Dissertations / Theses: 'Small business Australia'

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Walker, Elizabeth A. "Small business owners' measures of success." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2001. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1039.

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Small business plays a significant part in the economy of all nations because of its revenue contribution and as a generator of employment. In the Australian context, small businesses account for 85% of all businesses, employ 40% of the total workforce and contribute $75 billion annually to Industry Gross Product. All of these numerical indicators highlight the financial importance of small business, which is also how small business success has traditionally been measured. These traditional success measures have been by increases in financial performance criteria, such as return on investment, turnover or profit, or by increases in number of staff.

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Henson, Sam. "Beyond start-up : Regional small to medium enterprises (SMEs) transitioning to growth." Thesis, University of Ballarat, 2009. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/55624.

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Reports on a qualitative, case-based study of the practices that contribute to the growth of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The research engaged with growing SMEs located in regional areas of Australia, and with the entrepreneurs and owner-managers who lead them.

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Leith, Andrew Roydon. "Competitiveness of Australian small to medium enterprises in Indonesia /." View thesis View thesis, 2000. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030429.163902/index.html.

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Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2000.
A thesis submitted as part of the candidature requirement for the award of a Doctorate of Philosophy, November 2000, University of Western Sydney. Bibliography : leaves 204-215.

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Vallance, Jane. "Research into the delivery of the small business traineeship in Western Australia." Thesis, Vallance, Jane (1997) Research into the delivery of the small business traineeship in Western Australia. Masters by Coursework thesis, Murdoch University, 1997. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/51179/.

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This research project aims to provide some indication of the progress and delivery of the Small Business Traineeship (SBT) in Western Australia. The Small Business Traineeship is one of the new “employer focused” and “more flexible” entry level training arrangements which allows 100% on-the-job training and employer assessment of trainee competencies. The project provides a wide range of information on the employer and trainee profiles and current status of trainees. The project found that over 70% of trainees are under 25, employed overwhelmingly in very small firms (less than 10 employees), the vast majority of whom (70%) had not been involved in entry level training previously. SBT is succeeding in achievement of MAATS objectives of expansion of entry level training opportunities into new industries and new employers. The research also found that female participation in SBT traineeships is much lower than males. The vast majority of employers using SBT did not know about alternative entry level training “products” and are therefore vulnerable to training marketing agents favouring one product over another. There is a high attrition rate (38%) for the program and concerns from employers about lack of support which requires further investigation.

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Kemp, Phillip. "The influence of business incubation in developing new enterprises in Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/864.

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Australia was an early adopter of business incubation, and made substantial investments in it in the early 2000s, however local interest has declined with the closure of big government-funded projects, at a time when international interest in business incubation is increasing. This study revisits the question of business incubators and their usefulness in economic development, describing a case study conducted on a university-linked business incubator in Australia. It investigates the impact of its operations on developing start-up businesses operating from within the facility; the motivations, perceptions and priorities of small businesses tenants and former tenants; and the role of the manager in influencing the development of new enterprises. The study builds on the theoretical understanding of business incubation and a model has been developed that demonstrates the ways in which options theory, coproduction theory, networking theory and social capital theory explain stages of incubation. The study found the principle motivation for tenants to locate their business within a business incubator was the price for the office space and not the business development assistance that is the primary service of the business incubator. Once operating from within the business incubator, however, the principle advantage perceived by tenants was the provision of business assistance in the development and growth of their businesses. The only disadvantage raised was price as it reduced the pressure to strive for profits and business growth on the tenant businesses. The interaction with the manager was found to have a positive impact on the tenant businesses and contributed to their development. The tenants believed that the interaction was on their own terms and that they could seek advice whenever they needed from the manager. The manager believed that he could add value by assisting the tenants directly, with connecting them and introducing tenants to other service providers and businesses when required.

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Armstrong, Douglas Bruce, University of Western Sydney, of Science Technology and Environment College, and School of Environment and Agriculture. "CEO characteristics, organisation characteristics, decision making and CBIS success in regional small business." THESIS_CSTE_EAG_Armstrong_D.xml, 2003. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/773.

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The research conducted for this thesis had two broad aims. The first was to provide descriptive information about the use of computer-based information systems (CBIS) in regional small business. The second of the aims was to examine the relationships among key constructs identified from the literature and to explore how they contributed to predicting CBIS success in regional small business.In the second phase of the analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to examine the factorial constructs underlying the data. Constructs were identified that measured CEO characteristics, two measuring organisational characteristics, four measuring aspects of decision-making, and five measuring perceived CBIS success. Correlations among the constructs were examined prior to relationships among the constructs being explored using hierarchical regression analysis. The constructs were also examined in a single measurement model to determine their collective effect and relationships with the constructs measuring CBIS success based on structural equation modelling. Notwithstanding the limitations of the research, it resulted in the identification of relationships among key variables that predict CBIS success. The identification of items associated with decision-making processes, and the identification of the factorial constructs underlying the data is a major contribution to a portion of the literature that was non-existent. The final measurement model is also a significant contribution in identifying and specifying the relationships constructs measuring CEO characteristics, organisational characteristics, decision-making and CBIS success in regional small business.
Doctor of Philosphy (PhD)

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Millsteed, Jeannine. "A model of management learning for occupational therapists in small business in Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/860.

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This research sought to identify factors that contribute to occupational therapists developing management competencies when they become small business owners providing professional clinical services. This is an important for several reasons and precipitated by the Australian government’s introduction of incentives that encourage health professions to move from employment in public hospitals into the private sector, coupled with a recognition that occupational therapists receive no formal business training in their professional education, and the reported high levels of business failure in the small business sector. A review of the literature established the value of small business to the Australian economy, growth in the health sector generally, and increasing opportunities for allied health professionals to consider starting their own small business. Such a move requires occupational therapists to gain mastery as business managers in addition to their existing professional clinical knowledge and skills. The context of the research was set with a review of the literature on management development in small businesses, which indicates that professionals starting their own small business often have poorly developed management skills, and some experience high rates of failure. Theories on management development in small business were reviewed, and the conclusion drawn that a gap in knowledge on how occupational therapists develop their management skills existed. These gaps in the literature gave rise to the principal research question, that being ‘what factors contribute to the success of occupational therapists as small business owners providing professional services?’ Four related questions focused on motivations for starting a business, the management competencies needed, learning management competencies, and perceptions of business success. The study used a qualitative exploratory approach. Twenty-six female occupational therapists, who were small business owners were interviewed on their experiences of becoming a business manager. Purposive sampling ensured diversity across backgrounds, prior experience, clinical specialisations, and the age of the business. A thematic analysis of data built an understanding about why and how occupational therapists develop their management capabilities in small business. The principal factors affecting the development of the participants’ business and management skills were the interactions between their initial motivations for start-up, career aspirations, and engagement with external business environments. The participants learnt their business skills through a combination of formal learning prior to starting their businesses, and informal learning once they started their businesses. Lower-level learning occurred in the more routine and operational processes, the ‘know-how’ aspects of the business. However, most of their higher level learning was through discontinuous events that had serious consequences for their businesses if not addressed. These higher-level learning events resulted in participants understanding that ‘know-why’ change was needed, and a transformation in their understanding about themselves as business managers. The participants were central in determining the level of interaction between the resources and capabilities in their internal environments, and engagement with external environments that enable the development of their business and management capabilities. The findings led to a theoretical proposition on how occupational therapists make the transition to develop their management capabilities and become successful small business owners. A model of business starts with the nascent business owner assessing their business capabilities, learning to identify environmental opportunities and risks, and finally learning to identify and respond to new opportunities and changing circumstances in the external environment, was developed.

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Jess, Gabrielle M. "Minding my own business: Small business owners' decision making during a response to a natural disaster in southeast Queensland, Australia." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2022. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/228750/1/Gabrielle_Jess_Thesis.pdf.

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With Australia experiencing unprecedented natural disasters, this transdisciplinary thesis is timely. It explores small business owner’s decision making during such events in Southeast Queensland alongside the affordances provided by public and non-profit entities to sustain business continuity. Using interview data of business owners’ and key informants’ from urban, peri-urban and rural communities, this study catalogued their decisions, decision processes and affordances organised around six business capitals. As predicted by the recognition primed decision theory, decisions were quick yet indicated both complexities and competencies of business owners. Fast decisions and political affordances support business owners’ survival during high consequence, disruptive events.

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Sharafizad, Jalleh. "The Networking Behaviour of Women Small Business Owners." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1422.

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Businesses are not isolated entities - they expand and grow through links with others. Like all business owners, women small business owners (SBOs) need social and business networks that support the establishment and growth of their business. This thesis presents an insight and increased understanding of the networking behaviours of women SBOs in Western Australia. It was aimed at determining whether women business owners’ motivations for starting a business were linked to their networking strategies. Although there is substantial literature on “entrepreneurship”, “women entrepreneurship” and “small business”, the researcher could not find any literature in the field of Australian women small business ownership that integrates motivations and networking studies Much of the previous literature on SBOs has concentrated on demographic and psychographic characteristics such as gender, age, motivation, and family responsibilities. Only one previous study was identified (Curran, Jarvis, Blackburn & Black, 1993), which specifically looked at the link between motivations and networking. This research aimed to contribute and address some of the existing gaps identified in the literature review on this topic by examining the potential link between business start-up motivation and networking of Australian women SBOs, and comparing their networks and networking behaviours, the research introduced an added dimension to women SBOs and their networking behaviour, not previously available in the literature. This research adopted an exploratory approach and was guided by social network theory (SNT), as little was known about the subject area. The research was qualitative, as interviews were the main source of data for answering the research questions. Qualitative data was collected through 28 semi-structured in-depth interviews. The data sets were then analysed to determine the networking behaviour of women SBOs with different motivations for starting their own businesses. This study sought to explore the following primary question: How do women’s motivations for starting a small business influence their networking behaviour? In addition to the primary research question, there were three secondary questions: 1. How do women’s motivations for starting a small business influence their network structure? 2. How do women’s motivations for starting a small business influence their network interaction? 3. How do women’s motivations for starting a small business influence their network content? The research framework was based on the research questions and the outcome of the preliminary literature review. This study drew upon earlier work by Hughes (2006) who used women SBOs’ start-up motivations to categorise them into three types: classic SBOs, forced SBOs, and work-family SBOs. It expands upon Hughes’ (2006) study by further comparing the networking behaviour of these three types of women SBOs. The target population was metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. This research examined the networking activities of women SBOs in their pursuit of resources for three main activities: obtaining general assistance for overall business strategies; obtaining assistance with daily business operations, such as advice and resources for legal, financial, technology and marketing; and emotional support through mentoring and socialising. The findings highlighted many similarities and differences between the three types of women SBOs (CSBO, FSBO and WFSBO) and concluded that there are two different networking cultures: “entrepreneurial networking culture” and “non-entrepreneurial networking culture.” The study found that women SBOs chose the networking strategy that best suited their business, lifestyle and future business plans. Those who started their business for financial reasons hoped to expand and grow, and had an entrepreneurial networking culture with a diverse network of strong and weak ties. Women SBOs who started their business for family and domestic reasons chose to keep their business small, did not plan to expand or grow, were non-entrepreneurial by definition, and had a small homogenous network. One networking strategy was not necessarily better than the other. The best type of networking was that which allowed business owners to achieve their goals and purpose for starting the business in the first place. The research revealed that the networking behaviour of women SBOs was based on their motivation for starting their business. Recommendations for future research include an examination of these phenomena at a national level, and further scrutiny of differences in networking behaviours between genders.

