Figures show the unemployment rate in South Africa is increasing. Entrepreneurship is a very good solution to decrease the unemployment rate and increase the economic growth of South Africa. Very few studies have been done on entrepreneurship, including women entrepreneurs, as men have always been the leaders in this regard. More than 50% of South Africa‟s population is female and deemed as a very important factor for the country's economic growth. Women entrepreneurs have been understudied; there are also other factors and relationships that should be investigated and understood for the government to be able to establish programmes and assistance for women entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. The research for this study was conducted in the Gauteng Province as poverty levels are high, despite large industries in this province and the fact that it is the most Gross Domestic Province for South Africa. The objective of this study is to investigate women entrepreneurship in the Gauteng and to make practical recommendations to enhance women entrepreneurship in this province. A survey including 41 women-owned businesses was conducted. A detailed profile of the woman entrepreneur in Gauteng was compiled, including the structure of the business. Factors such as the level of organisational commitment, dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, development needs as well as the perceived business success, have been investigated. The relationships between these factors have also been investigated in the empirical research. The most urgent needs of women entrepreneurs in Gauteng are marketing training, financial support, machinery, equipment and tools as well as infrastructure. It is recommended that these needs are addressed through a support initiative especially implemented for women entrepreneurs. These factors need to be understood by the government in order to establish and assist women entrepreneurs in South Africa. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The subject matter of this thesis is governance principles in global management concepts and the application of such principles by managers at a local level. The thesis includes a case study on a foreign-owned Swedish group of companies that has introduced the management concept of High Performance Culture in all of its consolidated group countries. Global management concepts usually originate from the United States and make use of neorational governance principles. High Performance Culture is a management concept that puts increased performance and individualisation in the foreground. In addition, the concept advocates co-determination and self-development. The governance principles further promote employee autonomy orientation and self-development in addition to a leader-centric approach. The case study results indicate a discrepancy in the requirements of the governance principles of the management concept, highlighting the various dimensions of cultural layers and values to which managers in the same organisation are subject. The same values had an effect in different ways on the managers’ interpretation and handling of the management concept. This interpretation and handling of the management concept tools led to an implementation that partially opposed what the French management team and management concept advocated. The managers choosing to oppose the governance principles of the management concept can be seen as an example of modern individualism, according to which people are increasingly questioning rigid and hierarchic authority while showing initiative and assessing one’s own personal work. Hence, the values of modern individualism can act as a counterforce to neorational governance principles. / <p>Akademisk avhandling för avläggande av doktorsexamen i Arbetsvetenskap, som med tillstånd av Fakultetsnämnden vid Fakulteten för humaniora och samhällsvetenskap, vid</p><p>Karlstads universitet framläggs till offentlig granskning fredagen den 25 oktober 2013 kl. 13.00, sal C203, Högskolan i Borås.</p>

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the type of decision-making approaches used by businesswomen, both intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs, under conditions of uncertainty, and how the human and social capital they possess influence their strategic entrepreneurial behaviour (SEB). Entrepreneurial decision making often takes place under uncertain conditions, in which rational models provide little guidance for decision makers. Effectuation is proposed as an alternative decision model to rationality, particularly for emerging opportunities. Although some exploratory work has been conducted on this school of thought, research gaps remain. Particularly, there is a lack of research on businesswomen, despite the fact that they are an important group of entrepreneurs within the economy with great potential to contribute to economic growth, development and employment generation. The study population was South African businesswomen, and the membership register