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Nguyen, Phu-Nhan, and n/a. "Smart Clients for small E-business framework." University of Canberra. Information Sciences & Engineering, 2005. http://erl.canberra.edu.au./public/adt-AUC20060803.104619.
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Businesses with less than 20 employees are regarded as small businesses. The four main
types of small business structures are mostly Sole Trader, Partnership, Trust, and
Company. E-commerce is the transformation of key commerce processes through the
use of the Internet. E-commerce consists of the buying, selling, marketing and servicing
of products and services over the Internet. The benefits of E-commerce are reduction in
costs, convenient communication and performance of the business process. Several
models for E-commerce are Business to Business (B2B), Business to Customer (B2C),
Business to Employee (B2E), Business to Government (B2G), and Customer to
Customer (C2C).
This thesis considers the small typical business structures in Australia to build a
framework for small business. Small Business Framework (SBF) is developed to
provide a framework to design and implement Web applications for Smart Clients and
applications for E-commerce and M-commerce models which are mainly B2B and B2C.
The SBF�s components are database, email, electronic payment, products, orders, and
login. The technology requirements to operate the SBF are Personal Digital Assistants
(PDA), Unicode, Web Server, Visual Studio .NET 2003 (VS .NET) and provision of
services through Internet. In order to test and evaluate SBF, an Online Asian Grocery
Mobile (OAGM) application has been developed for B2C using MS Visual Studio .NET
2003 (VS.NET). Results showed that the SBF is a good framework for small businesses
and the OAGM is a sucessful application prototype since OAGM provides good
accessibility, saves time, and is effective.
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Van, Niekerk Daniel. "A framework for determining a business strategy of a small business." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50674.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is a growing need for a framework that explains the important steps in creating and managing a small business in a very simplistic, flexible and holistic way. The aim of this research report is to design a framework which will guide the entrepreneur and small business owner in the set-up and management of a small business. The research report explores the logic of constructing the framework. It starts with the core business transactions which justify the existence of the business. For a better understanding of the interactions in the transactions, a system approach is followed. Dynamic complexities focus on causality and feedback to describe how entities influence each other. A growth loop is established with a balancing loop. On the basis of these interactions the framework is constructed with the product and the market on opposite sides. From the product there are growing actions in the form of marketing. From the market a condition is created which is measured in financial terms. These interactions are the core of the framework. A second level is added with strategic intent and external analysis to indicate direction and to measure the market's response. The research report continues to describe the development of a small business in terms of the three layers of the framework: transaction, basic business level and extended business level. The transaction indicates the core and the reason for the business's existence. It is a description of the value exchange process. The basic business level is the platform in which the business is operating. The extended business level is how the platform is used. For each of the entities indicated on the framework an existing business model is used to explain the area. The framework is, therefore, not presenting a new model, but only a new way of how existing business models are related to each other. The framework can be used in various ways. First it can be used to establish a startup business by building it step by step from the inner layer to the outer layer. Secondly it can be used to evaluate an existing business. Each part of the business can be evaluated and determine whether the necessary structures are in place. Thirdly it can be used for a turn-around on a struggling business. To do it means first . to evaluate the business and then use the framework to build the business structure. To assist in this process of evaluation and building a business structure, a set of worksheets are presented in the study to help an entrepreneur to think through every important step of the business. To test the above assumption that the framework can support the construction of a business structure, a small business was selected and evaluated. The evaluation was done in the format of an interview with the owners and the structure of the framework was followed. The study is concluded with recommendations on areas that need further research. The worksheet I guideline recommendation is that the worksheets and guidelines be developed with a specific aim in mind, for example design a new business or evaluate an existing business. The application recommendation is to explore the use of a rating system to do a quick evaluation of the business based on the entrepreneur's "gut feeling". The structural recommendations are first to explore strategic mapping to summarise the results of the design or evaluation into an existing model. The second recommendation is to investigate the development of the different entities in the framework in line with the business life cycle and thereby adding a depth dimension to the framework.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is 'n groeiende behoefte na 'n raamwerk wat die belangrike stappe om 'n klein besigheid te skep en te bestuur, in 'n baie simplistiese, buigsame en holistiese manier verduidelik. Die doel van die navorsingsverslag is om 'n raamwerk te ontwerp wat die entrepreneur sal lei in die opstel en bestuur van sy besigheid. Die navorsingsverslag gee aandag aan die logika hoe die raamwerk saamgestel word. Die raamwerk bestaan uit die kern besigheidstransaksie wat die bestaan van die besigheid regverdig. Om die interaksies in die transaksie beter te verstaan, word 'n stelselbenadering gebruik. Dinamiese kompleksiteite fokus op oorsake en die terugvoer hoe verskillende entiteite mekaar beinvloed. 'n Groeiende sirkelaksie en 'n uitbalanserende sirkelaksie word gevolg. Op grond van hierdie interaksies is die raamwerk geskep met die produk en die mark aan teenoorgestelde kante. Van die produk is daar 'n groeiende aksie na die mark in terme van bemarking. Van die mark is daar 'n terugvoeraksie na die produk in terme van finansiele maatstawwe. Hierdie inleraksies vorm die kern van die raamwerk. 'n Tweede vlak word bygevoeg in die vorm van strategies voorneme en eksterne analise om rigting aan te toon en die mark terugvoer te meet. Die navorsingsverslag gaan voort om die ontwikkeling van 'n klein besigheid te beskryf in terme van die drie vlakke: transaksie, kern besigheidvlak en uitgebreide besigheidvlak. Die transaksie toon die kern en die rede vir die besigheid se bestaan aan. Dit is die beskrywing van die waarde uitruilingsproses. Die kern besigheidsvlak is die platform waarop die besigheid funksioneer. Die uilgebreide besigheidsvlak is die manier hoe die besigheid die platform gebruik. Vir elk van die entileite wat in die raamwerk aangetoon word, word 'n bestaande besigheidsmodel gebruik om die detail te verduidelik. Die raamwerk moet daarom nie gesien word as 'n nuwe model nie, maar net as 'n manier hoe bestaande besigheidsmodelle in verhouding tot mekaar staan. Die raamwerk kan in verskeie maniere gebruik word. Eerstens kan dit gebruik word om 'n aanvangsbesigheid stap-vir-stap volgens die verskillende vlakke in die raamwerk te bou. Tweedens kan dit gebruik word om 'n beslaande besigheid te evalueer. Elke deel van die besigheid kan beoordeel word en so bepaal of die nodige strukture in plek is. Derdens kan dit gebruik word om 'n omkeer op 'n sukkelende besigheid te doen. Om dit te doen sal beteken om eerstens 'n evaluasie te doen op grond van die raamwerk en dan die nodige strukture te bou of herbou. Om die proses van bou en herbou te ondersteun stel die studie werksblaaie voor wat gebruik kan word. Die doel hiervan is om die entrepreneur se denke deur die belangrlkste stappe te lei. Om die bogenoemde aanvaarding te toets dat die raamwerk gebruik kan word om die bou van 'n besigheidstruktuur te ondersteun, was 'n klein besigheid geselekteer en ge-evalueer. Die evaluasie was gedoen in die vorm van 'n onderhoud met die eienaars en die struktuur van die raamwerk was gebruik. Die navorsingsverslag word afgesluit met aanbevelings oor areas wat verdere ondersoek nodig het. Die werksblaaie en riglyne aanbeveling is dat die werksblaaie en riglyne vir 'n spesifieke doel ontwerp word, byvoorbeeld die ontwerp van 'n nuwe winkel of die evaluasie van 'n bestaande winkel. Die aanwendingsaanbeveling is om 'n evalueeringstelsel te ontwikkel waar 'n evaluasie gegrond op 'n entrepreneur se aanvoeling kan plaasvind. Die struktuuraanbevelings is om eerstens strategiese kaartering te ondersoek om die resultate van die ontwerp of evaluasie in 'n bestaande model op te som. Die tweede aanbeveling is om die ontwikkeling van die verskikkelende entiteite van die raamwerk in Iyn met die besigheidslewensiklus te ondersoek en sodoende 'n diepte dimensie by die raamwerk te voeg.
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Pretorius, M., and D. Y. Dzansi. "A framework for measuring business social responsibility in micro and small business." Interim : Interdisciplinary Journal, Vol 6, Issue 2: Central University of Technology Free State Bloemfontein, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/410.
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Published ArticleAlthough much work has been done on the society versus business relation issue, it has yet to cascade business social responsibility (BSR) to small ventures and especially rurally based ones where survival is a more pertinent goal. Most studies to date have focused on corporate and large organisations, thereby suggesting that BSR is not really a small business issue. A major consequence / cause of this apparent bias towards large business is limited research into how small ventures and especially rural ones perceive and apply BSR. This study proposes an instrument for measuring BSR in small ventures. Through empirical analysis the resultant instrument was found to be valid for measuring small business BSR and measured four dimensions thereof namely : Expected benefits; Community / customer practices; Realised / actual benefits, BSR awareness / attitude and employee practices. Through discriminant analysis, the identified factors of BSR are useful to classify ventures as high or low sales and profit performers, suggesting that information on a firm's BSR activities can be used as indicators of firm performance.
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Fu, Winnie. "Small business modelling within the financial accounting conceptual framework." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape8/PQDD_0006/MQ41701.pdf.
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Yusof, Sha'ri Mohd. "Development of a framework for TQM implementation in small business." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.369742.
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Moussavou, Elsa-Olivia. "A business framework for enterprise development and venture creation in Libreville, Gabon." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2611.
