MBA & MM Theses

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2011 - 20123

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Medium sized businesses

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    FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE BY SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
    (2012-02-10) Riley, Sean
    Recent technological advancement in the area of electronic data interchange (EDI) provides the mechanism for small medium enterprises (SME) to leverage trading networks at a much lower cost. The result is that SMEs can enjoy the benefit of EDI. This study attempts to discover how many SMEs do make use of EDI and in addition, what motivated the decision to make use of EDI. This study makes use of a technology-organisation-environment framework to test thirteen factors which impact a SMEs decision to adopt EDI and to understand the relative importance of those factors that impact the decision. The study makes use of quantitative methods to determine the factors, the method of analysis has been completed by means of confidence interval estimation of the mean and factor analysis of data collected by electronic and hard copy survey. The results suggest that there are a number of factors that impact a SME decision to adopt electronic data interchange. The perception amongst SMEs that have adopted EDI is good with regard to the implementation, continued use and expansion of electronic data interchange. SMEs perceive the increased operating efficiency benefit, increased financial benefit, improved customer service and increased buyer pressure to be the main factors that influence their decision to adopt EDI
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    Success criteria of SMMEs for
    (2011-06-10) Sutherland, Scott
    Many SMME in South Africa have attempted to enter exporting, often with very bad experiences and losses. This is not consistent with the experiences of similar small firms in first world countries. Given that South African SMME may find great difficult competing in first world markets without prior exporting experience. This research seeks to fill a gap in the literature by looking if there are issues that may be particular to South African firms looking to export in Africa. In particular what could be the key criteria small firms lacking in finances and management resources can concentrate upon to try ensure success? The researcher was seeking a wide view of the exporting industry and sought out a group of experts to gain insight to the possible key success criteria. A phenomenological approach using an unstructured interview was done with these experts to gain insight of both successful and unsuccessful export ventures. In particular what these experts have advised smaller firms on and where the firms have succeeded. There was convergence from the respondents that the networks or relationships of an exporting SMME are of key importance. This is largely due to the nature of complexities of exporting and the diversity of requirements in multiple jurisdictions. As there can be no certainty all problems have been provided for by the exporter working alone, the exporter and importer are dependent upon each other and their business partners to ensure mutually beneficial transactions
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    Small, medium and micro enterprises as an element
    (2011-06-08) RAMODUMO, MADIDIMALO AARON
    The development of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) has become one of the major focal points for Local Economic Development (LED) in South Africa. This is demonstrated by the National and Provincial policy as well as local government initiatives wherein appropriate environment for small businesses to flourish has become a central element for promoting entrepreneurship within municipalities. However, the challenge is that the survival rate of the established small business initiatives and their sustainability to realize the purpose for which they have been established, that is, to promote sustainable entrepreneurship, to stimulate economic growth and to create jobs is enormous. The purpose of this research study was to examine the nature of support provided to SMMEs as an element of LED strategy, its effectiveness in terms of job creation, entrepreneurial development and the lessons learnt for SMME development in the Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province of South Africa. Chicken farming had been used as a unit of analysis. The major findings of the study were that the development of small businesses in the Greater Giyani Municipality is hindered by insufficient skills for the implementation of LED strategy for small business development, lack of training on small business development, inefficient and uncoordinated strategy within the local government municipality as well as lack of penetration of small business development agencies and above all, lack of training on small business management The study recommends the following measures for effective small business development in the Greater Giyani Municipality: proper management systems, development of local economic development operation plan, good governance, improvement of service delivery, the effectiveness of small business development agencies and the need for performance measurements and monitoring