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Eiseman, John. "Strategies for small business education and training : a case study in the independent supermarket industry in Australia /." [Sydney] : University of Western Sydney, 1997. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030811.161842/index.html.

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Thesis (M.Sc. (Hons)) --University of Westen Sydney, 1997.
"A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science (Honours)" Accompanied by : Current concerns, future outlook and training needs of independent supermarket retailers / John Eiseman.1994. Bibliography: p. 134-142.

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Waqailiti, Benidito. "Factors Influencing Female Small Business Ownership within Regional and Urban Environments in Australia and Fiji." Thesis, Griffith University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367014.

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The importance of small businesses in contributing to growth in many national economies is widely reported. Although there is some recognition that much of this growth is attributable to the escalation in the number of female-owned enterprises, female business ownership remains markedly under-represented in many world economies. Moreover, this disparity appears more prominent when considering developed and developing country contexts. Curiously, to date, there is a paucity of research explaining the likely reasons underlying these apparent differences. This remains a significant gap in the literature. To remedy this apparent gap in the literature, this research will explore the factors influencing small business ownership and performance in a developing country in the Asia-Pacific region (i.e. Fiji) and subsequently compare these results with data collected in a developed country in the same region (i.e. Australia). A specific objective of this research is to investigate prominent motivational incentives influencing female entrepreneurship (in general) and small business ownership (specifically) within both Australia and Fiji. Exploratory interviews with a sample of forty female entrepreneurs in regional and urban localities within Australia and Fiji were conducted. Furthermore, equal numbers of participants involved within micro (less than five employees), small (six to ten employees) and mediumsized enterprises (eleven to thirty employees) were recruited for this research. A conceptual model and series of nine propositions (with associated sub-propositions) explaining female small business ownership is presented. Results suggest that female entrepreneurship in developed and developing economies is influenced by personal characteristics of female entrepreneurs (i.e. age, education, prior work experience), balancing work and family demands, personal motivations (push or pull), entrepreneurial orientation and external influences (financial accessibility, social networks and technological influences).
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
Griffith Business School
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12

Bode, Shirley A. "Designing a framework for the alignment of e-business strategy and consultant engagement processes for Australian SMEs : a cross-case analysis." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2002. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/715.

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The majority of SMEs have neither the internal expertise nor financial resources to enable in-house development of electronic commerce and therefore turn to the services of website design consultants to assist them. Unfortunately, they often engage consultants without any clear idea of their intended e-business strategy and without due care as to effective engagement processes. This frequently leads to ineffective e-business development and a highly disaffected group of small entrepreneurs. The study suggests that there is a significant gap between the intended strategies of SMEs and the actual e-business strategy implemented. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between Australian Small and Medium Enterprises, Internet strategy and the engagement of website design consultants. The objectives of the research project were firstly, to identify factors including SME engagement of website design consultants, and other factors presented in previous research that may influence the success of online organizations. Secondly, to construct a framework for analysing those factors' which may influence the success of online organizations. Finally, to provide a set of critical development factors that may be used by Australian SMEs to implement the online organisation. The research methodology chosen used an interpretivist perspective and incorporated a multiple cross-case study approach. Four research instruments were employed in the study to enable triangulation of data and to increase validity and reliability. A pilot study was conducted and the results were used to refine and develop the data collection methods, procedures and theory development for the main study. The expected outcomes of the research project included developing a framework to enhance negotiations between website design consultants and Australian SMEs; to design a set of critical development factors, in relation to Internet strategy and consultant engagement, that may be used by Australian SMEs and consultants to facilitate the implementation of the online organization; and to provide a summarised report to Dow Digital in fulfilment of the requirements of the research funding, and to publish a number of papers based on the research project.

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Chavan, Meena S., of Western Sydney Nepean University, and School of Business and Industry Operations Management. "Entrepreneurship development amongst the ethnic community in Australia : a model for ethnic small business creation and success." THESIS_XXX_BIOM_Chavan_M.xml, 2000. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/725.

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This research seeks to analyse the phenomenon of ethnic business creation amongst the ethnic community in Australia. The main emphasis is on finding the reasons for the process of ethnic business creation over time, focusing on the ethnic resources that the intending ethnic business operators bring to such activities through links to their country of origin. This is a resource-based study, which looks at ethnic resources as a means of sustained competitive advantage and as strategy for success in ethnic business operations in Australia. It attempts to gauge the extent of interactive processes between business operations and the relevant ethnic resources, some of which have a great influence in determining ethnic business people’s success. Policies aimed directly at facilitating, encouraging and strengthening these processes would be a valuable development. This research also examines the theories of small business development and identifies their applicability and relevance to the development of ethnic small business in Australia. The findings of this study enabled the development of a new theory and model for ethnic business creation that links the creation and success of ethnic small businesses to the use of productive diversity principles.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Navaratnam, Michelle. "The commercialisation of small firm technologies in Western Australia : A case for user-producer interaction and the integration of large industrial users with small technology producers." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1999. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1216.

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The purpose of this study was to: * examine how grantee firms of the Western Australian Innovation Support Scheme (WAISS) have overcome their impediments to commercialisation; * examine how the process of user-producer interaction has enabled grantee firms to commercialise their technologies; * examine the process of user-producer interaction with large and/or small industrial users, and the subsequent benefits derived; * examine the entry barriers faced by grantee firms in forming interactions with large industrial users. The study examined the literature involving the role of small firms in the development and commercialisation of new technologies. The study adopted a multiple, holistic case study design using qualitative methodology, A theoretical pathway constructed from arguments presented within the literature was the basis upon which the cases were analysed. The cases have demonstrated that the adoption of strategies promoting user-producer interaction through a dyadic problem-solving style approach with industrial users have enabled small firms to commercialise their technologies in industry. The cases have found that those firms interacting with large industrial users have experienced extensive product diversification and market expansion opportunities as opposed to those firms interacting with small industrial users. In addition to the product diversification and market expansion opportunities acquired through interactions with these large industrial users, it was clear that the large-scale marketing and distribution resources of these industrial users also enabled small firms to attract other industrial users, both domestically and internationally. This ultimately led to further product diversification and market expansion opportunities. Those firms that interacted with small industrial users experienced either minimal or no product diversification and market expansion opportunities because of the ‘small firm’ characteristics or these users. This meant that as 'small firms' these industrial users also faced constraints with regards to the availability of marketing resources and distribution channels, and were therefore unable to attract the interests of industrial users within large-scale markets. Those firms that experienced either minimal or no product diversification and market expansion opportunities have faced entry barriers typical to small firms when trying to find large industrial users for their technologies. They have been unable to attract the interests of large industrial users as a result of the high risk factors associated with the newness of their technologies and their credibility as a newly established firm. The study's main finding reveals that the commercialisation of small firm technologies, the commercial extent derived for these technologies, and the overcoming of barriers faced by the small firm, was dependent on the social orientation of user-producer interaction in conjunction with the dyadic information exchanges of technological opportunities and user needs.

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Venkatesan, Venkateswara S. "The marketing orientation of small and medium enterprises: An Australian study." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2000. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1497.

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The market orientation construct has emerged as a key marketing theme in the 1990's. While the concept of being focussed on the market (customers and competitors) has been known since the early 1950's (e.g. Drucker,1954), putting the concept into practice through a set of specific actions has eluded many organisations and academics. As a result, market orientation (also termed market focus, customer focus and competitor focus) had remained a business philosophy (Bennett & Cooper, 1979: Felton, 1959; Konopa & Calabro,1971) more than a strategic approach. While there have been sporadic attempts at defining or operationalisinga marketing or customer orientation in the past (Gronrnos, 1989: Kotler, 1977: Masiello, 1988: Webster,1988), the first serious effort in the early 1990's when Kohli and Jaworski (1990) and Narver and Slater (1990 defined market orientation as a set of organisational activities or behaviours. Narver and Slater also found a positive link between having such an orientation and business performance. The emphasis in both models was on obtaining and understanding customers and competitors and responding to customers' needs better than competitors through a coordinated effort across the organisation. Subsequently a number of studies have supported the positive relationship between market orientation and business performance. However, results have not been consistent and several variables have been shown to moderate the market orientation performance relationship. All of the major market orientation studies have been undertaken within large organisations and very little is known about the market orientation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), or of its relationship to their performance. It is recognised that SMEs are different from large businesses some of their marketing practices are unique to SME. Given this uniqueness, the present research examined the applicability of existing market orientation constructs and models to SMEs. For this purpose, Kohli and Jaworski's and Narver and Slater's constructs were modified and some unique SME items were added. Following a staged research approach, as recommended by Churchill (1979), a randomly chosen sample of Australian SMEs was surveyed. In all, more than 700 responses were received, of which 542, were used in the present study. The results obtained suggested that while a form of market orientation existed in SMEs, its operationalisation was different. Of Kohli and Jaworski’s (1990) three dimensions, (intelligence generation, dissemination and organisational response), organisational response could not be supported. The study also provided support for Narver and Slater's (1990) customer and competitor orientation constructs. The third construct 'inter-functional coordination' was not included as early qualitative interviews made it clear that it had no meaning in an SME context. Customer and competitor orientations emerged as distinct constructs but the interrelationship between the two suggested the presence of a higher order 'market orientation' construct. Compared to the organisations analysed in earlier studies, the SMEs in the current study were small in size and very few had multiple functional areas. In most of the businesses, marketing did not exist as a separate function. Consequently there was 110 support for constructs such as organisational response and inter-functional coordination. The informal nature of SMEs marketing activities was evident in the market orientation constructs. It appeared that SMEs collect their intelligence through informal means. Their marketing activities were also based more on intuition than logic. Apart from customer and competitor orientations, a customer service orientation emerged as an important element. Having a customer service orientation led to customer satisfaction and, hence, to repeal business, which was considered to be extremely important by the small businesses surveyed. Having a customer service orientation also had a positive impact on the organisational commitment of employees, repeat business and business performance. The overall impact of customer orientation and competitor orientation on business performance was positive, but small. This was not surprising as respondents took a casual or intuitive approach to marketing. It seems that small business performance is constrained by factors other than marketing, such as the availability of resources. Further, even among large businesses. The market orientation-performance relationship has not been consistently positive or significant. The present results suggest that market orientation, as practised in large businesses, or as articulated by academics, may not be applicable to SMEs and that customer service elements needed to be included in the model. As regards performance, the results obtained suggest that factors other than marketing are also critical and fun her research is needed to tease out the nature of these additional factors.

