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Faculty of Accounting and Informatics

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Author: search.filters.author.Msomi, Mbali PortiaHas files: Yes

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    Evaluating access to information, access to finances, firm competition and small medium enterprise performance in South Africa
    (Editura Universitara Danubius, 2022-02-02) Msomi, Thabiso Sthembiso; Yearwood, Verna; Msomi, Mbali Portia
    At the center of poor performance of SME is lack of access to information, inaccessibility of finances and lack of firm competitiveness. Hence this study evaluates the access to Information, access to finances, firm competition and Small Medium Enterprise performance in South Africa. This employed a quantitative approach which was supported by the positivist paradigm. The study used the sample size of 140 SMEs. SME owners or suitable representative were selected using the purposive sample technique. The results of the study revealed a positive correlation between access to information, access to finances and SME performance. On the other hand, a negative correlation between firm competition and SME performance was observed. The study recommended that financial institution should remove the limit on the amount of money the SME may borrow if they have appropriate collateral. Also, financial institutions should employ realistic loan repayment procedures in order to attract more clients and so enhance credit access. Finally, the research and the study urge that the government consider providing incentives for SMEs by holding workshops, seminars, and conferences to strengthen SMEs management abilities and keep them up to speed on continuous learning available in the market that would boost performance.
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    Understanding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Management Accounting students
    (Sciedu Press, 2021) Zunckel, Sharon; Msomi, Mbali Portia; Samuel, Stephanie Caroline; Marimuthu, Ferina
    A switch to emergency remote teaching, learning, and assessment (TLA) has become necessary as a result of the social distancing brought about by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were forced to switch from face-to-face to online teaching and learning to ensure successful completion of the academic year as well as the safety of their staff and students from a global pandemic. This arrangement has created teaching problems in terms of familiarizing oneself with technology, losing face-to-face contact, and limiting access to essential facilities such as laboratories and libraries. The new normal is when remote learning is employed to fulfil TLA obligations. Therefore, students are expected to adjust from a traditional to a remote learning environment. This change in environment highlights the importance of exploring students’ perceptions as the recipients of this novel learning.  Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on student learning, underpinned by the activity theory. Quantitative research methods were applied to elicit students’ perceptions of remote learning through the use of an online questionnaire. The target population comprised undergraduate management accounting students. The paper provides interesting implications for government, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and other researchers because it offers a student perspective on the challenges experienced with remote learning.
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    Factors influencing the adoption of management accounting practices (MAPs) by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in Durban
    (2020-10) Msomi, Mbali Portia; Nyide, Celani John; Ngibe, Musawenkosi
    Most countries recognise small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as a key element in strengthening the economy and in reducing the high unemployment rate that is currently prevailing globally and especially in South Africa. Although these enterprises contribute significantly towards the economy, they often fail to survive beyond their start-up phase due to a number of challenges affecting their business life-cycle. These challenges stem from both internal and external factors and, if not curbed during the initial phase of the enterprise, they may cause the business to fail prematurely. Common causes of failure include, but are not limited to, difficulties encountered in gaining access to start-up capital; a lack of entrepreneurship or business management skills; a lack of appropriate business education along with a lack of any culture of innovation or of networking skills amongst their owner/managers. Finally, there is frequently a failure to adopt management accounting practices (MAPs). It is with this last issue that this research is concerned. MAPs are techniques used to provide management with financial and non-financial information to facilitate the planning, controlling and decision making process of an organisation. These techniques are recognised to improve business performance and sustainability substantially, and the application of these techniques is often seen as determining the success or failure of an enterprise. However, there has been some concern around the adoption of MAPs amongst manufacturing SMEs, especially in the South African context. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the critical factors influencing the adoption of MAPs by SMEs in the manufacturing sector in South Africa using a case study of businesses located in and around Durban. The aim was also to provide informative guidelines to promote the facilitation of MAP practices. A quantitative research approach was adopted involving non-probability, purposive sampling to ensure that the relevant participants were chosen. A sample consisting of 202 participants was considered appropriate for a population with over 1050 manufacturing SMEs registered in Durban (Department of Trade and Industry report 2016/17). A questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants in the study. A pilot test was conducted to ensure that the research instrument was adequately prepared. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, and the results were presented using graphs, tables and charts. The results of the study showed that both traditional and contemporary MAPs are regarded as relevant in this changing business environment. Manufacturing SMEs still see the significance of using traditional MAPs, although with the new industrial revolution taking over globally, more sophisticated new MAPs have been implemented by several manufacturing SMEs, and this has proved more effective in their gaining a competitive edge and demonstrating innovation and thus in achieving market success. The findings of this study are therefore in a position to contribute towards promoting the adoption of appropriate up-to-date MAPs that are more technically advanced to meet current management needs. The findings also revealed that the key internal factors identified by the respondents in this adoption process were: the owner’s business experience and skills, the firm’s structure, its size, and changes in the firm’s size. Amongst the external factors, the results of the study showed that competition, technology, market innovation, market success, and networking with other businesses, were regarded as the predominant factors influencing the adoption of MAPs by manufacturing SMEs in the Durban area. Although the study was able to identify these critical factors influencing the adoption of MAPs, the results were limited to those views expressed by the responding stakeholders from manufacturing SMEs located in the Durban area, and therefore can only be generalised with caution. The study recommends that both traditional and contemporary MAPs should be adopted upon the inception of a business, and that the relevant stakeholders should invest in educating themselves so that they can have a better understanding of the available MAPs, and their adoption and implementation within their business processes. The study further recommends that manufacturing SMEs identify and adopt the most appropriate MAPs to promote cost effective measures, optimise business performance and ensure sustainable growth. The effective adoption of MAPs would also be aided if stakeholders were to make more use of government supporting agencies allowing them to benefit from further financial assistance, mentorship and training of staff.
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    Factors influencing the adoption of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) by manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal
    (Allied Business Academics, 2019-11-25) Msomi, Mbali Portia; Ngibe, Musawenkosi; Nyide, Celani John
    Globally, manufacturing SMEs have been confronted with transformation, requiring them to be more focused on cost efficiency in order to be more sustainable. This has meant that manufacturing SMEs needed to find different business strategies and approaches to meet this global transformation. Literature shows that the introduction and usage of management accounting practices (MAPs) in manufacturing SMEs can contribute significantly towards their sustainability and meeting the global transformation needs. This paper intended to determine the critical environmental factors influencing the adoption of MAPs by manufacturing SMEs located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This study adopted a quantitative research approach using a 5 point Likert scale questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The target population consisted of manufacturing SME owners, managers who were involved in the business decision making. A non-probability (purposive) sampling was used to select the relevant sample size for this study. A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed to the target population with 51 questionnaires being completed and returned. Based on the empirical findings, the study identified that both internal and external environmental factors such as size of the firm, firm age, resources for training needs, technology and government support have a critical influence towards the adoption of MAPs. The study recommended that it is crucial for manufacturing SMEs to identify the most appropriate MAPs which can be embedded in their operations to improve business performance and sustainability.