of the South African Businesswomen's Association (BWA) was used as a sampling frame. An online survey was sent to all members and a total of 269 usable responses were obtained. Data were analysed with SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings indicate there are no significant differences between the decisionmaking approaches of intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs, and that they use both effectuation and causation when shaping and implementing new initiatives, while the literature argues that these two approaches are distinct and dichotomous. In using a causal approach, the respondents value planning and a systematic approach to new, uncertain projects, although they realise the benefit of flexibility and of limiting the downside loss to their decisions; therefore they also incorporate elements of effectual logic. Furthermore, businesswomen's ability to cultivate relationships plays an integral role in the SEB process for both effectuation and causation, with businesswomen emphasising their relationships with key stakeholders. Concerning businesswomen's human capital, the study finds that self-efficacy plays an important role in terms of businesswomen's confidence, and that it has an impact on both SEB decision-making approaches. Several theoretical, practical and educational implications arise from these findings. Theoretically, this study contributes to the decision-making literature by showing that businesswomen utilise both decision-making styles and do not merely rely on one or the other. Furthermore, it also shows that relationship cultivation and self-efficacy are significantly related to both SEB approaches. Practically, both businesswomen and other stakeholders, such as financial institutions, should recognise the relevance and importance of using both styles and not stress causation above effectuation, as is the case currently. Furthermore, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which is relevant for both approaches to SEB, can be raised through investing in targeted training and education in female entrepreneurship. For entrepreneurship educators, these findings emphasise that courses should incorporate both decision-making styles and that these skills should be developed in students. Business management students should be taught that, while logical, planned and prediction-based causal approaches are appropriate under stable conditions, effectuation provides resources to approach uncertain conditions more effectively. In addition, entrepreneurial initiatives with a low degree of innovativeness also would be more suited to a predictive, casual approach, while initiatives with a higher degree of innovativeness would benefit from using effectual principles. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die besluitnemingsmetodes van sakevroue, beide intrapreneurs en entrepreneurs, onder omstandighede van onsekerheid te bepaal en te bestudeer hoe die menslike en sosiale kapitaal wat hulle besit hul strategiese entrepreneuriese gedrag (SEG) beïnvloed. Entrepreneuriese besluitneming vind dikwels onder onsekere omstandighede plaas waar rasionele modelle min leiding aan besluitnemers verskaf. Effektuasie ("effectuation") word voorgestel as 'n alternatiewe besluitnemingsmodel tot rasionaliteit, spesifiek vir ontluikende geleenthede. Hoewel daar reeds verkennende navorsing in die veld gedoen is, is daar steeds navorsingsgapings. Daar is veral 'n tekort aan navorsing oor sakevroue ten spyte van die feit dat hulle een van die belangrikste groepe entrepreneurs binne die ekonomie is, met groot potensiaal om 'n bydrae tot ekonomiese groei, ontwikkeling en werkskepping te lewer. Die studiebevolking was Suid-Afrikaanse sakevroue, en die lederegister van die Suid-Afrikaanse Sakevrouevereniging (BWA) is as steekproefraamwerk gebruik. 'n Aanlynopname is aan al die lede gestuur en 'n totaal van 269 bruikbare antwoorde is ontvang. Data is ontleed met behulp van SPSS deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende en inferensiële statistiese tegnieke. Die bevindinge dui aan dat daar geen betekenisvolle verskil tussen die besluitnemingsbenaderings van intrapreneurs en entrepreneurs is nie en dat beide effektuasie ("effectuation") en kousaliteit ("causation") in die vorming en implementering van nuwe inisiatiewe gebruik word. Volgens die literatuur is hierdie twee besluitnemingsbenaderings egter duidelik onderskeibaar. In die gebruik van 'n kousale ("causal") benadering heg die respondente waarde aan beplanning en 'n sistematiese benadering tot nuwe, onseker projekte. Hulle besef egter die voordeel van buigsaamheid en die beperking van besluite wat met kousaliteit gepaard gaan; hulle neem dus ook elemente van effektuasie-logika in ag. Verder speel sakevroue se vermoë om verhoudings te kweek 'n integrale rol in die SEG-proses vir beide effektuasie ("effectuation") en kousaliteit ("causation"), met sakevroue wat hulle verhoudings met sleutel rolspelers beklemtoon. Met betrekking tot sakevroue se menslike kapitaal het die studie