Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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Item Critical environmental dynamics : barriers restraining business growth in rural areas of Southern region of KwaZulu-Natal province(Business Perspectives, 2016) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Visser, KobusThe 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.Item An exploration of the impact of digital marketing on SMEs Growth and brand popularity in rural South Africa(IFRD, 2015-10) Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleThe purpose of the study is to establish understand of digital marketing and its use by SMEs in rural South Africa, the extent of its use, examining contributing factors to its use and their implications. Primary data was collected using a quantitative research technique with the use of a structured questionnaire as the survey instrument. A total of 134 SMEs operating in rural KwaZulu –Natal were selected. Questionnaires were distributed to the business owners/ mangers between august and December 2014. SPSS (22.0) version was employed to for data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that some rural places in South Africa still experiencing ICT problems for being not available make it difficult for SMEs growth through the use of digital marketing. The reliability analysis, reflected coefficient values from 0.70 to 0.833. The analysis of factors limiting use of digital marketing among the rural SMEs, are presented with recommended strategies and implications on how to approach the challenges. Digital marketing of rural SMEs may be strengthened through awareness and providing adequate information about ICT and through diverse of internet marketing programmes.Item The role of integrated marketing communications in enhancement of SMEs growth in South Africa(IFRD, 2014-04) Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleThe intention of this paper is to discover and empirically test the knowledge gap exist with regard to the role that integrated marketing communication (IMC) plays in the enhancement of SMEs growth. A quantitative approach is followed in this paper, with a questionnaire as the research instrument and questionnaire items established through a literature review. A sample of 374 SMEs owners/managers agreed to complete the questionnaire. In order to give a descriptive overview of variables relevant to the objectives of the study, a Cronbach test was performed. Certain ability in marketing communication by SMEs was evident from the sample. However, very few marketing communication tools are fully applied in order to enhance SMEs growth. A significant starting point, in attaching importance to the role of IMC enhancement of SMEs growth, is constituted by this paper’s sample, even though it is restrictively small. Practitioners may, from this paper, understand where intervention guidelines are needed, in order to improve an IMC plan needed for SMEs. Compared to previous research done on large company practices, this paper represents an original trial to empirically apply the marketing communication approach within SMEs.Item The Significance of Emerging Technologies in Promoting Internationalization of Rural SMEs in South Africa(MCSER Publishing, 2014-09) Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleInternationalization of rural SMEs can be able to assist in building of rural economic development in the developing countries including South Africa. Because of their characteristics, SMEs are far more flexible and responsive to frequent changes that occur in the contemporary, global environment than large enterprises. This paper intends to analyse the significance of emerging technologies in promoting internationalization of rural SMEs in South Africa. The paper also analyses the most frequent problems of rural SMEs failure to use emerging technologies as a strategic tool to promote internationalization. The primary data was collect using quantitative method. Data was collected from five rural areas of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province. The sample consisted of 374 SMEs owners/managers, selected using a quota sampling method, with respondents completing five-point Likert scale questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The results reveal that the majority of respondents believe that emerging technology is a very important promotional tool that can be used by rural SMEs to access the international markets; however, the findings also indicate that rural SMEs in rural KZN are affected by lack of technology standards/networks. Further research should aim to develop training capacity building programmes that will provide entrepreneurial skills and encourage entrepreneurial technology innovation and use of new technologies among rural dwellers particularly in KZN.