This study aims to analyze the determinants of survival for micro and small businesses in the segments intended for tourism of Sergipe economy. Given the social and economic relevance, the possibility of failure impacts on regional development, generating economic and social losses for the whole country, and have a negative impact on the effectiveness of incentive policies to the creation of these companies in Brazil. It analyzed its historical development, and their inclusion in the tourism sector through study of its economic potential in this segment. Research indicates that in the period 2002-2012, the average survival rate of micro and small companies in Sergipe, amounted to 79.1%. In the composition of this study, first, we present a theoretical framework regarding the Regional Development and its insertion on the traditional economic theory, dealing with three generations of regional policies: developmentalism, neoliberalism and regional development (local). Promotes an analysis of Regional Development in Brazil and its historical progression in the economy. It brings also a study of the Micro and Small Business and Tourism, as a tool for Brazil´s economic development. Then, this was the application of data and display the search results, which is to identify the survival rates and comparative analyzes on the subject studied. The findings present the analysis of the results obtained, in order to contribute to the maintenance and continuity of these companies, incorporated as essential to the regional and global socioeconomic development. / Este estudo objetiva analisar os fatores determinantes de sobrevivência das micro e pequenas empresas nos segmentos destinados à atividade turística da economia sergipana. Dada à sua relevância social e econômica, a possibilidade de fracasso impacta no desenvolvimento regional, gerando prejuízos econômicos e sociais para todo o país, além de repercutir negativamente sobre a eficácia das políticas de incentivo à criação dessas empresas no Brasil. Foram analisadas a sua evolução histórica, e a sua inclusão no setor de turismo, mediante estudo de suas potencialidades econômicas, neste segmento. A pesquisa indica que no período de 2002 a 2012, a taxa média de sobrevivência das micro e pequenas empresas em Sergipe, correspondeu a 79,1%. Na composição deste estudo, primeiramente, apresenta-se um referencial teórico acerca do Desenvolvimento Regional e sua inserção sobre a teoria econômica tradicional, versando sobre três gerações de políticas regionais: desenvolvimentismo, neoliberalismo e desenvolvimento regional (local). Promove-se uma análise do Desenvolvimento Regional no Brasil e sua progressão histórica na economia. Traz ainda, um estudo sobre as Micro e Pequenas Empresas e o Turismo, como ferramenta para o desenvolvimento econômico brasileiro. Em seguida, tratou-se da aplicação dos dados e exposição dos resultados da pesquisa, que consiste na identificação das taxas de sobrevivência e análises comparativas sobre o tema estudado. As conclusões apresentam a análise dos resultados apurados, como forma de contribuir para a manutenção e continuidade destas empresas, constituídas como fundamentais para o desenvolvimento socioeconômico regional e global.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The Internet is now facilitating the provision of an increasing number of services. Thus, technology has become a more integrated part of people‟s daily routine. Some of these technologies include electronic communication, online banking, and shopping as well as electronic learning - to name but a few. However, for various reasons, such as limited formal education (which is a key promoter of reading and writing skills), access and skills, not everyone has an equal opportunity to benefit from the use of these technologies. The unequal distribution of opportunities of such nature is often broadly referred to as the digital divide. That is the gap between those who have access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and those who do not. One noted challenge that influences the use of ICT consists of socioeconomic conditions, which together elicit high levels of poverty. An identified strategy for uplifting these areas was (and still is) entrepreneurship, notably small businesses. These small businesses however, generally have very short and mostly unsuccessful lives. As a result the government at all levels (national, provincial and local) has endeavoured to provide support to these businesses. Some of this support is provided through mediums, such as the Internet (here named “electronic support”) to assist these small businesses. This support, which comes from government, is however, not being fully utilised by the intended beneficiaries. Thus, the small businesses are not benefiting from the support provided. Consequently, many are still experiencing a short and unsuccessful existence. This research thus analyses the small businesses in areas of the greater Cape Town, which are characterised by high levels of poverty and unemployment. Previous studies in these areas have reported the lack of ICT related skills, also known as electronic skills (e-skills), as one of the reasons for the low uptake of electronic support (e-support). This e-support is provided by various levels of government through selected agencies (service providers). In essence, this study is aimed at investigating the influence of e-skills in the access and use of the provided e-support by owners of small businesses. Considering that the lack of adequate e-skills has been identified as influencing the use of e-support, the study also aims to identify the e-skills needed to fully utilise the provided e-support. The approach to this investigation included a review of pertinent literature and devising a conceptual model. This model was then tested in the empirical setting of this study. This setting included: (i) Providers of e-support (various specialised government agencies) and (ii) the intended beneficiaries of this esupport, i.e. small businesses in the previously disadvantaged areas (PDAs) of the greater Cape Town. Through the use of case study methodology and face to face interviews, it was found that many small business owners were not able to appropriately use the provided e-support. This was due to their lack of e-skills, which resulted in their inability to use ICT. Additionally, some were unaware of the existence of the e-support or the service providers. During the review of pertinent literature done as part of the study, an e-skills framework was designed. The framework identified the e-skills considered necessary in order for small business owners to effectively utilise the provided e-support and other technologies. The e-skills framework suggested by this study could be used as a tool to assist: (i) The providers of e-support to understand the usage of their services and enable (ii) a more informed understanding of the need for appropriate e-skills among small business owners, in relation to their use of the provided e-support. Additionally, (iii) small business owners should be in a better position to recognise the benefits of using technology, especially the Internet. The contribution of this study is seen as twofold. Firstly, it should assist the providers and users of e-support. This is done by addressing the practical side of the provision and usage of these services. Secondly, the study contributes an informative e-skills framework related to the effective use of esupport. This study also furthers academic knowledge in the area of the investigation, and suggests further directions for research. Considering, the limited small business sample (only participants from three PDAs), the generalisation of this study is limited. This limitation does not however, influence the validity of this research, or the credibility of the findings.