gevind dat self-doeltreffendheid 'n belangrike rol in terme van sakevroue se vertroue speel en dat dit 'n impak op beide SEGbesluitnemingsbenaderings het. Verskeie teoretiese, praktiese en opvoedkundige implikasies ontstaan uit hierdie bevindinge. Teoreties het hierdie studie bygedra tot besluitnemings-literatuur deur aan te toon dat sakevroue gebruik maak van albei besluitnemingstyle en nie net op een staatmaak nie. Die studie het ook gevind dat die kweek van verhoudings, asook selfdoeltreffendheid, beduidend verband hou met beide SEG-benaderings. Prakties moet sakevroue en ander belanghebbendes, soos finansiële instellings, die toepaslikheid en belangrikheid van die gebruik van beide style herken, en nie op kousaliteit klem lê bo effektuasie nie. Verder kan entrepreneuriese selfdoeltreffendheid, wat vir beide benaderings tot SEG relevant is, verhoog word deur in geteikende opleiding en onderrig oor vroulike entrepreneurskap te belê. Vir entrepreneurskapopvoeders beklemtoon hierdie bevindinge dat kursusse beide besluitnemingstyle in ag moet neem en dat hierdie vaardighede in studente ontwikkel moet word. Ondernemingsbestuurstudente moet leer dat hoewel logiese, beplande en voorspellingsgebaseerde kousaliteitsbenaderings onder stabiele omstandighede toepaslik is, effektuasie maniere bied om onsekere situasies meer effektief te benader. Entrepreneuriese inisiatiewe met 'n lae graad van innovasie is meer geskik vir 'n voorspellende, kousale benadering, terwyl inisiatiewe met 'n hoër mate van innovasie voordeel sal trek uit die gebruik van effektuasiebeginsels.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die navorsingsverslag het ons geleer dat dit belangrik is om kennis te dra van menslike gedrag. As ‘n mens ‘n goeie idee het hoe mense funksioneer en dinge doen, sal dit makliker wees om saam te werk en om mekaar beter te verstaan. Die skrywer het in hoofstuk twee gevind dat konflik ‘n positiewe invloed kan hê op die transformasie van ‘n seun/dogter in ‘n familiebesigheid. In Hoofstuk 2 word die belangrikheid van kommunikasie in enige besigheid, en veral in ‘n familiebesigheid, beklemtoon. Die skrywer het gevind dat daar nie ‘n groot verskil tussen De Villiers (1985) se studie en dié studie is nie. Hier is ‘n paar verskille wat in Hoofstuk 5 uitgelig is. Seuns en vaders weet nie regtig wat die seun se rol in die familiebesigheid is nie. Hierdie probleem kan direk toegeskryf word aan swak kommunikasie. In Hoofstuk 2 kan ons lees hoe belangrik kommunikasie is. Daar is geen strategie hoe die vader die besigheid gaan verlaat nie. Dit is belangrik om so ‘n verlatingsstrategie op papier vas te lê. Die rede vir so ‘n strategie is om ‘n doel te hê om na te streef en om daarna te werk. Dit kan as ‘n plan gesien word om vas te stel wanneer die vader kan aftree en die seun kan begin planne maak vir sy toekoms. Seuns en vaders het verskillende opinies. Marshack (2003) verwys in Hoofstuk 2 dat die jonger generasie deur konflik ‘n merk in die besigheid kan maak, maar dit hang af of hulle met ‘n doeltreffende oplossing vorendag kan kom vir die konflik of die probleem. In Hoofstuk 2 kan meer oor konflik gelees word. Die skrywer van hierdie navorsingsprojek hoop dat die lesers meer duidelikheid sal hê oor die onderwerp en die implikasies in bestuur en mensevehoudings as ‘n seun/dogter die familiebesigheid betree. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this research report we learned how important it is to have an understanding of human behaviour. If one has a good understanding on how people function and operate, it is easier to work with other people and it is easier to understand one another. The writer learned that there is not a big difference between the results of the study done by De Villiers (1985) and this study. There are a few differences that can be found in Chapter 5. Sons and fathers are often confused on what role the son plays in the family business. This problem is usually a direct consequence of bad communication. In Chapter 2 we can read how important good communication is. There is often no exit strategy for the father in the family business. It is important to have an exit strategy on paper. The reason for an exit strategy is to have a goal to work towards. This is just a plan to see when it will be possible for the father to retire, and for the son to make plans for his future. Sons and fathers usually have different opinions. Marshack (2003) says in Chapter 2 that through conflict the younger generation can make a mark in the business if they come up with a proper and different solution. In Chapter 2 you can read more about resolving conflict. The writer hopes that you will have more answers on the implications in management and human relations when a son/daughter enters a family business after studying this research project.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Inspired by the recent rise in interest surrounding the Sharing Economy, this report seeks to provide insight into the potential for sharing in cities. I focus my attention on land; as one of the scarcest resources in urban areas land holds some of the greatest potential for sharing. I strive to develop an awareness of the challenges against and opportunities for shareable approaches to land use and development of city-owned land. Through interviews and archival research I explore a variety of projects, programs and initiatives in Austin, TX and San Francisco, CA. Based on my findings I provide suggestions for the City of Austin in developing a more shareable approach to land use and development. / text

