South Africa‘s education system is in dire straits with few people having access to tertiary education. This has resulted in a skills shortage across all industries. Private companies as well as public companies are experiencing problems due to this skills shortage. This paper investigated whether private companies feel they have a duty to assist in resolving this problem, considering Milton Friedman‘s assertion that the sole purpose of a company is to make money for the shareholders compared with the notion of conscious capitalism. A literature review was followed by a qualitative study where CEOs of private companies were interviewed. These companies included unlisted companies, partnerships and sole proprietors. During the interview process, they were asked whether in their opinion they have a duty to be involved in solving the problem of lack of access to tertiary education, whether they are currently involved and the reasons why they are involved or not. The question was asked whether in their opinion the theory of Friedman or conscious capitalism is more applicable to their environment through investment in education. It was found that the small business owner does experience a sense of duty and responsibility towards solving problems in tertiary education. In some cases, this was due to legislation promulgated by government. This sense of duty is limited to their immediate environment. It was shown how legislation has interfered with the theory of conscious capitalism in terms of the four constructs on which it is built and how various other factors need to be taken into account when considering whether conscious capitalism is relevant in the business environment. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

This study comprised an information audit of certain micro enterprises of Umkhanyakude District Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the information needs, information resources available and the information gaps that exist in these enterprises. The Umkhanyakude District Municipality consists of five local municipalities, but this study focused mainly on two, Jozini and Mtubatuba, because of their large number of local economic activities compared with the other local municipalities. The study primarily used questionnaires to collect data. These questionnaires were administered in the two municipalities identified. The results of the study revealed that technical information relating to business and financial management were the highest ranking information needs indicated by the sampled enterprises. Legal and business management information was the second most-needed information for these enterprises. The study also revealed a correlation between the academic level of the entrepreneurs, the type of business that the entrepreneurs operate and the kind of information they needed. The information resources that these enterprises had and used included newspapers, business magazines, market research documents and government documents. Based on the responses of the respondents, a gap was identified. This includes the lack of relevant sources of information that meet the respondents' information needs. This study also revealed that there are a number of institutions that provide information for these enterprises, such as community libraries, government information centres, bookshops, government offices and so on. Although these information resource institutions exist within the district municipality, these enterprises also have other information needs. This therefore led the researcher to conclude that these information resource structures are not providing their services according to the needs of the community at large. Based on the identified gaps the researcher recommends a participatory proactive approach. This approach uses participatory development communication platforms for the district municipality, the information resource institutions and local enterprises. The district municipality needs to have a platform which will identify information needs, gaps and pportunities for local enterprises. The information resource institutions need to provide platforms where they can assess the information needs of their customers and also have a customer management feedback system where they can assess whether they are responding to the customer needs. Finally, the micro enterprises need to use existing platforms to make the municipality and information resource institutions aware of their information needs. These platforms could include local and presidential izimbizo where the government comes to the people to address their concerns and issues. The approach recommended by this study is part of a development communication approach where participatory two-way communication platforms are used to bring about development. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Information Science / unrestricted

Background:  The concept of open innovation has surfaced for over a decade now and organizations have started to realize its importance and contribution. It has been also a topic of discussion during the last years but it still paves the way for future research. However, majority of the studies made so far were focused on its origins meaning high-tech companies situated in developed and large countries. Little, has been contributed to a context of low-tech SMEs in developing and developing countries.   Purpose:  The purpose of this study is to explore the concept of open innovation in a context of low-tech SMEs in small and developing countries but as well as exploring the knowledge perspective in relation to innovation process.   Method: The methodology used for this study is qualitative with an inductive approach. The empirical data were gathered through an appropriate inductive approach by using semi-structure interviews. With the help of frame of reference, we structured our topic guide for our data collection method. The gathered empirical data are then analysed using the inductively based analytical procedure of template analysis. Lastly, as the template analysis procedures suggest, coding was carried out in order to see emerging patterns and relationships between our empirical data, which later they were interpreted as our results.   Conclusion: The empirical results show some patterns between elements of the concept of open innovation. Concluding, the low-tech companies in small and developing countries are not fully aware of the concept of open innovation. However, they are exploiting several of the elements that surround open innovation. Regarding knowledge in their innovation process, we conclude that managerial levels play a crucial role. Since they do not have a systematic innovation process and instead are more opportunistic towards innovation, all the efforts for any knowledge identification and exploitation reside usually to the hands of one individual.

Thesis (M. Dev.) -- University of Limpopo, 2005 / Refer to document

Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Introduction: 1 November 2010  came the amendment about the audit requirement into force. The amendment concerned only micro-enterprises. The most common form offinancing for micro-enterprises are bank loans, therefore the banks play a major role in the business and wellness of micro-enterprises. Purpose: Purpose of this paper is to examine if the credit assessment has been affected by the removal of the audit requirement for micro-enterprises. Method: This study will be conducted by a qualitative study in the form of interviews. Five interviews were conducted, with four respondents from the large banks and    one respondent from Almi Företagspartner. Conclusion: All respondents agreed that the audit is seen as a mark of quality, some lenders will continue to request it from the micro-enterprise while other lenders look at other factors such as ownership, relationship or business concept.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

M. Comm. / Entrepreneurship has a significant economic contribution in terms of employment, job creation and wealth creation that can be attributed to entrepreneurial enterprises (Bell, Callaghan, Demick & Scharf 2004:1). Entrepreneurial activity in any economy often takes place in the small- micro- and medium enterprise (SMME) business sector (Rwigema & Venter 2004:315). However, in the establishment of SMMEs, entrepreneurs encounter or perceive barriers that hinder the establishment, sustenance and growth of these important vehicles that are vital to the development of both society and the economy (Kunene 2008). The focus of this research study is therefore to identify barriers and perceived barriers to entrepreneurship. The study is exploratory and specifically attempts to identify and understand the barriers perceived and experienced by entrepreneurs in the township of Mamelodi in establishing, sustaining and growing enterprises.

Magister Legum - LLM / This thesis explored the impact that Sectoral Determination 1: Contract Cleaning Sector, South Africa had on the growth of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the sector. It critically examined the prevailing perception in industry, that labour legislation has a negative impact on the growth of SMMEs, and, evaluates the South African government's response to this perception. / South Africa