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Labas, Alan. "The nature of professional small business advisor knowledge and the knowledge transmission process : A regional Australian perspective." Thesis, Federation University Australia, 2019. http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/170944.

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This thesis specifically examines the relationship between professional business advisor (PBA) knowledge and the knowledge transmission actions undertaken by such advisors when addressing the knowledge requirements of businesses, specifically Regional Australian small businesses. The thesis adopts a qualitative research approach to explore perceptions of individuals who provide advisory services to small businesses, within the context of Regional Australia. The analysis undertaken is a practical application of the critical realist research paradigm to explain how human agency, social structures, and mechanisms interact in the process of creating a knowledge transmission event by PBAs. The conceptual framework developed in this thesis brings together key concepts from scholarly research disciplines of knowledge management, information management, communications, services marketing and business advice. The conceptual framework reflects the research aims and provides the basis for the research methodology. The framework is of a unique critical realist research design that allows the study to progress through sequential world views. Each world view allows the continual broadening of the reality being studied, enabling more focused answers to the research questions posed. This study focuses on PBAs who service small businesses operating in four inner regional and two outer regional locations within the State of Victoria. Over the six regions, a total of 29 face-to-face interviews were conducted, along with one focus group in each region. The findings from this database, using the conceptual framework as a guide, identified a complex, heterogeneous, open environment in which PBA knowledge transmission occurs. This research process recognises PBAs as social structures with causal powers whose knowledge stock is the primary mechanism through which these powers are exercised to generate a knowledge transmission event. A significant conclusion emerges that PBA tacit (and not explicit) knowledge is a conditional mechanism which gate-keeps whether the PBA knowledge transmission event is enacted.
Doctor of Philosophy

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17

Chavan, Meena S. "Entrepreneurship development amongst the ethnic community in Australia : a model for ethnic small business creation and success." Thesis, View thesis, 2000. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/725.

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This research seeks to analyse the phenomenon of ethnic business creation amongst the ethnic community in Australia. The main emphasis is on finding the reasons for the process of ethnic business creation over time, focusing on the ethnic resources that the intending ethnic business operators bring to such activities through links to their country of origin. This is a resource-based study, which looks at ethnic resources as a means of sustained competitive advantage and as strategy for success in ethnic business operations in Australia. It attempts to gauge the extent of interactive processes between business operations and the relevant ethnic resources, some of which have a great influence in determining ethnic business people’s success. Policies aimed directly at facilitating, encouraging and strengthening these processes would be a valuable development. This research also examines the theories of small business development and identifies their applicability and relevance to the development of ethnic small business in Australia. The findings of this study enabled the development of a new theory and model for ethnic business creation that links the creation and success of ethnic small businesses to the use of productive diversity principles.

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Diemont-Ebes, Anja, and adiemont51@hotmail com. "From second board to angels : an analysis of government support for new ventures, 1984-1994." Swinburne University of Technology, 1996. http://adt.lib.swin.edu.au./public/adt-VSWT20060317.113350.

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During the past decade (1984-1994), Australia experienced its worst recession since the depression of the 30's, followed by a no-growth period and an unemployment rate hovering around nine per cent. The awareness of Commonwealth and State Governments of the need for specific policies to stimulate new ventures and support small and medium enterprises (SME's), was increased by a range of reviews which resulted in a variety of initiatives. However, two key national initiatives, licensed Management and Investment Companies (MIC's) and the Second Board Stock Market, which aimed at making access to funds easier for new ventures, failed to provide sustained financial support to new innovative firms. Small businesses in Australia account for some 80 per cent of all businesses and 50 per cent of employment in the private sector. While many factors contribute to the successful establishment and growth of new businesses, a key factor is the availability of and access to affordable finance. The major objective of this study was to identify key success/failure factors in new venture creation and to review in detail the rise and fall of the Second Board Stock Market (1984-1992) - arguably one of the most significant Government initiatives during the 80's to provide access to equity funds. A survey of Melbourne companies listed on the Second Board was to provide valuable information on the success/failure of the Second Board Stock Market and to illuminate desirable Government initiatives meeting SME's survival needs.

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Anderson-Marks, Michelle. "The decision making processes of small business owner-managers : an environmental focus." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/861.

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Large business is often the focus when environmental issues are discussed because their individual impact on the environment is viewed as larger than that of the smaller business. However due to the large size of the small business sector it has been recognised that reducing their collective impact is critical to achieving a sustainable future. A lack of engagement by small businesses in environmental management invoked an interest in understanding how to better engage the owner-managers in this area, but more specifically what influenced their decision. With an emphasis on the day to day running of the business, many small business owner-managers place more emphasis on core business operations and often neglect the impact their business has on the natural environment. Considering 96% of all business in Australia is classified as small, their collective impact on the natural environment is significant. As many small business owner-managers see their environmental impact as minimal, improving their environmental behaviour is challenging. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the decision making approaches of the small business owner-manager to environmental management issues. Nine small businesses from three industries were chosen and using the Critical Incident Technique to explore their decision making process, this study sought to understand from the owner-managers perspective how and why business decisions are made. Semi structured interviews were used to identify the decision making approaches for four different business decisions: economic, legislative, social and environmental. Over a series of interviews the owner-managers were able to freely describe their decision process and rich data was able to be obtained. Results indicated that owner-managers base business decisions on many factors and use a range of decision making styles depending on the type, and importance, of the decision to be made, that is core business decision are more often rationally made, whilst discretionary decisions will often be made intuitively based on the information at hand. Therefore to better engage them in ways to improve environmental management practices, increasing the knowledge and understanding to the benefits of these improvements is imperative. In addition this information is more readily accepted when the information is relevant to their business and presented in a clear manner by someone with whom the owner-manager has established a pre-existing relationship.

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McCarrol, Andrew Patrick. "Accessing the Japanese food grain market by supplying Australian non GMO grain inputs: the case of an Australian small business food quality corn and soybeans exporter." University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Business, 2006. http://eprints.usq.edu.au/archive/00004788/.

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[Abstract]: This dissertation investigates how an independent Australian grain exporting SME has been able to access the Japanese market for food quality soybeans and corn. This firm has succeeded in entering this market despite entrenched competition from traditional suppliers in the USA and Canada and in the face of rigorous food safety and quality standards as required in this particular market. The research in this dissertation focuses on outlining the critical ‘enabling competencies’ that the firm and its suppliers developed in order to enter the Japanese market. A single case methodology involving multiple in-depth interviews with key stakeholders was used to provide triangulated evidence concerning the necessary and sufficient conditionsfor SME exporters to compete successfully in such mature markets, particularly in the face of entrenched competition from large scale suppliers of similar productsfrom the United States and Canada. From the data collected in this research, a model of SME internationalisation was proposed highlighting the driving forces whichstimulated the development of a set of ‘enabling competencies’ enabling successful entry into the Japanese market for food grains. This model has both practical andtheoretical implications for the development of trade between Australia and Japan in the food grain sector. In conclusion this dissertation suggests that firms with thecapacity to develop such competencies can succeed in entering enter such productmarkets.

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Chavan, Meena S. "Entrepreneurship development amongst the ethnic community in Australia : a model for ethnic small business creation and success /." View thesis, 2000. http://library.uws.edu.au/adt-NUWS/public/adt-NUWS20030805.132801/index.html.

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Eiseman, John. "Strategies for small business education and training: a case study in the independent supermarket industry in Australia." Thesis, [Sydney] : University of Western Sydney, 1997. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/36.

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The need to raise the skills and knowledge of both managers and staff in small business through improvement to education and training is the underpinning thematic concern of this research. Another concern is the appropriateness of action research as a process for research and development in education and training for small business. The independent supermarket industry in Australia provided the case study for this action research. The study sought to identify the barriers to participation in education and training programs and to develop strategies to overcome these barriers. Participation in education and training programs in the independent supermarket industry in Australia was found to be constrained by working conditions at store level, geographic location, negative attitudes of owners or principal managers towards education and formalised training and economic pressures on the industry. In this study the action research methodology provided the means to incrementally achieve a rich contextual understanding, to build researcher-client relationships, client receptivity to the research findings and credibility for both the researcher and the study. However, a key constraint to action research was the difficulty of gaining active participation from the client system. Another contribution of this is the documentation of the key issues and characteristics of independent supermarkets which have been poorly reported. The issues and characteristics identified for independent supermarkets, such as those arising from future uncertainity, family ownership, management style and attitude are compatible with those reported for small business generally. This research was guided by, and the results support, the proposition put forward by Gummesson that action research in a business environment is enhanced by the combining of the consultant and researcher roles. This role duality and the cyclic processes of action research provided the opportunity for incremental benefits to the clients which gave incentive for the clients to provide access and support for research in their enviro

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Eiseman, John, University of Western Sydney, and of Science Technology and Agriculture Faculty. "Strategies for small business education and training: a case study in the independent supermarket industry in Australia." THESIS_FSTA_xxx_Eiseman_J.xml, 1997. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/36.

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The need to raise the skills and knowledge of both managers and staff in small business through improvement to education and training is the underpinning thematic concern of this research. Another concern is the appropriateness of action research as a process for research and development in education and training for small business. The independent supermarket industry in Australia provided the case study for this action research. The study sought to identify the barriers to participation in education and training programs and to develop strategies to overcome these barriers. Participation in education and training programs in the independent supermarket industry in Australia was found to be constrained by working conditions at store level, geographic location, negative attitudes of owners or principal managers towards education and formalised training and economic pressures on the industry. In this study the action research methodology provided the means to incrementally achieve a rich contextual understanding, to build researcher-client relationships, client receptivity to the research findings and credibility for both the researcher and the study. However, a key constraint to action research was the difficulty of gaining active participation from the client system. Another contribution of this is the documentation of the key issues and characteristics of independent supermarkets which have been poorly reported. The issues and characteristics identified for independent supermarkets, such as those arising from future uncertainity, family ownership, management style and attitude are compatible with those reported for small business generally. This research was guided by, and the results support, the proposition put forward by Gummesson that action research in a business environment is enhanced by the combining of the consultant and researcher roles. This role duality and the cyclic processes of action research provided the opportunity for incremental benefits to the clients which gave incentive for the clients to provide access and support for research in their enviro
Master of Science (Hons)

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Martinus, Ian. "Can B2G portals be used effectively to stimulate business in SMEs?: A case analysis of the 2Cities Business To Government portal." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1611.

