MBA & MM Theses

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Small business enterprises

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    The challenges of transition from a small information technology organisation to a medium sized enterprise
    (2013-10-22) Singh, Keshvi
    SME‟s play a key role in the creation of employment in South Africa and to a larger extent, economic growth of the country. However, as SMEs transition from small to medium sized enterprises, they experience numerous challenges. This paper reports on the findings of an investigation into the internal and external business challenges faced by SMEs in South Africa as they make this transition into medium sized enterprises. This was a qualitative study with data collected through structured interviews. Respondents were asked a series of open-ended questions and these responses were analysed, interpreted and discussed in the content. The findings indicate that when SMEs grow, the transition is not smooth and not all SMEs experience the same challenges: some may be unique to the type of industry or the circumstances under which the company was formed as well as factors such as access to finance, management, etc. There is no single or best way to overcome these challenges. SMEs should seek creative solutions to their challenges which will allow them to succeed and grow. Proactively addressing challenges can also prove to have long-term benefits for the company. This paper also provides some relevant recommendations to SME owners to overcome some of the constraints they might experience as they grow.
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    The dominant themes in storytelling by entrepreneurs in small business enterprises in South Africa
    (2012-01-20) ISA, REHEMA K.
    The purpose of the research was to gain meaningful insights on the dominant themes of stories as told by entrepreneurs in the course of running their businesses. This research focussed on entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises and varied in reach to entrepreneurs from services, manufacturing, construction and retail industries. It is less apparent what entrepreneurs of small business enterprises recount as the most significant story that they tell, the reasons why they tell it and the impact of the stories they tell. A significant proportion of the stories told were in the format accounts, telling of specific points in time of the business. The dominant theme for each entrepreneur was typically linked in many instances to what the literature available on the subject of storytelling in organisations documents. The narratives were analysed in three aspects, themes, forms and purpose the result of which were namely: • Purpose: the stories told by entrepreneurs were predominantly stories to create meaning, inform and to enhance knowledge around entrepreneurship • Themes: the stories told by entrepreneurs of their businesses were linked to the leader (themselves) and the role they have played in their businesses. • Forms: the forms of storytelling by the entrepreneurs being interviewed were predominantly accounts with the exception of two anecdotes. Although each entrepreneur found a story to tell, it was noted that most responded that they never considered what they were recounting as stories, but rather as statements of fact of what happened in their businesses. The main application of storytelling was never as a deliberate action or process but rather circumstantial opportunity to narrate. Stories remain in the domain of social interaction with the majority of stories circulated within the entrepreneur circles, friends and family. - III - While each entrepreneur had a unique tale, with common lessons and messages, in only three instances were the stories told used internally within the organisation. The main audience that the entrepreneurs told their stories to was other entrepreneurs. The richness in terms of the content, form and purpose of the stories told, their current application as evidenced by entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises, indicates that storytelling in South Africa remains an untapped business tool.