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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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    The role of integrated promotional strategies in aiding the success of SMMEs in the retail sector in Durban
    (2024-03-05) Mahohoma, N.; Agbenyegah, A. T.
    The success of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Durban's retail sector is crucial for both the local economic vitality and community engagement. Despite this importance, these enterprises often struggle with maintaining visibility and competitiveness. However, there is a solution in the form of integrated promotional strategies, which bring together different marketing channels to deliver a coherent message to the target audience. To further understand the impact of these strategies, this study aims to delve into their role in the success of retail SMMEs in Durban. 217 owner-managers of retail SMMEs in Durban provided data using self-administered questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale, resulting in 88% response rate. Analysing the data using a variety of descriptive and inferential methods, we utilised the statistical software SPSS Version 29. The results displayed an overall agreement among respondents regarding the effectiveness of integrated promotional strategies such as sales promotion, branding, digital marketing, and social media. However, respondents had divided opinions on the effectiveness of public relations, email communication, and telemarketing. In conclusion, it was evident that integrated promotional strategies play a crucial role in the success of retail small and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Durban by boosting visibility, strengthening brand recognition, and fostering customer engagement. Through the implementation of personalised and cohesive promotional strategies, SMMEs can better navigate the competitive market and ultimately attain long-term growth and success.
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    Navigating the digital divide : exploring the multifaceted 4IR challenges and technological disparities encountered by SMMEs within KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    (Private Company Technology Center, 2023) Sheik, Ismail
    The dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has been a harbinger of unparalleled technological innovations, reshaping industries and economies at an unprecedented pace. While these advancements promise a new frontier of opportunities, they also bring forth a myriad of challenges, particularly for Small, Micro, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs). This research delves deep into the multifaceted challenges and technological disparities encountered by SMMEs in the wake of 4IR, with a concentrated lens on the enterprises operating within the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa. At the heart of this exploration is the pronounced digital divide, which exacerbates the gulf between well-resourced corporations and SMMEs. The divide is not just technological but extends to areas like access to finance, digital literacy, infrastructure, and the agility to adapt to rapidly changing business environments. As these SMMEs grapple with the challenges of integrating into the digital economy, they face hurdles such as limited access to advanced technological tools, cybersecurity threats, the high cost of digital transformation, and a dearth of skilled manpower to navigate the complexities of 4IR. Furthermore, the research sheds light on the systemic and infrastructural challenges in the KwaZulu-Natal region, which further compound the difficulties faced by local SMMEs. From inconsistent internet access and electricity issues to the lack of tailored training programs and financial schemes, these enterprises find themselves in a precarious position, trying to bridge the chasm between traditional business models and the demands of the digital age. By offering an in-depth analysis of these challenges, this study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles that SMMEs face in the current 4IR-driven economic climate. It emphasizes the need for a multi-stakeholder approach, involving governments, industry leaders, educational institutions, and financial institutions, to collaboratively develop strategies, policies, and interventions that can empower SMMEs. Through targeted support, capacity-building initiatives, and fostering an ecosystem of innovation, there's potential to not only narrow the digital divide but to position these enterprises as key players in South Africa's 4IR journey. This research, thus, serves as both a clarion call and a foundational blueprint for ensuring that no enterprise, regardless of its size, is left behind in this transformative era.
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    Sustainable entrepreneurship strategies for SMME development in the fourth industrial revolution within KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
    (Private Company Technology Center, 2022) Sheik, Ismail; Kader, Abdulla
    The emergence of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) poses the risk of bringing about a new wave of disparities due to changed employment patterns and a global economic environment that is experiencing rapid transformation. Automation and so-called «thinking machines» are displacing humans in a variety of professions and functions, which in turn is causing businesses to reevaluate the competencies they seek in prospective workers. The main goal of sustainable economic participation in the 4IR is to harness the localized economic potential by promoting innovation to all its growth aspects. This is accomplished via a unified approach to development rather than a «one size fits all» solution. To that aim, small, micro, and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) is one of the most crucial pillars that support the economy. As a result, sustainable entrepreneurship in the context of the 4IR was approached in this research as an outcome-based local initiative that that was addressed by key stakeholders. The fundamental purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that led to the successful identification and utilization of local resources, ideas, and skills by entrepreneurs in order to stimulate economic growth and development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the problems faced by company owners and the impact that provincial and national government aid had on their ability to continue operations. In this study, qualitative research technique and an exploratory research methodology were employed. The 12 SMMEs comprising the study's population are located in the eThekwini area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The participants in the study were not selected by chance, but rather on the basis of a predetermined criterion aimed at senior management. Semi-structured interviews constituted the entirety of the data collection. The data was analyzed via NVivo and thematic analysis. This research has contributed to the subject by presenting a business sustainability strategy for SMMEs, with the aim of enhancing the performance and growth of these firms in an uncertain digital realm.