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Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have many options when purchasing goods or services. These include personal contacts and networks, familiar centralised supply sources and other ad hoc means. One purchasing possibility is to buy from and sell to other businesses within a similar geographic area. The benefits of buying and selling locally may not occur to SMEs. They seek, like other consumers, to get value for money, fast and efficient service, and a reasonable level of quality. Many factors can impinge upon an SME's decision to purchase locally. It can be assumed that, given a reasonable local option, SMEs wish to buy from and sell to other local businesses. It can also be reasonably expected that if government purchasers were willing to purchase within their geographic area, SMEs would be interested in supplying local government as well. This study investigates SMEs in the Wanneroo and Joondalup Regions of Western Australia and considers the factors that may influence their decision to use the 2Cities Business-to-Government (B2G) portal. The study is concerned with gaining an insight into particular phenomena from a participants' perspective (SME) with the researcher as the primary instrument for data collection and analysis. The study requires the researcher to get close to the natural setting of the study and interact with the small business owners. This study triangulated results from three major sources. One source of data was contemporary Wanneroo and Joondalup secondary data gathered from research reports relating to local SME matters. This was combined with the semi-structured interviews of forty SMEs and two focus groups. Participant SMEs were invited to discuss factors affecting their decision to use or not use the 2Cities B2G portal. SMEs have a clear perception of what impedes and assists them in running their business and this comes through strongly. The problem facing the 2Cities portal management board is the extent to which it can influence the SME decision to buy and sell within the local area using the portal. The results form the basis of an improved model for B2G participation.

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Johnston, Louise C. "The relevance of strategic human resource management (SHRM) for the growing small business." University of Western Australia. Graduate School of Management, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2008.0111.

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[Truncated abstract] The commercial developments of the late 20th and early 21st centuries have come to signify profound and far-reaching change in the way that goods and services are designed, produced, marketed and delivered to customers in the world's international and domestic markets. In order to respond to a more intensively competitive trading environment that demands ever-increasing levels of product quality, customer service, organisational efficiency and business performance, the management of business entities has undergone fundamental alteration in form and content. It is within this context that two traditionally disparate business disciplines have emerged to play an important role in the new economic commercial order, that of small business management and that of Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM). Historically eclipsed by the large and powerful mass-producing corporations, the small business sector has been more recently viewed as playing an increasingly prominent part in the creation of national and regional prosperity within the developed countries. The unprecedented interest in smaller firms and the desire to see them fulfill their economic and social potential have resulted in legislative reform and widespread initiatives by governments and other institutions designed to support and protect the smaller operators in their commercial endeavours. Similarly, in the post-industrial knowledge economy people have risen in prominence over other organisational resources as a key source of competitive commercial advantage. The role of intellectual capital in securing business success has fuelled the development of management technology and methods designed to enhance the contribution of human resources to business performance. Heralded by many as the defining managerial approach for enterprises that wish to build sustainable competitive advantage in the markets of today and the future, SHRM has come to the fore as a means to re-evaluate the importance of human contribution to business outcomes and guide management practice in leveraging the latent potential of a company's human assets. ... In general, the management of business strategy was found to possess low levels of structure and formality, effectively merging into the collective activities associated with owning and operating a small business. Similarly, when compared with the key elements of a strategic human resource management framework constructed specifically for this study, the data indicated that the strategic management of people is prevalent in smaller firms but that this again represents only partial adoption of normative models as commonly promoted for the larger business management context. It was concluded that the theoretical principles and concepts of SHRM demonstrate relevance for small companies on account of the status of the contemporary external commercial environment in which they must compete as well as the range of managerial benefits associated with strategic methodology and practice. However, currently there exist no suitable models of practice with supporting guidelines that respond to the unique contextual and operational needs and experiences typical of smaller firm owner-managers.

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Armstrong, Douglas Bruce. "CEO characteristics, organisation characteristics, decision making and CBIS success in regional small business." Thesis, View thesis, 2003. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/773.

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The research conducted for this thesis had two broad aims. The first was to provide descriptive information about the use of computer-based information systems (CBIS) in regional small business. The second of the aims was to examine the relationships among key constructs identified from the literature and to explore how they contributed to predicting CBIS success in regional small business.In the second phase of the analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was used to examine the factorial constructs underlying the data. Constructs were identified that measured CEO characteristics, two measuring organisational characteristics, four measuring aspects of decision-making, and five measuring perceived CBIS success. Correlations among the constructs were examined prior to relationships among the constructs being explored using hierarchical regression analysis. The constructs were also examined in a single measurement model to determine their collective effect and relationships with the constructs measuring CBIS success based on structural equation modelling. Notwithstanding the limitations of the research, it resulted in the identification of relationships among key variables that predict CBIS success. The identification of items associated with decision-making processes, and the identification of the factorial constructs underlying the data is a major contribution to a portion of the literature that was non-existent. The final measurement model is also a significant contribution in identifying and specifying the relationships constructs measuring CEO characteristics, organisational characteristics, decision-making and CBIS success in regional small business.

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Blackman, Alan John, and n/a. "Entrepreneurs: Interrelationships Between Their Characteristics, Values, Expectations, Management Practices and SME Performance." Griffith University. School of Marketing and Management, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040615.154732.

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This original research seeks to identify unique predictive relationships between the characteristics, values and expectations of entrepreneurs in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the management practices they choose; and then, the relationships between those practices and business performance. It adds to the current understanding of the impact of entrepreneurs on the performance of their businesses and has also led to the development of two new tools for assessing the performance of SMEs. Growth of the SME sector is important to the public policy agendas of governments, like those in Australia, that are seeking to optimise the employment opportunities associated with an SME sector in which "success" is the norm because SME failure, or underperformance, is associated with many social costs; costs that include reduced earnings for proprietors, potential job loss for staff and financial hardship for suppliers, as well as a reduction in the average per capita spending power of the community in which the failed or under performing business is based. For the SME, business strategy development and implementation is often the role of the entrepreneur owner-manager. The characteristics, values and expectations of entrepreneurs in SMEs may thus influence their choice of management practices and thereby the performance of their businesses. As Cooper (1998) argued: "the primary motivations of the entrepreneur bear upon not only the decision to start but also upon the decisions about how to manage, including whether or not to grow the firm aggressively" (p. 247). Johnson (1990) suggested that there is a strong need to focus future research on the motivation mechanisms of entrepreneurs as drivers of the entrepreneurial process. Johnson's view supports the entrepreneurial trait school of thought that development of an understanding of the individual entrepreneur's characteristics, values and expectations might provide worthwhile insight into her or his behaviour and its relationship to SME success and failure. The purposes of this research, therefore, were, first, to determine the importance of the attributed and attained characteristics of the entrepreneur on the formation of his or her values and expectations; second, to determine the influence of those values and expectations on the choice of management practices; third, to determine the degree to which those management practices influence business performance; and last, to develop a scale of measurement for entrepreneur characteristics, values and expectations that can be used to predict business performance. To enable limited comparison with Kotey's and Meredith's (1997) findings and to control for between industry and between state influences, the chosen context for the research was the furniture industry in Queensland. To add to current knowledge in SME management practices and performance, two new measurement tools were developed for this research. The first quantifies the positiveness of the business intentions of the entrepreneur. The second is a scaled index of perceived performance that takes account of the importance given by an entrepreneur to eight common business objectives and the degree to which he or she is satisfied with the performance of the business for each objective. Both tools are important additions to the limited existing armoury of tools available to researchers seeking to understand and predict SME performance. For the first time, the findings of this research indicate negative relationships between parent occupation skill levels and the importance given by entrepreneurs to the values of responsibility, honesty and competence and the negative role of the entrepreneur's achieved highest qualification on the importance given to values of affection, compassion, religion and national security. The findings thereby highlight the important role played by an entrepreneur's attained characteristics on the formation of his or her values. As well, the results show the important role played by values such as power and responsibility, as well as by high internal locus of control, on an entrepreneur's selection of planning, marketing and future management practices. In turn, the impact of those practices on business performance, as measured by the overall satisfaction of the entrepreneur and the newly created Scaled Index of Perceived Performance, is demonstrated. In so doing, the results shed more light on the complex relationships between entrepreneurs, the management practices they choose, and business performance. For the furniture industry in Queensland, the findings confirm Cooper's (1998) view that there is an empirical relationship between business founding processes and the performance of the business. Also supported is Kotey's and Meredith's (1997) broad finding for the furniture industry in New South Wales that "personal values of owner/managers, the strategies they adopt in operating their firms, and the performance outcomes of their businesses are empirically related" (1997, p. 59). Future research is needed to develop a causal model for those relationships in a variety of SME and other contexts.

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Blackman, Alan John. "Entrepreneurs: Interrelationships Between Their Characteristics, Values, Expectations, Management Practices and SME Performance." Thesis, Griffith University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366050.