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Thesis (MTech (Entrepreneurship))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, [2016].The purpose of this study is to develop a business framework for enterprise development and venture creation in Libreville, Gabon. The question that guides this research is: How are hotels and restaurants created and developed in Libreville, Gabon? The level of poverty and the unemployment rate have pushed many people to become creative in finding a way to generate income. The resultant entrepreneurial activity is a key element in the potential economic growth of the country. The Gabonese Government took the initiative to promote SMEs by providing the necessary economic environment. However, from a financial perspective it appears that the majority of entrepreneurs are using their own capital to finance their business during the start-up and developing phases. The limited access to finance remains a major issue for entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries. It is an ongoing challenge for them to acquire financial support from the available financial institutions. In order to make this study effective, a quantitative approach was followed. A selfadministered survey questionnaire was distributed to seventy owners and managers of hotels and restaurants. The findings show that the key elements which lead to the failure of SMMEs are; the limited access to finance to start up a new business, the lack of funds to maintain operating expenses during the start-up stage, the low return on investment and the mismanagement and poor understanding of the financial cycle of a start-up. Therefore this study proposes a business framework for venture creation and development so that entrepreneurs in Libreville will become educated in the correct procedures to successfully manage and grow their businesses, which will have a positive effect on the economy as more businesses become self-sustainable. SMMEs are regarded as an important means of addressing unemployment and poverty and boosting the economy of the country.
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Exner, Justin. "An entrepreneurial framework for starting a small tourism business in Cape Town." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/995.
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Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009.The 2010 FIFA World Cup toumament could provide valuable opportunities for the tourism entrepreneur in Cape Town. This study focuses on the factors that affect the entrepreneurwho chooses to make tourism a career in Cape Town. The aim of the study is to examine the tourism entrepreneurs' ability to be sustainable and is focused on the single tourism owner operating a service business in the Cape Town CBO such as small tour operators, tour guides and accommodation agents. Using the quantitative research method, a questionnaire as well as individual interviews, the data collection techniques have helped to provide valuable information as to the influencing factors on entrepreneurship, operational challenges and the extemal environment affecting tourism business in Cape Town. The results which could be useful to an aspirant entrepreneur indicate that the survey participants were generally positive about the FIFA event and that success for them is the ability to understand the market and plan strategically in order to operate a business effectively that will meet specific market requirements.
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Matabooe, Makatleho Julia. "A proposed framework for mentoring in black-owned small businesses in South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6520.
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In view of the important role that small businesses play in the economic development of most economies in the world, including South Africa (Adeniran & Johnston, 2012:4088; Kongolo, 2010:2290), as well as the survival challenges that they face, the purpose of this study was to propose a framework for effective mentoring. This framework can be used to develop the business management skills of black small business owner–managers which will eventually increase the survival of small businesses in South Africa. As such, the primary objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the conditions required for effective mentoring of black-owned small businesses by empirically identifying the factors that influence effective mentoring of these businesses. If mentoring programmes for black-owned small businesses can be effective, the high failure rate of these businesses could be reduced, which may influence the South African economy positively. This study sought to review previous findings and theories on mentoring and small business development, and then contextualise these to black-owned small businesses. A comprehensive literature review revealed potential factors which could influence the effectiveness of mentoring of black-owned small businesses. Four categories of these factors were identified, namely relational-based, non-relational based, cultural and demographical factors. These factors guided the collection of primary data in this study.
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Ratcliff, Diana. "Success Strategies for Small Service Business Owners." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5406.
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Small business owners struggle to sustain their businesses over time. According to U.S. Census data in 2014, only half of all small businesses survived beyond the first 5 years of operation, and only a third survived longer than 10 years. Grounded with the strategic contingency theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies small service business owners used to succeed beyond the first 5 years of operation. The target population consisted of 4 owners of small service and retail businesses in Arlington, VA, with fewer than 50 employees who have succeeded in business longer than 5 years. Through a process of methodological triangulation, data collected from financial documents, publicly available records, and external sources supplemented semistructured interview data. Using thematic analysis by coding narrative segments, 3 themes emerged including developing a unique marketing strategy, developing strategic leadership skills, and required business skills for sustainability. Successful unique marketing strategies emerged from understanding customer needs. The results from this study could benefit business owners by improving business success rates, which would have a positive economic effect on local community, including job creation, and sustainable economic stability. The implications for positive social change might include the reversal of small business failure trends through the application of successful business strategies.
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El-Itr, Zuhair Musa. "Equal business opportunity programs in the construction industry : a framework for development and implementation." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/21498.
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Kirkham, Thomas David. "Business data integration framework for small to medium enterprises (BDIFS) : a service-based framework to support eBusiness data interoperability for small to medium enterprises (SMEs)." Thesis, Bangor University, 2007. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/business-data-integration-framework-for-small-to-medium-enterprises-bdifs--a-servicebased-framework-to-support-ebusiness-data-interoperability-for-small-to-medium-enterprises-smes(41d3b1aa-d2ff-483c-b9c5-162b11e23ac1).html.
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Jagafa, K. A. I. "A framework for construction business recovery in small and medium sized privately owned companies." Thesis, University of Salford, 2016. http://usir.salford.ac.uk/37982/.
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In the summer of 2007, the UK financial market suffered a meltdown that drove many construction companies of all sizes out of business. The large construction companies seem to wither the storm while the small and medium sized companies closed shop in unprecedented numbers. According to the BBC, construction insolvency hit a record high of 6,355 in 2009. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) also reports that, 2009 was the first time business death outnumbered business births since the year 2000. In that year, construction accounted for 15-20% of all insolvencies in the UK. The adverse effect has changed the climate for Construction businesses in the UK. Firms are faced with tough decisions to make in order to secure their own survival. However, it is also true that, though there is an increased interest in reversing decline in construction, there isn’t much rigorous and systematic research done on corporate level turnaround in construction companies. Failure studies in construction have focused more on explaining failure at the project level than on corporate level. This research asks the question ‘how can a small or medium sized, privately owned construction company turnaround?’ The research interest is to find out what happens at the critical stage of a turnaround – the decisions made, the actions taken, how they were taken, why they were taken, to know the strategies that have worked and those that did not work, and then, design an effective turnaround framework. Therefore, using Altman’s Z-score bankruptcy prediction model, 9 successful turnaround companies were identified, and 12 unsuccessful turnaround companies were selected purposively but fit the criteria. Turnaround strategies of the two groups were looked at and compared. The findings showed that the key factors necessary for a construction company to ensure a successful turnaround are: leadership and people; improving working capital; support of stakeholders; a functioning market; selective tendering; business development; use of technology, and access to advice. It was also found that the business model of having the banks as sole providers of leverage was flawed. The findings also revealed that in times of difficulty or recession, two distinct types of construction companies emerge; the Conservative Company and the Progressive Company. As such, it was also revealed that there are two distinct business recovery approaches in construction – the Conservative and the Progressive approach. The Conservative companies, emphasize efficiency, tender for much smaller jobs, and make use of a mixture of, cutback and management turnaround strategies in almost every aspect of the business as they wait for the storm to pass – more like hibernation. On the other hand, the Progressive companies, though efficient, use growth strategy to take advantage of the market – buying other companies, tendering for much bigger jobs, and taking on new and experienced staff that other companies could not afford to keep. Restructuring strategies were seldom used as most companies stuck with the core strategy of their businesses. It was also revealed that most of the recovered companies operated with; no debts, were self funded, had some type of framework contract and multi-phased or repeat projects that kept them afloat, reduced their margins and tried to breakeven in tighter situations. While the unsuccessful turnaround companies were found to have been plagued with a combination of high gearing, bad debt, and cash flow problems, which ultimately caused their demise. Although all sectors of the industry suffered, it was revealed that, companies with operations in the utilities/renewables, and commercial sectors of construction were more likely to recover quicker from a downturn than those with operations in residential development, and industrial sector.
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Du, Plessis Lourens. "Developing a business model framework for support services to small- and medium enterprises in the services industry in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21377.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.There is no doubt as to the important role of small businesses in the creation of employment and development of the South African economy. Unfortunately support services for the small business are generally hard to come by and expensive if not sponsored by government, an NGO or corporate entity. For the small business owner who has been operating for a number of years and knows what is required to operate successfully, it is difficult and time consuming to find an affordable solution. This paper aimed to find a business model framework that would bring support services closer to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the services industry in South Africa. It must have the capability to relieve an SME of resource-intensive support burdens (administrative and otherwise) and thereby allow an increased focus on its core service-delivery value proposition. Based on systems theory it is safe to say that all entities in the economy are somehow interrelated and exert some influence on each other. It is therefore well within reason to conclude that the output of this research could be beneficial to SMEs on the supply- and demand- side of the service industry. For the purpose of this report, an SME was defined as a company that had the following characteristics: active owner involvement on all levels, a relatively small market share, had a staff complement of between 3 and 50 employees and provided a service (i.e. solving a problem). In creating an appropriate solution, it was important to understand the target audience, the business owner, much better. The data source for this research was the data gathered during the Finscope South Africa Small Business Survey 2010. Underlying the research was a hybrid approach that utilised both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The data was gathered throughout South Africa by means of a structured questionnaire created by a team of experts. It focused on measuring specific perceptions, attitudes and behaviour of SMEs and SME owners. A multi-sided platform or catalyst showed the most potential for satisfying the need to reduce the barriers between SMEs and service providers. A catalyst has three primary activities – building, stimulating and governing. These activities create and sustain a successful catalytic reaction and partnership. The research provided a wide range of South African SME and owner characteristics that were most beneficial in developing a business model framework.
