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Faculty of Management Sciences

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Author: search.filters.author.Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleSubject: search.filters.subject.South Africa

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    The use of marketing strategies by small, medium and micro enterprises in rural KwaZulu-Natal
    (The Southern African Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 2013) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Mason, Roger Bruce
    This paper examines the use of marketing strategies by Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas and identifies how they are limited by various internal and external factors. The study aimed to determine whether rural SMMEs have formal marketing strategies, the factors that constrain their marketing activities, their understanding of what marketing entails and the marketing communications techniques that they use. The study was conducted in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), using a survey method. The sample consisted of 374 SMME owners/managers, selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The results of the research revealed that marketing knowledge and expertise is lacking, with limited use of marketing strategies by the rural SMMEs. The paper will benefit SMME marketers by assisting them to better understand the marketing tactics to use, dependent on the nature of their environment. Most work on SMME marketing has concentrated on urban entrepreneurial marketing, with little emphasis on marketing strategies used in rural areas. Findings were limited by the study’s exploratory nature and the small sample. Further research with larger samples and the consideration of other provinces is recommended.
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    Selected key external factors influencing the success of rural small and medium enterprises in South Africa
    (World Scientific Publishing, 2014-09) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Mason, Roger Bruce
    Small businesses are critical to improving economic development in rural areas of South Africa. However, rural entrepreneurs are still faced with challenges and problems which make the success of small businesses, especially in rural areas, uncertain. This paper investigates business environmental, financial and infrastructural factors that influence the success or otherwise of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas. Primary data was collected in five rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from a sample of 374 business owners/managers, with respondents completing a questionnaire. Access to finance and skills shortages were the factors that most significantly differentiated between more successful and less successful rural businesses in KZN. The majority of respondents indicated that poor roads/transport and access to electricity were major problems.
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    Customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in Metropolitan areas, and consideration of environmental impact
    (Business Perspectives, 2017-04-08) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Dlamini, Henry Lucky
    This paper examines customer’s perception towards product quality of automotive SMEs operating in the Durban metropolitan areas and identifies how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute significantly to job creation, wealth, social stability, economic growth and reduction of poverty. Product quality of automotive SMEs requires serious attention, as it can have ecological environmental impact leading to the negative economic growth contributed by the industry. The study is aimed to understand the factors affecting automotive SMEs in order to help entrepreneurs to improve product quality and examining the customer’s perception towards product quality. The sample size of the study was 120 SMEs selected using convenience sampling with respondents completing the questionnaire. A combined method of both quantitative and qualitative techniques was employed, while the analysis of data was done using the Statistics Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 23.0. The findings of the study revealed that lack of managerial skills and development negatively compromises product quality of the automotive sector. Also the results indicate that the absence of financial support from financial institutions delays the improvement of stock in the business, as this is an obstacle resulting in the unsustainability of the SMEs. Further research with larger samples and the consideration of other cities is recommended.
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    Public outlook on small and medium enterprises as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa
    (Virtus Interpress, 2015) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    In spite of the key role played by the Small and Medium enterprises in economic development, there has been little effort to look at what needs to be done to improve survival and growth of SMEs. There is still a general lack of in-depth understanding from policy makers and other relevant stakeholders of how SMEs can be used as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. These misperceptions and misunderstand leads to continuous failure to SMEs survival and growth. This study seeks to address this research gap. The study investigates the public views on what needs to be done to grow South African economy through the development of SMEs. Quantitative research approach was used to collect and analyse data for the study. Primary data was collected from four (4) provinces of South Africa. 230 people participated in the study. Questionnaires were emailed to each respondent and follow-ups were made via telephone. It was found that many SMEs fail within five years of their existence due to the various reasons. The most critical of these were related to lack of access to finance, lack of management experience as well as human capital. Study further revealed that most the SMEs owners/managers do not have business management related skills but rather they are just ordinary entrepreneurs.
