernemings, strategiese bondgenootskappe. Die laaste stap sluit in die besluitneming oor wie die buitelandse onderneming gaan bestuur, byvoorbeeld plaaslike beheer teenoor bestuur deur buitelanders. Ten slotte, die rol van kulturele analise kan nie oorbeklemtoon word in daardie besighede wat in internasionale uitbreiding belangstel nie. Dit is die een komponent van 'n internasionaliseringstrategie wat uiters noodsaaklik is, maar wat tog die minste begryp word.

Thesis (M.A. (Development Studies))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Humanities, School of Social Sciences, 2016 / This research is a conceptual inquiry into the orientation and practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Korean transnational corporations (TNCs) in South Africa. Through a case study of Mana Technologies’ CSR programme, the research aims to explore Korean TNCs’ conceptualisation of CSR and their rationale behind the engagement in CSR initiatives. The research found that Korean corporations in South Africa draw on the ‘business case’ for CSR in their conceptualisation of CSR. Therefore, CSR orientation, policies and practice of Korean TNCs, to some extent, align with those of TNCs globally. Notwithstanding some similarities with global CSR practices, a Korean path to CSR seems to exist in South Africa. While the Korean CSR programmes in South Africa are underpinned by rational motivation, they institutionalise individuals with seemingly caring and genuine heart in the implementation of their CSR programmes. Thus, CSR effectively becomes a mechanism to shift the image of Korean corporations from greedy representatives of global capital to a caring corporate citizen genuinely committed to the development of society. / MT2017

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Communication is the basis of all relationships. Be it personal or professional, people cannot do without healthy and effective communication especially, when it comes to business. Good communication skills are of vital importance. While most countries do speak English, which is the globally accepted ‘business’ language, there are still big challenges with language as well as cultural differences. This study aimed to investigate the role of interpersonal communications in manag- ing South African – German business relationships. The objective of this study was, firstly, to identify which communication channels South African business organiza- tions use to communicate with German businesses and, secondly, to explore the associated problems experienced by South African business people. Based on the investigated problems, recommendations were provided on the technical level and the personal level as to how communication can be made more effective to improve South African and German business relationships. In order to accomplish the objectives of the study, a quantitative study was con- ducted by means of self-administered e-mail based questionnaires. In addition, a qualitative study was conducted using self-administered interviews based on the quantitative results of this study. In both cases, the respondents were purposively selected. Conclusions and recommendations were thereafter drawn from the findings of the study in comparison with the literature review. The results showed that effective communication in business is not as easy as it of- ten seems. There are problems in business communications between South African and German business partners mainly based on the cultural differences. The report recommended that companies should invest more in training and work- shops in order to help communication partners to understand cultures abroad and to understand the communication habits of overseas business people.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Marketing, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Globalization has brought new challenges for companies operating internationally. Various geographic locations, including numerous cultures, enhance marketing operations for an international company. The marketing communications process is influenced by culture and, therefore, it is important to identify the main national cultural factors and variables which influence this process. This study aimed to investigate the influence of national culture on marketing communications between German and South African businesses. The objectives of this study were to identify the main critical national cultural factors/variables influencing marketing communications between South African and German businesses and to develop a cultural framework to support marketing communications between German and South African firms. In order to accomplish the objectives, the study was undertaken as a quantitative survey combined with qualitative in-depth interviews to provide better understanding of the information obtained from the survey. The quantitative study was conducted from marketing staff selected from a population of 250 companies. Six in-depth interviews discussing the findings and results obtained through the quantitative study completed the qualitative part of the study. Language, value system, religion, level of education, attitude towards time, marketing communication style and marketing messages have been identified as the seven main cultural factors/variables to be critical and which have to be taken into consideration for marketing communications. Two cultural frameworks, one focussing on South Africa, the other one focussing on Germany, have been developed to provide South African and German businesses with the essential information and support if they want to implement a successful marketing communications strategy for either the German or the South African market.