This study analysed the impact of the palm oil industry on smallholder and subsistence farmers in the Rumonge region of Burundi, the second poorest country in the world. Burundi has widespread poverty and suffers severe capacity constraints, and skill shortages brought about, in part, by ethnic civil war, political conflict and internal displacement. Ingrained animosity has disrupted farming, escalated poverty and hampered development projects such as palm oil farming. Little research has been conducted into the causes and possible solutions to these problems. Using sustainable development theory and agricultural development theory, this study addressed this gap by considering the potential benefits of sustainable palm oil production in the context of the socio-economic challenges facing Burundi. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study targeted four villages of Rumonge District, including Kizuka, Busaga, Dama and Birimba. A combined total of 300 respondents was derived from these four villages. Findings of the quantitative study suggest that palm oil had a positive impact on the social and economic lives of rural communities in Rumonge District;. However, challenges remained in capacity, farming skills and resources. Results from qualitative interviews and focus groups confirmed that earnings from palm oil could be used to support education, skills transfer through family ties; and employment of local people. However, from the perspective of environmentalist activists, it was indicated that while palm oil generated economic benefits for local communities, at the same time traditional farming methods led to pollution and degradation of the natural environment. Qualitative findings further showed that small-scale palm oil farmers faced numerous challenges which often led to the failure of some of their ventures, such as access to funds, lack of technical support, lack of knowledge in utilising business networking, low skills levels, limited understanding of land rights issues, civil conflicts and rising production costs. Additional problems were noted regarding environmental problems and the disappearance of wildlife. The study confirmed the need for small-scale farmers to be adequately capacitated with information, training, resources and technical support to be able to use sustainable farming methods in order to enhance yields. The study contributes to knowledge by identifying how rural smallholder farmers can design more extended longer-term plans to improve their livelihoods, particularly concerning how palm oil production can address the socio-economic problems facing the people of Burundi. / Development Studies / D. Phil. (Developmental Studies)

Research shows that due to a lack of strategy in managing human resources (HR), small businesses frequently close within the first 5 years of operation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that HR managers used to maintain business operations for longer than the first 5 years. The targeted population comprised 2 owners of small business in North Carolina who used HR strategies successfully to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years. Data collection methods included face-to-face, semistructured interviews and the review of the company documents associated with owners of the businesses and their attempts to remain in operation for longer than 5 years. A modified van Kaam method was used for data analysis. Three key themes emerged from data analysis: (a) effective leadership, (b) organizational structure, and (c) work climate. The results of the study indicated that HR strategies are critical to the sustainability of small businesses. The implications for positive social change include providing guidance to owners of small businesses regarding effective HR strategies that might help to sustain small businesses and their roles in job creation, innovation, competition, and economic growth in the United States.

No description available.

This study discusses South Africa’s tax incentives for small businesses and identifies shortcomings and areas of concern within the tax incentive regimes. A comparison of small business tax incentives provided by Australia, India, and the United Kingdom is made with South Africa’s small business tax incentives to identify similarities and differences, and new lessons are learned from the approaches of other countries. As a result of the comparison with the tax dispensations available to small businesses in other countries, the study recommends additional tax incentives that could be implemented by South Africa. Only those tax incentives that are available in other countries but not in South Africa that were deemed worthwhile were recommended to be introduced in the Republic. Recommendations were also made based on the gaps identified in South Africa’s small business tax incentives. / College of Accounting Sciences / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

This study examines the factors appear to lead to the failure of small businesses in the Kagiso Township. The high failure rate can be partially attributed to the lack of support that the small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) receive from support institutions as well as to their own internal weaknesses. Strategies are recommended that will help small businesses be more successful. The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Results indicated that the most common causes of business failure were lack of knowledge regarding legal matters, lack of funding and a general lack of business acumen. The study recommends that government should improve the effectiveness of its support mechanisms and that record keeping and cash flow management training is critical for SMEs. These recommendations, if applied properly, will ensure small businesses' success in Kagiso and the rest of South Africa. / Economics / M.Tech. (Business Administration)

