Habilitationsschrift--Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 1977. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 349-375).

Habilitationsschrift--Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 1977. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 349-375).

South Africa's small, micro and medium enterprise (SMME) sector is an important contributor to GDP and employment. However, the contributions underperform the average low-income and middle-income country. The government has plans to increase SMME GDP and employment contributions. To do this, the Department of Small Business Development was recently established, and together with other agencies, several business incubators have been established. The number of incubators operating in the country has increased significantly in the recent past. There is a belief that incubators are organisations that will help SMMEs perform better and improve their chances of survival. To improve employment and GDP growth, SMMEs need to perform better and survive longer. However, there is limited evidence to confirm this understanding. This research aims to fill this gap of knowledge by investigating whether firms that participate in incubators have improved revenue, employment and financing performance, which improves survival prospects. The ordinary least squares estimation techniques was employed to estimate a cross sectional model to examine the effect of incubator participation on the performance of 182 SMMEs. The performance measures used included revenue, employment, and external equity, debt and philanthropic finance. The findings in the study from the cross-sectional analysis showed there was no selection bias and endogeneity evident. Firms with better performing dependent variables (revenue, employment and external financing) were no more likely to be selected to be incubated. Following this, the study found that firms that participated in incubators did not have a statistically significant different level of revenue, number of employees or external equity and debt financing, compared to firms that did not participate in incubators. The findings from the study indicated that increased participation in incubators did not guarantee increased revenue, employment and external equity and debt financing. The findings indicated that there was a possibility that incubated firms could raise more philanthropic financing than non-incubated firms. The policy recommendations from these finding are, therefore, to minimise the resources provided to incubators as they do not improve SMME performance. Resources should be provided to other SMME interventions such as providing growth capital directly to these firms.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 229-250).

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan Technological University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Michigan Technological University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goal of this research report is to provide a comprehensive overview of the new business potential that arises from the convergence of two of the fastest growing industries worldwide, namely the Internet and mobile communications. Most experts agree that this emerging mobile business market has great revenue potential. However, the initial market development has generally been very disappointing, because most service providers have not found ways to satisfy customer needs in this young, dynamic market. Since academic sources and best practices are rare in this new business environment. this study attempts to offer the necessary background and a sound decision base for successfully mastering the inherent challenges in this area. It focuses on mobile services to private customers. While concentrating on Western Europe, it nevertheless follows a global approach, which makes its results applicable to other industrialised world regions. After the possibilities of the enabling technologies are explored, the m-business market is analysed and the mobile service spectrum comprehensively evaluated. Furthermore, the requirements for customer acceptance and a mass-market breakthrough are determined, enriched by up-to-date findings of the writer's own market research. Mobile network operators are clearly dominating the m-business market, and their general misuse of power prevents the creation of fertile ground for a compelling mobile service spectrum. The clearly leading Japanese mobile service market is proof of bow cooperation and concentration on core competencies can create conditions for a fast market take-off, that benefits not only all value chain players, but especially the operators. It is crucial for the creation of successful mobile business applications to avoid the significant weaknesses of enabling technologies. Instead, mobile service providers need to use the valueadded characteristics in an optimal way. To continue merely to transfer offerings of the stationary Internet to the mobile medium will surely not suffice, since this only makes the limitations of the mobile technologies much more evident. Thus, in order to minimise these insufficiencies, the value-added characteristics of mobile technologies need to be exploited as intensively as possible. This means delivering highly time- and location-specific services that are simple and personalised. Even without considering the greatly inhibiting international roaming barriers, this can be done optimally in home networks. This strongly supports a mobile service development on national level. Overall, the focus must be on delivering what customers want, when they want it, at a cost that represents real value to the customer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel met hierdie navorsingsverslag is om 'n omvattende oorsig te verskaf van die nuwe