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This original research seeks to identify unique predictive relationships between the characteristics, values and expectations of entrepreneurs in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the management practices they choose; and then, the relationships between those practices and business performance. It adds to the current understanding of the impact of entrepreneurs on the performance of their businesses and has also led to the development of two new tools for assessing the performance of SMEs. Growth of the SME sector is important to the public policy agendas of governments, like those in Australia, that are seeking to optimise the employment opportunities associated with an SME sector in which "success" is the norm because SME failure, or underperformance, is associated with many social costs; costs that include reduced earnings for proprietors, potential job loss for staff and financial hardship for suppliers, as well as a reduction in the average per capita spending power of the community in which the failed or under performing business is based. For the SME, business strategy development and implementation is often the role of the entrepreneur owner-manager. The characteristics, values and expectations of entrepreneurs in SMEs may thus influence their choice of management practices and thereby the performance of their businesses. As Cooper (1998) argued: "the primary motivations of the entrepreneur bear upon not only the decision to start but also upon the decisions about how to manage, including whether or not to grow the firm aggressively" (p. 247). Johnson (1990) suggested that there is a strong need to focus future research on the motivation mechanisms of entrepreneurs as drivers of the entrepreneurial process. Johnson's view supports the entrepreneurial trait school of thought that development of an understanding of the individual entrepreneur's characteristics, values and expectations might provide worthwhile insight into her or his behaviour and its relationship to SME success and failure. The purposes of this research, therefore, were, first, to determine the importance of the attributed and attained characteristics of the entrepreneur on the formation of his or her values and expectations; second, to determine the influence of those values and expectations on the choice of management practices; third, to determine the degree to which those management practices influence business performance; and last, to develop a scale of measurement for entrepreneur characteristics, values and expectations that can be used to predict business performance. To enable limited comparison with Kotey's and Meredith's (1997) findings and to control for between industry and between state influences, the chosen context for the research was the furniture industry in Queensland. To add to current knowledge in SME management practices and performance, two new measurement tools were developed for this research. The first quantifies the positiveness of the business intentions of the entrepreneur. The second is a scaled index of perceived performance that takes account of the importance given by an entrepreneur to eight common business objectives and the degree to which he or she is satisfied with the performance of the business for each objective. Both tools are important additions to the limited existing armoury of tools available to researchers seeking to understand and predict SME performance. For the first time, the findings of this research indicate negative relationships between parent occupation skill levels and the importance given by entrepreneurs to the values of responsibility, honesty and competence and the negative role of the entrepreneur's achieved highest qualification on the importance given to values of affection, compassion, religion and national security. The findings thereby highlight the important role played by an entrepreneur's attained characteristics on the formation of his or her values. As well, the results show the important role played by values such as power and responsibility, as well as by high internal locus of control, on an entrepreneur's selection of planning, marketing and future management practices. In turn, the impact of those practices on business performance, as measured by the overall satisfaction of the entrepreneur and the newly created Scaled Index of Perceived Performance, is demonstrated. In so doing, the results shed more light on the complex relationships between entrepreneurs, the management practices they choose, and business performance. For the furniture industry in Queensland, the findings confirm Cooper's (1998) view that there is an empirical relationship between business founding processes and the performance of the business. Also supported is Kotey's and Meredith's (1997) broad finding for the furniture industry in New South Wales that "personal values of owner/managers, the strategies they adopt in operating their firms, and the performance outcomes of their businesses are empirically related" (1997, p. 59). Future research is needed to develop a causal model for those relationships in a variety of SME and other contexts.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Marketing and Management
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Wingham, Dianne. "Attitude and behaviour dichotomy in SME strategic alliance: A south west of Western Australian study." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2000. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1650.

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Strategic alliances are generally perceived as cooperative relationships constrained within the parameters of bounded rationality, seeking to maximise their levels of control in a turbulent economic environment. They are also commonly conceptualised as a means of creating competitive advantage in business. In regional areas of Western Australia they are favoured by government instrumentalities as a means of making small to medium enterprises (SMEs) more competitive. With the dominant global emphasis in the literature on big business, relatively little is known still about strategic alliances in small to medium enterprises. Moreover, the research on strategic alliances within Australia s also limited, and since 92 %or businesses in Australia arc SMEs (ABS 1999), there are significant gaps in the literature about a significant contributor to economic health or the nation. For these reasons this thesis focuses attention on SMEs in Australia, in particular the South West of Western Australia. This thesis is concerned with strategic alliance propensity in selected small to medium enterprises with less than 500 employees but three or more employees including family members. Mixed methodology data collection was used; based on an extensively validated international survey instrument, and a series of in-depth interviews. The outcome of the study was a synthesised model of SME strategic alliance decision-making which addresses the impacts on attitudes of SME Key Decision-Leaders choosing either positive or negative behaviours relating to strategic alliance formation. The development of this model, the Strategic Alliance Participation Paradigm (SAPP) was achieved through an iterative approach to environmental exploration, literature scanning and analysis and the application of a mixed methodological approach to data collection. Chapters One to Three present the development of the research questions and the research process adopted to address important elements or the research. Chapter Four presents the major consolidated findings based on factor analysed outcomes. Variables were subjected to logistic regression statistical analysis determining support for hypothesised research outcomes. In depth interviews provide evidence of the SME domain, in the context initially of the regional area under review. Conclusions arc further reviewed in the context or a recent significant Norwegian culturally based survey. The Strategic Alliance Participation Paradigm reflects the work carried out by a small group of earlier researchers, and further, empirically tests the determinants of SME Key-Decision-Leader strategic alliance behaviour. Recommendations for future research developed from the research findings arc presented in Chapter Five supporting the conclusions und implications of this study for future SME strategic alliance research both regional and global. Benefits from this process will be seen in the enhanced ability to benchmark at source regional differences and similarities, and thereby to further enhance the value of the outcomes to scholars and practitioners. Researchers could do well to pursue understanding of identified gaps in knowledge and to cooperate with industry to enhance alliance behaviour, achieving benefits through philosophy of competitive tendering. Significant within the outcomes however, was the identified need to research ways to support and grow the large sector of Australian business, the small to medium enterprise.

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Best, Simon, and n/a. "On a wing and a prayer stories of the use of improvisation by NEIS businesses during the start-up phase." Swinburne University of Technology, 2006. http://adt.lib.swin.edu.au./public/adt-VSWT20060824.142152.

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The focus of this study is to consider the concept of ?improvisation? as a business process used by small businesses when faced with unanticipated events. Although the business news and literature is dominated by the activities of big businesses, there is little disagreement among researchers and business commentators about the role that small businesses plays in contributing to the economic activity of Australia. The contribution that small businesses make to the economy includes job creation, competitive power, economic growth and innovation. Furthermore, there is evidence that a flourishing small business sector can assist with creating and maintaining political and social stability. It is widely acknowledged that businesses are operating in a turbulent, unstable and at times chaotic commercial environment. Many business operators are spending increasing amounts of their time responding to unanticipated events in circumstances where there is little or no time to plan solutions or build up resources. There has been little research into how small businesses respond to such unanticipated events. A review of previous literature showed that business operators were likely to respond to unanticipated events in one of three ways; they either ignored the event, undertook planning or they improvised. The term 'improvisation' in this context was used to reflect either the time convergence between the realisation of a solution and its implementation or the application of selected resources for purposes other than that for which they were intended. A model of the process of improvisation was developed using the elements previously described in previous studies. The model falls into three parts; pre-improvisation, improvisation and post-improvisation. The methodology used was a qualitative process consisting of a semi-structured interviews with twenty-nine owners of small-business start-up firms, to explore their experiences with dealing with unanticipated events and to try to establish the nature of the improvisational process. It was important for the participants to tell their stories of improvisation and for the researcher to reflect their experiences in relation to the model of improvisation. The data collected provided greater insight into the process of improvisation and a refined model evolved which better represents the experience of participants. The study confirmed that small businesses do at times, use improvisation to respond to unanticipated events. Consequently, this study has made a significant contribution to the field by extending on the work undertaken to date and by the development of a model that more comprehensively represents the process of an improvisational response to an unanticipated event, in the context of small business.

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Du, Toit Christine. "A comparative study of tax incentives available for small businesses in South Africa, Australia and Canada." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/20340.

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Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The comparative study of tax incentive legislation in South Africa, Australia and Canada for small businesses confirmed that tax incentives in South Africa are on par with those of said developed countries. The study compared tax incentives for income tax, capital gains tax and sales tax after the operation of the specific taxes was researched and the tax incentives identified. It is concluded in the study that there are tax incentives legislated in Australia and Canada that may enhance current South African tax incentives or which may be introduced as new tax incentives. These incentives may facilitate and stimulate economic growth and development in the country.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die vergelykende studie van belastingvergunnings vir klein besighede in Suid-Afrika, Australië en Kanada het bevestig dat belastingvergunnings in Suid-Afrika op standaard is met dié van ontwikkelde lande. Die studie het inkomstebelasting, kapitaalwinsbelasting en verkoopsbelasting vergelyk nadat die werking van die gespesifiseerde belastings nagevors en die belastingvergunnings van toepassing geïdentifiseer is. In die studie word daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat daar belastingvergunnings in Australië en Kanada is wat of die huidige belastingvergunnings in Suid-Afrika kan uitbrei of as nuwe belastingvergunnings in Suid-Afrika geimplementeer kan word. Die gewysigde en nuwe belastingvergunnings mag moontlik bydra tot verdere groei en ontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika.

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Belle, Isle Melissa N. "Cash flow of small service businesses in Australia: is there a relationship with owner tax literacy?" Thesis, Griffith University, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/401640.

