scholarly journals Strategic Planning And Its Relationship With Business Performance Among Small And Medium Enterprises In South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxwell Sandada ◽  
David Pooe ◽  
Manilall Dhurup

Strategic planning is a business tool that small and medium businesses need in todays dynamic and highly competitive business environment. It has a potential to cushion these enterprises from such unpredictable harsh business conditions. The purpose of this paper was to establish the relationship between strategic planning practices and business performance among SMEs in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Data were analysed from 200 useable questionnaires that were distributed to SME owners/managers. Factor analysis, correlations, and regression techniques were used in order to extract the dimensions of strategic planning and their relationships with business performance. Environmental scanning, business mission and vision, formality of strategic plans, evaluation and control, informing sourcing, strategy implementation incentives, employee participation, and time horizons emerged as strategic planning dimensions. The results confirm that strategic planning has a positive association and predictive relationship with the performance of SMEs. The results of this study can serve as a guide to SME owners and managers to properly implement strategic planning practices which will enable them to propel and sustain their businesses in turbulent and uncertain business environments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-101
Author(s):  
Siti Almaidah Siti Almaidah

Micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the structure of the Indonesian economy occupy the first place in quantity and is a new source in the growth of the domestic economy. During the economic crisis, MSMEs have a high endurance to sustain the Indonesian economy, can even survive the global crisis. Besides that MSMEs also have an important role including as the main driver of job creation, and economic growth both nationally and regionally. To deal with the rapidly changing business environment, MSMEs must have a competitive advantage, good strategic planning, entrepreneurial orientation, and effective performance achievement through innovation efforts. This study aims to test and analyze the influence of the business environment, strategic planning and entrepreneurial orientation on business performance with innovation as mediating variables. The sample in this study was 60 MSMEs in the Surakarta region, and sampling uses purposive sampling, with limits according to the criteria set out in the population and willing to be respondents. This study uses a survey research design. The method of analysis is carried out through testing the quality of data and hypothesis testing using path analysis techniques with SPSS tool version 20. The results showed that the business environment, strategic planning, entrepreneurial orientation had a positive and significant effect on innovation. Innovation variables are variables that mediate the influence of the business environment, strategic planning, and entrepreneurial orientation on business performance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Awino

The Paper is the research findings on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. Literature suggests that the contemporary business environment in which organisations operate is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable. Significant changes are mostly driven by technological changes, globalisation and trade liberalisation. As a result, like large enterprises, SMEs are facing new and unexpected challenges that threaten their competitiveness. While most countries acknowledge the critical role that SMEs contribute to their economies, both as an engine of growth and sustainable development, many questions still remain unanswered as to the determination of the critical challenges facing SMEs and how these challenges could be addressed to improve their competitiveness. These challenges have increased the need for empirical information which is essential for decision making in addressing issues that are likely to enhance SMEs survival and growth. It is noted that there has been no adequate research studies on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of SMEs. This study contributes to the need to address the research gaps and thus explored the role of strategic planning and competitive advange of SMEs in Kenya. The study population consisted of 238 ICT SMEs from Nairobi and its environs. A sample size of 146 firms constituting 61 per cent of the total population was selected through stratified sampling. The study aimed to collect data from 438 respondents from top, middle and lower management teams. Structured questionnaires with closed and open ended questions was used for data collection, 239 responses were received from 123 ICT firms a response rate of 55 per cent and 84.2 per cent respectively. Key characteristics of strategic planning including formality, environmental analysis processes both internal and external orientations, strategies adopted, and implementation and control were recorded. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, correlation matrixes and regression analysis. The key findings revealed that strategic planning has significant and positive influence in performance of SME’s. The test of hypothesis revealed that strategic planning has positive and significant influence on competitive advantage. The study demonstrated strategic planning as a learning tool and a strategic resource which is consistent with the underlying assumptions of resource based theory, systems theory, chaos theory and balanced score card model assumptions. It is envisaged that, this kind of research is likely to generate useful discussions on the role of strategic planning and performance, of SMEs. It is apparent that entrepreneurs of SMEs cannot ignore strategic planning as significant changes in competitive advantage is the result of change or effective application of strategic planning. Policy makers and academicians may need to address the capacity needs of SMEs and develop strategic planning model that address the challenges that SMEs encounter in a dynamic environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Gemechu Abdissa ◽  
Abebe Ayalew ◽  
Csaba Bálint Illés ◽  
Anna Dunay

Small and medium enterprises are paying the lion’s share in the innovation-based economy of today’s competitive business environment. To this effect, this study observed the effects of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) dimensions on the performance of SMEs in the town of Holeta, Ethiopia. We used both descriptive and survey research designs to meet the specified target of the study. The researchers employed both primary and secondary data sources; the former were collected from 173 participants using both primary and secondary data. The result of this study indicates that all of the explanatory variables used were statistically significant and had a positive relationship with the performance of SMEs. Thus, we recommend that owners of small and medium enterprises pay special attention to practicing CE to increase their business performance, sustainability, and competitiveness. Entrepreneurs should also come up with new and attractive product and service features to take high market shares. Furthermore, forecasting potential challenges for firms and devising possible ways of solving the situation in advance can safeguard businesses from failure.