Corporate governance practice has recently become an important topic around the world and specifically within the emerging stock markets in order to avoid expropriation by corporate management at the expense of minority shareholders. Although corporate governance is considered to be tremendously important in many countries, whether developed or developing, corporate governance does not exist in Kuwait as a mean of shareholder protection. This thesis intends to provide a regulatory analysis to laws and regulations that should be implemented to regulate corporate governance practice in Kuwait in private companies and in the State-Owned Enterprises. The second chapter draws a theoretical framework of corporate governance. These theories must be discussed, because this thesis is the first to address corporate governance from a legal perspective and will help Kuwaiti practitioners and those involved in corporate governance practice to gain a better and more comprehensive understanding of and appreciation for effective corporate governance. The third chapter provides an overview of the corporate governance practice in the emerging markets. The fourth chapter presents the characteristics of a corporate culture to lay the groundwork for adopting corporate governance that will fit within the Kuwaiti culture. The fifth chapter offers an assessment of the institutional settings necessary to establish a sound corporate governance system in Kuwait, including legal and political institutions. The sixth chapter will examine corporate governance practice in the State-Owned Enterprises in Kuwait. The seventh chapter focuses on the best practices of corporate governance and the protection of shareholders in companies listed in the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) by analysing the regulations and laws that apply to the KSE and that should relate to corporate governance. Chapter eight offers recommendations for corporate governance reform that derive from the assessment made in this thesis in both public and private sectors in Kuwait. Finally, chapter nine provides the general conclusion of the thesis and the contribution of this study.

This thesis examines China's state-owned enterprise reform and financial reform in the last two decades. I characterize the progress of China's state-owned enterprises reform in two areas: privatization of small SOEs and mass layoffs. I argue that privatization rests on the political economy of China. I also discuss the evolution of the financial system and come up with some strategies of financial liberalization in China. Result from this study suggests that if the necessary reforms of the financial sector and state enterprises are effectively carried out, inevitably this will lead to a significantly slower rate of growth for a period of time. However, these reforms will provide the basis for a period of sustained growth in the long run.

容積移轉(Transfer of Development Rights, TDR)制度，源自於歐美國家為保護自然環境、生態環境及文化資產所創設之發展權移轉，多應用於歷史古蹟、歷史保存區與環境敏感地區之保護及保存，此外，並利用都市成長管理計畫加以管理。而在台灣地區，因政府長期受限於公共設施保留地取得問題，故而將容積移轉適用範圍擴大應用於公共設施保留地取得，於是各縣市政府陸續依據內政部訂定之「都市計畫容積移轉實施辦法」訂定自治條例。 政府為解決私有既成道路徵收補償問題，於是訂定「中央補助直轄市縣市政府取得私有既成道路試辦計畫」，希望能以競標方式為手段取得私有既成道路，基於私有既成道路因係私有財產權受有財產權制度性保障，以避免民眾權益受到損害，解決社會不公平問題。 本研究採取對容積移轉及競標制度相關理論做文獻回顧，認為藉由實施容積移轉制度確實是一種可保護自然環境、生態環境、文化資產及取得公共設施保留地的一種方法，卻不是唯一可行的方式，在制度面上有許多未盡周延或實際操作上極待克服的課題。 從本研究中發現容積移轉制度的容積價值換算及競標制度的競標價格，並不能真實補償私有公共設施保留地土地所有權長期無法補償的損失，且確實尚未達到各縣市土地徵收補償標準及容積移轉適用性。期望藉由建構競標價格權重分配模型之補償機制，確立合理的競標價格補償比例規範，透過量化標準尋找競標價格補償比例，其目的是作為日後增修法令調整項目核給競標比例之參考。 政府制定及執相關都市計畫政策都應要有宏觀的視野，對於容積移轉及競標政策，我們認為政府的設計與做法應該更謹慎，才是一個政府永續經營的負責態度，才能為人民建立一個安居樂業的生活環境。 / The mechanism of TDR is for the protection of the conservation of natural environment and eco-system and cultural assets in United States and Europe area. Most casts of TDR are used to reserve the historical district and the sensitive areas, in addition to manage the urban development. In Taiwan, the government expands the use of TDR to retain the lands for public-facilities use, in order to resolve the long-tern struggling of the storage of public-facilities lands. Base on the regulation of the 「The Implementation Measures of TDR in Urban Planning」, the local government formulate the measures one after another. The government in order to solve the issue of the compensation for privately owned road expropriation. To formulate the「The central government subsidy municipalities and counties to obtain a privately owned road into a pilot project」, it is hoped that a privately owned road can be obtained