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Vogl, Justin Daniel. "Implementing Product Diversification Strategies for Small and Medium Retail Businesses' Sustainability." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5144.
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Small businesses make up about 90% of all business entities and employ about 60% of the total workforce, yet 50% of small businesses fail within their first 5 years. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how SBOs use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable. The sample population were 3 small retail business owners in a large-sized county in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area who employed fewer than 19 people and have successfully used product diversification strategies to remain sustainable beyond 5 years. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and company document reviews. Data analysis entailed using an alphabetic coding process to identify the frequency and importance of themes. Grounded in the conceptual framework of the model of market orientation, this study revealed 4 themes that could help small business owners use the appropriate product diversification strategies to remain sustainable: customer-centric decision-making, market-trend orientation, resource orientation, and complementary products and services. The implications for positive social change include the potential to give small business owners a decision-making framework to achieve sustainability and growth, which would contribute to healthy economic conditions through consumerism, higher employment rates, and a reduction in poverty. The findings of this study could benefit local, small businesses and communities.
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Harnesk, Dan. "A framework for strategic alignment of business and information technology in small and medium sized firms." Licentiate thesis, Luleå, 2004. http://epubl.luth.se/1402-1757/2004/08.
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Hernandez-Pardo, Ricardo. "Designing sustainable product service systems : a business framework for SME implementation." Thesis, Loughborough University, 2012. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/11001.
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This thesis explores the conditions under which traditional Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can be involved in the design of sustainable Product Service Systems (PSS). The integration between design and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the context of sustainable business development was used to define the space for this exploration. The research was carried out through a case study with a group of Colombian Manufacturing SMEs. As a result of the case study a business framework was developed to guide the design of sustainable PSS. In order to establish the basis of the research a review of the literature on sustainable business development, ICT, design, product service systems and SMEs was carried out. This review brought to light the main features of a sustainable PSS and the challenges associated with its design. These challenges were further investigated in the context of SMEs with a scoping study involving a group of 38 Colombian SMEs. Additionally, 36 PSS already on the market were analysed to identify the possible relationships between design and ICT, and to determine how they could contribute to develop sustainable PSS. The scoping study and the analysis of the 36 PSS gave structure to the case study with a second group of Colombian Manufacturing SMEs. This case study aimed to build understanding of the connection between the characteristics of these SMEs and the main features of a sustainable PSS. As a result of this case study a set of concepts, drivers and barriers to take into account to design sustainable PSS formed the basis of a business framework developed and validated in the final part of the research. The business framework proposed can help to understand the resources and changes needed to develop a sustainable PSS, reducing the uncertainty that it may cause. The integration between product and service design and ICT is used in the framework to outline the areas of opportunity in the design of sustainable PSS. This business framework developed as a result of the research promises to be a helpful tool for organisations working to support the transformation of SMEs toward competitive and sustainable business models using as a basis the integration between product and service design and ICT. Despite the Colombian context the results and outcomes of this research are described in general terms to be applicable in other contexts around the world working with SMEs in the design of sustainable PSS.
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Reiner, Monika. "Safety, health, environment and quality framework for small and medium-sized entreprises in the Durban area." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19404.
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Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2011.A company’s primary goal is to make money. Simple as it may seem, this is not always easily achieved, and sustainability of the business may be a serious challenge. In an effort to make a profit, important aspects of safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) may sometimes be neglected. Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) merely do not have the understanding or the capacity to address all the important aspects of SHEQ, thereby placing the company under potential financial and legal risks. A survey was conducted in SMEs based in the Durban area to ascertain their level of legislative and voluntary system standard awareness and implementation. The questionnaire responses indicated that general awareness of legislation such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, the National Environmental Management Act and voluntary system standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 was relatively good, on the whole. However, implementation of the mandatory environmental requirements associated with the National Environmental Management Act was low, as was the implementation of the voluntary standards. Management and implementation of SHEQ responsibilities and requirement in larger organisations may be divided amongst various discipline specialists. However, in the SME these various disciplines may be the responsibility of one person, and often this person is the managing director. As such, this individual may not always have adequate time or understanding of the legal requirements of SHEQ aspects. There may also be a lack of understanding of the potential cost implications in not managing SHEQ aspects, and similarly budgeting requirements of managing SHEQ aspects appropriately. This research report introduces and summarises key SHEQ legislation and voluntary management system standards, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the National Environmental Management Act, local bylaws, and introduces the ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. Since some characteristics of the disciplines of health and safety, environment and quality may overlap, combining these into an integrated management system has merit. Such an integrated system can save the company time and money. This research report reviews some pertinent business requirements associated with SHEQ and presents an integrated management system guideline for the SME business owner. Business management, today, needs to learn from past business management developments. Successful and sustainable business management is not only about making a profit, but also incorporates a significant human resource management focus, health and safety assurance, the mitigation of potential environmental impacts from operations, whilst ensuring that quality standards of products and services are competitive.
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Pyper, Regina Christina, and Regina Christina Pyper. "An entrepreneurial development framework for SMEs in South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5411.
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Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are engines of growth. It has been determined globally that these enterprises are the largest employers in economies. Small and Medium Enterprises fail fundamentally to succeed in South Africa. Many challenges and barriers were identified as the reason why the enterprise fails to survive or succeed for at least 42 months. Poor performance of the SMEs could be blamed on the lack of meaningful support including an over-regulated environment, red tape and the poor quality of education and training. A number of Small and Medium Enterprise owners in Turkey were interviewed to determine if the enterprise development support system contributed to success and economic growth. The government succeeded to improve the economy of Turkey profoundly by investing and supporting this very important sector. Turkey is positioned 17th in the world based on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The purpose of this study was to develop an entrepreneurial development framework for SMEs in South Africa. The government needs to support and implement this framework to stimulate economic growth, to address the poor quality of education and training and to establish a system to measure the performance of critical success factors. A case study research approach was employed to address five propositions that were investigated in this research project. Semi-structured interviews studied the perceptions and experiences of the SME owners in Turkey. The study found a positive relationship between economic growth, a meaningful enterprise development support system, education and training, critical success factors and entrepreneurship and the perceived success of entrepreneurial ventures in South Africa. The establishment and implementation of an entrepreneurial development framework will encourage the creation of new ventures. The government will be able to achieve the goal of economic growth as set out in the National Development Plan. The establishment of SMEs will result in employment, social stability, economic growth and the generation of tax revenues. The purpose of an entrepreneurial development framework is to ensure the sustainable economic development and prosperity of South Africa.
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Brand, Riaan. "Development of a business framework to integrate informal SMMEs and entrepreneurs with the formal South African economy." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2736.
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Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.South Africa has an uneven distribution of economic wealth. The political history of recent decades is the main reason for this phenomenon and has led to a situation where vast numbers of citizens did not receive the necessary training and development to embark on self-employment or to be employed at existing companies. These circumstances place a burden on the present government to fight poverty and crime, and in return establish national well being and economic stability. It requires them to find innovative ways by which they can promote business development and create sustainable jobs for unemployed people. Various programmes to improve the delivery of essential social services to the majority of the population are under way. However, the vast numbers of people in desperate need for employment or other income generating activities outstrip the support programmes already implemented by the government. Actions from the government are aimed at supporting and training previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs to become active contributors to the economy. One method of generating employment opportunities is through the deployment of SMMEs (Small Medium and Micro Enterprises) that can operate as part of the formal economy. “South Africa's 2-million small businesses represent 98% of the country's total number of firms, employ 55% of the labour force and contribute 42% of the country's wage bill. Yet 87% of these enterprises are survivalist and operate outside the formal economy” (Le Roux, 2006).1 Ideally, one would like to see previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs as owners of these SMMEs. However, these entrepreneurs do not necessarily have the capacity to take up business responsibilities and management. This research project focuses mainly on situations in the South African economic environment with specific attention given to SMMEs. The primary objective is to find a sustainable solution that ensures effective and successful deployment of SMMEs. A solution is proposed in the form of a Business Framework where similar informal SMMEs are grouped together to operate under a governing body. This governing body (Business Framework) provides the necessary infrastructure to support the development of products and services within these SMMEs. Entrepreneurs and SMMEs affiliated to this Business Framework are nurtured till they are mature enough to partake in the formal economy. The Business Framework therefore focuses on the possibilities of incorporating survivalist 1 Source: Business Day, June 27, 2006.(informal) SMMEs with formal economic activities and by doing so, tries to improve their sustainability and create long-term income generating enterprises. Development of such a Business Framework requires investigations of the economic circumstances in which these SMMEs operate. This includes a study of current government support programmes and the influences of the formal and informal economies on each other. Various engineering tools and methodologies are applied to evaluate and characterise these SMMEs. Through the use of Enterprise Life Cycle and Value Chain analyses, internal business processes of informal SMMEs are studied and shortcomings in terms of business processes are identified. A GAP-Analysis is performed and from this a list of requirements is drawn up that the Business Framework should fulfil. A generic Business Framework is developed using the Zachman Enterprise Reference Architecture. This concept of a Business Framework is tested by means of a case study and documented at the end of the report. This document serves not only to describe project related issues from an academic perspective, but shares a concept that can be used by governments and private organisations to deploy business development more dynamically and effectively.
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McGarrie, Brian. "A framework for the selection and implementation of production planning and control systems for small manufacturing companies." Thesis, Liverpool John Moores University, 1996. http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/5566/.
