Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: According to Van Scheers (2010, p. 1) small businesses constitute 55% of the employment rate in
South Africa. The argument that in the future new jobs are more likely to come from a large
number of small businesses than from a small number of large businesses (Martin, 2001, p. 189)
has challenged the South African government to support the empowerment of small business. The
Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA) was formed as part of
the governmental plan to ensure quality-learning provision within the wholesale and retail sector.
The training of employees within small businesses in the wholesale and retail sector is not
adequate (Mokgata, 2009, p. 4), despite the various methods of training funded by the W&R SETA.
The small business unit at the W&R SETA introduced the Voucher-training System. Small levy
paying businesses in this sector receive a voucher or vouchers that can be used to access free
training opportunities for staff. Providers accredited with the W&R SETA are allowed to offer
training programmes that suit the education and training needs of the sector. Companies pay the
provider with the free vouchers they are allocated by the SETA. The scope of the Small Business
Voucher-training System is to offer short courses that provide skills with immediate effect on the
small businesses. The focus of this study grew out of the need to know if the voucher-training
programmes meet the needs of small businesses in the wholesale and retail sector. In order to
determine whether the voucher-training programmes meet the needs of the small business sector,
the small business managers’ perceptions of the voucher-training programme are essential in
order to develop insights into the possible improvements and sustainability of the programme.
A descriptive research study from an interpretivist perspective is used to understand the
perceptions of the small business managers of the voucher programmes. A case study design was
used and forms the basis of this study. Interviews were used to elicit qualitative data that provide
insights into small business managers’ perceptions of the voucher-training programme. A descriptive research study from an interpretivist perspective is used to understand the
perceptions of the small business managers of the voucher programmes. A case study design was
used and forms the basis of this study. Interviews were used to elicit qualitative data that provide
insights into small business managers’ perceptions of the voucher-training programme.
The reasons small business managers gave explaining why they selected specific programmes for
employees indicate the influence the training had on employees and their future progression and
development within their company. It showed how the company itself benefited from the
employees involvement in these programmes and lists the most appropriate programme for these
small businesses in the wholesale and retail sector. The small business managers’ reflections on
any changes in their employees’ behaviour after the employee attended the voucher-training
programme ranged from positive behaviours which they noticed to poor or no influence from the
training interventions on employee behaviours at all. The learning programmes small business
managers noted as essential in furthering the development of their employees are programmes
that suit the respondents in this study. These insights are important in order to understand the type
of programmes needed by small business managers in determining the further training needs for
their employees in the wholesale and retail sector. The respondents shared various insights, from their personal experience after they had sent employees on the learning programmes, on how they
felt the voucher programme system could be improved. The insights these small business
managers provide on how to possibly improve the voucher-training programme indicate a thorough
knowledge of their business and operational requirements which the SETA and providers need to
pay careful attention to should this programme continue.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/86708 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Truman, Kiru |
| Contributors | Frick, B. L., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Curriculum Studies. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | vii, 58 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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