Bakgrund och problemdiskussion: Mikro- och småföretag har fått en allt större betydelse för sysselsättningen och den ekonomiska tillväxten i Sverige. 22.6 % av Sveriges företag klassificeras som mikroföretag och denna storleksklass har svårt att växa vidare. I denna storleksklass är viljan att växa vidare god, dock avtar den då antalet anställda inom en organisation ökar. Detta då komplexiteten att styra och kontrollera företaget ökar. När ett företag växer ökar behovet av formell ekonomistyrning och att utveckla det kommer främja ett företags långsiktiga tillväxt. Att inte införa formell ekonomistyrning kan orsaka att ett företag inte uppnår dess fulla tillväxtpotential och kan medföra stor skada inom ett företag. Syfte: Det övergripande syftet är att utveckla en konceptuell modell som beskriver och förklarar behovet av formell ekonomistyrning hos mikroföretag i tillväxt, vilket ska möjliggöras genom två delsyften. Metod: En kvalitativ forskningsansats med flerfallstudie ansågs lämplig för studiens forskningsfråga och syfte. För empiriinsamling valdes semi-strukturerade intervjuer och dokument. Slutsats: Behovet av att införa formell ekonomistyrning tilltar under ett företags tillväxt. I uppstarten behövs det för att ett företag ska överleva, sälja och ha möjlighet att utveckla en produkt. Vid ökad efterfråga växer behovet av formell ekonomistyrning för att kontrollera tillväxten och möjliggöra arbete mot de uppsatta målen. Under ett företags utveckling utökas dess organisation vilket ökar behovet av att vidareutveckla den formella ekonomistyrningen. / Background and discussion: Micro- and small enterprises have become increasingly important for the employment and economic growth in Sweden. 22.6 % of the Swedish companies are classified as micro-enterprises, and this size class has difficulties to grow on. The desire to continue to grow in this size class is good, however it decreases as the number of employees within an organization increases. This is because the complexity of managing and controlling the company increases. When a company grows, the need for formal management control increases and to develop it will promote a company’s long-term growth. To not introduce formal management control may cause the company to not achieve its full growth potential and can also cause great damage within a company. Purpose: The overall purpose is to develop a conceptual model that describes and explains the need for formal management control of micro-enterprises in growth, which will be enabled through two smaller purposes. Method: A qualitative approach with a multiple case study was considered appropriate for the study’s research question and purpose. For empirical data collection was semi-structured interviews and documents selected. Conclusion: The need to establish formal management control increases during a company’s growth. In the start-up is it needed for a company to survive, to sell and have the opportunity to develop a product. In case of increased demand is the need for formal management control growing to control the growth and facilitate work towards the established goals. During the development of the company its organization expands, which increases the need to further develop the formal management control.

The aim of this investigative thesis was to further study the use of financial bootstrapping in medium to large sized enterprises. The thesis furthermore aimed to investigate if there are any prerequisite bootstrapping methods used in correlation to annual turnover, industry as well as to conduct research to whether enterprises are aware of their current use of financial bootstrapping. The study can conclude that financial bootstrapping is used among medium to large sized enterprises. Furthermore, the study can also conclude that there exists a correlation between desired bootstrapping methods used and annual turnover. A correlation to the current lifecycle phase currently presided in, in regard to a specific financial bootstrapping method used could not be solely concluded as well as industry-based preferences in regards to specific bootstrapping methods could not be established. The thesis overall conclusion is that further research is needed to conclude if there exist any industry-based preferences towards usage of specific bootstrapping methods, as well as further research should be aware of problems this study has identified in order to better prepare future study in the aimed field. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka tillämpandet av finansiell bootstrapping bland medelstora och stora bolag. Studien ämnade även att vidareutforska huruvida det råder omsättnings & branschspecifika bootstrappingsmetoder samt förtydliga om det återfinns företag som själva inte framhäver sitt tillämpande. Resultaten visade att finansiell bootstrapping tillämpas bland medelstora och stora bolag samt att det råder vissa omsättningsspecifika bootstrappingsmetoder. Slutsatsen är att trots gynnsamma resultat krävs det vidareforskning inom ämnet för att ytterligare kunna påvisa branschspecifika bootstrappingsmetoder som dessutom kan generaliseras till en bredare population. Forskarna kan även konkludera att det krävs ett beaktande till rådande problematik denna studie påträffat för att öka framtida validitet ytterligare i genomförda studier.

This study examines the factors appear to lead to the failure of small businesses in the Kagiso Township. The high failure rate can be partially attributed to the lack of support that the small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) receive from support institutions as well as to their own internal weaknesses. Strategies are recommended that will help small businesses be more successful. The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. Results indicated that the most common causes of business failure were lack of knowledge regarding legal matters, lack of funding and a general lack of business acumen. The study recommends that government should improve the effectiveness of its support mechanisms and that record keeping and cash flow management training is critical for SMEs. These recommendations, if applied properly, will ensure small businesses' success in Kagiso and the rest of South Africa. / Business Management / M.Tech. (Business Administration)