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This study describes the development and application of a framework to aid small manufacturing companies in the selection, improvement and implementation of production planning and control systems. The framework is developed from the existing literature, which indicates an almost total absence of similar frameworks for small manufacturing companies. The literature was categorised in a Supply Chain Management manner to facilitate close relations between companies when undertaking improvements to the production planning and control system. The framework involves an examination of four phases within a company. The first phase, the Current Reality, enables the company under study to undertake an in-depth audit of their existing production planning and control system. The framework provides focus for the small manufacturing company by identifying problems within the existing system. Problem-solving, via education and training, is an integral part of the framework, with phase two facilitating this by organising and planning for change. The third phase of the framework, the implementation provides the company with a choice of pursuing a software solution to the problems identified in the previous phases, or of simpler, incremental improvements in performance. The final phase, the feedback loop to the Current Reality phase enables companies to follow a programme of continuous improvement. A normal change implementation plan lacks the focus that this framework can provide for the selection and implementation of production planning and control systems. The framework has been validated in ten small manufacturing companies in the U.K., and has enabled one company to successfully select and implement a new computerised production planning and control system. The study reports the application of the framework in this company over a three year period. The advantages of using this framework in action research mode are reported. The other nine case studies highlight the ability of the framework to focus on smaller, incremental improvements in production planning and control performance. The empirical research also concludes that a lack of human resources to devote to improvements and implementations, is the main difference between large and small companies when undertaking such exercises. Recommendations for future work on the framework are presented, and the usefulness of the framework for managers in small manufacturing companies, consultants and academic researchers is discussed.
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Tengeh, Robertson Khan. "A business framework for the effective start-up and operation of African immigrant-owned businesses in the Cape Town Metropolitan area, South Africa." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/1687.
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Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyThe purpose of this study is to develop a business framework for the effective start-up and operation of African immigrant businesses in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area of South Africa. The question that guides this research is: how do African immigrants use their entrepreneurial attributes to acquire the resources necessary to start-up and operate successful businesses in the Cape Town Metropolitan Area?The study was conducted within the context of the economic development mandate as prescribed by the constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996. The development agenda also includes community, social and welfare promotion premised on the Keynesian principles that the government introduces interventions where there is an economic failure. In the South African context, this relates to unemployment and due to the prevailing economic down turns a greater reliance by the populace for social and welfare support. In recent years, immigrants especially from African countries have found themselves in a similar situation (That is in need of economic, social and welfare support). However, the government, particularly local government does not have the resources, especially financial resources to assist all local entrepreneurs, including immigrant entrepreneurs. Although there is a wide coverage of immigrant entrepreneurship in developed countries, much still has to be done as far as developing countries are concerned. From a South African perspective, there is so far no study entirely devoted to African immigrant entrepreneurship. This notwithstanding, there seems to be a growing consensus on the fact that SMMEs in South Africa are disproportionately constrained by start-up and operational factors such as finance, insufficient demand, lack of business skills and lack of information, although one cannot generalise especially as immigrant entrepreneurs face a slightly different dynamic. No studies focusing on immigrant-owned businesses in general and particularly how they tap into their entrepreneurial traits to start-up and grow successful businesses has been conducted in South Africa. At one level, the finding of this study provides vital information for new immigrants venturing into self employment. At another level, the study may provide vital insight into immigrant entrepreneurship in South Africa. Limited job opportunities force African immigrants into self-employment. However, due to the numerous challenges that they face, only a few of the immigrant-owned businesses get off the ground, let alone grow. It may be argued that most of these African immigrant-owned businesses fail to reach their full potential because they (the owners) are unable to exploit the entrepreneurial attributes that they bring or have at their disposal upon arrival. Three interrelated concepts: entrepreneurial attributes, business start-up and operation resources, and business success, are linked in this study to develop a framework for the effective start-up and operation of immigrant-owned businesses. The proposed framework seeks to encourage African immigrants to match the entrepreneurial attributes that they come with to the business opportunities and challenges that they may face in establishing and growing their businesses in South Africa.The study was designed within the quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, in which a triangulation of three methods was utilised to collect and analyse the data. From a quantitative perspective, the survey questionnaire was used. To complement the quantitative approach, personal interviews and focus groups were utilised as the methods within the qualitative approach paradigm. The research revealed that an African immigrant entrepreneur is most likely to be a male within the age range of 19 and 41 who has been forced to immigrate because of political circumstances back home. The decision to immigrate as well as the choice of South Africa as a host country was entirely dependent on the immigrant. Once in South Africa, limited job opportunities forced these immigrants into setting up their own businesses within the informal sector as their starting point. In order of importance, financial, physical, human, and informational resources were identified as being critical for the start-up and operation of a business in South Africa. In terms of acquiring the resources to start-up and operate a business, and from a financial perspective point, African immigrant entrepreneurs unwillingly made use of personal savings to finance their businesses during the start-up phase of the business. Financial resources played a double role in that they determined the main sources of physical resources used. From a human resource standpoint, African immigrant entrepreneurs preferred employing South Africans during the start-up phase of the business, and the reverse was true during the growth or operational phase. To a limited extent, family labour was involved at both the start-up as well as the operational phases of the business; with formal education and prior experience playing a significant role as far as the human resource mix was concerned. In terms of information, African immigrant entrepreneurs made use of two primary sources of information namely, their ethnic networks and friends from somewhere else.
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Baxendale, Alex. "The small business information system strategy selection process : a framework for investigating the information system strategy selection process, amongst the small to medium sized service sector." Thesis, University of Kent, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.337075.
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Timotheus, Francois. "Developing of a supply chain framework for civil engineering SMME's within the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11242.
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A lot of SMME development initiatives have been subsidised from the funds accumulated from taxpayers. In the promotion of sustainability and growth of SMMEs within developing countries particularly within the BRICS, South Africa is lagging despite its efforts over the past 17 years. According to STATS SA, SA’s unemployment rate for 2011 was between 24-36% and economic growth was 3.1%, the Eastern Cape Province is the poorest province within SA and therefore residence within the province is looking at start-up businesses to better their economic situation. The NMBM economic growth and employment is driven largely by its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) 2013/2014. Aims and objectives:To develop a supply chain management policy that addresses the challenges faced by infrastructure officials, supply chain management practitioners and ward councillors with regards to SMME engagement; and, Investigating the strengths, weaknesses and effectiveness of the current supply chain management policy employed within Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality with regards to SMME engagement. Research methodology: A questionnaire was used in this study to conduct quantitative research; the questionnaire was also used as a data collection tool. Valuable information was gathered from SMMEs residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal area who operate in the civil engineering field. These SMMEs formed the core research sample. Results: The findings suggest that the current supply chain management (SCM) policy of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) does not adequately address the challenges encountered by SMMEs. This suggests the SCM policy is inadequate and the policy must be amended to address its short falls:There is a need for a contractor development programme in the NMBM to assist the Potentially Emerging (PE) contractors within its boundaries;The NMBM is regulating the SMME market for competitiveness to some extent with its SCM policy;Even though the market is being regulated for competitiveness, it is not regulated with regards to new entries into the market; There is a need for the NMBM to provide business development services to SMME’s within its boundaries; The majority of SMME’s believed that there is no gender discrimination within the banking sector;The NMBM is an efficient government institution when it comes to settling their debt in a timely manner;The NMBM must appoint a committee to address the problems faced by SMME’s within its boundaries;South Africa’s National Credit Act (NCA) prevents SMME’s from acquiring an uncontrollable amount of debt. Conclusion: SMME’s within the NMBM enjoy a healthy credit record; these SMME’s also pay their suppliers in a timely fashion. Employees of these SMME’s are adequately compensated for their services. Some SMME’s service the equipment regularly and some do not. Some SMME’s are able to cover their overheads from the projects they undertake and some are not. SMME’s residing in the NMBM have experienced a growth in their business over the last financial year, even though they have not received substantial work over this period. The quality of the end product produced by some SMME’s meets the standard required by the NMBM. Recommendations: To address the development needs of the SMME’s the SCM policy needs to be amended to provide business development services and off-the-job training. To address the access to finance needs of the SMME’s the SCM policy needs to be amended to assist SMME’s in acquiring start-up capital, getting a reduced interest rate and creating work opportunities through micro-financing.
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Khan, Zulfiqar. "A framework for implementing business process improvement in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve world class manufacturing objectives." Thesis, Coventry University, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.247206.
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Clark, W. Andrew. "Establishing A Technology Based Business Incubator At A Regional University: A Conceptual Framework And Case Study." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2005. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/2501.
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University managed technology-based business incubators evolved at major research institutions as a mechanism for university professors to pursue commercial applications of their research without having to resign their university positions. These incubators assisted the universities in retention of valuable faculty and also provided for the development of university intellectual property (IP) to a level where commercialization was probable. In addition to faculty retention and the potential for revenue from commercialization of IP, these incubators further developed the universities’ reputations in producing cutting edge research. The physical proximity of the incubators to the universities is crucial because this allows easy access to university intellectual capital, equipment and skilled technical labor that enable fledgling businesses to survive and flourish. Many regional universities are adding an emphasis on research and community economic development to their primary mission of teaching. As a result they are establishing business incubators. The goals for these incubators include creation of an environment and culture for the establishment of student driven companies, improvement of commercialization of university intellectual property, enhancement of the ability to attract technology-based businesses and provision of a living laboratory for student to work within the entrepreneurial environment. Just as is the case for the traditional research universities, business incubators at regional universities provide the supporting infrastructure that permits the university faculty to take advantage of SBIR and STTR programs to launch businesses and move university IP toward commercialization. In addition, the formation of a university-managed business incubator provides an excellent environment for non-university established technology businesses to benefit from the advantages of university faculty, personnel, students and graduates in both consulting and employee positions. Establishing a university managed technology-based business incubator at a regional university requires a strategic vision that integrates the universities core competencies, academic and research missions, senior administration concerns, capital and building campaigns and economic development concerns of the surrounding communities. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for building the strategic vision, developing the necessary infrastructure and mitigating risks when establishing the incubator. In addition, a discussion of lessons learned through the establishment of our university managed technology-based incubator at ETSU is presented through a mini-case study.