sakepotensiaai wat ontstaan uit die sameloop van twee van die wereld se snelgroeiendste industriee, naamlik die Internet en mobiele kommunikasie. Die meeste deskundiges is dit eens dat hierdie ontluikende mobiele besigheidsmark enorme inkomste-potensiaal bied. Aanvanklike markontwikkeling was egter tot dusver oor die algemeen uiters teleurstellend omdat die meerderheid diensvoorsieners nog nie metodes gevind het om die behoeftes van kliente in hierdie jong, dinamiese mark voldoende aan te spreek rue. Aangesien akademiese bronne en beproefde gebruike in die nuwe sake-omgewing maar skraps is, trag hierdie studie om die nodige agtergrond en 'n soliede besluitnemingsbasis te bied sodat die inherente uitdagings op die terrein suksesvol onder die knie gekry kan word. Hierdie studie fokus op mobiele dienste aan private kliente. Hoewel daar op Wes-Europa gekonsentreer word, word nietemin 'n globale benadering gevolg wat meebring dat die studie se resultate ook op ander geindustrialiseerde wereldstreke toepaslik is. Nadat die moontlikhede van die hulp-tegnologiee uiteengesit is, word die m-besigheidsmark geanaliseer en die mobiele dienssprektrum volledig geevalueer. Vervolgens word die vereistes vir klientaanvaarding en 'n omvangryke mark-deurbraak vasgestel en dan verryk deur bevindinge uit die skrywer se eie marknavorsing tot nou toe. Klaarblyklik oorheers mobiele netwerk-operateurs die m-besigbeidsmark en hulle algemene misbruik van mag verhoed dat 'n vrugbare teelaarde vir 'n noodsaaklike mobiele diensspektrum ontstaan. Die duidelik leidende Japanse mobiele diensmark bewys hoe samewerking en klem op kernbevoegdhede toestande kan skep vir 'n snelle markopswaai, wat nie net alle waardekettingspelers nie, maar veral ook die operateurs bevoordeel. Dit is deurslaggewend vir die skep van geslaagde mobiele besigbeidstoepassings dat die veelseggende swakhede van hulp-tegnologiee vermy word. Mobiele diensvoorsieners moet eerder die waardetoegevoegde eienskappe op gunstige wyse aanwend. Om bloot voort te gaan met die oordrag van aanbiedinge van die statiese Internet na die mobiele medium sal sekerlik nie voldoende wees nie aangesien die beperkinge van die mobiele tegnologiee sodoende veel meer sigbaar gemaak word. Derhalwe is dit nodig om die waardetoegevoegde eienskappe van mobiele tegnologiee so intensief moontlik uit te buit ten einde hierdie gebreke te minimaliseer. Dit beteken dat persoonlike en ongekompliseerde dienste, wat hoogs tyd- en plek-gespesifiseerd is, voorsien moet word. Hierdie kan optimaal binne tuisnetwerke gedoen word sonder om eens die hoogs belemmerende internasionale swerfversperrings in ag te neem. 'n Mobiele diens-ontwikkeling op nasionale vlak word sterk hierdeur aanbeveel. In die geheel moet die fokus wees om aan kliente te verskaf wat hulle wil he, op 'n tydstip wanneer hulle dit verlang en teen koste wat absolute waarde aan hulle bied.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainable development, defined as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" is the focus of the research project. The main objectives of the study were firstly to identify the key issues for business around sustainable development for businesses, and secondly to propose a method for communicating these issues to business leaders based on their personality types. A literature study was conducted of the two relevant fields, namely sustainable development and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality type framework. From the first part of the study the findings indicated the recurring themes for sustainable development from a business perspective, which are firstly that businesses have no choice but to take cognisance of sustainable development, secondly that sustainable development makes business sense, thirdly that sustainable development is relevant for all types of business, fourthly that sustainable development requires innovative thinking and lastly that the pressure on business to conduct their operations according to sustainability principles will increase in future. According to the literature study on personality types and communication, MBTI distinguishes between sixteen personality types, based on four dimensions with two extremes each. One of the dimensions defines how people most effectively absorb information. Some people prefer a big picture, conceptual approach. Other people prefer details, facts and figures. The content of the communication should be guided accordingly. The other three dimensions of the MBTI personality definition inform decisions about the setting, communication media and interaction during communication. Relevance of the information and credibility of the sources is important in communication about an important topic, regardless of personality type. Recommendations are firstly that the personality-based approach for presenting the key issues regarding sustainable development to business leaders be used by practitioners in the field and academics, and secondly that the impact should be tested. The testing is a possible topic for another study project. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhouhare ontwikkeling, gedefinieer as "Ontwikkeling wat bestaande behoeftes aanspreek sonder om die vermoe van toekomstige geslagte te benadeel om hulle behoeftes aan te spreek", is die fokus van die werkstuk. Die belangrikste doelwitte van die studie was om eerstens die belangrikste kwessies rakende volhouhare ontwikkeling vanuit 'n besigheidsperspektief te identifiseer, en tweedens 'n manier voor te stel om hierdie kwessies aan te bied aan besigheidsleiers gebaseer op persoonlikheidstipes. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen van beide relevante velde, naamlik volhoubare ontwikkeling en die Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) raamwerk vir persoonlikheidstipes. Bevindings uit die eerste gedeelte van die studie het aangetoon dat die deurlopende temas rakende volhoubare ontwikkeling vanuit 'n besigheidsperspektief die volgende is: eerstens het besighede geen ander keuse as om kennis te neem van volhoubare ontwikkeling nie, tweedens dat volhoubare ontwikkeling voordelig vir besigheid is, derdens dat volhoubare ontwikkeling relevant is vir alle tipes besighede, vierdens dat volhoubare ontwikkeling innovasie vereis en laastens dat die druk op besighede in die toekoms gaan toeneem om volhoubare besigheid te bedryf. Uit die literatuurstudie oor persoonlikheidstipes en kommunikasie blyk dat MBTI onderskei tussen sestien persoonlikheidstipes, gebaseer op vier dimensies met twee ekstreme elk. Een van die dimensies definieer hoe mense inligting effektief inneem. Sommige mense verkies 'n konsepsuele, algemene benadering. Andere verkies detail, feite en syfers. Die inhoud van die kommunikasie moet dienooreenkomstig aangepas word. Die ander drie dimensies van die MBTI persoonlikheid definisie het 'n invloed op die omgewing, die kommunikasiemedia en die interaksie tydens kommunikasie. Relevansie van die inligting en betroubaarheid van die bronne is belangrik vir kommunikasie oor 'n belangrike onderwerp ongeag die persoonlikheidstipe. Aanbevelings is eerstens dat die persoonlikheidstipe benadering vir die aanbied van belangrike kwessies rakende volhoubare ontwikkeling aan besigheidsleiers gebruik word deur persone wat in die veld werk asook akademici of kursusaanbieders wat gehore toespreek daaroor. 'n Tweede aanbeveling is dat die impak van die benadering getoets word. Die toetsing is 'n moontlike onderwerp vir 'n ander werkstuk.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Corporate governance has become an issue of global significance. The improvement of corporate governance practices is widely recognized as one of the essential elements in strengthening the foundation for the long-term performance of countries and corporations. This study suggests that companies wishing to remain profitable and sustainable in the future should take a strategic and anticipatory approach to corporate governance. Anticipatory corporate governance requires companies to change short-term orientated decision-making practices to long-term profitable and sustainable policies with insight, vision and strategic foresight. The best candidates to shape a strategic and anticipatory approach towards good corporate governance practices are those who are expected to implement it – the board of directors. Taking an anticipatory approach to governance means that the board must co-design the future of their company by making decisions based on informed trends, evidence-based quantitative analyses and the expert opinion, experience and insight by its directors. The independent non-executive director plays a vital role in this process, as he/she provide specialist skills and bring objective reflection, constructive criticism and external judgment on issues of strategy and standards of conduct and evaluation. Strategic foresight has the potential to assist and empower independent non-executive directors in taking an anticipatory and strategic approach to corporate governance as it provides them with the capability to understand, interpret and respond to current challenges, and to conceive and explore as yet unimagined approaches and solutions to these problems to ensure a profitable and sustainable. The study put forward an instructional intervention – The Art of Shapeshifting – aimed specifically at South African independent non-executive directors by providing them with the skills, knowledge and foresight that will eventually translate into increased personal development awareness of the need for sustainable development and good corporate governance. The basic premise of this intervention is that a change in corporate law and corporate governance recommendations needs to be matched by a change in human behaviour. A new mind-set is required by directors to anticipate and prepare for the future. The researcher proposes a process of “shapeshifting” that requires a futures orientation, with strong strategic foresight capability and capacity, founded on flexible and adaptable systems within an anticipatory governance framework. Thus, the main aim of the research is to design, develop and implement the shapeshifting framework as an instructional intervention in order to assist South African independent nonexecutives in taking an anticipatory approach to corporate governance using strategic foresight as core competence. It consequently evaluates whether participation in the intervention would lead to a change in the knowledge, altruism, attitude, values, socially responsible behaviour, skills, behaviour and empowerment of independent non-executive directors with regard to directorial duties and good corporate governance practice. This in turn would contribute to an increased awareness of sustainable development, and the need for futures-orientated anticipatory approach to corporate governance. The research results show that the shapeshifting intervention is seen to make an overall positive contribution to improved knowledge, altruism, attitude of independent non-executive directors with regard to sustainable development, their duties and responsibilities, and a more futures-orientated approach. The shapeshifting intervention also has an impact on changing attitudes and values towards sustainable development, corporate citizenship and corporate governance. The results also indicate that the shapeshifting intervention assists in the empowerment of independent nonexecutive directors through the use of strategic foresight to initiate and sustain good corporate governance in practice. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-99). Also available on the Internet.