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    The Impact of access to credit on the development of SMMEs in rural areas : Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Authority Area, South Africa
    (Global Business and Technology Association, 2018) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Delener, N.; Schweikert, C.
    This study investigates the nature of credit available to SMMEs in rural areas, to determine the impact of access to credit on the development of these SMMEs. This study is quantitative and exploratory in nature; it explores the impact of access to credit on the development of SMMEs in Sobonakhona Makhanya Tribal Authority rural area. Research findings revealed that access to credit is a major concern for businesses in this area. SMMEs who obtained credit experienced positive changes in their businesses. Therefore, it is recommended that SMMEs be encouraged to apply for credit, as it is important for their development.
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    Rural-urban comparison of manufacturing SMMEs performance in KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa
    (Adonis and Abbey Publishers, 2021-03-01) Zhou, Helper; Gumbo, Victor
    The paper investigated the role of location on the performance attributes of manufacturing Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa’s second-largest province of KwaZulu Natal (KZN). Panel data from 191 SMMEs covering three years between 2015 and 2017 were analysed using R software. The results utilising the Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) technique show that SMMEs in KZN have related characteristics but the extent to which they influence performance is moderated by location. The findings also indicate that the use of digital media and liability registration negatively affects the performance of urban-based, with no effect on rural-based enterprises. Based on the findings, it was recommended that SMMEs in KZN should focus on productivity, permanent employees, temporary employees and total assets to drive performance despite their locations. Based on this study, the government has an informed basis for the development of effective interventions for SMMEs in the province.
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    SMME attitudes towards financial bootstrapping : a perspective from a developing economy
    (Prague Development Center, 2017) Zwane, Bonginkosi Keith; Nyide, Celani John
    © 2017 Prague Development Center. The national and international literature and research on SMMEs has been developed very strongly in the last decade. There have been many successful attempts on the part of many researchers and scholars to unpack new and innovative dimensions of SMMEs’ operations, behaviour, attitudes, functions and other dynamics that boost, sustain or impede their growth and development. There is, however, a gap in research, regarding a very distinct practice within SMMEs in developing economies, that of bootstrapping. This study, therefore, used a sample chosen on a non-probability basis using convenience sampling of small business owners within the eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. 83 participants completed the questionnaire. The study found that the practice of financial bootstrapping was very high amongst the investigated SMMEs. The use of financial bootstrapping within SMMEs is coincidental. The majority of the respondents indicated that they did not undergo any formal training on the use of financial bootstrapping methods.
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    Key internal factors affecting the small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) marketing strategies in rural South Africa
    (Business Perspectives, 2015) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The purpose of this paper is to report on a study aimed at identifying key internal factors that affect the success of SMMEs marketing strategies in rural South Africa. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and the analysis of primary data in order to ensure reliability and generalizability of the results. Collection of primary data was conducted in five rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Sample size consisted of 374 business owners/managers, with respondents completing a questionnaire. Space was provided for each question in the questionnaire, which was more qualitative to allow respondents to give additional relevant information which might have been left out during the formulation of the questionnaire. All the quantitative were coded into SPSS (Version 21.0) graphs, cross-tabulation, frequencies and descriptive statistics. According to the findings, the most significant internal factors that impact on the SMMEs’ marketing strategies in rural South Africa are: access to finance, managerial skills, education and training, skills personnel. The study recommended strategies and policies SMMEs in rural South Africa with specific reference to the KwaZulu-Natal area. The results will be significant to policy makers, SMMEs sector, SMMEs stakeholders and other researchers.
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    The use of social media and social networks as the promotional tool for rural small, medium and micro enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal
    (IJSRP, 2013-07) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    This study aims to establish and develop an understanding of the effect social media and social networks technologies have in developing and sustaining rural SMMEs, by evaluating how social media and social networks can be used to enhance and add value to the marketing promotions and development of rural SMMEs in KZN. A mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative techniques was used to collect primary data from five rural villages in KwaZulu Natal (KZN). Various social technologies appropriate for rural business networking have been identified and recommended. Results of the survey revealed that the majority of respondents do not use social media and social networks for business purposes, these media and networks are, instead, used to socialize with friends and families, with a few respondents indicating that they sometimes communicate with other people about business-related issues. Further research should aim to develop a social media and social networking communication model in remote and underdeveloped areas for unskilled or illiterate consumers. Technological, developmental know-how of rural entrepreneurs in KZN, as well as a reduction in marketing promotional costs, will mean that more and more promotional information will be easily available to more rural SMMEs‟ customers. This will result in unprecedented levels of transparency of dealings between businesses and their customers. The main challenge, when applying social media and social networks, is how to protect the business image and reputation from negative comments about the business. This paper provides practical guidance on how to use social media and social networks as a promotional tool for rural SMMEs.