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Carter, Douglas H. "Locating a New Collegiate Entrepreneurship Program, a Framework for a University Campus." Scholar Commons, 2019. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7760.
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University Entrepreneurship Programs reside is a variety of places within a Campus Community. As a relatively new university, the question arises as to where such a program should reside? Should such a program be relegated to a single college or is there an opportunity for a cross-disciplinary approach to its establishment? With limited resources, it is imperative to make an educated and informed decision so as to be good stewards of limited funding.
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Van, Zyl Wiehann. "The new product development process : small firm success by studying larger firms." Thesis, Link to the online version, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019/925.
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Olivieri, Javier Alejandro. "Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) : the engine of Canada's economy : the legal framework of three sensitive spheres for SMES' growth : financing, taxation and international trade." Thesis, McGill University, 2003. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=80944.
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It is widely believed that small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs"), acting as a source of innovation and job creation, play a key role in the economy of Canada.The legal framework which regulates SMEs' activities is vast. This thesis focuses on the legal framework and most important aspects of three critical areas: financing, taxation and international trade.
After describing and interpreting the legal framework of these areas and the information obtained from public and private institutions which are considered key in these issues, this thesis presents conclusions in relation to the question of how and in what way, if any, the current legislative and regulatory framework relating to SMEs contributes to the growth and prosperity of SMEs and to the importance of such a framework to SMEs' success and growth.
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Hamad, Haseba. "Antecedents of business-to-business e-commerce adoption and its effect on competitive advantage in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises : a comparative study of United States of America and Egypt." Thesis, University of Plymouth, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/3080.
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Business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce adoption has become a necessity for most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), allowing them to gain and sustain competitive advantage in a dynamic competitive environment. Accepting the fact that B2B is adopted at different levels based on different resources leads to the acceptance that competitive advantage is gained and sustained on a level consistent with the level of adoption. This study employs quantitative method based on the positivism philosophy and deductive approach. A questionnaire survey technique was used to collect the data from the American and Egyptian manufacturing SMEs. Moreover, it used structural equation modelling with a sample of 320 and 260 manufacturing SMEs in the United States of America and Egypt respectively. The structural equation modelling (SEM) findings revealed that each level of B2B e-commerce adoption was affected by different factors from another level of adoption. Besides, there was a significant difference between the issues which faced manufacturing SMEs in USA and Egypt. Furthermore, in Egyptian manufacturing SMEs, relative advantage and competitive pressure have a significant effect on adoption behaviour. On the other hand, when American manufacturing SMEs made their decisions to adopt B2B e-commerce, they considered the main factors to be relative advantage, top management support, firm size and government support. In addition, the findings revealed that the higher the level of B2B e-commerce, which an SME adopted, the higher the level of competitive advantage it gained. However, in developing countries such as Egypt, SMEs remained far behind their peers in developed countries. In terms of theoretical implications, the study could be considered to be a unique study in the field of B2B e-commerce generally and B2B e-commerce in Egyptian manufacturing SMEs in particular. This is because, by looking back at the literature review, is clear that empirical studies into B2B e-commerce issues, including manufacturing SMEs, remained embryonic in developed countries and rare in the developing countries. This is especially so in the Arabic countries. In addition, most previous studies focused on a broad and generic view of the SMEs’ adoption of B2B e-commerce or on the relationship between adoption of IT and competitive advantage. This study was conducted in a cross-country context; it considered the manufacturing SMEs’ adoption of B2B e-commerce from the perspective of the level of adoption. Therefore, it made an original empirical contribution towards the current body of knowledge on the adoption of B2B e-commerce through the identification of manufacturing SMEs adoption levels of B2B e-commerce; their impacts on competitive advantage; and the significant factors which influenced each adoption level of B2B e-commerce in USA and Egypt. In addition, this study used TOE as the theoretical framework in investigating the factors affecting B2B e-commerce in SMEs and focused largely on the factors affecting each level; this is a new contribution to the extant literature. Turning to the study’s practical implications, important implications for the manufacturing SMEs’ owner/managers can be drawn from the findings to help them to understand their environments as, in a cross-country business context, they move through the different stages of adopting B2B e-commerce. In addition to the implication for manufacturing SMEs’ owners/managers, this study presents important implications for governmental, nongovernmental organisations and other institutions linked to manufacturing SMEs. Similar to other studies, this study has a number of limitations. The main one is that it lacks the use of qualitative analysis to depict how SMEs understand the concept of competitive advantages and how this helps them to survive and grow.
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Buthelizi, Nozipho Charity Sindisiwe. "Development of a framework of organisational culture that characterises an innovative organisation in small, medium and micro enterprises in the South African economy : an exploratory study." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/8501.
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Thesis (MBA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It has been suggested that without the ability to innovate, an organisation will not be able to survive the demands of an ever-changing operating environment. This raises the question: How can organisations ensure that they are able to innovate? Organisational culture has been identified as a critical variable in answering this question. The culture of the organisation determines to a large extent the degree of innovation in that organisation. Business leaders have made attempts to nurture a culture of creativity and innovation in their organisations through the recruitment of dynamic individuals with innovative traits. However, most of their attempts seemed insufficient in achieving their goals. The primary purpose of this research is to develop a framework for organisational culture that characterises an innovative organisation in small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). The secondary objective is to identify the enablers and inhibitors of innovation. Research method: The research approach starts with a review of existing literature. This is followed by the development of the theory and empirical research. Data collection was also carried out in the form of semi-structured interviews with senior and middle management in innovative SMMEs. Main findings: The analysis of the findings indicates that an organisation cannot focus on any single aspect of organisational culture. Innovation is a system in the organisation that is strongly guided by the culture of the organisation. Recommendations: Future research on this subject will benefit from the selection of a larger sample of data. Given the dynamic nature of innovation and organisational culture, it is recommended to repeat this research over time in order to explore whether the same dimensions in determining innovative organisational culture still apply. The current research can also be followed up by a study on the sources of innovation in an organisation.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Sonder die vermoë om te kan innoveer, sal ’n organisasie nie kan oorleef in ’n bedryfsomgewing wat voortdurend verander nie. Dit laat die vraag ontstaan: Hoe kan organisasies seker maak hulle die vermoë het om te innoveer? Organisasiekultuur is geïdentifiseer as ’n kritiese veranderlike in die beantwoording van hierdie vraag. Die kultuur van ’n organisasie bepaal grootliks die mate van innovering in daardie organisasie. Sakeleiers probeer om ’n kultuur van kreatiwiteit en innovering in hul organisasies te koester deur dinamiese individue met innoverende karaktereienskappe te werf. Dit blyk egter dat die meeste van hul pogings nie daarin kan slaag om hul doelwitte te bereik nie. Die primêre doel van hierdie navorsing is om ’n raamwerk vir organisatoriese kultuur te ontwikkel wat ’n innoverende organisasie in klein, medium-grootte en mikro ondernemings (KMMO’s) kenmerk. Die sekondêre doelwit is om die moontlikmakers en inhibeerders van innovering te identifiseer. Navorsingsmetode: Die navorsingsbenadering begin met ’n oorsig van bestaande literatuur. Dit word gevolg deur die ontwikkeling van die teorie en empiriese navorsing. Data-insameling is uitgevoer in die vorm van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met senior en middelvlakbestuurders van innoverende KMMO’s. Vernaamste bevindinge: Die ontleding van die bevindinge dui daarop dat ’n organisasie nie op een enkele aspek van organisasiekultuur kan fokus nie. Innovering is ’n stelsel in die organisasie wat baie sterk deur die kultuur van die organisasie beïnvloed word. Aanbevelings: Toekomstige navorsing oor hierdie onderwerp sal baat vind by die seleksie van ’n groter steekproef van data. Gegewe die dinamiese aard van innovering en organisatoriese kultuur, word daar aanbeveel dat hierdie navorsing mettertyd herhaal word om uit te vind of dieselfde dimensies vir die bepaling van innoverende organisatoriese kultuur steeds van toepassing is. Die huidige navorsing kan ook opgevolg word deur ’n studie oor die bronne van innovering in ’n organisasie.
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Siwundla, Sabelo Emmanuel. "The development of a framework to empower SME's in the Eastern Cape to overcome barriers in the adoption of e-commerce." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020971.
