Sustainability - Oriented Innovation and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 231
Author(s):  
Olawale FATOKI
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa. The study adopted a multi-dimensional measure of performance (financial, social, environmental, innovation and quality). The study used the quantitative research approach and the descriptive and causal research design. Data was collected from one hundred and ninety eight owners/managers of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The cross-sectional survey method (self-administered questionnaire) was used for data collection. The participants in the study were conveniently sampled. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The Cronbach’s alpha was used as a measure of reliability. The findings of the study indicate that economic, environmental and social dimensions of SOI have significant positive relationships with the five measures of performance. Limitations, areas for further study and recommendations to improve the SOI of SMEs are suggested.

scholarly journals Public outlook on small and medium enterprises as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Medium Enterprises

In spite of the key role played by the Small and Medium enterprises in economic development, there has been little effort to look at what needs to be done to improve survival and growth of SMEs. There is still a general lack of in-depth understanding from policy makers and other relevant stakeholders of how SMEs can be used as a strategic tool for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. These misperceptions and misunderstand leads to continuous failure to SMEs survival and growth. This study seeks to address this research gap. The study investigates the public views on what needs to be done to grow South African economy through the development of SMEs. Quantitative research approach was used to collect and analyse data for the study. Primary data was collected from four (4) provinces of South Africa. 230 people participated in the study. Questionnaires were emailed to each respondent and follow-ups were made via telephone. It was found that many SMEs fail within five years of their existence due to the various reasons. The most critical of these were related to lack of access to finance, lack of management experience as well as human capital. Study further revealed that most the SMEs owners/managers do not have business management related skills but rather they are just ordinary entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Adoption of e-marketing tools by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – fad or future trend?

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 454-461
Author(s):  
Melanie Gopaul
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Future Trend ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

E-marketing is considered as one of the fastest growing fields in e-business, which has the potential to become a platform for SMEs to compete with larger enterprises even though they may not have adequate infrastructure and resources. Over the years SMEs have struggled to compete on some sort of equal footing with larger organisations and with the advent of technology and the growth in the use of e-marketing, the playing field is becoming more equal. The literature on the use of e-marketing tools by SMEs in South Africa, however, is limited. The purpose of this paper was therefore to investigate the extent to which South African SMEs utilise e-marketing tools. The author feels that the findings will be universally applicable to SMEs in most countries. Through providing a clearer understanding of e-marketing and its use, this paper may assist SMEs and entrepreneurs to improve their existing marketing strategies. The study followed a quantitative research approach, whereby a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to SME owners. The results indicate that SMEs utilise e-marketing tools moderately and that the utilisation will increase in the future.

scholarly journals Assessing the Effectiveness of Commercial Bank Loans as Sources of Funding/ Capital Formation for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Ugwu-Oju M. Obiageri ◽  
Vincent A. Onodugo ◽  
Mbah, Paulinus Chigozie
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Commercial Bank ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Order Theory ◽  
Bank Loans ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The paper assesses the effectiveness of commercial bank loans as sources of funding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey method wherein structured questionnaire was used to collect data was adopted. A sample of 500 respondents was randomly selected from the five industrial hubs in the five states of Southeast, namely Nnewi, Aba, Enugu, Abakiliki, and Owerri. With the aid of pecking order theory (POT)/hypothesis of Lending, percentage formula, and SPSS version 20.0 tools, the data generated from the respondents were analysed. Among others, the results of the analysis reveal that SMEs and commercial banks are highly indifferent to the loans facilities; strict collateral requirements, high interest rates, and the nature of requirements for guarantors dissuade SMEs from accessing loans; and government interventions provided palliative measures but failed to address the problems associated with the loans. Therefore, this paper recommends policy reforms to reduce interest rate, collateral and guarantor requirements. Further research on how to modernise and harmonise other external sources of SME funding such as ‘daily contribution’ and ‘Isusu’ systems is required.

scholarly journals The relationship between Competitive Strategy Drivers and Performance of manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Laibuni Baariu ◽  
James Gathungu ◽  
Bitange Ndemo
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Strategy ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Capacity Utilization ◽  
Wealth Creation ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hybrid Strategy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Medium Enterprises