by bidding means. Based on the private ownership of the road, because of the system of private property rights protected by property rights. To avoid damage of the public rights and interests. And solve the problem of social unfair. In this thesis, the capacity transfer theory and the bidding mechanism are reviewed. We conclude that the current system of the capacity transfer is one method to conservation of natural environment and eco-system and cultural assets and in the acquisition of the public reserved but not the only best one. There are still some problems in the system, especially in the practical execution aspect. We found that the current formula for the estimation of the capacity value in the capacity transfer system and the bidding price in the bidding mechanism, they do not really compensate the loss of the long-term private ownership of the public reserved. Furthermore, it does not meet the standard of the compensation for expropriating land, neither does the capacity transfer appropriation. Except to build the compensation mechanism of bidding price weighting allocation model. Establish the reasonable compensation proportion specification of bidding price. Find the compensation proportion specification of bidding price through the quantification criteria. The purpose is to adjust the project as a future increase in the proportion of approved bidding reference. The government should have a global consideration in the urban planning and in enhancement of the living quality in the city. For the capacity transfer theory and the bidding mechanism, we suggest that the government should be more prudent designing the system and the execution. For the sustainable management, it is a responsibility for a city government to help citizens lead their happy life.

Estudos que avaliam a importância do governo no mercado de crédito têm adquiro mais relevância após a crise econômico-financeira de 2008. Antes os bancos públicos e as políticas de direcionamento do crédito no Brasil eram vistos como ineficientes e até mesmo prejudiciais para o mercado de crédito e consequentemente para a economia. Entretanto, no enfretamento da mais recente crise com impacto global, o governo e seus diversos canais para facilitar o crédito em um cenário de escassez foram percebidos como importantes para manter a estabilidade do crédito. Este trabalho avaliou o papel dos bancos de propriedade pública e da categoria de créditos direcionados para controlar a escassez de crédito durante a crise. A amostra foi composta pelos bancos do Sistema Financeiro Nacional cujas características se enquadraram no objetivo do trabalho, com dados contábeis e financeiros do período entre a crise, de 2005 a 2013. Por meio do uso de dados em painel, o estimador utilizado foi o GMM Sistêmico. Os resultados sugerem que os bancos públicos durante a crise expandiram as operações de crédito, na tentativa de aliviar a contração dos bancos privados. Para a participação do crédito direcionado não foi percebido grandes alterações durante a crise, entretanto como era esperada, a participação dos bancos privados foi mais significativa que a dos bancos públicos nesta categoria de crédito. Também fez parte do estudo observar se os bancos que detinham maior participação de direcionado em sua carteira foram os que mais ofertaram crédito durante a crise, entretanto não foi possível encontrar evidências que apoiasse esta hipótese, e também não se pode concluir que a magnitude foi maior para os bancos de propriedade privada / Studies assessing the importance of government in the credit market have gained more relevance after the economic/financial crisis in 2008. Before state-owned banks and earmarked policies in Brazil were seen as ineffective and even harmful for the credit market and hence the economy. However, that confronts the latest crisis with global impact, the government and its several ways to promote credit in a scenario of shortage were seen as important to keep credit stability. This study assessed the role of state-owned banks and earmarked credit to control the shortage of credit during the crisis. The sample was compounded by banks in the National Financial System whose characteristics meet the needs of this study, with accounting and financial data for the period within the crisis, from 2005 to 2013. Through the use of panel data, the estimator used was the System GMM. The results suggest that state-owned banks during the crisis expanded credit operations in attempt to relieve the contraction of privately-owned banks. Major changes in the earmarked shares were not noticed during crisis, but as it was expected the privately-owned banks´share was more significant than the state-owned banks´share in this loan category. Additionally, the study aimed to find out if banks that held bigger earmarked share in their portfolio were ones that most offered credit during the crisis, however it was not possible to find evidences that support that hypothesis and also it´s not conclusive if the magnitude was higher for privately-owned banks.