Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)
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Item The impact of ethical values of SME owners-managers on performance of enterprises : Durban South, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa(2020-11) Mahohoma, Tinaye; Agbenyegah, Albert TcheyThe primary purpose of this study was to investigate impact of ethical values of SME owner-managers on performance of enterprises: Durban South, eThekwini Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province thereof. Previous studies pointed out the significant role played by ethical values towards the performance of SMEs. However, very little research has been conducted in South Africa on the impact of ethical values of SME owner-managers on the performance of their enterprises, especially in the Durban South area. In order to achieve the purpose, a conceptual framework was developed to explain the relationships between ethical values, ethical practices, leadership style, organisational policies and performance of SMEs. Substantive hypotheses were formulated in order to determine the validity of the propositions made in the literature review, with the objective of testing the proposed the conceptual model. The researcher employed questionnaires to gather field data from a selected sample of 217 which was drawn from a target population of 500 SMEs in the Durban South area. The field data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 26. Statistical tools that include frequency tables, pie-charts and graphs were utilised in analysing data in chapter five. The Correlation matrix, chi-square test and linear regression analysis were also utilised to further analyse the strength of association between the variables. The findings from the study indicated that there was statistically significant association between business ethics and performance; that there was a significant positive relationship between corporate governance success of the businesses, and that there was no significant relationship between the personal values and ethical practices, and there was no significant association between business ethics and ethical practices. One of the recommendations of the study was that the Pe model should be operationalised to reduce unethical conduct of employees and owner- managers of SMEs. The study further recommended that there should be creation of SBCF at municipal level. Additionally, it was recommended that BE education should be introduced.Item The role of corporate social responsibility in promoting growth in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the hospitality sector in Pietermaritzburg(2021-10) Ngubane, Nompumelelo; Chazireni, BoboThere is a consensus about SMEs being key to the growth of most economies in Africa and the world in general. SMEs have been branded as fecund drivers of economic growth and sustainable development in South Africa and the world at large. The existence of SMEs in any economy is of paramount importance despite them bullied by large corporations. There is growing recognition of the important role SMEs play in economic development. SMEs often described as efficient and prolific job creators, the seeds of big businesses and the fuel of national economic engines with much hype on their ability to create employment. Research on Corporate Social Responsibility in SMEs is limited, especially in developing countries. Considering Hospitality sector in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region, corporate social responsibility has been growing greater importance in the minds of businesses. Given the enormity of the South African economy, social responsibility for business took centre stage during the socio-economic turbulence experienced in the country. While playing such a significant role in the economy, to address this, the study will investigate perceived effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility as a stimulant of growth for SMEs in the service sector in Pietermaritzburg municipal area. The research shall consider the convenience and purposive sampling as sampling strategies. It will employ a sampling design where participants are conveniently but purposively selected on a volunteering basis. The quantitative approach will be used where a questionnaire is going to be used to obtain and analyse primary data. The study will make use of numeric data making use of descriptive research design to drive results and conclusions. This shall be done by assessing the attitude levels of Hospitality SMEs towards corporate social responsibility; the practice of corporate social responsibility by hospitality SMEs; exploring barriers undermining the practice of corporate social responsibility by hospitality SMEs; and exploring SME owner-managers‘ values key to the sustainable growth of the business. This study aspired to expand and contribute significantly to the body of knowledge regarding CSR by examining CSR on sustainable growth of hospitality SMEs in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region. As new knowledge, the study proposed a model based on the Stakeholder Theory which is meant to assist Hospitality SMEs in Pietermaritzburg Municipal region to apply positive attitude towards embracing CSR in their businesses. However, the study recommends that local authorities and chambers of commerce must play a leading role in awareness and support mobilisation to try and motivate hospitality SMEs to practise CSR. In addition, it is recommended that the phrase ‗Corporate Social Responsibility‘ should be re-phrased as ‗Small Business Responsibility‘ or generally ‗Business Responsibility‘ as a way of contextualising the whole responsible business idea, promote and refer to the social responsibility of SMEs. The phrase simply drives SMEs to think that they are excluded from the practice because of their size. The concept Corporate Social Responsibility imposes a challenging journey on SMEs it is psychologically intimidating to SMEs, hence resistance to the practise of CSR.