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The service sector contributes significantly to the Australian economy in terms of income, employment and business registrations. Businesses in the service sector provide more than three-quarters of the economy’s income and employ more than 87% of all Australian private sector employees. Further analysis suggests that small businesses make up a large part of the service sector. For example, small service sector businesses (SSSBs) account for $393 billion in income and employ 4,127,000 of the total service sector employment of 9,410,000. Considering the significance of SSSBs to the economy, it is important to investigate the factors that may influence their continued success. In Australia and throughout the world, research has highlighted that the tax compliance burden on small businesses can be explained by the extra time, the investment and the psychological costs. However, in terms of cash flow, research has suggested that Australian small business owners (SBOs) do not believe that taxation is particularly concerning. The findings emphasised that other business factors, including trading partners, competitive markets and cash flow management abilities were relevant to being able to pay the tax liability when it was due and payable. Although the previous wholesale sales tax (WST) did have some concerns for SBOs, more recent research into the goods and services tax (GST), also raised concerns about the ability to maintain a consistent cash flow as a result of complying with GST obligations. SBOs have been found to have difficulty implementing systematic cash flow management practices in their business and in the operation of computer accounting software (CAS) further than the basic recording of creditor and debtor invoicing. The research findings suggest that these limitations could create unfavourable consequences for small business survival, whereas recent research exploring taxation literacy of individuals found that participants involved in operating a small business have higher levels of tax knowledge than other participants. Broadly, comparison of these findings could suggest that although SBOs have higher levels of taxation literacy than individuals, their ability to use and understand CAS and to implement effective cash flow management strategies can cause negative consequences for business survival. Considering business success is heavily dependent on cash flow and taking the findings of the GST and tax literacy research into consideration, this research explores the impact of taxation and SBO literacy on cash flow. The tax systems explored in the research include the GST, fringe benefits tax (FBT), income tax, pay as you go (PAYG) withholding, and superannuation guarantee (SG). The scope of SBO literacy covered by this research includes two components of professional financial literacy: the ability to implement effective cash flow management practices and the use and understanding of financial statements, as well as the use and understanding of CAS, and the understanding of business taxation. This research adopts a mixed methods approach, combining three separate interrelated stages: a multiple case study and engagement of experts in the qualitative stage, and a large-scale survey for the quantitative stage. The qualitative findings were used as an informer for the creation of the large-scale survey instrument implemented in the quantitative phase. Overall, the research findings suggest that, regardless of the tax system, SBOs believe that taxation has minor consequences for small business cash flow. The research outcomes identified that some components of tax administration can create cash flow constraints including the requirement to comply with multiple tax systems, rather than being related to the obligation to pay the tax liability. In contrast, the results obtained when exploring the influence of SBO literacy on cash flow stability suggest that SBOs may not have a level of literacy that supports the management of cash flow. Although SBOs were found to have a mean literacy of 67% for the understanding of financial statements and 55% for CAS, the mean literacy for business taxation was below average with a result of 42%. When the literacy scores (LSs) were combined to create an overall literacy score (LS), the consequence of low business taxation meant that the overall LS was 50%. This could suggest that SBOs have an average level of literacy when implementing cash flow management strategies to support ongoing business success. To measure if SBO literacy has an impact on the financial performance of businesses, the research incorporated resource-based theory (RBT), which suggests that business with superior internal resources, when compared to their competitors, will achieve a higher level of financial performance. In terms of RBT, SBO literacy would be considered as an internal resource. In order to measure the relationship between internal resources and financial performance, the overall LS was compared to net income and annual revenue. The findings suggest that SBOs with higher overall LS will realise a level of financial performance superior to that of their competitors, indicating that SBO levels of literacy can have an impact on cash flow stability. SBOs’ confidence in understanding financial statements, CAS and business taxation was also explored, along with their confidence in implementing effective cash flow management practices. SBOs agree that they are confident in determining business profit and performance, in understanding GST, and knowing the functions and set-up of CAS. They were also confident in recording an accurate account of their debtors, creditors, revenue and expenses. SBOs had lower confidence in their understanding of income tax, PAYG withholding and SG, and in their ability to implement adequate cash flow management systems to support their business. In terms of cash forecasting and FBT, SBOs were to some extent uncertain about their ability to carry out cash forecasting activities and in their understanding of FBT obligations. When confidence was compared to literacy, the findings confirm that understanding of taxation, implementation of effective cash flow management systems and determination of profit and performance appear to be related to SBO literacy. SBO perception was examined in relation to the usefulness of financial statements and CAS for cash flow management, along with the impact to cash flow of currently enacted and proposed tax administration concepts. SBOs affirm that all financial statements and CAS are useful for cash flow management. However, it should be acknowledged that the balance of the bank account and the preparation of a cash budget was more highly regarded as useful when compared to actual financial statements. For business taxation, SBOs believe that the multitude of tax payments complied within each tax year can have unfavourable consequences to cash flow, as can paying tax liabilities after the due date. When perception was compared to SBO literacy, the results predominantly confirm that SBOs perception appears to be unrelated to SBO literacy. This study has several important implications. First, results of this research can make an important contribution to the existing body of knowledge relating to taxation literacy, tax and accounting education, managerial benefits from tax compliance and the cash flow and tax relationship. In terms of methodology, the strategies of inquiry implemented, contribute to the mixed methods design of taxation research. One original contribution to knowledge from the research includes the calculation of LSs for the understanding of financial statements and CAS and for the understanding of business taxation by service SBOs. The identification of literacy requirements in order to be considered as having adequate literacy creates a foundation for an SBO literacy framework to be further developed in the future.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dept Account,Finance & Econ
Griffith Business School
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Williams, Donna Clare, and n/a. "Doing Environment Business With China Through Cross-Cultural Networks: A Dynamic Model for Small-to-Medium Australian Enterprises." Griffith University. School of Environmental Engineering, 2004. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20060313.140417.

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The research is a critical analysis of the operational aspects of doing environment business with China through cross-cultural networks. In particular the investigation involved establishing an intensively documented, longitudinal profile of a single network. This network comprised Australian Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Chinese players based in the People's Republic of China. This profile covers a period of two decades. The research adopted a broad multi-disciplinary and inductive approach, using action research, case study methods, and systems analysis techniques. An innovative approach used time values as a constant to analyse the relativity of player connections, activities and structural levels in the network. This approach drew its applied orientation from the environmental sciences, and its theoretical base from the social science disciplines of marketing and international business. The specific field of study was the structure and evolutionary dynamics of networks. The outcome of the research is a model Australian SMEs can use for doing environment business with China. This model sets environment business in the context of a wider trading network of Chinese, Australian, South East Asian, and Middle Eastern players. The cornerstone of this model is the corporate role of the academic sector in accessing the Chinese environmental market. The research shows in detail how Australian SMEs can, and do, use cross-cultural academic linkages for trade. Such linkages facilitate market research, negotiation, risk management, product development, and the establishment of distribution channels in Asian markets. The study also demonstrates the importance of using a number of parallel nets of Chinese players to facilitate trade and overcome interruptions or obstacles. The research has contributed to knowledge by establishing an Asia-oriented, empirically derived model that differs substantially from the mono-cultural models in current practice in the Australian environment industry. The intensive investigation of the network of SMEs and Chinese players has identified the entrepreneurial strengths of SMEs in the international marketplace. This finding contrasts with the prevailing view that SMEs must depend on larger players for export success. In addition, the research has established that this kind of network has a clan-like structure. This finding is central to the model. The research demonstrates that a clan-like structure is a flexible framework that is compatible with the independence and capacity of small firms to adapt to change and to make decisions. This characteristic of SMEs enables them to proceed without, and at times in spite of, the encumbrances of large and unwieldy corporate and institutional structures. This finding is directly contrary to the belief prevalent in the Australian environment industry that SMEs depend on larger players to enter international markets. The finding also challenges the established view that Chinese networks are relatively closed systems based on family ties. The research shows that Australian SMEs can become part of these systems either directly or through links, and have many common attributes with their Chinese counterparts. The research has made a key contribution to theory by using these findings to develop an organic network model that differs from the so-called contrived network. This empirically derived theoretical model represents the seven dimensions of cross-cultural collaboration. The four social dimensions are the personal, organisational, sectoral and regional levels of a person-centred network, composed of nets of individuals with extensive linkages to other individuals and to organisations. The three dynamic dimensions are the triadic, the temporal, and the trading levels of interaction between the players. This theoretical model also demonstrates the depth of cross-connection between the nets of individual, and the embeddedness of the network in other networks. The model emphasises the centrality of time as the key connector between the social dimensions of the network and the exchange processes that characterise clan-like interactions. The model also represents the layers of evolutionary development that characterise the exchange processes in the network. These layers include adaptive processes, short-term exchanges, and long-term exchanges, and exchanges that derive from particular arrangements of players and market openings at critical points in time. This model extends concepts that have emerged from the original International Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) Interaction Model, and gives empirical credence to recent philosophical, but untested, views on the relevance of time as a context for interaction.

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34

Williams, Donna Clare. "Doing Environment Business With China Through Cross-Cultural Networks: A Dynamic Model for Small-to-Medium Australian Enterprises." Thesis, Griffith University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/365405.

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The research is a critical analysis of the operational aspects of doing environment business with China through cross-cultural networks. In particular the investigation involved establishing an intensively documented, longitudinal profile of a single network. This network comprised Australian Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Chinese players based in the People's Republic of China. This profile covers a period of two decades. The research adopted a broad multi-disciplinary and inductive approach, using action research, case study methods, and systems analysis techniques. An innovative approach used time values as a constant to analyse the relativity of player connections, activities and structural levels in the network. This approach drew its applied orientation from the environmental sciences, and its theoretical base from the social science disciplines of marketing and international business. The specific field of study was the structure and evolutionary dynamics of networks. The outcome of the research is a model Australian SMEs can use for doing environment business with China. This model sets environment business in the context of a wider trading network of Chinese, Australian, South East Asian, and Middle Eastern players. The cornerstone of this model is the corporate role of the academic sector in accessing the Chinese environmental market. The research shows in detail how Australian SMEs can, and do, use cross-cultural academic linkages for trade. Such linkages facilitate market research, negotiation, risk management, product development, and the establishment of distribution channels in Asian markets. The study also demonstrates the importance of using a number of parallel nets of Chinese players to facilitate trade and overcome interruptions or obstacles. The research has contributed to knowledge by establishing an Asia-oriented, empirically derived model that differs substantially from the mono-cultural models in current practice in the Australian environment industry. The intensive investigation of the network of SMEs and Chinese players has identified the entrepreneurial strengths of SMEs in the international marketplace. This finding contrasts with the prevailing view that SMEs must depend on larger players for export success. In addition, the research has established that this kind of network has a clan-like structure. This finding is central to the model. The research demonstrates that a clan-like structure is a flexible framework that is compatible with the independence and capacity of small firms to adapt to change and to make decisions. This characteristic of SMEs enables them to proceed without, and at times in spite of, the encumbrances of large and unwieldy corporate and institutional structures. This finding is directly contrary to the belief prevalent in the Australian environment industry that SMEs depend on larger players to enter international markets. The finding also challenges the established view that Chinese networks are relatively closed systems based on family ties. The research shows that Australian SMEs can become part of these systems either directly or through links, and have many common attributes with their Chinese counterparts. The research has made a key contribution to theory by using these findings to develop an organic network model that differs from the so-called contrived network. This empirically derived theoretical model represents the seven dimensions of cross-cultural collaboration. The four social dimensions are the personal, organisational, sectoral and regional levels of a person-centred network, composed of nets of individuals with extensive linkages to other individuals and to organisations. The three dynamic dimensions are the triadic, the temporal, and the trading levels of interaction between the players. This theoretical model also demonstrates the depth of cross-connection between the nets of individual, and the embeddedness of the network in other networks. The model emphasises the centrality of time as the key connector between the social dimensions of the network and the exchange processes that characterise clan-like interactions. The model also represents the layers of evolutionary development that characterise the exchange processes in the network. These layers include adaptive processes, short-term exchanges, and long-term exchanges, and exchanges that derive from particular arrangements of players and market openings at critical points in time. This model extends concepts that have emerged from the original International Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) Interaction Model, and gives empirical credence to recent philosophical, but untested, views on the relevance of time as a context for interaction.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School of Environmental Sciences
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Kim, Ye Ryung. "Understanding the adoption of clusters by SMEs in Australia using innovation diffusion theory a case study /." Access electronically, 2007. http://www.library.uow.edu.au/adt-NWU/public/adt-NWU20080610.120546/index.html.

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Dunlea, Valmae J. "Occupational health and safety issues for small business in the Australian hospitality industry : a communication analysis." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2001. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/36784/7/36784_Digitised%20Thesis.pdf.

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Lignier, Philip Andre Cyberspace Law &amp Policy Centre Faculty of Law UNSW. "Identification and evaluation of the managerial benefits derived by small businesses as a result of complying with the Australian tax system." Publisher:University of New South Wales. Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre, 2008. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/41018.