This study determines the influence of competitive strategy drivers on the performance of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi County in Kenya. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of many economies all over the world through creation of employment opportunities as well as wealth creation for entrepreneurs. Strong competitive strategy drivers offer advantage to SMEs to help them achieve good performance and remain competitive in their respective markets. The study was anchored on resource-based theory which provided a framework for examining the association between the research variables. For the methodology, a cross-sectional survey was done covering 334 manufacturing small and medium enterprises in Nairobi County, Kenya. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection with a response rate of 89.6%. Various descriptive statistics were used to project the demographic characteristics of the association and the respondents. Inferential statistics was used to assess up the connection between the factors and test the model. The results indicated that the three competitive strategy drivers of environmental based drivers, resource-based drivers and hybrid strategy drivers exhibited significant relationship with performance of the Manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi county. The study’s recommendations will be useful to management of manufacturing-sector SMEs in developing long term strategies to address constraints that could have led to low capacity utilization and productivity in the sector. Additionally, it may be used to guide policy formulations geared to support manufacturing SMEs operations. The researcher recommends similar research to be undertaken in other SMEs and also have more managers respond to the questionnaires in order to enrich the collected data.

Entrepreneurial intentions of university students: a case-based study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 393-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramo Palalić ◽  
Veland Ramadani ◽  
Arnela Ðilović ◽  
Alina Dizdarević ◽  
Vanessa Ratten
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Experience

Purpose This study aims to examine the entrepreneurial intentions of university students at the International University of Sarajevo. For this purpose, the entrepreneurial desires and entrepreneurial orientations of the students across several demographic variables were measured. These variables included prior entrepreneurial experience, student’s gender, faculty, year of study and attitude towards more courses on entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, the research also examined how business environment influences the entrepreneurial intentions of students by considering the same set of variables. Design/methodology/approach The objectives of this paper have been achieved by using a quantitative research instrument, where the cross-sectional survey method for collecting primary data is used. In total, 173 usable responses have been collected from the beginning of April to the end of May in the academic year 2015/2016. Findings The results indicate that the greater the demotivation with the current business surrounding, the smaller the entrepreneurial intentions of the students are when the prior entrepreneurial experience, gender, year of study and attitude towards more courses on entrepreneurship are considered. The study suggests that improving the overall business surrounding and entrepreneurial education might increase the entrepreneurial intentions of the students. Originality/value This is the first paper that treats entrepreneurial intentions of University students in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

scholarly journals Hotel Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behaviour: Effect of Leadership Behaviour, Institutional Support and Workplace Spirituality

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olawale Fatoki
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Institutional Support ◽  
Workplace Spirituality ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hotel Employees ◽  
Leadership Behaviour

Pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) depict behaviours that cause minimal harm to or even benefit the environment. Employees are an important stakeholder in organisational environmental initiatives; however, there is little understanding of the leadership mechanisms and workplace support that can nurture these behaviours. In addition, empirical studies on the effect of workplace spirituality on employees’ PEB are limited. Understanding the factors that can influence employees’ workplace PEB is of significance in improving environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry. This study investigated the effect of leadership behaviour, institutional support and workplace spirituality on hotel employees’ PEB in South Africa. This study utilised a quantitative research approach and a causal research design. The cross-sectional survey method was used for data collection. Convenience sampling method was used to identify the participants in the survey. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. The results of this study showed significant positive relationships between leadership behaviour, institutional support and workplace spirituality and hotel employees’ PEB. Theoretically, the study linked spirituality to employees’ workplace PEB as spiritual discourses have been marginalised in tourism research. Empirically, the study adds to the literature on the determinants of employees’ workplace PEB in the hospitality sector. Practically, the study makes recommendations that can improve the workplace PEB of hotel employees.