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The primary objective of the study was to establish the role that e-commerce can play in improving some Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business processes and transactions. This was undertaken by investigating how SMEs in the Eastern Cape can be empowered to use e-commerce and overcome barriers in the adoption of e-commerce. The study was modelled on the concept that there are four key factors that influence the adoption of e-commerce, namely: level of e-commerce awareness, level of computer literacy, availability of Information Technology and telecommunication infrastructure, as well as trust and security of e-commerce applications. The literature study revealed that SMEs play a vital role in the development and growth of a country’s economy. The literature review also identified a wide-range of barriers hindering e-commerce development and adoption by SMEs, namely: lack of computer skills, low level of e-commerce awareness, lack of Information Technology and telecommunication infrastructure, as well as lack of e-commerce trust and security. Further, the literature study showed that Internet availability and affordability is key to e-commerce growth and development, as in developing countries Internet is not yet universally accessible. This is due to a lack of necessary policies and infrastructure enabling wide-spread Internet use. The empirical study consisted of a structured questionnaire distributed to a population of executive management, middle management, operational employees and directors/owners in various SMEs in the Eastern Cape. The structured questionnaire was aimed at gathering views about e-commerce development and adoption by SMEs in the Eastern Cape with a special focus on barriers to the adoption of e-commerce by SMEs. The results of the empirical study revealed that: E-commerce awareness needs to be created among SMEs. Awareness needs to be created among SMEs about all aspects surrounding the use of e-commerce. Improvements in the telecommunications infrastructure could reduce the unreliable connections experienced by SMEs. Skills development strategies could assist in equipping SMEs with skills required in the e-commerce environment. Non-governmental organizations, government and companies assisting SMEs could provide free Internet access to SMEs. Alternatively, Internet cafes could be placed at different places and charge reasonable fees. NGO’s and higher education institutions could help in developing electronic literacy skills among SMEs. Companies assisting SMEs with funding could provide more funds to allow SMEs interested in e-commerce to start e-commerce systems.
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Visser, Riaan. "Operational-cost optimisation and cost management in the sourcing and supply chain : a conceptual framework for a medium-sized service company without a central procurement function." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/997.
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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2009.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A typical medium-sized service company in South Africa faces definite challenges and misses opportunities in optimising and managing its operational expenses in its sourcing and supply chain. Medium-sized companies generally do not have the benefit of sophisticated in-house procurement divisions and extensive buying power but they still have to optimise their expenses in order to ensure maximum profitability and business longevity. The study addresses these challenges and opportunities by developing and proposing a framework for a typical medium-sized service company that does not have a central procurement function related to the cost optimisation and management of the identified sourcing and supply-chain elements. The research process entails the development of a conceptual framework developed from literature analysis and a representational practical environment as well as the testing, reviewing and validating of the test implementation of the framework. The results flowing from the testing and implementation of the framework are excluded from the research project. The results are displayed in the form of a summary of specific relevant information around each framework element as well as a conceptual framework. Recommendations are made in relation to the implementation and practical adaptation of the framework. It is concluded that a medium-sized service company can successfully optimise and manage its costs in the sourcing and supply-chain elements in the absence of a central procurement function. This requires the effective implementation of the developed framework, which was adapted from sophisticated larger companies. Implementation and the measurement process need to be driven or, preferably, conducted by the medium-sized company owner or management. Buy-in of the framework and the processes around it needs to be obtained from employees, suppliers and other stakeholders.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Tipiese mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming in Suid-Afrika staar spesifieke uitdagings in die gesig en ontbeer geleenthede met betrekking tot die optimalisering en bestuur van die bedryfsuitgawes in sy aankoop- en verskaffingsketting. Mediumgrootte ondernemings beskik in die algemeen nie oor die voordeel van ’n gesofistikeerde interne aankoopafdeling en groot aankoopkrag nie, maar hierdie ondernemings moet nog steeds hulle koste-uitgawes optimaliseer in die nastreef van maksimale wins en besigheidsukses. Die navorsingstudie neem hierdie uitdagings en geleenthede onder die loep deur die ontwikkeling en aanbeveling van ’n raamwerk vir ’n tipiese mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming wat nie oor ’n sentrale interne aankoopafdeling beskik nie. Die raamwerk is gebaseer op koste-optimalisering en -bestuur van die geïdentifiseerde aankoop- en verskaffingskettingelemente. Die navorsingsproses behels die ontwikkeling van ’n konseptuele raamwerk deur literatuuranalise en ’n verteenwoordigende praktiese omgewing, sowel as die toetsing, hersiening en geldigverklaring van die raamwerk tydens die toets-implementering daarvan in die praktiese omgewing. Die resultate van die toets en implementering van die raamwerk vorm nie deel van hierdie studie nie. Die navorsingsresultate word ten toon gestel in die vorm van ’n opsomming van die relevante raamwerkelemente sowel as ’n ontwikkelde raamwerk. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van die implementering en praktiese aanpassing van die raamwerk word dan gemaak. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat ’n mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming wel in die afwesigheid van ’n sentrale interne aankoopafdeling sy kostes in die aankoop- en verskaffingsketting suksesvol kan optimaliseer en bestuur. Dit kan gedoen word deur die doeltreffende implementering en aanwending van die ontwikkelde raamwerk wat vanaf groter ondernemings aangepas is. Die raamwerk se implementering- en metingsproses moet deur die eienaar of bestuur van die mediumgrootte onderneming gelei, of verkieslik uitgevoer, word. Die werknemers, verskaffers en ander belanghebbendes se ondersteuning vir die raamwerk en gepaardgaande prosesse is baie belangrik vir die implementering en sukses van die raamwerk.
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Abrahamse, Jacques. "Towards a framework, through action research, for mobile computing diffusion and adoption within a small-to-medium South African construction company." Diss., Pretoria : [s.n.], 2008. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-09012008-113153.
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Bekir, Levent, Nicolas Numhauser, and Rawa Abbas. ""The Jungle Telegraph" : A qualitative case study about the challenges for Swedish B2B Small and Medium-size Enterprises when entering the Sub-Saharan market." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-104922.
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As developed markets have become saturated to a greater extent, companies have instead targeted emerging economies. In recent years, a substantial number of companies have recognized the opportunities in the Sub-Saharan market, which has led to an increasing number of foreign firms entering this market. Nevertheless, companies are still experiencing numerous challenges in relatively unexplored markets like the Sub-Saharan region. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate challenges for Swedish manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) when entering the Sub-Saharan African market. Additionally, the thesis will examine how these challenges affect the entry modes as well as further market commitments. The aim is to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that influence the choice of entry mode of SMEs in volatile environments. This study has adopted a qualitative research method with an abductive approach to allow for an elaborate and flexible research process. The empirical data have been collected from multiple cases, by conducting five semi-structured interviews. The outcome of this thesis demonstrates that the major challenges in the Sub-Saharan market are related to underdeveloped institutional frameworks. Although, by cooperating with institutional actors and providing valuable resources to the local environment, firms are able to relieve institutional pressures. Finally, innovation, adaptability, and flexibility are vital factors that influence the extent to which companies are able to commit to the Sub-Saharan market.
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Lee, Anne Lim. "Return on Investment of the CFTP Framework With and Without Risk Assessment." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3306.
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In recent years, numerous high tech companies have developed and used technology roadmaps when making their investment decisions. Jay Paap has proposed the Customer Focused Technology Planning (CFTP) framework to draw future technology roadmaps. However, the CFTP framework does not include risk assessment as a critical factor in decision making. The problem addressed in this quantitative study was that high tech companies are either losing money or getting a much smaller than expected return on investment when making technology investment decisions. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between returns on investment before and after adding risk assessment to the CFTP framework. Paap's CFTP framework and process to improve technology investments thus served as the theoretical framework for this study. Data were obtained from cloud computing companies using the companies' market risk data and actual returns on investment data. The results and findings of paired sample two-tailed t tests for means and equal variances showed that return on investment was positively related to adding a traditional risk assessment model to Paap's CFTP framework. These findings regarding the addition of risk assessment to the technology investment framework may be used by investors to (a) make better and more expeditious decisions, and (b) obtain a high return on technology investment by selecting the highest return value and lowest risk value.
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Klug, Lisa. "Barriers in the Pre-Decision Stage of Blockchain Adoption for Supply Chain : A Single Case Study in a Swedish Small Enterprise." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för företagande, innovation och hållbarhet, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-45449.
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Background: Blockchain is a technological innovation, and its benefits such as decentralized transactions without a trusted third party, improvements in traceability and efficiency can potentially facilitate complex challenges faced by supply chains (Hughes et al., 2019; Saberi et al., 2019). However, solutions are rather in a demonstration stage, which raises the question of what barriers prevent organizations from adopting blockchain (Kouhizadeh et al., 2021). Especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) have been neglected in blockchain adoption studies (Wong et al., 2020). However, research recognizes that they should be considered separately because of their specific needs (Chouki et al., 2020). Moreover, the pre-decision stage of the adoption is of interest, as blockchain applications for the supply chain are still in a pilot phase (Y. Wang, Singgih, et al., 2019). Research Question: What barriers do SMEs face during the pre-decision stage of blockchain adoption for supply chain? Theoretical Framework: A framework developed by Kouhizadeh et al. (2021) containing barriers that impede blockchain adoption for supply chains is contextualized in the pre-decision phase and focused on SMEs. Methodology and Data Collection: This thesis follows a qualitative, deductive approach. An exploratory single case study was conducted to collect data through semi-structured interviews. This sheds light on the blockchain adoption from the perspective of a Swedish SME in the pre-decision stage that intends to use blockchain for sustainable water management in an agricultural supply chain. Complementary to this, blockchain experts are interviewed to enrich companies' responses that cannot fully illuminate the barriers due to their limited knowledge. Findings: Supply chain barriers emerged as the most important, especially 'SC2- Problems in collaboration, communication, and coordination in the supply chain', and 'SC1- Lack of customers' awareness and tendency about sustainability and blockchain technology'. Furthermore, four characteristics were identified that significantly influence the perception of the barriers in the setting studied: The proactive commitment to adopting blockchain, the affinity and attitude toward information technology (IT), trust, and financial support. Conclusions: Several managerial and theoretical implications result from the study, as well as suggestions for further research. These include that SMEs and consultants should consider the characteristics that influence perceptions of barriers in order to prioritize the barriers, and also in research they should be more emphasized to enhance transferability of blockchain adoption research. Limitations include that the case study was conducted on a single SME in Sweden, therefore a validation of the results in other SMEs would be beneficial. In addition, a longitudinal study could shed light on how the barriers change during the adoption process, and further research could reveal the strategies that SMEs use to overcome the barriers.