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This thesis explores the managerial benefits derived by small business entities as a result of complying with their tax obligations. This is the first study on managerial benefits that considers all federal taxes in the Australian context. While the managerial benefits of tax compliance were first identified by Sandford in the 1980s, there is only limited evidence to date about their perception by business taxpayers and no evidence at all about their actual occurrence. The work undertaken by Sandford together with the findings of empirical research on accounting in small businesses, provide the framework for the development of research hypotheses. With the purpose of testing these hypotheses, the research examines concurrently a sample of small businesses located in a regional area of Australia, and a sample of similar entities located in an external territory of Australia exempt from federal taxes and with minimal tax compliance obligations. The thesis adopts a mixed research method which combines a survey and a case study component from which a number of convergent results emerge. Results show that bookkeeping requirements imposed by tax compliance compel small businesses to upgrade their accounting systems, typically in the form of computerisation. The increased sophistication of the accounting system following this upgrade allows small businesses to derive managerial benefits in the form of a better knowledge of their financial affairs. The study also demonstrates that when small businesses seek the assistance of an accountant to comply with their tax compliance obligations, managerial benefits may be derived in the form of informal business advice and other services that come as a spin-off from tax compliance work. The findings of the research also indicate that a majority of small businesses value positively the accounting information generated as a result of tax imposed record keeping requirements, however further studies are required to establish the extent to which the additional information has a positive effect on decision making. Finally, the study identifies various possible approaches to quantify managerial benefits including a method based on the costs of alternative resources, and a valuation based on what owner-managers would be prepared to pay for the information.

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Best, Simon. "On a wing and a prayer stories of the use of improvisation by NEIS businesses during the start-up phase /." Australasian Digital Theses Program, 2006. http://adt.lib.swin.edu.au/public/adt-VSWT20060824.142152.

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Thesis (PhD) - Swinburne University of Technology, 2006.
Submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Swinburne University of Technology - 2006. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-207).

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Wijekuruppu, Chamila Kumudunee. "An exploratory investigation into the strengths-based approach in small businesses [thesis]." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2017. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1960.

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Australian small businesses make an important contribution to the country's economy, both to the gross domestic product and through employment generation for a large proportion of the labour force. However, according to the statistics, Australian small businesses report lower survival rates compared with medium and large businesses. The small business literature further reveals that the success or failure of a small business is often linked to the management practices employed by the small business owner-managers. Since the characteristics of small businesses differ from those of larger businesses, small business owner-managers need to adopt appropriate practices deliberately to manage and develop their employees. The extant literature on characteristics of small businesses suggests that the small business setting is well suited for employing a strengths-based approach to managing and developing employees. However, there are no previous studies on the use of the strengths-based approach in small businesses or on its suitability to the small business context. This study was conducted to fill the above research gap. The study had two broad aims: (i) to understand whether the managers use a strengths-based approach for managing and developing employees in their small businesses and, if so, to explore how they implement the approach; and (ii) to contribute to a theoretical understanding of the suitability of a strengths-based approach for small businesses by investigating (a) the managers' perceptions of the suitability of a strengths-based approach for small businesses and small business characteristics that may facilitate or hinder the adoption of a strengths-based approach in small businesses and (b)the employees' perceptions of the effects of a strengths-based approach on small business employees. A qualitative research methodology was employed to address the research questions pertaining to this study. The study involved an interpretive phenomenological approach with semi-structured, face-to-face interviews to obtain data from research participants. The units of analysis of this study were the owner-managers and the employees of the small businesses. Eleven owner-managers and 19 employees were interviewed for the study. The experiences, perceptions and attitudes of the research participants were the primary data for the study. Small businesses in the motor vehicle industry in Western Australia were selected as the sampling frame for the current study. Data analysis was done using thematic analysis with the assistance of the Nvivo10® software program. The analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke’s (2006) ‘six phases of thematic analysis’ procedure. This study suggests four major findings. First, the small businesses adopt a strengths-based approach in employee selection during employees’ temporary status of employment and in employee task assigning. It further found that the owner-managers do not employ a strengths-based approach in employee selection during the employee selection interviews, employee training or in employee performance evaluation. Second, while the ownermanagers perceive employee strengths identification as a difficult and challenging task, they use their personal observations and assessments on employees’ work-related efficiency to identify and assess employee strengths. Third, from employees’ perspectives, the adoption of a strengths-based approach has its positive effects on employee ability, motivation and opportunity to perform, and on employee engagement. Finally, the findings of the research suggest that from managers’ perspectives, a strengths-based approach to management is a suitable practice for managing and developing employees in small businesses. The study further identified several small business characteristics that might influence the adoption of a strengths-based approach in small businesses and distinguished them as enablers and barriers on the basis of their potential effects on adoption of the approach. This research generates new knowledge on the strengths-based approach in the small business context. The study also provides the first empirical evidence on the adoption of a strengths-based approach in small businesses and the suitability of the said approach to the small business context. The findings of the current study have several further practical implications for the small business sector. These include the provision of information for owner-managers about a potential alternative to the traditional weakness-based employee management practice, and the provision of a new direction for owner-managers to achieve enhanced levels of employee satisfaction, employee motivation and employee engagement. Capitalising on people's strengths. The findings further highlight the necessity of in-depth analyses of small business characteristics prior to any practice or policy recommendation or implementation in the sector by small business practitioners or the government.

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Bambach, Matthew. "Maximising Board governance effectiveness in small and medium-sized Australian independent schools." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2020. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2310.

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My experience of working with boards of independent schools has led me to conclude that boards often struggle to know how they might make their governance more effective. Very little has been written and few empirical studies have investigated governance of independent school boards in Australia, despite the considerable responsibility and power entrusted to them. This study asks how well such boards are governing and what they could do to engender fully effective governance. Currently, there are no standards or instruments for assessing the effectiveness of board governance. This study identified seven governance effectiveness factors (GEFs) from the literature on governance in schools and other non-profit organisations. These factors were used as assessment instruments in seven case studies of school boards in small to medium-sized independent schools. The research was predominantly qualitative and involved four research methods: a survey, semi-structured interviews, a review of board documents and observation of board meetings. The data were explored by assessing the GEFs within each case and across cases. The findings showed that five boards demonstrated poor governance effectiveness, one was very poor and only one was effective. Three unexpected themes emerged from the data, showing how boards can move towards governance by delegating operational management of the school to the principal. These involve boards understanding, first, the nature of governance and developing the intention to govern effectively, second, when and how to make the difficult transition from operational management to governance, and third, how to adapt their approach to governance as they gain experience with it. A model of this transition process and a framework to guide managers and researchers through key decisions were developed. These fill a critical gap in the literature on board management in independent school governance.

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Govender, Dharshini. "Economic empowerment through business loans - A critical look at credit protection law for small, micro and medium enterprises in South Africa and Australia." Master's thesis, Faculty of Law, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31436.

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a) Overview The question to be answered in this dissertation is whether the National Credit Act 34 of 2005 (the NCA), promotes or impedes the sustainable growth of the South African economy. This question will be answered through exploring the importance of the contribution made by small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) to the economy. This research question is premised on the findings in structural change theory of development economics.1 This theory advances the view that for a developing country to obtain sustainable growth of its economy there needs to be a decline in the number of microenterprises over a period of years and an increase in the number small and medium enterprises (SMEs). 2 This dissertation interrogates whether the NCA supports this kind of sustainable growth of the South African economy. The hypothesis proposes that the NCA impedes the sustainable economic development of South Africa. In support of this, I have examined the NCA and the protection that it affords to SMEs in South Africa. Specifically, I have examined the extent to which the NCA permits lending to SMEs by financiers, in contrast to the permission given to financiers to lend to microenterprises. In addition, I have examined the extent to which the NCA protects SME borrowers in cases where the SME qualifies for a loan, so bringing it within the provisions of NCA. This is then contrasted with the protection extended by the provisions of the NCA to microenterprises. In this investigation, I have undertaken a review of case law in South Africa to substantiate my view that the NCA inhibits sustainable growth of the South African economy. The decisions raise some important considerations, including problems caused by the concept of separate legal personality of juristic persons run by an individual in the context of borrowing, the extent to which credit guarantees offered by these individual owners should be legally enforceable and the ambiguity of developmental loans envisaged by the NCA. To address these problems, I have looked to foreign jurisprudence, especially the legal protection offered to SMEs in Australia when taking out a loan. A comparison between South African law and Australian law suggests how access to credit by SMEs and microenterprises can be improved to ensure sustainable economic growth of the economy. b) Research Methodology A doctrinal, desktop-based research method is used. The main documentary data analysed to answer the research question is primary legislation, specifically the NCA and the Usury Act 73 of 1968. Secondary sources, such as commentaries and publications by various researchers will be explored. Further documentary data will include empirical data collected in secondary sources. Other persuasive legal texts will be utilised, such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (the ASIC), The Australian National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009 (the ACCPA) as well as the Australian Code of Banking Practice (the COBP) c) Limitations to the Study The main limitation to this dissertation has been determining the exact number of SMMEs that exist in South Africa. Studies so far undertaken have used different methodologies and research strategies and their objectives may have differed to the objectives of this paper.3 Despite the growing amount of literature and research that is being conducted regarding SMMEs, there is still very little known about them. This is largely a result of the high number of unregistered SMMEs that exist. A further limitation on the research is that each survey contains different definitions of small, micro and medium business. For example, the South African General Entrepreneurial Monitor (GEM) measures different types of entrepreneurship and not the number of businesses to enable international comparisons. In contrast the department of trade and industry’s (DTI) definition of small business is used to determine the number of small businesses in South Africa; and this is the definition used in the National Small Business Act 102 of 1996 (the Small Business Act).

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Taylor, Christopher George. "The Good Bloke in Contemporary Australian Workplaces: Origins, Qualities and Impacts of a National Cultural Archetype in Small For-Profit Businesses." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1566171729886909.

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Gengatharen, Denise E. "Assessing the success and evaluating the benefits of government-sponsored regional internet-trading platforms for small and medium enterprises: A Western Australian perspective." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2006. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/65.

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The Internet has been viewed as an opportunity for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to efficiently compete in the global arena with their larger counterparts by overcoming distance and size. However, research has shown that actual uptake of Internet e-commerce by SMEs has been lagging behind that of larger companies. Fearing a growing digital divide between large companies and SMEs, some governments have taken specific measures to encourage SME participation in ecommerce. One of the more direct government initiatives to hasten the progression of SMEs on the e-commerce adoption curve is the creation, sponsorship and management of regional Internet trading platforms for these enterprises. Such a move is predicated on the belief that these platforms will offer SMEs a low-cost introduction to participation in Internet trading platforms without the need for significant technology investments, allowing them to reap benefits like lower costs, improved customer service and new levels of innovation through knowledge-sharing.