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / The aim of this research assignment was to analyse and compare the specific governance elements in SOEs in the two government departments. A sample of twenty state-owned entities (SOEs) was selected in total, twelve from the Department of Transport and eight from the Department of Public Enterprises. The literature review on corporate governance in general and in South Africa illustrated the importance of corporate governance in any company. A short summary of the origin of governance is followed by a discussion of corporate governance from an SOE’s perspective. The study highlighted that the board of the entity under discussion was critical in a discussion of corporate governance. The focus, therefore, shifted to the role and responsibilities of boards and the individual members. The size, composition, diversity, remuneration and meeting attendance are the important elements that were analysed as the basis of the research. All the data for the analyses were sourced from the publicly available company annual reports for the 2012/2013 financial year of all the SOEs. Based on the analysis of the research findings carried out in Chapter 4, the following conclusion was reached with regard to governance in SOEs in the DOT and the DPE: - In the opinion of the author, governance elements of independence, ethnic diversity, average age and board meeting attendance compare evenly with each other. - The CEO position on boards from both departments is still male dominated. - There were clear differences with regard to gender diversity and the remuneration of CEOs and chairpersons. In this case, the DPE displayed higher figured in both elements. - There is a strong correlation between CEO remuneration and chairperson fee amongst both departments’ SOEs. CEO remuneration and total assets per SOE also correlate well. This, in the author’s opinion, explains the higher salaries of CEOs and chairpersons at SOEs responsible for import strategic infrastructure like Transport and Energy.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This report is an exploratory study assessing the life stages of South African women entrepreneurs. The purpose is to share significant learnings, experiences and challenges from an entrepreneurial perspective. The study followed a phenomenological approach; the findings have been formed based on the lived experiences of the women without imposing bias or existing knowledge frameworks. The study aims to share meaningful experiences from their situational contexts. The sample consisted of ten South African women entrepreneurs in various industries. The industries range from packaging, clothing, fast moving consumer goods (food), communications, accommodation, and asset management. Important findings of the study are that having relevant work experience, expertise in their fields, and established reputations within their respective industries assisted the participating women in establishing their businesses. However, the younger entrepreneurs with limited work experience were also able to establish successful enterprises owing to being highly skilled in their areas of expertise. They had chosen to study courses, after identifying their passions. They had specifically chosen courses directly related to the businesses they created in order to improve their expertise further. One participant was an exception to the women entrepreneurs participating. She had started her business with no related work experience and no expertise with regards to her product offering. In her case, passion for her product, upskilling herself, having a support structure, and having access to mentorship, assisted her in overcoming challenges.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the short-term insurance industry in South Africa in order to develop a strategic architecture for a new player to enter the market, differentiated primarily by operating on mutual principles. Mutual insurance is not something new and is widely applied across the world. However, in South Africa there is only one company that operates completely as a mutual. That company is known as the Professional Provident Society (PPS), and has been in operation since 1941. Although PPS operates completely as a mutual, it has only recently started to take part in the short-term insurance industry. Apart from them, there is no other short-term insurer that operates on mutual principles. In order to develop a strategic architecture, a thorough understanding of the industry and market was obtained by analysing the external and internal environments of short-term insurers in South Africa. The research is based on solid statistical data on all registered insurers, available from the governing body for insurers in South Africa, the Financial Services Board, as well as more qualitative data in the form of reports on industry analysis, performed by major auditors like KPMG and PWC. It also takes into consideration “cutting edge” approaches to starting up a new business, regardless of industry, through the application of the “Customer Development Model”, an approach based on lean and agile principles to mitigate the risk of developing a product / service at high cost before knowing if the market actually has a need or appetite for it. This research concludes by offering a strategic architecture and strategic implementation plan for a new player to enter the market, based on the analysis performed though the application of various strategic tools and frameworks. The primary findings of this research are that the industry is highly competitive, with longstanding ‘giants’ supported by parent companies. Those ‘giants’, however, all operate as stock insurers, and a transition by any one of them to mutual insurer, is highly unlikely. As mentioned, the industry currently only has one mutual insurer. This means there is really only one competitor (PPS) in terms of the profit sharing model and in that, PPS has a rather niche focus since its products are only available to graduate professionals. This research uses further external and internal environment analysis methods to extract industry information used in the formulation of a strategic architecture and business model for a new player to compete in the environment described above. It suggests that there is, in fact, room for a new player and that it can differentiate itself from stock insurers by applying the mutual model. It can further differentiate itself from stock insurers and PPS by expanding its market focus (i.e. not only for graduate professionals) and by utilising technology in productive and creative ways that encourages engagement with customers in a new way.