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    Leadership and corporate governance of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in South Africa : Public Perceptions
    (Virtus Interpress, 2015) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The main, underlying constraint to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a lack of corporate governance (CG) structure (Mahmood 2014). In considering the UK- Department for Business Innovation and Skills report (2012), this constraint is described as one of the fundamental problems holding back the growth of SMEs. The report states it is this lack of leadership and management capability that should be present, to drive performance and enable them to succeed. However, statistics support the indispensable role that SMEs perform in a country’s economy and when the significance of this sector is taken into account, the role that CG and its practices play within SMEs has to be clearly understood (Le Roux, 2010). Due to SMEs survival and growth being dependant on their good business leadership and corporate governance, the ability to lead, manage, and take full advantage of the resources available have, in recent years, been highlighted on global public platforms and the media. It has further been acknowledged, through prior research studies on SMEs that, for a business to be successful, the critical role of leadership and good CG has to be fully understood. The purpose of this paper is to report on South African public perceptions of leadership and corporate governance of SMEs. The study aimed to analyse and evaluate these perceptions towards SME owner/managers and their consequences, on the survival and growth of SMEs. A mixed method approach allowed for qualitative and quantitative techniques in collecting data from individual participants, with primary data collected from nine provinces of South Africa, and 180 participants as the sample. The research instrument consisted of closed-ended, questionnaires made up of 5-point Likert scale responses and 20 questionnaires were distributed to each province. Delivery of the questionnaires was done through email to individual respondents, with follow–up via telephone calls. The research findings indicate that most respondents believed that the growth and survival of SMEs is, due to the lack of business leadership and poor CG. In addition, respondents agreed that SME owners/managers are just average entrepreneurs, as they do not have leadership qualities or skills and that CG does not exist in many SMEs, particularly in South Africa. The paper’s benefit will be to the owners/managers of SMEs, as well as, policy makers and financial agencies for SMEs. It is recommended that further research, with a larger sample size, be drawn from various townships.
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    Leadership and corporate governance of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in South Africa
    (Virtus Interpress, 2015) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The main, underlying constraint to the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is a lack of corporate governance (CG) structure (Mahmood 2014). In considering the UK- Department for Business Innovation and Skills report (2012), this constraint is described as one of the fundamental problems holding back the growth of SMEs. The report states it is this lack of leadership and management capability that should be present, to drive performance and enable them to succeed. However, statistics support the indispensable role that SMEs perform in a country’s economy and when the significance of this sector is taken into account, the role that CG and its practices play within SMEs has to be clearly understood (Le Roux, 2010). Due to SMEs survival and growth being dependant on their good business leadership and corporate governance, the ability to lead, manage, and take full advantage of the resources available have, in recent years, been highlighted on global public platforms and the media. It has further been acknowledged, through prior research studies on SMEs that, for a business to be successful, the critical role of leadership and good CG has to be fully understood. The purpose of this paper is to report on South African public perceptions of leadership and corporate governance of SMEs. The study aimed to analyse and evaluate these perceptions towards SME owner/managers and their consequences, on the survival and growth of SMEs. A mixed method approach allowed for qualitative and quantitative techniques in collecting data from individual participants, with primary data collected from nine provinces of South Africa, and 180 participants as the sample. The research instrument consisted of closed-ended, questionnaires made up of 5-point Likert scale responses and 20 questionnaires were distributed to each province. Delivery of the questionnaires was done through email to individual respondents, with follow–up via telephone calls. The research findings indicate that most respondents believed that the growth and survival of SMEs is, due to the lack of business leadership and poor CG. In addition, respondents agreed that SME owners/managers are just average entrepreneurs, as they do not have leadership qualities or skills and that CG does not exist in many SMEs, particularly in South Africa. The paper’s benefit will be to the owners/managers of SMEs, as well as, policy makers and financial agencies for SMEs. It is recommended that further research, with a larger sample size, be drawn from various townships.
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    The Level of awareness of green marketing and its managerial implications amongst selected South African manufacturing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in KwaZulu–Natal
    (IFRD, 2014-08) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    The focus of this paper is to present an exploratory study on the level of awareness regarding green marketing and its managerial implications, among selected, South African Manufacturing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), in the province of KwaZulu–Natal (KZN). The concept of green marketing and thought provoking managerial implications are still an issue of concern in the South African manufacturing sector. The study aimed to explore the awareness levels about green marketing by selected South African manufacturing SMMEs in KZN, and the resulting managerial implications. Primary data was collected from 84 manufacturing SMMEs. This research was quantitative in nature and a questionnaire was used to collect data from SMMEs owners/managers in KZN. Findings of the research indicate that SMMEs in the study are aware of green marketing and its managerial implications. It further reveals that SMMEs’ owners/managers indicate that the South African Environmental Act and Consumer Protection Act are additional factors that influence their businesses operations. The paper will benefit SMMEs owners/managers, SMMEs marketing managers, and affiliated stakeholders, by introducing a new understanding of green marketing and how to cope with the demand of new green marketing strategies. Most work on the Green Zone has concentrated on green products, with little emphasis on green marketing and its implications. The findings are limited by the study’s exploratory, quantitative nature and small sample. Generalisation should be done with care and further research, with a large sample and consideration of other provinces, is therefore recommended.