M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of the entrepreneurial development programme (EDP) implemented by the Soshanguve Manufacturing Technology Demonstration Centre (SMTDC) in supporting existing and nascent entrepeneurs to establish and grow their small manufacturing venture. South Africa, like most developing countries, has a high unemployment rate, low economic growth and a dismal early-stage entrepreneurial activity. EDP's are developed to assist aspiring entrepreneurs in successfully starting and managing their ventures.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The third King Report on Corporate Governance, commonly referred to as King III, was released during September 2009. This was the first of the three released King Reports that apply to all entities regardless of the manner and form of incorporation or establishment. The purpose of the King Reports is to promote the highest standards of corporate governance in South Africa. The King Code is not an enforceable set of rules, but rather guidelines to assist companies in implementing principles of good governance and ultimately best business practices. Statistics indicate that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) perform an indispensable role in a country’s economy. Given the significance of these enterprises it becomes fundamental to understand the role that corporate governance and corporate governance practices play within SMEs. The goal of this research report is to conduct an investigation into the applicability of King III, considered to be the leading authority on corporate governance within South Africa, to SMEs. The various principles of King III were extracted to determine to what extent they are applicable to the SME environment. It follows that the King III Report (including the Draft King III Report) is the primary source of literature used throughout the research report. The research report includes a brief review of the development of the King Reports from King I to King III and SMEs and corporate governance from a national and international perspective. The supposition is that most of the principles as outlined by King III would be applicable to all businesses and therefore all SMEs. The research report aims to marry the two concepts of corporate governance and SMEs as far as possible. The review of the various principles confirmed the supposition that the majority of principles of King III apply to SMEs. The study also confirmed that a number of principles only apply to so-called large SMEs and that smaller SMEs would simply not be able to justify the fulfilment thereof. A number of codes and principles only apply to businesses operating in ‘companies’ as legal entities and hence are not applicable to all SMEs. Various recommendations are made with reference to the adoption and customisation of specific principles by SMEs. The writer furthermore recommends that there may well be scope to compile a corporate governance code specifically addressed to SMEs in South Africa. Such a code may incorporate the unique dynamics of the SME environment and address the specific criteria and needs within SMEs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die derde King Verslag oor Korporatiewe Beheer wat algemeen bekend staan as King III, is tydens September 2009 vrygestel. Hierdie verslag was die eerste van die drie King Verslae wat van toepassing is op alle entiteite ongeag vorm van inkorporasie. Die doel van die King Verslae was en is steeds om die hoogste standaarde van korporatiewe beheer in Suid-Afrika te vestig. Die King Kode is nie ‘n afdwingbare stel reëls nie maar eerder riglyne wat hulp verleen aan besighede vir die implementering van beginsels van goeie korporatiewe beheer en besigheidsgedrag. Statistiek toon dat Klein en Medium Ondernemings (KMOs) ‘n onontbeerlike rol vervul in die ekonomieë van lande. Gegewe die belangrikheid van KMOs in die ekonomie is dit van fundamentele belang om te verstaan watter rol korporatiewe beheer en goeie korporatiewe beheer beginsels in KMOs speel. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsverslag is om te bepaal wat die toepaslikheid van King III, wat algemeen as die leier van korporatiewe beheer in Suid-Afrika aanvaar word, op KMOs is. Die onderskeie beginsels en riglyne van die King III Verslag word ontleed om te bepaal in watter mate hierdie riglyne en beginsels van toepassing is vir die KMO omgewing. Dit volg dat die King III Verslag (asook die Konsep King III Verslag) deurgaans as primêre bron gebruik word. Die navorsingsverslag sluit ‘n kort oorsig van die ontwikkeling van die King Verslae, vanaf King I tot en met King III, in. Verder word ‘n oorsig van KMOs en korporatiewe beheer op ‘n nasionale en internasionale grondslag bespreek. Die veronderstelling is dat die meeste van die riglyne en onderliggende beginsels, soos uiteengesit en beskryf in King III, van toepassing is op alle besighede, derhalwe ook KMOs. Die navorsingsprojek het ten doel om die konsepte van