Perceptions of product advantage, NPD and organisational performance

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Healy ◽  
Ann Ledwith ◽  
Michele O'Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
New Product ◽  
Product Performance ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Product Performance

Purpose – This paper aims to extend previous studies on new product development (NPD) performance by identifying the product advantage, new product performance and organisational performance indicators that are considered by small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) to be most relevant to their performance. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research approach was adopted, using a cross-sectional survey of a sample of 137 firms representing the industry sectors active within the Irish economy. The research instrument was based on existing recognised research measures. Findings – The results suggest that: large firms consider that their products derive advantage through product quality and cost, while SMEs are more concerned with satisfying customer needs; larger firms concentrate on market measures in measuring new product performance, while SMEs focus on customer acceptance measures; and in measuring organisational performance larger firms focus on market share and profitability, while SMEs concentrate on profitability and sales growth. Research limitations/implications – This study identifies the aspects of product advantage, new product performance and organisational performance on which firms concentrate, thereby increasing our ability to redirect their focus from what they consider to be important, to what will have an impact on their firm's performance. Originality/value – This study identifies the aspects of product advantage, new product performance and organisational performance on which firms concentrate, thereby increasing our ability to redirect their focus from what they consider to be important, to what will have an impact on their firm's performance.

scholarly journals The development and investigation of the psychometric properties of a burnout scale within a South African agricultural research institution

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris N. Asiwe ◽  
Lené I. Jorgensen ◽  
Carin Hill
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Research Institution ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
Construct Equivalence

Orientation: Burnout of employees is well documented within South Africa, but researchers have adapted imported instruments with a number of limitations. Therefore there is a need to develop a new instrument suitable for use in South Africa.Research purpose: To give an overview of current burnout measures, identify gaps within the literature and develop a new burnout scale for use within South Africa. The research examined the construct validity, reliability, construct equivalence and item bias of this new scale and investigated any differences that exist in relation to demographic variables.Motivation for the study: This study aimed to address various limitations regarding existing measures by developing a reliable and valid instrument for measuring burnout in South African employees that includes cognitive, physical and emotional (affective) components.Research approach, design and method: This empirical, quantitative research study delivered a cross-sectional survey, including the burnout scale and a biographical data questionnaire, to 443 employees of an agricultural research institution. Items for the burnout scale were written based on a literature review.Main findings: Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations resulted in a three-factor burnout model. Reliability analysis showed that all three scales (1) were sufficiently internally consistent and (2) showed construct equivalence for Black and White employees and speakers of Afrikaans and African languages. A practically significant difference in burnout levels was found in relation to age.Practical/managerial implications: The scale can be used to assess burnout for different cultural groups within research-based institutions.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to knowledge regarding the burnout levels of employees in an agricultural research institution in South Africa and provides a new burnout scale that can be utilised in similar institutions.

scholarly journals The Perceived Export Barriers of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises: An Analysis from Lesotho-Based Manufacturing Enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Motšelisi C. Mokhethi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Design Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Manufacturing Enterprises ◽  
Export Barriers ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Small enterprises represent a large proportion of enterprises in most economies and are a driving force for economic growth. Most small enterprises refrain from exporting due to a number of challenges. The aim of this study was to determine the exporting barriers perceived to constrain exporting from Lesotho-based manufacturing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 162 Lesotho-based manufacturing enterprises through a self-administered questionnaire. Factor analysis revealed three export barrier groupings, namely international, distribution, and financial constraints. The descriptive statistics showed that Lesotho-based manufacturing MSMEs perceive lack of financial resources for market research, lack of financial resources to finance export sales, and lack of excess capacity for exports, all internal to an enterprise-loading under financial barriers as constraints to exporting. The study added to the literature new classes of export barriers. The findings suggest that the government of Lesotho has to put in place mechanisms that can reduce financial constraints to enable MSMEs to contribute as expected.

scholarly journals ENVIRONMENTALLY SPECIFIC SERVANT LEADERSHIP AND EMPLOYEES’ PROENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR IN HOSPITALITY FIRMS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 943-950
Author(s):  
Olawale FATOKI ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Servant Leadership ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hospitality Firms

Leaders can influence the prosocial behaviour of employees through their behaviour and action. The study investigated the effect of environmentally specific servant leadership (ESSL) on employees’ voluntary pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) in hospitality firms. In addition, the study examined the mediating role of harmonious environmental passion (HEP) in the relationship between ESSL and PEB. The study adopted the quantitative research design and the cross-sectional survey method was adopted for data collection. The Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS SEM) with Smart-PLS 3.2.8 software was used for data analysis. The results indicated a significant positive relationship between ESSL and employees’ PEB. The mediating effect of HEP is significant. Theoretical, empirical and managerial implications are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document