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Research Publications (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217

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Author: search.filters.author.Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleStart date: 2006

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 32
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    Construction SMEs versus economic growth : the Eastern Cape perspective
    (B P International (a part of SCIENCEDOMAIN International), 2023-05-30) Flepisi, Lubabalo; Womack, Anna Johanna Catharina; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Twum-Darko, Michael
    Globally, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are recognised as the engine and backbone of economic growth, especially for emerging countries such as South Africa. However, construction SMEs in South Africa are faced with some major challenges that hinder their contribution to the economic growth of the country. The study sought to investigate the factors that hinder the contribution of construction SMEs to the economic growth in the Eastern Cape province, in South Africa. The sample size of the study comprised 303 construction SME owners/managers in the Eastern Cape province. Nevertheless, for this conference, the findings of the study are based on the reviewed literature, supplemented by a pilot study with 30 construction SME owners/managers as participants. The study revealed key factors that influence the contribution of construction SMEs to economic growth in the Eastern Cape province. These factors include insufficient/inadequate financial resources, innovation, business management skills, and investment in human capital, as well as a lack of Information Technology use, along with skills shortages, and too many government regulations. The South African government and private sector thus need to develop mechanisms that will cushion construction SMEs through the development of policies that will enable these firms to contribute to economic growth.
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    Evaluation of the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in public institutions of learning in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
    (2021-07-01) Ncube, Thandukwazi R.; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    Individuals around the world are finding that entrepreneurship is an avenue to create wealth, stimulate economies, and fulfil self-employment dreams. Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education are on the rise in South African Higher institutions of learning since most institutions are on the verge of embedding it into their curriculum as one of the graduate attributes. Considering the shifting entrepreneurial environment, teachers must constantly be adjusting the educational practices, procedures, and curriculum to ensure the best outcomes for future entrepreneurs. Public institutions of learning need to entice students through programmes that are relevant in order to ensure the success of their new ventures. As the entrepreneurial environment has changed, so have the expectations of educational programmes. This study evaluates the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in public institutions of learning (PIL) (technical vocational education and training institutions, universities of technologies, and universities). It aims to examine the competencies that are needed to successfully start a business endeavour and the current level of skills these institutions offer to students for business and entrepreneurial programmes. The study also provides suggestions for new approaches in teaching pedagogies that adjust to the changes in the business environment of the country.
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    The use of marketing strategies by small, medium and micro enterprises in rural KwaZulu-Natal
    (The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 2013) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Mason, Roger Bruce
    This paper examines the use of marketing strategies by Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas and identifies how they are limited by various internal and external factors. The study aimed to determine whether rural SMMEs have formal marketing strategies, the factors that constrain their marketing activities, their understanding of what marketing entails and the marketing communications techniques that they use. The study was conducted in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), using a survey method. The sample consisted of 374 SMME owners/managers, selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The results of the research revealed that marketing knowledge and expertise is lacking, with limited use of marketing strategies by the rural SMMEs. The paper will benefit SMME marketers by assisting them to better understand the marketing tactics to use, dependent on the nature of their environment. Most work on SMME marketing has concentrated on urban entrepreneurial marketing, with little emphasis on marketing strategies used in rural areas. Findings were limited by the study’s exploratory nature and the small sample. Further research with larger samples and the consideration of other provinces is recommended.
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    Selected key external factors influencing the success of rural small and medium enterprises in South Africa
    (World Scientific Publishing, 2014-09) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Mason, Roger Bruce
    Small businesses are critical to improving economic development in rural areas of South Africa. However, rural entrepreneurs are still faced with challenges and problems which make the success of small businesses, especially in rural areas, uncertain. This paper investigates business environmental, financial and infrastructural factors that influence the success or otherwise of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas. Primary data was collected in five rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from a sample of 374 business owners/managers, with respondents completing a questionnaire. Access to finance and skills shortages were the factors that most significantly differentiated between more successful and less successful rural businesses in KZN. The majority of respondents indicated that poor roads/transport and access to electricity were major problems.
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    Customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in Metropolitan areas, and consideration of environmental impact
    (Business Perspectives, 2017-04-08) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Dlamini, Henry Lucky
    This paper examines customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in the Durban metropolitan areas and identifies how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute significantly to job creation, wealth, social stability, economic growth and reduction of poverty. Product quality of automotive SMEs requires serious attention, as it can have ecological environmental impact leading to the negative economic growth contributed by the industry. The study is aimed to understand the factors affecting automotive SMEs in order to help entrepreneurs to improve product quality and examining the customer’s perception towards product quality. The sample size of the study was 120 SMEs selected using convenience sampling with respondents completing the questionnaire. A combined method of both quantitative and qualitative techniques was employed, while the analysis of data was done using the Statistics Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 23.0. The findings of the study revealed that lack of managerial skills and development negatively compromises product quality of the automotive sector. Also the results indicate that the absence of financial support from financial institutions delays the improvement of stock in the business, as this is an obstacle resulting in the unsustainability of the SMEs. Further research with larger samples and the consideration of other cities is recommended.