korporatiewe beheer en KMOs te vereenselwig so ver prakties moontlik. Die oorsig van die onderskeie riglyne en beginsels bevestig die vermoede dat die meerderheid van die riglyne en beginsels van King III van toepassing is op alle KMOs. Die studie bevestig ook dat ‘n aantal riglyne en beginsels slegs van toepassing is op sogenaamde groot KMOs en dat klein KMOs waarskynlik nie die toepassing daarvan sal kan regverdig nie. Sekere riglyne en beginsels is slegs van toepassing op KMOs wat as ‘n maatskappy as regsentiteit funksioneer en derhalwe nie van toepassing op alle KMOs nie. Verskeie aanbevelings word gemaak met betrekking tot die toepassing van spesifieke riglyne en beginsels deur KMOs. Die skrywer beveel verder aan dat daar ruimte is vir die ontwikkeling van ‘n korporatiewe beheer kode wat spesifiek gemik is op KMOs in Suid Afrika. Hierdie kode kan die unieke dinamika van die KMO omgewing inkorporeer en spesifieke kriteria en behoeftes van KMOs aanspreek.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African business environment is undergoing drastic changes. Unemployment is on the increase, globalisation is becoming a serious factor to contend with, competition in many industries is increasing and the South African government is pursuing more international investments. All these factors contribute to these changes. Many companies are rationalising to ensure competitiveness within the South African economy and to ensure that products are competitive with international brands entering South Africa. Increasing unemployment in South Africa is forcing individuals to develop an entrepreneurial spirit. The only method to curb this wave of unemployment is to invest in a small to medium size enterprise. Entrepreneurs in the USA have permanently altered the economy of the USA in the past 30 years. It is felt that this entrepreneurial spirit will also change the South African economy in years to follow. This research project analysed and discussed the window of opportunity for a small to medium size enterprise manufacturing plastic wrapping. The Plastics Industry Analysis Framework was developed to ensure a comprehensive insight into the plastics industry of South Africa. This framework is the combination of the Five Forces Model of Competition and the General Framework for an Industry Analysis, both developed by Michael Porter. The research found that the plastics industry is currently undergoing drastic changes, specifically in regard to South African legislation. It was also found that the plastics industry historically grew by 5% per annum, however, in recent years this growth was negative. Since 1998 the plastics industry reduced in size by 7,1%. Legislation in regard to plastic bags has had a major impact on the plastics industry. The research found that nearly 2000 additional jobs have been lost. The research found that the window of opportunity for a small to medium size plastic wrapping enterprise is limited. The effect of the new legislation on plastic bags is not clearly known, however, it has already negatively influenced the plastics industry. Opportunities do exist within other market sectors of the plastics industry of which recycling and export market sectors are prime examples. Future opportunities within the plastics industry will have to be carefully analysed to ensure success of any new venture. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse sake-omgewing ondergaan tans drastiese veranderinge. Verhoogde vlakke van werkloosheid, die bedreiging van globalisering, die kompetisie tussen industrieë, sowel as die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se strewe na internasionale beleggings, dra alles by tot hierdie veranderinge. Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye rasionaliseer nie nét om kompeterend te bly binne die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie nie, maar ook dat hulle produkte kompeterend moet wees teenoor internasionale handelsmerke wat Suid-Afrika binnekom. Die verhoogde vlakke werkloosheid forseer individue om 'n entrepreneuriese denkwyse te ontwikkel. Belegging in 'n klein tot medium grootte besigheid is die enigste manier om werkloosheid teen te werk. Entrepreneurs in die VSA het dié land se ekonomie in die laaste 30 jaar permanent verander. Daar word gespekuleer dat hierdie entrepreneuriese denkwyse in die toekoms kan bydra tot veranderinge in die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie. Hierdie studie het die geleentheidsvenster van 'n klein tot medium grootte vervaardiger van plastiekfilm ondersoek. 