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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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    Administrative practices for improved environmental compliance of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa
    (LLC CPC Business Perspectives, 2023-10-23) Maphumulo, Jabhisile; Dongwe, Khethiwe; Nyide, Celani
    The main constraints on SME growth in developing countries are regulations and legislation. Poor administration of environmental regulatory compliance is shown by the high number of SMEs in the manufacturing sector closing down annually in developing economies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of administrative practices on environmental compliance by manufacturing SMEs in a developing country. This study adopted a quantitative research approach. A sample size of 215 administrative personnel and managers from manufacturing SMEs operating within Msunduzi Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, was selected. Managers and administrative personnel were selected to eliminate biased answers that favor organizations and because both may have had an opportunity to enforce administrative practices that adhere to environmental regulations. The sample size was selected using a probability sampling method. The study shows that respondents agree that environmental compliance is a mandatory practice for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. Although results show that SMEs are complying with environmental regulations, they still face challenges. The study further demonstrates a disregard for the organization and storage of assessment reports by administrative personnel working in manufacturing SMEs.
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    Driving sustainable growth for small and medium enterprises in emerging urban–rural economies
    (MDPI AG, 2023) Tshikovhi, Ndivhuho; More, Krantisagar; Cele, Zamaswazi
    Rural economies are crucial for global development, with more than 80% of the world’s population living in rural areas and agriculture providing livelihoods for approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, these economies are often vulnerable to various factors, including climate change, natural disasters, and a lack of progressive economic policies. The main aim of making rural economies more sustainable is to promote long-term economic development, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life in urban–rural communities. This paper explored certain strategies for enhancing rural economies to be more sustainable. The results show that smart growth has been rapidly growing in urban cities, while certain communities outside urban areas have been left behind. However, both urban and rural communities need economic growth and be adaptive to smart growth to serve their communities and adhere to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the new era of innovation. Thus, we argue that rural areas are a big part of emerging economies. As such, they cannot be left behind in any smart growth. In this study, we found that rural economies need training and up-skilling in order to improve their sustainability and efficiency targets. Through a systematic review, this paper looked at various ways rural communities can solve their challenges toward smart growth and the sustainability of their resources. As a result, we propose solutions for urban–rural communities to implement in daily activities in terms of policy and practice approaches.
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    Insights into corporate social responsibility in small and medium enterprises in South Africa
    (International Journal of Special Education, 2022-03-03) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognised around the world for their contribution to a country's social and economic growth. They are the fertile generators of economic growth and development for South Africa. It has been recognised that one of the strategies that contributes to the longevity and success of businesses is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Hence, this study provides an insight into the influence of CSR on business growth in South Africa. Various scholars assert that CSR is more evident in major corporations with structured CSR strategies. Such businesses have separate divisions dedicated to CSR initiatives. However, CSR activities in SMEs in South Africa are still sketchy. They are based on the personal judgement and beliefs of owners and managers. There is a lack of awareness of the advantages of CSR in SMEs in South Africa. The lack of top management commitment has also been identified as a barrier to SMEs participating in CSR in South Africa. Consequently, there is more focus on the application of CSR in big corporations, thus neglecting SME participation in this initiative. It has thus been established that CSR remains a development tool that facilitates growth for SMEs in South Africa. Not all CSR activities require businesses to spend millions on such activities. SMEs may choose projects that are within their economic means. Hence, CSR awareness campaigns are useful to assist SMEs to make their projects more explicit.
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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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    The influence of government financial incentive schemes (Gfiss) on small and micro enteprises’ (Smes’) operational performance : case study
    (IJIRD, 2016-10) Thusi, Sbonelo Comfort; Zondo, Robert Walter Dumisani
    The small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) play a pivotal role in the South African economy through job creation and development. Hence, SMMEs should operate efficiently and run their businesses effectively in order to grow within their respective sectors. One of their challenges is access to different methods of finance in order to improve their operations. As a result, this paper examines the influence of the financial incentive schemes (GFIS) on small and micro enterprises’ (SMEs’) operational performance in the textile and clothing manufacturing sector in the eThekwini District Municipality. Of the 94 SMEs that were identified, 80 participated in the study. The owners of SMEs were the target population. Descriptive and one-sample statistics were used to analyse the three objectives. That is, to examine SME awareness of government financial incentive schemes; to establish SME knowledge of accessing government financial incentive schemes; and to determine the influence of GFIS for SMEs’ operational performance. The results indicate that the majority of SMEs are not aware of GFIS. They are less knowledgeable as to where to access government’s finance assistance. However, those that have accessed the government financial schemes indicate that such schemes help achieve their operational performance objectives for growth. The original value of this paper is its approach in uncovering strengths and weaknesses of government’s financial incentive scheme for SMEs’ operational performance in the eThekwini District Municipality. It provides the initial baseline data upon which to base future work.
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    An exploration of the impact of digital marketing on SMEs Growth and brand popularity in rural South Africa
    (IFRD, 2015-10) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The 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.
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    The role of integrated marketing communications in enhancement of SMEs growth in South Africa
    (IFRD, 2014-04) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The 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.
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    The Significance of Emerging Technologies in Promoting Internationalization of Rural SMEs in South Africa
    (MCSER Publishing, 2014-09) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    Internationalization 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.