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Trad, Barbara. "Motivations for Business Structure Choice for Australian Small and Medium Enterprises." Thesis, Griffith University, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/10072/420610.

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Knowledge about legal business structures and how to use and combine available structures to the advantage of clients is an important task of a small and medium enterprise (SME) advisor. An SME advisor, when assisting clients choose a business structure at the inception stage of the business, may focus on various substantive elements including tax considerations, limiting personal liability, asset protection, access to equity funding, and compliance costs. The choice of business structure can have significant implications, including how equity can be raised, legal obligations, and how tax is imposed. Currently, there is a gap in Australian literature about the driving motivations for this decision. This gap is addressed by exploring the reasons behind the business structure choices adopted by SMEs, and the desired attributes of such choices. This thesis also examines why SMEs have been using discretionary trusts extensively, and whether discretionary trusts provide certain attributes not offered by other business structures. Using a review of the literature to develop the key research questions, the study in this thesis employed a sequential mixed methods approach. Initially, a qualitative stage of semi-structured, indepth interviews with 10 SME advisors (accountants and lawyers) was conducted, and this formed the basis for the 12 scenarios in Stage Two. The second, and core, stage of the research involved an experimental case study design (12 scenarios) to test the integrity of the reasons provided by advisors. Forty-eight experienced SME advisors (lawyers and accountants) were interviewed and surveyed. Three key findings have emerged from the study. First, the findings from the case studies demonstrate that, overwhelmingly, advisors recommended, for most businesses, a combination of structures for one business operation. It is through this combination that a number of key tax and non-tax attributes are achieved. Second, the data from both the case study and the surveys indicate that discretionary trusts are used to gain tax advantages. Third, the findings ultimately demonstrate that, while discretionary trusts could offer favourable attributes to SMEs, which are not offered by other business structures, a number of issues were identified concerning the use of discretionary trust for business operations. The findings provide strong evidence that tax considerations are an important factor for the chosen business structure. They also demonstrate that advisors perceived that there are factors other than tax which can be considered important attributes for the choice of business structures for SMEs. This knowledge provides information on what characteristics are needed for an ‘effective business structure’. The qualitative and quantitative results are drawn on to recommend tax policy reform to improve the taxation of SMEs in Australia. To address the issue of tax structure biases, and to tackle the issue of income splitting, one of the recommendations is the adoption of the family as a unit of taxation rather than taxing individuals. Furthermore, through this analysis, recommendations are articulated to tackle some of the issues that challenge SME operators. The thesis recommends that Australia’s tax system be reformed to provide greater equity in taxing business income, regardless of the chosen legal structure.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dept Account,Finance & Econ
Griffith Business School
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45

Leith, Andrew R., of Western Sydney Hawkesbury University, and Faculty of Management. "Competitiveness of Australian small to medium enterprises in Indonesia." THESIS_FMAN_XXX_Leith_A.xml, 2000. http://handle.uws.edu.au:8081/1959.7/512.

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The purpose of this research is to determine whether Indonesian business practices and culture inhibit the competitiveness of Australian small to medium enterprises in Indonesia. Prior to the current economic demise of the Indonesian economy, Australia's trade relations with its closest Asian neighbour were not as significant as trade with countries far removed from Australia's shores. Previous research has identified that cultural problems and inadequate communication contribute towards the lack of competitiveness of international small to medium enterprises.However there has been no rigorous and comprehensive research specially related to Australian entrepreneurs and the problems they encounter in Indonesia.Several key themes emerged from this study which indicated that thorough planning and market research are more important than a comprehensive understanding of business practices and culture. What the research brings to extant literature is a rigorous and methodological analysis of Indonesian business practices from an Australian entrepreneur's perspective. This provides a structured link between the parent disciple of cross cultural communications, the plethora of information on Asian business practices, and the reality of Australian small to medium enterprises attempting to enter the Indonesian market
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

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Jensen, Joan, and n/a. "Electronic Commerce and Small and Medium Business Enterprises." University of Canberra. n/a, 2005. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20070517.130605.

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The aim of this research was to discover the issues influencing the adoption of e-commerce by small and medium business enterprises (SMEs) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The demand aspect of the theory of diffusion of innovation enabled the formulation of a number of research propositions which formed the focus for this research. Seventy-five randomly-selected SMEs within the ACT were interviewed. Of these seventy five, fifty had adopted e-commerce and twenty-five had not. Findings complemented results from other studies, but also added to them. Factors from the demand aspect of the theory of time, resources (personnel, financial, technological), business organisation, size, return on investment, push by outside agencies or clients, and communication channels were found to be of little importance. Of greater importance were characteristics of the SME operators themselves (such as their innovativeness, their relative youth and educational level), the size of their business, the number of years it had been operating, and marketing issues. A prime consideration was that of attaining and maintaining a competitive edge over their competitors. Security and privacy issues were of little consideration prior to the adoption process, but became of much greater importance once SMEs had adopted e-commerce. Some things discovered by this research that have not appeared in the reporting of other studies included: � The importance of tertiary education for the primary decision-makers in the organisation; � The role banks played in the adoption process; � The high cost and difficulty of compliance with government regulations, especially regarding the employment of staff; and � The lack of use of specifically established communication channels, set up by government bodies or associated industry organisations to educate and inform SMEs about the potential and process of e-commerce. Results of this research have implications for a large number of associated stakeholders � government, educational institutions, and trade, industry and professional associations � and as such deserve to be widely disseminated.

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Horn, Edward Bennet. "A comparative study of tax incentives for small businesses and investors in small businesses in South Africa, Australia, NewZealand, Singapore and Ireland." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61669.

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In the South African context, it is accepted that small businesses will be the vehicle for job creation and changing the current business ownership patterns. This is to be achieved by creating access to finance, exploring the role of venture capital and simplifying the tax obligations and the compliance burden. The literature indicates that the current South African tax incentives for small businesses are perceived as unfair and fundamentally ineffective. The objective of this thesis was to compare the tax incentives available to small businesses and investors in small businesses in South Africa to those available in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Ireland, in order to identify possible measures that could be introduced in South Africa. In addressing the objective, the research set out to provide, in terms of South African tax legislation, a definition of a small business for tax purposes and document the tax incentives available for start-up and existing small businesses, as well as the tax incentives available for investors in small businesses, either through a venture capital company or a direct investment in small business. It was found that South Africa has a complex and onerous multi-layered approach to classifying a taxpayer as either a “micro business” or a “small business corporation” for the purpose of applying tax incentives. The international jurisdictions included in this research follow a single requirement approach, based on either one or a combination of turnover, balance sheet total or staff headcount. The international jurisdictions provide a wide range of tax incentives to small businesses and investors in small businesses, aimed at reducing taxable income to enable the small businesses to grow and access equity finance. By identifying differences and similarities, a number of possible tax relief measures were recommended that could be introduced in South Africa.

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Aitken-Fox, Eileen Mary. "Compliance with Employment-Related Legislation: Challenges for Small and Medium Businesses in Western Australia." Thesis, Curtin University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53025.

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All businesses have employment-related legislative obligations; irrespective of company size, non-compliance is subject to punitive actions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ a significant percentage of the Western Australian workforce; their survival and appetite to recruit and manage staff effectively are critical. Fifty (50) SME owner/managers and stakeholders contributed to this qualitative research, the objective of which is to identify factors that help and hinder compliance of SMEs in meeting legislative requirements in the employment jurisdiction.

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Santarelli, Bruno. "Creativity, design and management in Australian fashion enterprises." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2016. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1770.

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In this study a number of Australian fashion enterprises are investigated in an effort to understand how product development is managed and creativity facilitated. Of particular interest was the interaction between the various actors in the creative process and the manner in which they influenced creative output. The study was underpinned by a wideranging review of the literature that reflects the multidisciplinary nature of creativity and innovation in business. The study is timely because Australian fashion enterprises are operating in an increasingly challenging market with a perfect storm of competitive drivers at play. Technology enables instant dissemination of fashion trends and easy international shopping online. Tariff reductions and free trade agreements provide less protection for local manufacturers and revenues have contracted sharply in recent years. Retail revenues have flat-lined at a time when a number of global superbrands are opening stores in Australia with aggressive expansion plans. In response, government and industry groups are promoting product differentiation and innovation as key levers for competitiveness for Australian businesses. The reason for undertaking the study was to investigate contemporary product development practices, to identify barriers to creativity and find ways that enterprises can leverage the creative abilities of employees to improve innovation practices. Managers of six enterprises from a diverse range of markets and enterprise types agreed to participate in a descriptive study of their product development practices. The study deployed a qualitative case based methodology and used a combination of data collection types including participant observation and field observation, field interviews, documents and artefacts. The data was analysed within case for key contextual findings and across case for broader themes and patterns. Participant enterprises employed a variety of approaches to product development as described in the innovation literature (for example, Cappetta, Cillo, & Ponti, 2006; Cillo & Verona, 2008; Dell'Era & Verganti, 2007; Payne, 2011; Perks, Cooper, & Jones, 2005; Ward, Runcie, & Morris, 2009; Weller, 2007), with hybrid approaches at work in some cases. Management were not always aware of the practice implications for the various approaches, and though all participants deemed creativity important, it was not explicitly measured or rewarded. The dichotomy between management and creativity, a prevalent theme in the literature (for example, Adorno, 1997; Caves, 2000; Townley, Beech, & McKinlay, 2009), did not present strongly in the participant cases. Instead, more collaborative creative practices were in evidence where designers, merchandisers, sales and business managers developed and decided on product together. The study provides rich detail about collaborative product development practices at an operational level that balances the management and leadership focus of the literature by leading creativity scholars in the field (for example, Amabile, Schatzel, Moneta, & Kramer, 2004; Basadur, 2004; Černe, Jaklič, & Škerlavaj, 2013; Mumford, Scott, Gaddis, & Strange, 2002; Shalley & Gilson, 2004). Similar to Tran’s (2010) detailed study on the practice of fashion designers, this study provides a window into distributed creative processes involving a variety of actors. Cross case analysis has revealed a number of themes that have implications for practice. These include the need for greater alignment of product development with strategic intent; the influence of organisational structure and reporting on creative processes; and the need to develop metrics and performance management systems that focus specifically on creativity.

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Gengatharen, Denise Evangaline. "Assessing the success and evaluating the benefits of government-sponsored regional internet-trading platforms for small and medium enterprises a Western Australian perspective /." Connect to thesis, 2006. http://portal.ecu.edu.au/adt-public/adt-ECU2006.0017.html.

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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Small business Australia'

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