'n Analitiese raamwerk is ontwikkel om 'n volledige begrip van die Suid-Afrikaanse plastiekbedryf daar te stel. Die raamwerk is saamgestel uit navorsing van Michael Porter, met spesifieke verwysing na kompetisie binne industrieë en 'n algemene raamwerk om industriëe te analiseer. Die ondersoek het getoon dat die plastiekbedryf tans drastiese veranderinge ondergaan, met verwysing spesifiek na Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing. Histories het die plastiekbedryf jaarliks met 5% gegroei, maar negatiewe groei is die afgelope jare waargeneem. Sedert 1998 het die plastiekbedryf met 7,1% in grootte gekrimp. Wetgewing, met betrekking tot plastieksakke, het 'n groot impak op die plastiekbedryf gehad. Navorsing het getoon dat ongeveer 2000 bykomende werkgeleenthede verlore gegaan het. Die ondersoek het bewys dat die geleentheidsvenster vir die klein tot medium grootte plastiekfilm vervaardiger, beperk is. Hoewel die totale uitwerking van die nuwe wetgewing op plastieksakke nog onbekend is, is daar reeds 'n negatiewe tendens in die plastiekbedryf waargeneem. Geleenthede bestaan egter in verskeie ander marksektore binne die plastiekbedryf waarvan herwinning- en uitvoermarksektore voorbeelde is. Deeglike analise van geleenthede in die plastiekbedryf kan sukses in 'n toekomstige besigheid verseker.

This thesis formed part of a existing longitudinal study. The overall study is an outcome of research done to understand success and failure issues in Africa, which is an attempt to understand the impact of a short entrepreneurial training programme on the performance of small scale enterprises over time. The study is unique in the South African context in that it is the first short term, 3 days, entrepreneurial training programme that is assessed by means of a longitudinal method incorporating a control group.

Submitted in full requirement for the Degree Masters in Technology: Marketing, Technikon Natal, 2000. / It has been largely accepted that Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are principal driving forces in economic development (UN-ECE, 1999; Istomina, 1998; Lalkaka, 1996). However, many small, medium and micro enterprises are constrained by an array of problems such as a lack of access to finance, training services and physical infrastructure. Also, small, medium and micro enterprises are forced to operate in highly competitive environments and transition economies and this limits the ability of small, medium and micro enterprises and even large organisations to operate successfully and efficiently. Consequently, a strategy focused on inter-firm linkages and collaboration could alleviate the problems faced by small, medium and micro enterprises. Research indicates that inter-firm linkages or clustering can lead to the emergence of collective efficiency, which facilitates the industrialisation of SMMEs and has the potential of contributing to economic development (Schmitz, 1995). A cluster would involve interaction between enterprises or networks of enterprises that produce identical or similar products. These linkages create 'collective efficiency' which is critical in sustaining a competitive edge. The ability of small, medium and micro enterprises to maintain this competitive edge will ensure greater success and opportunities for specialisation and differantion. / M

In fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Management in Finance and Investment at the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at the University of Witwatersrand Graduate School of Business, 2016 / The increasing number of BB-BEE policies and strategies aimed at supporting SMEs in South Africa is evidence that Black-owned SMEs are important for development of the country. Between 2007 and 2010, the number of SMEs grew by almost 60%, contributing approximately 61% of the country's GDP. In spite of the widespread financial support put in place by government agencies to support them, findings reported that SMEs in South Africa score a relatively high failure rate. Moreover, little is known about the causes of these high failure rates. This thesis aimed at filling the gap in the literature by identifying the risks that South African Black-owned SMEs face. In doing so, Black-owned SME owners/managers were interviewed across various industry sectors. This revealed that although these owners/managers were well educated and skilled, they did not believe that their staff were trained enough. The findings revealed financial risks were still the most prominent risks these SMEs face, which seemingly gave rise to other risk factors such as the lack of access to technological improvements or skilled labour, and their inability to set up or run effective marketing strategic plans. The gap between the supply of and the demand for financial support for Black-owned SMEs could be attributed to a number of factors, including red tape, bureaucracy, corruption, politics and an unstable economy. A number of implications followed from this. For the financial support to reach its target effectively, independent and transparent micro-finance institutions have to be in place. This needs to be coupled with the establishment of a platform for Blackowned SMEs that could be used to market Black-owned SME products and services. Another solution could be the design of SME-aligned skills transfer incubation programmes. Applying the results from this research, one should be careful