Return to search

Black manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises in the Western Cape : an analysis of success factors

Bibliography: pages 145-152. / This thesis examines manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the Western Cape, drawn from three leading industries in the manufacturing sector: clothing, furniture, and panel beating and metal works. The aim of the study is to analyze factors that contribute to the success of black manufacturing enterprises. To this end, the study isolated a group of black SMEs regarded as successful in terms of comparative studies in other countries. A sample of 20 SMEs was selected and detailed interviews formed the basis of the analysis. The information gathered during this process was analysed using Porter's model of competitiveness. A central finding of the survey is that the profile of a successful enterprise would include an entrepreneur with post-school training, a motivation for independence and enhancement of self-esteem, a participative relationship between workers and management, and a good relationship with customers. Most of these entrepreneurs attained competitiveness independent of support institutions (private or public). Entrepreneurs interviewed mentioned that their performance could be enhanced by effective support in marketing and exporting, finance, training, information and, technology, and subcontracting. The conclusion is therefore that the support envisaged in terms of the national strategy for SMEs' advancement, would assist the individual enterprise's quest for competitiveness.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uct/oai:localhost:11427/15976
Date January 1995
CreatorsSawaya, Alen
ContributorsHartzenburg, Trudi
PublisherUniversity of Cape Town, Faculty of Commerce, School of Economics
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeMaster Thesis, Masters, MCom
Formatapplication/pdf

Page generated in 0.0021 seconds