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Faculty of Management Sciences

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Challenges of women entrepreneurship and empowerment in South Africa : evidence from rural areas
    (PT Keberlanjutan Strategis Indonesia, 2023-09) Nhleko, Mary-Ann Nokulunga; Msomi, Thabiso Sthembiso; Ogunsola, Sijuwade Adedayo
    This study aims to identify impediments to expanding women-owned businesses in rural areas of South Africa. The study used a quantitative research method to collect data. The study concentrated on 250 female business owners in the rural communities of Hluhluwe, Ulundi, and Eshowe in northern KZN. The study found that the main obstacles to expanding women-owned businesses in rural areas were financial constraints, a lack of education, and inadequate infrastructure. However, these difficulties experienced by women business owners in rural South Africa can be conquered. Overcoming these obstacles could empower women entrepreneurs and stimulate economic growth in rural areas, thus reducing poverty and enhancing the living standards of rural communities. Based on these findings, the study recommends various interventions, such as alternative financing models, targeted education and training programs, and infrastructure development, to support the growth of women-owned enterprises in rural areas. Future research should examine additional issues such as cultural and social hurdles, a lack of access to markets and information, and legal and regulatory restrictions that impede the establishment of women-owned businesses in rural areas.
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    The impact of training and development on employee performance and service delivery at a local municipality in South Africa
    (Business Perspectives, 2022-10-13) Nama, Khuselwa; Daweti, Baphiwe; Lourens, Melanie Elizabeth; Chikukwa, Tatenda
    There is a growing concern about the lack of skilled municipal employees who can deliver essential services to under-resourced local communities in South Africa. However, coaching and mentoring appear underutilized to train municipal employees to improve service delivery to local communities. The study aims to investigate whether coaching and mentoring could capacitate municipal employees whose performance appraisal reveals a lack of skills to provide essential services. A cross-sectional research design was adopted to conduct a survey. The target population comprised 265 municipal employees, and a stratified random sample of 115 employees completed a questionnaire. The employees held positions of general managers, general assistants, and administrators, with varied years of experience. Cronbach’s Alpha indicated an overall high 0.8 questionnaire reliability score. Using a quantitative method, responses from municipal employees were collected to examine their perceptions of the influence of training and development on employee performance and service delivery. Hypotheses were tested using the bivariant inferential statistical tests of correlation (r) and Chi-square (χ2 ). The results indicated that training and development were more likely to improve employee performance. Furthermore, the results showed that trained employees were more likely to improve service delivery. In particular, coaching and mentoring could be used to improve performance. Therefore, the study found that the municipality was not providing employees with relevant training and development to enable them to address poor service delivery. Finally, the study recommends that the municipality invests in training and development to enrich employees with new skills and knowledge to improve the quality of service delivery
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    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.
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    Factors in postgraduate supervision that impact on the quality of research at a selected department at a university of technology
    (2014) Jones, Bronwyn; Korporaal, Charmaine Maria; Singh, Shalini
    Similar to a production line, the development of a dissertation is a process within a research dyad that is affected by many factors. On completion, the customer / student is either satisfied or dissatisfied with the outcome of the research process. However, errors in the dissertation detract from its quality and this may leave students dissatisfied with the overall outcome of the marking and review process. To improve the product, it is critical that factors contributing to the production of a quality dissertation are understood. The aim of this study was to determine which components of the SERVQUAL model (namely, Responsiveness, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy and Reliability) contributed to a lower quality dissertation, thereby gaining an understanding of, and implementing factors which enable the production of a good quality dissertation which meets all stakeholders’ expectations. This was achieved through a prospective, mixed-methods study which analyzed the quality of 30 dissertations by means of a Checklist, denoting the quality of the dissertations. Thereafter, the 30 students and 30 supervisors involved in these dyads were asked to each complete separate questionnaires. The questions covered their respective demographics, research knowledge, expectations and perceptions of the research process. The data was then descriptively analysed and presented by way of tables to demonstrate the quality of the dissertation, and the characteristics of the students and the supervisors. The Chi-Squared statistics and Fisher’s Exact tests were then computed to determine relationships between these characteristics. It was revealed that significant differences between the students and the supervisors existed regarding: the length of time to completion of their Master’s; the roles of facilitators in the research process; student and supervisor role ambiguity; the reason for and need to complete research and specific knowledge of the research process. It was noted that a lack of communication resulted in a significant impact on reliability of the university service, moderate impact on assurance and responsiveness, with the least impact on empathy. In contrast, both the student and the supervisor perceived the tangibles provided by the university as satisfactory. Then, through the process of triangulation, it was shown that the relationship within the dyad lacked clear communication and common understanding of the research processes which was likely to result in a lower quality dissertation. It is, therefore, recommended that all students and supervisors that enter into a dyadic relationship need to find mechanisms (for example: learning contract, weekly meetings) to ensure a consistent and common understanding of the research process throughout its development to allow for the effective production of a good quality dissertation.