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Faculty of Management Sciences

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Innovation

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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Business leadership competency for innovative strategies post COVID-19 among small and medium enterprises in Gauteng Province, South Africa
    (2023) Mugivhisa, Fulufhelo Lindelani; Ogulu, Christiana
    The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges to South African business leaders, such as optimising hybrid teams, attracting and retaining workers with needed capabilities, and making the most of scarce competencies. Current and complex challenges require leadership with the necessary skills. Besides COVID-19 challenges, business organisations and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must deal with economic downfall, social unrest, and corruption. Leadership plays an important role in ensuring business competitiveness amid these challenges. This study investigated the business leadership competency required for innovative strategies required post-COVID-19 among SMEs in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This involves identifying leadership competencies and proposing a framework for innovative leadership. A sample size of 384 respondents was drawn from owner/managers of SMEs in Gauteng Province. A mixed-method approach was adopted using both structured interviews and a closed-ended questionnaire through an online survey. The results showed that most of the SMEs agreed that COVID-19 challenged SMEs with several difficulties. The research highlighted business leadership competencies for innovative strategies post-COVID-19. The main findings revealed that training and developing employees play a pivotal role in shaping and influencing business performance, which is critical to the success of a business and ensuring innovation. Furthermore, the survey results showed that most SME owners/managers prioritise the competency of setting targets, reviewing and improving financial performance. Results also indicated that adaptability, flexibility, and resilience are necessary to meet changing market conditions. Furthermore, the study highlighted the importance of building diverse and expansive networks. Additionally, findings show that SME Leaders must be willing to take calculated risks for the business to emerge successful.
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    Driving sustainable growth for small and medium enterprises in emerging urban–rural economies
    (MDPI AG, 2023) Tshikovhi, Ndivhuho; More, Krantisagar; Cele, Zamaswazi
    Rural economies are crucial for global development, with more than 80% of the world’s population living in rural areas and agriculture providing livelihoods for approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, these economies are often vulnerable to various factors, including climate change, natural disasters, and a lack of progressive economic policies. The main aim of making rural economies more sustainable is to promote long-term economic development, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life in urban–rural communities. This paper explored certain strategies for enhancing rural economies to be more sustainable. The results show that smart growth has been rapidly growing in urban cities, while certain communities outside urban areas have been left behind. However, both urban and rural communities need economic growth and be adaptive to smart growth to serve their communities and adhere to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the new era of innovation. Thus, we argue that rural areas are a big part of emerging economies. As such, they cannot be left behind in any smart growth. In this study, we found that rural economies need training and up-skilling in order to improve their sustainability and efficiency targets. Through a systematic review, this paper looked at various ways rural communities can solve their challenges toward smart growth and the sustainability of their resources. As a result, we propose solutions for urban–rural communities to implement in daily activities in terms of policy and practice approaches.
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    An overview on the role of innovation in making sustainable and future-ready businesses
    (ERM Publications, 2023) Rena, Ravinder
    Innovation is the key to success for businesses and it remains a crucial element in the sustainable development of the entrepreneurship activities across the globe. It is characterized by the creative capacity of invention as a source of sociocultural and technological change. In this background, the current review provides an overview of innovative business practices, enablers, and the factors that prevent the business owners to innovate new product/ service offerings, role of innovation among the small and medium enterprises, and impact of innovative business practices in the aftermath of COVID-19. Methodology: No comprehensive review has been made in this domain, though the researchers have focused on the concepts of innovation and business practices separately. The present study is an important contribution to the research domain as it holistically approaches the concept, its application, and the takeaway for future. Findings: The research article reviewed the studies conducted earlier and discussed the innovative practices followed in different domains and how the existing studies handled the concept of innovation in business. The paper also discussed about green innovation concepts and the concept of business innovation in India since India emerges as a vibrant nation after COVID-19. Implications: As per the India Innovation Index 2021, India is yet to tap the potential areas. With loads of opportunities yet to be unleashed, India must bring policy measures to make business innovations, a norm. It has increased continuously in the ladder of innovative start-up environment provider, though there is a scope for further growth in this regard.
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    The influence of emerging technologies on small and medium manufacturing enterprises in eThekwini District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal
    (2022-09) Ntuli, Lindokuhle Senamile; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute meaningfully to economic growth, poverty reduction, social stability and job creation. Research on the influence emerging technologies have on SME has been conducted all over the world; however, few studies focused on the manufacturing sector, with specific reference to the eThekwini District Municipality. Therefore, this research study aims to explain and clearly define the factors that influence manufacturing SMEs in the eThekwini District Municipality towards adoption of emerging technologies, in order to enhance productivity and business processes which, in turn, result in improved customer satisfaction. Furthermore, this study examines how emerging technologies influence SMEs operating in the eThekwini District Municipality. The factors influencing adoption of emerging technologies among manufacturing SMEs in eThekwini remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the influence emerging technologies will have on the manufacturing SMEs operating in the eThekwini District Municipality. Data were collected from the sample of 300 manufacturing SME owners/managers in the eThekwini District Municipality, selected by means of non-probability stratified sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the support of the researcher. The study used quantitative techniques. Results from the questionnaire survey reveal that most manufacturing SMEs in the eThekwini District Municipality who were respondents in the study are still at an infant stage with emerging technologies, due to financial constraints and lack of skills expertise associated with the cost of emerging technologies. However, these small enterprises do consider the use of emerging technologies such as computer devices, the cloud and emails to gain competitive advantage and improve production. Further research should aim to establish training programmes that will offer manufacturing SMEs emerging technologies skills and encourage the use of emerging technologies as the world is changing with technologies so they can be innovative.