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Bruwer, Juan-Pierré. "The relationship(s) between the managerial conduct and the internal control activities of South African fast moving consumer goods SMMES." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/2357.
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Thesis (DTech (Internal Auditing))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Although South African Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play an imperative role in the stimulation of the national economy, previous research studies show that these business entities have severe sustainability problems as approximately 75% of these business entities fail after being in operation for only three years. The latter dispensation is pinned on the belief that South African SMMEs make use of inadequate and/or ineffective internal control systems. Taking into account that a system of internal control comprises five inter-related elements, as well as the fact that management is responsible for the internal control in their respective business entities, this research study placed focus on determining the relationship which exist between the managerial conduct of management and the internal control activities evident in South African fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) SMMEs. In order to achieve the latter, two literature reviews were conducted (see Chapter 2 and Chapter 3) and, in turn, quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire and analysed accordingly through both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (see Chapter 5). Based on the analysed data, a very weak negative statistically significant relationship was identified between the managerial conduct of management and the internal control activities evident in South African FMCG SMMEs. Regardless of the very weak negative statistically significant identified relationship, the results vindicate the importance of appropriate managerial conduct, as well as adequate and effective internal control activities. Stemming from this, a new proposed framework (Control Legacy-K Framework) was developed which South African FMCG SMMEs can implement to help enhance their overall sustainability which, in turn, can help them fortify their continuation rate in the foreseeable future (see Chapter 6).
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Sophonthummapharn, Kittipong. "A comprehensive framework for the adoption of techno-relationship innovations : Empirical evidence from eCRM in manufacturing SMEs." Doctoral thesis, Umeå : Umeå School of Business, Umeå University, 2008. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-1800.
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Anderson, Catrine, Francesca Schüldt, and Therese Åstrand. "Organisational culture’s influence on the integration of sustainability in SMEs : A multiple case study of the Jönköping region." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-39757.
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Background: Existing literature suggests research about sustainability and Small- and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to be limited. SMEs tend to have less resources than large companies and as a result of this sustainability integration may be challenging. Despite these resource restrictions, some SMEs still succeed in integrating sustainability. Some literature suggests that organisational culture could influence the integration of sustainability. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how organisational culture attributes influence the integration of sustainability in Swedish SMEs. Method: To fulfil the purpose of this thesis, a multiple case study consisting of six SMEs in the Jönköping region is performed. Qualitative semi-structured interviews are conducted with the manager and/or head of sustainability. Furthermore, structured interviews are conducted with managers and employees, in an attempt to gain insights into the values and cultural attributes of the organisational culture of the SME. Main Findings: The results reveal that an organisational culture which emphasises internal relationships, stability and goal-setting and planning seem to facilitate the integration of sustainability. SMEs with the attribute of valuing internal relationships are aided in the integration of sustainability through the existence of tightly knit groups that work together toward the long-term goal of integrating sustainability. The positive influence of stability stems from the fact that the attribute provides structure, economic stability, and a stable employee base. A high focus on goal-setting and planning may enable the integration of sustainability through providing clear missions and objectives which the company strives toward. Managerial Implications: This study urges three implications for managers of SMEs; 1. It provide managers with some understanding of how their organisational culture may affect sustainability integration. 2. It provide insight into the challenges companies may face as the result of lacking certain cultural attributes. 3. It provide indications of which attributes that could be beneficial to develop or incorporate into the organisational culture in order to aid the integration of sustainability.
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Koornhof, Herman. "A framework for IT governance in small businesses." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/994.
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The primary objective of this treatise is to develop a framework that small businesses can use to implement IT governance. This framework for IT 6 Governance in Small Businesses, called ITGovSB, will be based primarily on the CobiT framework and the ISO/IEC 27002 information security controls. In order to achieve the primary objective, it is necessary to understand the differences between IT governance in small businesses and larger organisations. Consequently, one of the secondary objectives of the paper is to derive characteristics that define IT governance in small businesses. Another secondary objective is to implement the ITGovSB framework at a small business to evaluate its effectiveness.
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Seitz, Thomas A. (Thomas Anthony) 1963. "Lean enterprise integration : a new framework for small businesses." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82700.
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Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, System Design & Management Program, 2003.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-199).
by Thomas A. Seitz.
S.M.
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Thoukis, Georgio. "A conceptual framework towards succession effectiveness in family wineries : the 'WineSuccess' conceptual framework." Thesis, University of Gloucestershire, 2018. http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/5595/.
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Succession effectiveness in family wineries is considered critical for the incumbents and the owning families looking forward to assure winery success and trans-generational continuity, as this endeavour requires substantial commitment, social skills, financial health, and idiosyncratic considerations that are more often than not unstable. Therefore, this thesis provides a platform of critical reflection and theoretical development upon the findings of a doctoral research on the topic of effective succession in family wineries for bringing further and closer theory and professional practice. Systematic literature review of the best available sources of knowledge served as a starting point. It was shown that there is a plethora of academic research on effective family business succession that makes available useful insights into this important process. The review has identified the major theories, models, and frameworks, and provided information on different factors and variables that are believed appropriate to foster succession process further. However, the review findings are often fragmented and subjective which makes it difficult to draw valid conclusions that can be representative for family wineries. Moreover, the review revealed certain gaps and uncertainties in the research that this thesis has aimed to bridge, and allowed the development of a preliminary conceptual framework (version one) with the testable research hypotheses. A primary research that followed in the organizational context of Cypriot family wineries made use of both quantitative and qualitative approaches, at a greater and lesser extent, respectively. These approaches were put forward based on the researcher’s ontological, epistemological and axiological assumptions. The numeric data were largely generated from a self-completed questionnaire survey that was comprehensive with an open aspect. The questionnaire was mailed to the entire population of fifty-four family wineries inclusive with hundred participants. The statistical analysis was undertaken using SPSS software. Pearson correlation analysis was the foremost statistical device used in the direction of establishment significant relationships among different succession factors. In order to enrich the meaning of statistical analysis with wine-specific insights, the researcher made further use of illustrative evidence collected from the survey open aspect.
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Harvey, Howarth. "Scheduling and control activities in industrial manufacturing system frameworks : a structured empirical investigation into current practice by make-to-order small to medium enterprises." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242132.
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Jamil, Kabir. "A study of quality improvement tools and total quality management (TQM) frameworks for small and medium size manufacturing companies." Ohio : Ohio University, 1998. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1176491309.
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Russell, Mercy Burton. "Psychotherapists Becoming Leadership Consultants: The Making of an Institutional Entrepreneur." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2016. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/584.
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ABSTRACT
Leadership consultants bring specialized knowledge into their clients'
organizations. Advisor leadership consultants (ALC) trained as psychotherapists
apply concepts from human behavior theories as advisors to business leaders. They
also bring service-oriented professional norms and values of objectivity, neutrality,
and lack of self-interest. Their business clients in the market sector operate
according to norms and values of pragmatism, financial self-interest, and advocacy.
In order to establish credibility in the organizational field of business clients,
leadership consultants must negotiate between these different value systems.
This study is a grounded theory inquiry using narrative analysis tools to
study how ALCs navigate across the boundaries of psychotherapy practice and
consultation in the corporate setting. How do they describe their practice choices as
well as the principles and theoretical framework underlying those choices? In-depth
interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 10 leadership consultants
credentialed and experienced as psychotherapists. A snowball method of participant
recruitment from my social and professional network yielded a group of 10 ALCs
aged 50 to 86.
Each of these ALCs entered their careers with a predisposition for business
from their families. They each experienced significant loss in early life and followed
divergent educational and career pathways. They have built their leadership
consulting practices accepting business practices to gain access to clients while
incorporating important relationship principles. As institutional entrepreneurs, they
managed conflict with values in both the service and the marketplace sectors
through innovative therapy, consulting and business practices.
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Edström, Christoffer, and Jacob Jalsing. "Utvärdering av hybrida ramverk för mobil applikationsutveckling mot småföretag." Thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för system- och rymdteknik, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-65647.
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Mobilindustrin är under ständig förändring vilket har lett till en fragmenterad marknad somsmåföretag har haft svårt att etablera sig i. Småföretag har haft problem med att utvecklakvalitativa applikationer till olika mobila plattformar. Anledningen är att det varitresurskrävande att utveckla native applikationer till flera plattformar och underhålla flerakodbaser. Till följd av detta har mindre företag oftast valt att utveckla webbapplikationer för attleverera tjänster som når ut till många konsumenter. Hybrida ramverk har på senare år etableratsig som en potentiell lösning för att utveckla mobila applikationer med högre prestanda ochfunktionalitet än webbapplikationer och samtidigt möjliggjort för utvecklare att dela kod mellanolika plattformar. I denna studie intervjuades anställda på tre mindre företag för att identifierakrav som småföretag anser vara viktiga vid val av ramverk för applikationsutveckling. Utifrånkraven jämfördes tre hybrida ramverk för att ta reda på vilket som passar småföretag. Resultatenvisade att småföretag är olika med varierande behov och att det inte finns ett specifikt ramverksom passar alla. Däremot konstaterades det att alla tre hybrida ramverk som jämfördes i studienvar tillräckligt sofistikerade att implementeras som potentiella lösningar. Med det sagt ärhybrida ramverken inte kompromisslösa. Applikationer som utvecklas med hybrida ramverkuppnår ännu inte samma prestanda som native applikationer och är inte plattformsoberoende isamma grad som webbapplikationer.The mobile industry is constantly changing, which has led to a fragmented market that smallbusinesses have difficulties to successfully establish in. Small businesses have had problemswith developing qualitative applications for different mobile devices. The main reason is theresource intensive process to develop native applications for multiple platforms andmaintaining the different codebases. Thus, smaller companies have usually chosen to developweb applications to deliver services to a more widespread target audience. Hybrid frameworkshave established themselves as a potential solution for developing mobile applications withhigher performance and functionality than web applications, while allowing developers to sharecode between platforms. In this study, employees of three smaller companies were interviewedto identify shared requirements held by small businesses to select a framework for applicationdevelopment. Based on the requirements, three hybrid frameworks were compared with thepurpose to identify which one was most suitable for small businesses. The results showed thatsmall businesses are different with varying needs and that there is no specific framework thatsuits all companies. On the other hand, it was found that all three hybrid frameworks comparedin the study were sufficiently developed to be implemented as potential solutions. With thatsaid, hybrid frameworks are not without flaws. Applications developed with hybrid frameworksdoes not yet achieve the same level of performance as native applications and is not platformindependent to the same extent as web applications.