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    Critical environmental dynamics : barriers restraining business growth in rural areas of Southern region of KwaZulu-Natal province
    (Business Perspectives, 2016) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Visser, Kobus
    The study intends to examine the understanding and awareness of environmental dynamics and their implications of rural SMEs in the southern region of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. The study was conducted within the rural areas of the Southern region of KZN province, using quantitative research methods. The sample for the study consisted of 127 owners/managers of SMEs. The respondents were selected using quota sampling and required to complete a research questionnaire, with an interviewer present to assist. The research instrument consisted of closed-ended questionnaires made up of 5 point Likert scale responses and questionnaires were distributed to five selected areas in rural Southern region of KZN province. The research findings indicate the size of local market is very small to sell their products; poor infrastructure has an impact on their business growth, lack of financial support, as well as tough government regulations, just to mention the few. This study provides both theoretical and practical implications for rural entrepreneurs and policymakers. The study presents a number of recommendations, including a conceptual growth model for rural SMEs.
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    E-Commerce as an instrument of governing SMEs’ marketing strategy in an emerging economy
    (Scopus, 2016) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of e-commerce an instrument of governing SMEs’ marketing strategy in an emerging economy. The study aimed to assess and critically discuss various factors influencing the use of e-commerce as an instrument of governing SMEs marketing strategy and identify the extent to which SMEs owners/managers perceived e-commerce to be important to their businesses survival and growth. A mixed method approach allowed for qualitative and quantitative techniques in collecting data from targeted respondents, with primary collected from rural areas of an emerging country. The research instrument consisted of closed-ended questionnaires made up of 5-point Likert scale responses were distributed to each respondent. The research findings indicate that most respondents believed that the use of e-commerce is motivated by the cost saving and other financial factors in the form of benefits for the customer. In addition, large number of respondents disagreed that the use of e-Commerce has changed their consumer buying behaviour. The paper’s benefit will be to the owners/managers SMEs as well as policy makers and financial agencies for SMEs.
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    Governance of the research activities in higher educational institutions: factors and outcomes
    (Virtus Interpress, 2016) Ngibe, Musawenkosi; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    South African higher education institutions, specifically, universities of technology have been faced with an arduous battle of increasing postgraduate students enrolment (masters and doctoral) and improve their completion rate. However, the situation is exacerbated by inadequate number and inexperience of supervisors to supervise these postgraduate students. The Durban University of Technology has formulated research structures to administer and co-ordinate research activities in order to improve the number of staff members with doctoral qualifications in order to aid the current challenges. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the circumstances and factors hindering the academic staff throughput rates and the impact it has on the university. The use of qualitative and quantitative approach was used for this study, with closed and open-ended questionnaires used to collect data from 278 academic staff members using a probability sampling. The respondents 9 (4.9%) indicated that lack of external funding and project management skills proved to be major contributory factors hindering academics staff to complete their postgraduate degrees within the required time. The study recommends that funding should be made easily available to academics pursuing doctoral studies, while project management workshops should be organised regularly to help academics appropriately management their studies. This can have a positive impact which will benefit the university and aid to the current crisis of lack of supervisor for masters and doctoral studies.
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    Risks and factors contributing towards rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business in an emerging economy
    (Virtus Interpress, 2016) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Visser, Kobus
    This paper examines risks and critical factors contributing to the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. The concept of entrepreneurial orientation and various factors influencing the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth are still not well known. The study aimed to assess risks and critical factors affecting rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. Questionnaire was developed and used to collect primary data from 127 rural entrepreneurs. The sample was made with small and medium entrepreneurs operating in rural places. They were selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The study used quantitative technique for data collection. SPSS (23.0) version was used for data analysis and scientific statistical significance level found to be (.000*) at the Cronbach’s alpha (.791*) reliability. Results of the survey reveal that majority indicates competition as a big challenge for them. Findings further indicate that competitor is due to the small market and lack of products differentiation. This study introduces an additional literature in the field of entrepreneurship with specific reference to rural entrepreneurship. The paper will benefit rural entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial marketing managers, potential young entrepreneurs, business consultants, policymakers, financial institutions, government agencies and all affiliated stakeholders by introducing a new understanding of risks and various critical factors causative into rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business in an emerging economy. Most work on the entrepreneurship development has concentrated in the urban areas with little emphasis on the rural places. The findings of this study limited by study’s exploratory, small sample and quantitative nature. Therefore, generalisation of results should be done with care and further research is encouraged and should aim at the development of technical skills that will empower and encourage entrepreneurial orientation growth culture among rural and young entrepreneurship in the developing and emerging economies countries.
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    Governance of the R&D productivity at the research institution based on socio-demographic indicators
    (Virtus Interpress, 2016) Cele, Philisiwe Charity; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    It has been noted that DUT has seen a steady increase in its research outputs publication for the period 2010 until now. However, responsible for this increase is the contribution of a few researchers since not all academic staff is involved in research. The study aimed to examine the extent to which socio demographic factors impact academics from publishing accredited outputs. It also seeks to highlight the important role of research management as a highly professional and dynamic activity that must constantly adapt to the changing environment within which universities operate. The findings of the research revealed that males with masters and doctoral degrees are the most involved in research activities. The paper will benefit the institution by enhancing institutional research management systems and practices, ensuring relevant policies are in place. Enable research management to deploy the institution’s research resources optimally so as to curb over reliance on the limited institutional research budget.