Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14

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Exploring challenges that affect female informal entrepreneurs in the central business district of Richards Bay and Empangeni
(2021-05) Ntibane, Nompumelelo Ignatia; Schauffer, Dennis
Female entrepreneurs play an important part in the economies of countries across the globe, yet they are still being discriminated against because of their gender. They face a lack of education and skills, a challenging economic climate, lack of funding, lack of motivation, and insufficient resources. In terms of addressing gender stigmatisation and exclusion in the informal sector, policymakers must address historically inherited social and religious norms as well as societal expectations about women that constrain their economic lives as consumers, workers and producers. This study aimed to explore the challenges affecting female informal entrepreneurs in the central districts of Richards Bay and Empangeni, Kwa-Zulu Natal. The business world has been known as a male-dominated world, and many people think there is no room for females in the business sector. South African research reported that in 2007 the ratio of the average female to male wages for those in the sample stood at 82.2 per cent. Janet BurnsSenior Contributor at Forbes also wrote an article regarding this issue. In this article she makes the comment that: "We need awareness in women and men about what is unconscious in gender bias, and which can often be sensationalised and politicised, if you factor in the race, different ability levels, sexual orientation, you add additional layers, but gender bias is always there. Research shows that both women and men have such biases, and these are attitudes we do not control." This study looks at the challenges that the female faces in this competitive arena of entrepreneurship. It also aims to encourage and support women to make a difference in the region's economic growth. The study revealed that a large percentage of the respondents were between the ages of 31 to 50 years old who have only completed high with a senior certificate (grade 12) and thus need proper further training from the government. It was also clear that the highest challenges affecting the growth of women-owned businesses is funding and crime. Some women fail because they do not have financial backing from the government, and they are obliged to use their own funds/get loans/donations to support their operations, mainly in the food industry. The study also discovered that the challenges faced by the female entrepreneurs in Richards’s bay are different from those faced by the female entrepreneurs in Empangeni. In light of the above results, it was recommended that the working environments for these women entrepreneurs be secured. What one group of women is doing better in Richards’s bay or Empangeni should be emulated by the other. The local government must organise awareness and training on the available support and opportunities in the sector for women, and this should partner with the Local Municipalities to nurture the women in the informal sector. This will give formal recognition to the informal settlements and businesses as contributors to Local Economic Development. A mixed-methods research approach was used, and 150 respondents from the selected Municipal areas participated in this study. An interview with closed-ended and open-ended questions was used to collect data from the female informal entrepreneurs. The latest version of SPSS was used to analyse data. Pie charts and graphs were used to present descriptive data.
The challenges of enriching small, medium and micro enterprises with financial management knowledge in KwaZulu-Natal metropolitan area
(2021) Mazibuko, Wiseman Sinethemba; Mugari, Alpha
South Africa is experiencing enormous socio-economic challenges such as gender-based violence, poverty and inequality, including ever-increasing high levels of unemployment. Many businesses are either closing or downsizing. People are resorting to alternative ways to alleviate poverty by establishing SMMEs. To get established, SMMEs are encountering a daunting task when it comes to implementing sound financial systems. The study sought to examine the challenges of capacitating SMMEs with financial management acumen and to remedy the difficulties of implementation thereof. Primary research was conducted amongst SMMEs in KwaZulu-Natal, Metropolitan Area. The population of this study consisted of a sample of 250 randomly selected SMMEs participated from a target population of 2200. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as SPSS and Cronbach’s Alpha. The study found, that the sector has grown and has become an engine to drive economic stabilisation, poverty alleviation and employment creation. However, perennial challenges grew exponentially. Moreover the covid-19 pandamic has worsen the situation. Government has played a huge role in making sure the SMMEs sector get the necessary financial support, through different entiies like the SEFA, SEDA, and SSSP. The majority of SMMEs concurs that lack of adequate financial management acumen negatively affects their success. Most of them cannot upskill themselves and are not satisfied with stakeholder interventions regarding training and development. The study also found that, funding is not a panacea to all the challenges faced by this sector. Solutions should come from SMMEs instead of stakeholders prescribing how problems should be resolved. Apart from financial management understanding, SMMEs maintains that networking opportunities with business associates are vital to their success.
The relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, organisational orientation and innovation performance of manufacturing small and medium enterprises in KwaZulu-Natal province
(2019-03-24) Kankisingi, Gustave Mungeni; Dhliwayo, Shepherd
This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, organisational orientation, and innovation performance of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in KwaZulu Natal province. To instil innovation culture, an organisational architecture of SMEs should accommodate both organisational and entrepreneurial factors in order to create a synergy that is likely to achieve innovation objectives of SMEs. The empirical investigation was based on a quantitative study and used a cross-sectional survey design to collect data from owner-managers of 308 small and medium firms in the manufacturing sector. The provincial SMEs database from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism was used and it contained an estimate population of 1255 SMEs. This study found that there was a positive and significant correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and organisational orientation dimensions. It further established that organisational and entrepreneurial dimensions were correlated with innovation performance dimensions in the SMEs. An aptly entrepreneurial orientation is proven to be grounded in a related organisational orientation. This implies that an organisational strategy, its culture, structure, systems and the management style in SMEs strengthen the entrepreneurial strategy leading to improvements in the standard of the product, the process, the market position and the business model of SMEs. In the same context, other organisational factors such as available rewards, SMEs’ age, size and ownership provided another dimension and an insight into the innovation performance of SMEs. Based on the findings, the researcher suggests two models: the proximity model of the correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and organisational orientation and the new model of innovation performance for SMEs. The managerial implication is that the success of an entrepreneurial strategy of an SME is rooted into organisational orientation dimensions: culture, structure, strategy, systems and management style of owner-managers. However, an organisational orientation is proven to be driven by a mindset which, if entrepreneurial, leads to an entrepreneurial orientation and consequently achieve an innovation performance of SMEs. With such variables, the study recommends new approaches in line with the suggested models in support of manufacturing SMEs and the manufacturing sector in terms of managerial decision-making about firms’ innovation performance and competitiveness at organisational and sectorial levels.
A study measuring the relationship between informal sector entrepreneurial activity and firm performance
(2019-04) Napwanya, Tinashe Robson; Chinyamurindi, Willie Tafadzwa
T he in f orm a l secto r , whi ch i s one of the m a jo r d r i ve r s of the c ount r y ’ s eco nomy i s not pe r f orm in g t o i t s f u l l poten t ia l ( W ebb, Bu r t on, T ihan y i and I re land 2013 ; L ekhan ya 2015 ) . En t r epr eneu rsh ip , cu r rent l y th e m a jo r se gm ent of the in f o rm a l s ect or i s no t f l o ur i s h in g a s en v i sa ged. T h i s s tud y sough t to e xp lo re i nf orm a l se cto r ent rep ren eu r ia l a ct i v i t ie s / bu s in es s o wne rs h ip wi th th e hope of recom m end in g wa ys in whi ch the se cto r can be enha nced . T he stu d y in ve st iga ted whe the r cu l tu re of en t re pre neu rsh ip , a cce ss to f inan ce, ent rep ren eu r ia l edu cat ion / s k i l l s and go ve rnm en t suppo r t p red i ct f i rm pe r f orm an ce ( f inan c i a l and subj ec t i ve ) . T he stud y ad op ted a qua nt i tat i ve app roa ch . D ata wa s co l l ect ed f rom a pu rpo s i ve s am pl e b y m ean s of a s e l f - adm in i ste red que st ionna i re and was an a l ysed th rou gh Pea rson co r re la t ion and s im p le l inea r r e gres s ion ( SL R ) . T he f in d in gs of th i s s tud y af ter dat a ana l yses h i gh l i ghted ke y a rea s th at re qu i re in t er vent ion . T he s tud y f ound tha t the adop t io n of an ent rep reneur sh ip cu l tu re , and e nt rep reneu r ia l edu cat ion and s k i l l s, s i gn i f i cant l y pr edi ct s the f i rm ’ s f ina nc ia l and sub je ct i ve pe r f orm an ce. Fu r th er m o re , i t wa s f ound th at go ve rnm ent and in cubat ion sup por t p red i c t a f i rm ’ s f inan c ia l p erf o rman ce. Ho we ve r , i t was a l s o estab l i she d that go ve rnm ent an d i nc u bat ion suppor t ha d no un i que cont r ibut ion to wa rd s non - f inan c ia l p erf o rm ance of the f i rm . T he stud y f urt her e stab l i shed tha t a cce ss to