2010 ◽  
Vol 110 (9) ◽  
pp. 1319-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.T.S. Ho ◽  
K.L. Choy ◽  
S.H. Chung ◽  
C.H.Y. Lam

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the factors, such as the different strategies adopted and the size of the company, that have a significant determining impact on the financial performance of companies in extreme circumstances.Design/methodology/approachThe research target of this paper is the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hong Kong. This is quantitative research and it is done on a survey basis, which includes hypothesis setting and statistical analysis. In addition, constructive suggestions are given to companies after analyzing the current situation.FindingsIn total, ten factors from four dimensions are determined as the critical strategies for the company to adopt in an uncertain financial situation. The result shows the influence of different factors on return on investment for the companies with different backgrounds.Practical implicationsThe business environment today is full of turbulence and uncertainties; this, along with the fierce global competition, means that manufacturers are all struggling to survive. The financial tsunami that has swept across the global economy is believed to be the most catastrophic in living memory. Therefore, this research will be especially valuable and useful to companies which wish to achieve excellence in business performance in spite of such a global disaster.Originality/valueManufacturers worldwide have suffered badly from the impact of the financial tsunami. The SMEs in Hong Kong are certainly not an exception. However, under the same adverse conditions, some have been able to maintain their stability or even thrive. The findings suggest some specific corporate strategies which will enable companies to survive and remain competitive.


Author(s):  
Anand Tirupathi ◽  
Arindam Banerjee ◽  
Sadia Riaz

Purpose: Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) engaged in the business of Trading and Distribution in the United Arab Emirates are characterized by fluctuations in the business performance and growth.  Even though 95% of the businesses in the UAE are SME sector, the variations in the growth pattern lead to various challenges which the owner/manager sometimes fails to handle well.  The aim of this concept paper is to identify the factors contributing to the sustained growth of SME business in the UAE. Approach/Methodology/Design: The research problem for this study is “how to ensure sustained growth in business for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the United Arab Emirates”. The other studies on SME business have focused on SME performance but have not specifically focused on sustaining the performance and growing over a long period of time. This research will specifically focus on the factors contributing to sustained growth and this will be ascertained through quantitative survey of various SMEs in the UAE. Findings: This research aims to find the success factors which can be useful to the SME sector of the UAE in order to achieve sustained growth in business. As a result of this study, a possible matrix will emerge showing a framework to be applied for sustained growth of business for SMEs. Practical Implications: Sustained growth and longevity of the business remains the most important dream of every SME owner/manager, and the final recommendations of this research will result in a framework which would help SMEs in the UAE to have a sustained growth in business. Originality/value: The specific objective of this research is to find “factors that contribute to the sustained growth in business”. This would ensure that, despite the vagaries in the business environment, the SME owner will continue to have a stable business with sustained growth over a long period of time.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 210-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Radipere ◽  
Watson Ladzani

The study examined the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and business performance using 500 small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in Gauteng province, South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect data. The findings from the survey were modelled through a categorical regression model with business performance as a dependent variable. The level of significance of eight out of twelve variables suggests that entrepreneurial intention be classified as the strongest predictor of business performance. These findings, depicting the magnitude of the business environment in the study area, clearly confirm the positive impact of entrepreneurial intention on business performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nomsa Sisi Majama ◽  
Tebogo Israel ‘Teddy’ Magang

Although small and medium enterprises contribute immensely to the economy of a country, they are characterised by low performance and high failure rate which is often blamed on lack of resources such as funds, land and skilled labour. Many business management specialists argue that even on the availability of such resources, some SMEs still fail due to lack of strategic planning. Extent literature indicates that formal strategic planning improves business performance as it involves deriving a game plan that enables SMEs to anticipate and respond to the turbulent market by arranging their resources and capabilities accordingly. As such, this research investigates the status of strategic planning by SMEs in Botswana. The study also investigates the perceived value of Strategic Planning by SME owner managers, and the extent of planning as well as identifying the barriers that prevent effective strategic planning. Using semi-structured interviews of 36 Small and Medium firms selected across several sectors, the study finds that strategic planning efforts do exist within SMEs but most of these firms engage in strategic planning activities to a limited extent. The study also finds several barriers, which contribute to lack of strategic planning. For instance, the study finds that most SME owner/managers have limited knowledge in the area of strategic planning. Some indicated that they do not plan because of the size of the business. Whereas some admitted that they still possess the traditional based thinking where most business decisions are based on intuition. The findings of this study have implications for policy decision makers and SME owner managers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4019
Author(s):  
Anna Irimiás ◽  
Ariel Mitev

The purpose of this paper is to capture firms’ perceptions on the relationship between change management, digitalization, business performance, and green development. The adaptation of digital technologies has challenged the business environment, leading to a major incorporation of the role of entrepreneurs in the process of fostering green development. Building on data from a survey study with 270 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large companies located in a relatively developed Hungarian region and adopting the Strategic Action Field (SAF) theory, firms’ perceptions on change management, digital maturity, and green development were explored. The data was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Results revealed that change management has a direct positive effect on digital maturity and on business performance and has a small effect on companies’ commitment towards green development. This paper contributes to the debate on the relationship between digitalization and green development within entrepreneurial organizations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharmilee Sitharam ◽  
Muhammad Hoque

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have an important role to play in the development of the country. A strong SME sector contributes highly to the economy, contributing to the gross domestic product, by reducing the level of unemployment, reduction in poverty levels and promotion of entrepreneurship activity. In South Africa (SA), the growth of SMEs and prevalence of SMEs is significantly low. Therefore, the aim of the study is to identify the internal and external factors affecting the performance of SMEs in KwaZulu-Natal, SA. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 74 SMEs owners/managers who were members of the Durban Chamber of Commerce via online using anonymous questionnaire. The results revealed technological advancement would improve the performance of the business. With regards to challenge, the majority of the respondents viewed competition as a major challenge. Almost all the respondent indicated that crime and corruption affecting business performance. Competition was the only factor amongst the studied internal and external factors that revealed a significant association with the performance of SMEs in KwaZulu-Natal (p = 0.011). SMEs need to recognize they must prepare for both domestic


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