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    Influence of incubation hubs on start-ups in Harare, Zimbabwe
    (2021-11) Karambakuwa, Joe Kumbirai; Bayat, Mohamed Saheed
    The thesis examines the effect of business incubation on new businesses. The research sheds light on how incubation centres are being implemented and how beneficial they are. The practice of business incubation is a crucial endeavour that can aid the growth of new enterprises. However, only a few studies have confirmed their influence on start-up survival. This study sheds light on how start-up enterprises evolve when they are exposed to incubation centres. An examination of the literature found that there is a gap in understanding the stages of start-up development because there is no consensus on the specific elements or paths that start-ups take. Literature showed that there was little that was known about what happens during and after company incubation since these aspects were considered black boxes. While there was literature on inclusive entrepreneurship, there was a vacuum in the linkage between the two. This study contributed to the body of knowledge by examining areas where there were gaps. To assess the influence of incubation on start-ups, the study used a qualitative methodology. Focus groups were used to obtain the data. Twenty-one start-up founders who met the requirement of having gone through the incubation phase made up the sample. To present the outcomes of the study, content analysis was done, and the NVivo software was used to analyse the data into thematic areas. The study found that hubs made a reasonable contribution to start-up competence and survival. Hubs aided in the expansion of businesses and assisted start-ups. The lack of capacity to accomplish the desired expansion was blamed for start-ups’ sluggish growth. According to the research findings, start-ups identified incubation hubs as centres that gave exposure and empowerment to start-ups. Several start-up business owners were not aware of some of the training and skills development that was provided to them before they began the incubation phase. Hubs were identified as centres of creativity and the generation of new ideas which aided them in successfully nurturing their businesses. Hubs encouraged serious thinking, analysis, as well as creativity, and the ability to do things differently. According to the findings, incubation centres offered start-ups mentorship as well as networking prospects. Networking was found to be essential since it allowed like-minded entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, opportunities, and open their minds to new possibilities and commercial options. The study found that hubs offered start-ups resources such as space, machinery, and technical assistance. As a result, reliance on standard company growth methods had certain limitations. The findings revealed that hubs bridged the gap between theory and practice, supporting lifelong learning and establishing discipline and professionalism in the business environment of start-ups. The hubs provide a well-structured strategy from beginning to end of the incubation process, allowing for better comprehension and lowering the risk of failure. The findings suggest that hubs offered a conducive atmosphere for start-ups and that respondents saw their firms expand. According to the study, incubation centres may play an important role in inclusive entrepreneurship by providing programmes to marginalised populations who can start businesses. Incubation hubs were found to have a significant impact on start-up survival. Incubators may be a driving force behind the creation of high-impact start-ups. The conclusions of this study have numerous theoretical as well as practical implications for incubation managers, policymakers, academic institutions, and startup entrepreneurs. Future research recommendations were made to better understand the constraints surrounding start-up incubation.
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    Factors influencing small and medium enterprises’ innovation strategies in Durban
    (2021-11) Makuwe, Kudzai Nigel; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele
    It is evident and generally agreed by scholars around the world that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of any thriving economy. For the SME sector to fully support the economic activities of a country it needs to be absorbed in innovation activities that deliver products and services valued by customers. Studies have been conducted globally confirming a positive relationship between SMEs and their characteristic innovative nature. However, paucity still exists in the local context of South Africa, especially in Durban, on what influences SME innovation strategies. It was thus the aim of the current study to identify factors that influence SME innovation strategies in Durban. In addition, the study recognised the impact of Corona Virus 2019 (Covid-19) on SME innovation, while also delving into post Covid-19 innovation strategies by SMEs. The study made use of a quantitative research design and a structured questionnaire was distributed to respondents. The sample size of the study was 248 SME owners/ managers in Durban. With the closure of certain businesses, the impact of covid-19 forced a shift from probability to non-probability sampling, as well as changes to the data collection planned initially for the study. Therefore, the researcher had to resort to targeting SMEs in Durban that were allowed to operate. With the aid of a research assistant the questionnaire was distributed to and collected from respondents. Collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for Windows. The results emanating from the study were then presented in the form of bar graphs, pie charts and cross tabulations. The main findings of the research revealed that the majority of SMEs in Durban surveyed invest in technology equipment. Furthermore, the results showed agreement by a majority of the SMEs that the size of a firm influences innovation strategies. In addition, the majority of SME owners strongly agreed that the global pandemic, Covid-19, has significantly changed consumer buying patterns. The research project additionally highlighted some of the most critical factors that influence SME innovation strategies in Durban. Policy makers, academics and SME stakeholders will find the study informative.