f i nance has no un i que cont r ibut ion to wa rd s f inan c ia l and non - f inan c i a l pe r f orm an ce of the f i rm . W i th the abo ve f ind in gs, i f ent rep reneu r s a re to f l our i sh, a l l s oc ie ta l f acet s ha ve ro le s to p la y t o im pro ve the en t re pre neu r i a l en v i ro nm ent . F i rm o wne r s/ m ana ge r s a re ad v i sed to pu rs ue en t re pre neu r i a l / bu s in es s educ at ion f or them to ef f ecti ve l y m ana ge th e i r f i rm s. Mo reo ve r , the go ve rnm ent and f inanc ia l in st i tut ion s s hou ld wo rk to ge the r in im p ro v i n g f inan c ia l opt ion s f or sm a l l , m i c ro and m edi um ente rp r i se s ( S M MEs ) . F or the Sou th Af r i c an go ve rnm ent to i m pr o ve en t re preneu r ia l ac t i v i t ie s i t shou ld ef f ecti ve l y d i s sem inat e in f orm at ion abou t i t s p ro gram m es to the pub l i c t o ensu re th at both in f orm a l and f orm a l ent rep rene ur s a re we l l in f o rm ed.
Corporate entrepreneurship and organisational performance in the Department of Basic Education, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(2019-05) Thabethe, Michael Msawenkosi; Dhliwayo, Shepherd
Entrepreneurship has been hailed as the new engine of economic growth in both developed and developing countries. It is described as the process of innovatively exploring and exploiting opportunities in the midst of risk and uncertainty, by synthesising resources to create novel output, often within the context of new organisation formation. Exalted as the driving force of innovation, entrepreneurship offers the benefits of increased economic efficiencies, alleviation of poverty, bringing innovation to the market, and creating jobs and sustained employment. Traditionally, entrepreneurship was associated with the private sector and for-profit organisations, with entrepreneurial innovations considered to be those directed towards generating profits. The practice initially received marginal attention in public sector organisation management. Public sector organisations are state-owned suppliers of a service funded by the government; and are considered to be nationalised organisations; therefore their survival is seldom in doubt. However, public sector organisations are operating in an environment of increasing uncertainty. This uncertainty stems from their openness and consequent exposure to rapid environmental changes. This study, through researching the literature and quantitative empirical research, focused on establishing the levels at which corporate entrepreneurship was practised in the Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa; and the effects this has had on organisational performance. In addition, the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance was explored. Factors measuring entrepreneurial orientation were extracted from the literature review, and identified as innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking. Grade 12 university entrance passes and through-put rates were used to measure organisational performance. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 426 Department of Education senior executives in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The study found that positive and significant relationships exist between all corporate entrepreneurship elements: management support for corporate entrepreneurship; organisational tolerance; work discretion; rewards/reinforcement; discretionary time; and organisational boundaries. It also found that positive and significant relationships existed between entrepreneurial orientation factors (innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk taking) and organisational performance measures (university entrance performance and output performance). In addition, age was found to significantly influence perceptions of innovativeness, proactiveness and management support for corporate entrepreneurship. Younger executives felt that there was no management support for corporate entrepreneurship in the Department of Education in KZN. However, irrespective of age, participants did not believe that the Department of Education was promoting action- and results-oriented behaviour in its employees. All criteria were met to ensure that the research was conducted according to ethical research principles. Through this research, education and other public sector departmental managers in South Africa can gain insight into the generation of entrepreneurial success, as well as the measurements of organisational performance, in order to create sustainability and a competitive advantage. It is recommended that future research on the relationship between corporate entrepreneurship and peformance should include poor performing districts in other provinces and even other public sector organisations in South Africa.
The relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, competitive advantage and business performance among small businesses in Durban
(2017) Mtshali, Sbongiseni Sanele; Chinyamurindi, Willie Tafadzwa
Small businesses form the backbone of any nation’s economy, especially where unemployment is extremely high. South Africa is one of the many countries that struggle with low economic growth resulting in low employment. This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, business performance and competitive advantage. South Africa’s small business sector is under pressure as evidence exists that the failure rate is well above 70 percent, and to an extent, up to 90 percent depending on various conditions. This study was conducted in Durban, South Africa. The study sought to answer the two questions namely: a) Is there a significant relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance? and b) Is there a mediating role of competitive advantage in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance? These questions were targeted to small business owners or managers in Durban, South Africa. Therefore, 177 participants responded, and both questions were tested and yielded positive results. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire consisting of 24 items. Indeed, the finding was that there is a positive and significant relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance, and that competitive advantage does mediate the relationship between business performance and entrepreneurial orientation. Finally, many studies examined in this study support the findings of this research pointing out that a strong positive relationship exists between business performance and entrepreneurial orientation. Similarly, there seems to be an agreement that there is some relationship between competitive advantage, entrepreneurial orientation and business performance. However, the literature reviewed did not clarify if competitive advantage does actually mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance whilst this study found that mediation does exist between the entrepreneurial orientation and business performance link. Hence, small businesses need to learn more about this relationship so to take advantage of possible synergies that may arise from it. Further, both the government of South Africa and the private sector should keep supporting small businesses by making use of research studies like this one and many more which are based on theory and practice.
An investigation into entrepreneurial intent amongst final year commerce students at the Durban University of Technology
(2017) Ndovela, Symentheus Mfundo; Chinyamurindi, Willie Tafadzwa
This study investigated the concept of entrepreneurial intent within a South African Higher Education (HE) context using a sample of final year commerce students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The backdrop of this is within growing calls for universities to be located more within the ideal and agenda of generating future entrepreneurs for the economy. Further, arguments are made that graduates within South African Higher Education (HE) may possess the necessary theoretical knowledge but fall short concerning coming up with innovations that are responsive to the changing and diverse labour market. Entrepreneurship, thus, emerges as a possible panacea to the challenges affecting HE in South Africa. The aim of the research was to investigate factors that influence a student’s entrepreneurial intent within a South African HE context. A quantitative survey design was implemented amongst a sample of 250 respondents studying at the DUT. Correlation and regression analysis were used to test relationships between variables. The findings show a positive relationship to exist between individual risk taking propensity and variables such as a) subjective norms; b) perceived behavioural control; c) proactive personality; d) entrepreneurial education and e) student attitude towards entrepreneurial education and intentions. The findings provide a useful precursor to encouraging entrepreneurial efforts within HE in South Africa. Practitioners can use the findings of this work to come up with interventions that promote the development of an entrepreneurial culture within the South African context, especially using a vulnerable yet important cohort within the youth of the country.
The development of an incubator system to promote entrepreneurship for technikon fashion design graduates
(2003) Moodley, Sunthra
The South African economy is unable to support the employment needs of the growing number of graduates. In an attempt to address these needs, the proposed study focuses on the development of an incubator system to nurture young entrepreneurs (graduates), until they are able to survive independently – usually in two to three years.

Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)

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