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Ndhlovu, Brenda Malese. "Lightweight framework for mobile documentation of very small enterprise business transactions." Thesis, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10321/1163.
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Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2013.In this study, an investigation was conducted to determine an appropriate lightweight framework that could adequately support Very Small Enterprises (VSEs) in documenting their daily business transactions. The VSEs play a significant role in the socioeconomic development of nations by providing employment opportunities. They contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provide a platform for entrepreneurial skills advancement. However, VSEs have very little access to innovative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that could help to address the unique challenges that prohibit their growth and sustainability. In many instances, the documentation of VSEs business transactions is still lacking. This deficiency promotes insufficient, unreliable and untraceable business transaction records which ultimately affect the smooth growth and sustainability of VSEs. Mobile technology provides the VSEs with a unique opportunity because of its support for mobility and low costs of system procurement. Moreover, mobile technology can enable easy connection, access and retrieval of VSE services even in the resource constrained environments anytime and anywhere. However, the inherent limitations of mobile devices such as device size, storage size, computing power and battery lifespan have forced many of the existing ICT business applications to continually rely on desktop computers. The desktop computer applications are huge, complex and not compatible with the current mobile devices. The Design Science Research (DSR) method was used to understand how VSEs conduct their daily business transactions, discover essential factors that influence the business processes of VSEs and derive a lightweight framework for mobile documentation of VSE business transactions. The lightweight framework was prototyped as ICT artefact and evaluated to determine the adoption of mobile applications by VSEs for documentation of daily business transactions. The evaluation results revealed the developed lightweight framework to be effective for mobile documentation of VSEs business transactions.
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Santos, Stephen, and 蔡鏞斌. "Small and Medium Enterprises and Designing a Framework for their Business Performance Indices." Thesis, 2000. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/67928130427747105117.
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碩士國立臺灣大學
商學研究所
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This thesis deals with the small and medium enterprises and the design framework in formulating their business performance indices. The research shows the definitions, classification and different characteristic of small and medium enterprises and the linkage between them. From the different characteristic of SME and emphasis on entrepreneurial skills a derived assumptions was obtained to set the design framework in formulating a set of business performance indices. This design framework is an initiative for small and medium enterprises to make use of business performance indices as a tool in evaluating their business performance and other indicators. The research concept also links the business performance indices as a guideline for SME to their overall management, strategic management and formulation of their information system. The rating system used shall be based in the point of view and internal information of the small and medium enterprise. The outcome of rating system based on a set business performance indices formulated could either be used internally or externally by the SME. Internally, it can be a guide and key information to the present business performance that could be used in managing their businesses. Externally an outsider can used the given business performance indices to judge the health of the business. This research only shows a suggestive model in formulating a set of business performance indices but in actual practice the set of business performance indices will depend on the objective and practical usage of the business that will explicitly reflect its performance formulated by the SME. The suggestive model of the research was formulated through an in depth understanding of general characteristics and framework of SME. From this general framework of SME, the research identifies a set of business performance indices applicable to a general scope of small and medium enterprises. In this scope, a greater emphasis was placed on finance, operations and marketing & sales function as these are the most basic business functions an SME would have. The set of business performance indices formulated was further classified into lead indicator, lag indicator, critical indicator and reference indicator. It also takes into the account the advantages and constraints of using a set of business performance indices and a rating system for small and medium enterprises.
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Khoase, Refiloe Gladys. "The impact of the regulatory framework on small, medium and micro enterprises in Lesotho." Thesis, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8597.
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In various economies, businesses operate in a macro-environment influenced by uncontrollable external forces, namely political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal. For businesses to succeed in a macro-environment all external forces have to be identified and analysed carefully by the business and adaptability to the environment is also very important. Governments intervene by setting up regulatory frameworks that govern all businesses. For instance, for every business to start or grow, there are a numerous legal requirements involved. Businesses have no control over these requirements, but to adapt and comply. These requirements affect the performance of business activities either positively or negatively. However, failure to comply with these requirements could lead to the business’ reputation being destroyed, and loss of customers. The aim of this research is to analyse the perceptions of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) owners and managers about the impact of Lesotho government intervention on SMMEs start-up and growth. It also determines whether there is a need for government intervention in these phases. It further determines the extent to which the Lesotho government intervention supports or hinders SMMEs in their quest for start-up assistance and sustainable growth. The White Paper which proposes strategies for development of SMMEs in Lesotho was studied to find out if its intentions have been accomplished. The primary data for this study were gathered through surveys sent out to SMMEs in Lesotho. The questionnaire was designed to be hand-delivered to a sample population of 370. The sample size was calculated using online survey system. At a confidence level of 95 percent and confidence interval of 5, a population value of 10,341 resulted in a sample size of 370 respondents. A list of registered SMMEs with the Ministry of Trade & Industry, Cooperatives & Marketing (MTICM) was accessed. To select respondents from this list, the researcher used a probability sampling method called stratified random sampling, to represent all the key subgroups of the population. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows Version 18 was used to analyse the responses obtained from structured and unstructured questions. To facilitate the smooth operation of businesses, governments also create a conducive environment. There are quite a number of initiatives taken by the Lesotho government in an attempt to improve the country’s overall economic environment. The government has used functional and selective interventions just like other developing and developed countries. Functional interventions include the improvement of infrastructure, education and health. Selective interventions include regulations focused on the development of SMMEs and institutional infrastructure aimed at skills training. The viii focus of this study is on selective interventions. Some SMMEs have benefitted from these initiatives, however, other SMMEs still encounter challenges within the regulatory framework which hinder their establishment and growth. Due to the perceived pitfalls, such as high costs of doing business, some businesses decide to operate informally. This means among others, formal tax losses for the government and SMMEs not receiving incentives designed for them. If the Lesotho government could reform and simplify business regulations, this could reduce the increasing number of informal sector businesses and encourage them to grow and operate formally.Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.
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Jacobs, Hannelize. "Establishing an intrapreneurial orientation as strategy : a framework for implementation." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7726.
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M.Comm.Today's managers, faced with rapidly changing and fast-paced competitive environments, are challenged to manage "discontinuities created by an interdependent global economy, heightened volatility, hypercompetition, demographic changes, knowledge-based competition, and demassification of some sectors accompanied by enormous growth in others" (Daft & Lewin, 1993:i). Such environmental conditions place intense demands on organisations to interpret opportunities and threats actively when making key strategic decisions. To cope with such challenges, existing larger firms are increasingly turning to corporate entrepreneurship as a means of growth and strategic renewal (Guth & Ginsberg, 1990). Entrepreneurship involves a process of value creation in which an individual or team brings together a unique package of resources to exploit an opportunity. The key steps involved are: identifying opportunities, developing business concepts, determining needed resources, acquiring resources, and managing and harvesting the venture (Jones, Morris & Rockmore, 1995:86). Corporate entrepreneurship (also termed intrapreneurship) involves extending the firm's domain of competence and corresponding opportunity set through new resource combinations that are internally generated (Burgelman, 1984).- Terms such as 'reinventing the corporation', 'the empowered organisation' and 'organisational renewal' are used to describe change efforts where entrepreneurship is a central ingredient. Research has shown that organisations that adopt an entrepreneurial posture in order to cope with the uncertain environment are characterised along dimensions such as unpredictability, dynamism and heterogeneity. These organisations enjoy superior performance (Covin & Slevin, 1988; Zahra & Covin, 1995). The domain of entrepreneurship is no longer restricted in a conceptual sense to the process of creating an independent new venture (Wortman, 1987; Low & MacMillan, 1988). Lumpkin and Dess (1996:136) describe the essential act of entrepreneurship more appropriately as 'new entry'. New entry is the act of launching a new venture, either by a start-up firm, through an existing firm, or via 'internal corporate venturing' (Burgelman, 1983). With this in mind, they distinguish between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurship explains what entrepreneurship consists of, and entrepreneurial orientation describes how new entry is undertaken. Entrepreneurial orientation can therefore be defined as the processes, practices and decision-making activities that lead to new entry (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996:136). However, the entrepreneurial orientation (also referred to as entrepreneurial posture) is not limited to the creation of new organisations, but exists in all actions that distinguish entrepreneurial behaviour from other types of business activity that might be undertaken to capitalise on an opportunity (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996:153). These actions also pervade the organisation at all levels (Covin & Slevin, 1991:7).