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    Development of an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa
    (2018-12) Sebopetsa, Mohale Peter; Bayat, Mohamed Saheed
    ABSTRACT Despite the role of extension being that of improving farming efficiency, public sector extension services is perceived to be ineffective and inadequate in improving sustainable smallholder farming. Several attempts have been made to improve the agricultural extension sector of the South African economy. However, there is still a growing concern for provision of effective and sustainable agricultural extension services to the majority of resource poor farmers who are involved in the bulk of agricultural production. The importance of the agricultural extension system therefore, remains that of a support service to enhance the ability of farming communities to respond to historic challenges and to exploit new opportunities. The aim of this study was to formulate an extension framework for smallholder farming in the Western Cape Province. The objectives of the study were to determine the effectiveness of government extension services, to assess the factors that could influence the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension services, to examine factors that could be perceived by public extension officers as challenges in smallholder farming, to evaluate the usefulness of new innovations introduced through the extension service department and to develop a framework for extension service delivery in the Western Cape in order to improve the effectiveness of this service. The study used an explanatory research design which involves both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study consisted of a randomly selected sample size of 213 smallholder farmers and the sampling technique was non-probability sampling such as typical case purposive sampling. The study revealed through descriptive analysis that the gender representation in the sample was more skewed towards the female (68.08%) majority. The age difference within the sample was also skewed towards youth and economically active smallholder farmers with the majority of respondents being illiterate and semi-illiterate in their educational profiles. Hence, 83.57% of these farmers benefited from short learning government agricultural training. Furthermore, the study revealed that in a less complex environment, sufficient agricultural advice, expert linkage and usage of video have significant impact on the effectiveness of government extension services with regards to smallholder farmers. In a more complex situation the evidence suggests that an increase in expert linkages and usage of videos are the most influential factors to drive the effectiveness of government extension services in these types of farmers. In addition, the findings indicate that at lower levels of educational achievement both male and female smallholder farmers view expert linkages as the most effective factor that could improve government extension service followed by the provision of sufficient agricultural advice and usage of video. The rankings amongst both male and female educated smallholder farmers suggest that the usage of video and expert linkage are the most effective instrument that could improve government extension services. The results further indicate that contacts, capacity building and demonstration have higher impact on the linkages between smallholder farmers and extension officers when network, communication and coordination were held constant. These imply that in an ideal situation, contacts, capacity building and demonstration have a higher degree of impact in determining the incremental and sustainable linkages for these stakeholders. However, poorly educated male smallholder farmers suggest that demonstration was more important in linking them with extension service whilst the female counterparts think that frequency of contacts was the most likely factor that could have linked them to this service. Higher educated smallholder farmers suggested that capacity building and demonstration were the most likely factors that could link them to extension services regardless of their gender differences. The results for the factors that could determine challenges and perceptions of extension services revealed that lack of financial access could significantly reduce the likelihood of extension services to be perceived positively whilst technology access was viewed to be significant in increasing the likelihood of extension services to be perceived as positive. Furthermore, access to technology is viewed by both male and female smallholder farmers as the key challenge to the image of the public extension officers with the lack of finance being regarded as the most challenge for male who have TVET and degree qualifications. The findings regarding the effectiveness of government extension point out that the extension service in Western Cape Province still require significant and sufficient linkages, advice and usage of videos to be effective. The study revealed that it was almost impossible to develop a one-size fit all approach, but suggested some key elements for such a framework to be able to respond to the needs of smallholder farmers. Regarding the linkages between farmers and extension services, the study has uncovered that there are varying linkages which point out that high impact linkages could be established through frequency of contacts, capacity building and demonstration. Furthermore, it is also evident that the challenges and the perception in the extension services still exist despite various initiatives and to avert such challenges and perception, financial and technical technology access is suggested to be essential.
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    Exploring fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) manufacturers need for innovation to achieve growth in KwaZulu-Natal
    (2016) Nze, Grace O; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Dorasamy, Nirmala
    This study explores South African Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) SMME manufacturers’ need for innovation to achieve growth in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). South Africa suffers from a high rate of unemployment, with an official unemployment rate estimate of 24.7% (Statistics South Africa, 2013). This high rate of unemployment in South Africa is partly attributed to the failure rate of SMMEs, which is between seventy and eighty percent. Small enterprises encounter greater barriers than medium-sized and large enterprises in accessing finance for innovation, commercializing new ideas and expanding their businesses. The study was exploratory and quantitative in nature. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data. The questionnaires were distributed personally and with the help of a research assistant to the business sites of the respondents. The respondents comprise 120 FMCG SMME manufacturers in KZN, who were selected by means of a non-probability sampling method. The results obtained identified a number of factors influencing innovation for FMCG SMME manufacturers to achieve growth. The influencing factors include a lack of financial skill and knowledge; high cost or complex procedures to register or defend patents; a lack of information on the part of employers on how to satisfy consumers’ interest; a lack of technological know-how and human capital problems; difficulty in accessing finance for research and development; government laws and regulations; new entrant threats and protocols; and a lack of product brand name.