to consider its limitations because of the small sample size and selection criteria, which imply that these results cannot be generalised beyond the scope of this study. / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, 2016 / Despite the significant role that SMMEs play in the growth of developed and developing economies, they are often plagued by various constraints. Access to finance is considered as one of the major constraints that exist within businesses and is also a consequence of other issues which create an impediment towards the success of SMMEs which compromises the growth of any given economy. The pervasive issue on the lack of access to finance tends to be greater for informal businesses as opposed to formal businesses due to various aspects, such as the entrepreneurial attributes that informal business owner-managers have, which are indeed found to be lacking, consequently leading to circumstances where banks reject loan applications made by these businesses, suppliers reject any request of trade credits made by the owner-managers operating these businesses and potential investors find these businesses to be less attractive when investing for future returns. This study has examined certain determinant factors that are embedded within the theory of entrepreneurship which are perceived to be some of the factors which in essence are considered as success drivers for the growth of all forms of businesses. More importantly, these factors have been closely analysed in the context of informal businesses with regard to whether they prove to be important factors to soliciting finance which is considered a crucial resource for the growth of informal SMMEs. In examining the perceived importance of each of these factors in relation with access to finance, as well as the perceived importance of finance in leading to growth of informal SMMEs, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed across 385 informal business owner-managers in the Gauteng province. Given that the nature of the study was quantitative, descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the data. Various statistical methods, such as correlation analyses and multiple regressions, were employed to test the proposed hypotheses associated with the relationship of social capital, and human capital to the access to finance, and access to finance on growth. The findings reflected that social capital and human capital are important factors to accessing finance. Furthermore, access to finance is an important factor in the growth of SMMEs in the informal sector. The study contributes towards addressing the existing gap in the knowledge base regarding the determinants of financial access for SMMEs. It also contributes towards providing direction to policy makers involved in enterprise development to reach out to informal business ownermanagers by providing training to these entrepreneurs so as to improve their social and human capital and grow their businesses to graduate into the formal sector as their contribution is needed to grow the South African economy / GR2018

Thesis (M.M.(Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2017 / This study investigated whether the financial sector (private and public) is accessible to the SME’s and entry level entrepreneurs dominated by Black and poor people. The study employed a comparative analysis method; it compared the structure of the South African financial sector to those of India and Brazil, as newly industrialised countries. The finding indicates that the South African financial sector lacked the presence of state-owned financial institutions as in the comparable NCI countries to support SMEs and entry level Black entrepreneurs. The study then recommended the creation of state-owned microfinance institutions, whose performance will determine the need of state-owned banks / GR2018

M. Tech. Business Administration / Small and Medium Enterprises play a crucial role in national economic development, yet their failure rate is very high. The purpose of this study was to investigate the success factors for Small and Medium Enterprises in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.

D. Tech. Technology in Business Administration / The purpose of the study was to identify and quantify differential factors that affect economic viability and long-term survival in small, micro and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) that operate in and around the City of Tshwane in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The research was based on a 5-year follow-up study (2007 to 2012) of a random sample of 349 small and medium-sized business enterprises that operate in and around the City of Tshwane in South Africa. Data was gathered from each of the businesses on socioeconomic factors that are known to affect the long-term survival of small, micro and medium-sized businesses. The objective of the study was to identify and quantify key predictors of viability and long term survival.