scholarly journals Attitudes of Small Business Owners towards Counterfeit Merchandise: Ethics or Survival?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4(J)) ◽  
pp. 48-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne L. Manley ◽  
Michael C. Cant .
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
To Come

Counterfeiting of products is an industry that affects many countries worldwide and it is an industry that has grown exponentially in the 21st century, due to the value associated with branded products. It is the demand from individuals that fuels this trade and what will keep the trade growing for years to come. It therefore becomes essential that research be conducted to investigate the attitudes held towards the trade in order to gain a better understanding of the current counterfeit environment. This article aimed to investigate the attitudes that South African small business owners have with regard to counterfeit merchandise. Quantitative research was undertaken by means of a self-administered web-based questionnaire that was e-mailed to individuals that either have an active SME (Small, Medium Enterprise) or individuals that are seeking to start their SME, who reside in the provinces of the Mpumalanga and the Western Cape. The data obtained was then analysed by means of SAS JMP version 11 whereby attitudes held towards counterfeit merchandise were established. The main conclusions emanating from the research, was that South African SMEs generally have a negative attitude towards purchasing counterfeit fashion branded merchandise.

scholarly journals The perception of sponsorship usefulness among South African small business owners

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-488
Author(s):  
Catherine Mpolokeng Sephapo ◽  
Johannes Arnoldus Wiid ◽  
Michael Colin Cant
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Brand Image ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Marketing Tool ◽  
Marketing Budgets

Sponsorship is a powerful marketing tool that organisations in South Africa are embracing. From the evaluation of the sponsorship growth over the years, the industry in South Africa has developed from a R63 million industry in 1985 to the value of just under R7 billion in 2011 (City Press, 2012). Small businesses in South Africa are faced with the challenge of effectively reaching target segments. These small businesses are restricted in terms of limited marketing budgets and therefore need alternative ways of improving their brands in the eyes of the consumer. Theoretically, sponsorship is considered to improve the brand image of an organisation and ultimately improve sales. However, the question that this study aims to answer is whether small business owners perceive sponsorship to be a useful tool that even they can utilise. The study made use of a quantitative approach whereby a web-based questionnaire was distributed to small business owners. The findings indicated that the general attitude towards sponsorship as a marketing tool is positive. The correlation between sponsor sincerity and sponsorship usefulness was found positive; however, average in strength. Although sponsorship is seen as a useful tool, 15.4% of the respondents indicated that they would not consider using this marketing tool. This response may provide an opportunity for further research to be conducted which may shed some light on the strategies small business owners perceive to be most effective for their unique circumstances

scholarly journals Evaluating mentoring outcomes from the perspective of entrepreneurs and small business owners

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cordelia Kunaka ◽  
Menisha N. Moos
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Skills Transfer ◽  
Business Outcomes ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
The Individual

Background: Mentoring as support for both the business and the individual entrepreneur or small business owner is important for the continued perseverance of the entrepreneurial journey.Aim: Different mentoring outcomes were evaluated to establish what is being gained from the mentoring relationships to encourage other entrepreneurs and small business owners to pursue mentoring relationships.Setting: South African entrepreneurs and small business owners who were currently being mentored or had been mentored.Method: The study used a survey research design that consisted of 209 qualifying entrepreneurs and small business owners. An online questionnaire was used to collect the data.Results: The results show that there is a relationship between the different mentoring outcomes (skills transfer outcomes, knowledge transfer outcomes, entrepreneur resilience outcomes and business outcomes). In addition, it was established that as the mentoring relationship goes through the different phases of initiation, cultivation, separation and redefinition, mentoring outcomes such as skills transfer and entrepreneur resilience are independently attained.Conclusion: Understanding the outcomes of mentoring will encourage more participation in the field of mentoring for South African mentors, entrepreneurs and small business owners through awareness of the benefits thereof as well as how mentoring can form a strong supporting mechanism. This research makes a theoretical contribution by naming and grouping mentoring outcomes into four categories, such as skills transfer outcomes, knowledge transfer outcomes, entrepreneur resilience outcomes and business outcomes.

scholarly journals A critical analysis of the barriers to entry for small business owners imposed by Sections 12E(4)(a)(iii) and (d) and paragraph 3(b) of the Sixth Schedule Of The Income Tax Act, No. 58 of 1962

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 527-546
Author(s):  
Leonard C. Willemse
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Income Tax ◽  
Tax Compliance ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Tax Relief ◽  
Explanatory Memorandum

According to National Treasury’s Explanatory Memorandum on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2008, small businesses in South Africa are instrumental in the growth of the South African economy as they are a source of job creation and a counter to poverty. Research, however, indicates that small businesses face many obstacles, such as relatively high tax compliance costs. It was, therefore, proposed in the 2008 Budget Review that a turnover tax system be implemented for micro businesses with a turnover of up to R1 million per annum to simplify the tax compliance process. Similarly, section 12E was introduced earlier in the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 to offer additional income tax relief to small business owners. Sections 12E(4)(a)(iii) and (d) and paragraph 3(b) of the Sixth Schedule, however, prevent certain small business owners from making use of these concessions. This article investigates these barriers to entry and explores possible solutions to the problems presented by them.

scholarly journals The importance of human resources management for small businesses in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Ting Hung ◽  
Michael C. Cant ◽  
Johannes A. Wiid
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Resources Management

The majority of SMEs fail in the first five years of operation (Cant and Ligthelm, 2003). Human resource management (HRM) has been identified as a crucial key success factor for SMEs in today’s world. This research study investigates small business owners’ perception of the importance of HRM. The objective of this paper is to determine the perceived importance of human resources (HR) among South African SMEs and the management of it. A questionnaire was constructed and judgement sampling was used to gather the responses of 88 small business owners. The research revealed that the majority of SMEs have HR practices of some sort in place, as well as areas to improve on HR practices. The challenge now is to further increase the adoption of HR management and practices among small businesses in South Africa to ensure their success, as they play a vital role in the South African economy. Keywords: South African SMEs, developing countries, human resource functions, human resources management, HR, HRM. JEL Classification: M19

scholarly journals Small business barriers to occupational health and safety compliance

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elriza Esterhuyzen
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners

Background: The Constitution of South Africa indicates that all people have the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. This right is reiterated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 83 of 1993. However, small business owners and/or managers experience specific barriers to occupational health and safety (OHS) compliance. The study was conducted in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa, as these three provinces account for 82% of active businesses in South Africa.Objective: This article discusses barriers to OHS compliance as perceived by South African small business owners and/or managers.Method: A total of 350 small business owners and/or managers from the three above-mentioned provinces participated in a questionnaire survey, with one section focussing on barriers to OHS compliance. Participants rated 11 predetermined barriers to OHS compliance and could indicate and rate additional barriers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to report on these perceived barriers.Results: Results indicated that the perceived barriers to OHS compliance can be categorised as human and resource barriers.Conclusion: South African small business owners and/or managers experience barriers to compliance that prevent them from full compliance with OHS directives, which can be costly. Small business owners and/or managers need to take cognisance of applicable OHS directives as well as identified barriers to compliance. These barriers need to be addressed to allow small businesses to comply with OHS directives and to enhance the sustainability of small businesses. The question is not whether small businesses can afford OHS compliance, but if they can afford not to overcome barriers and comply.

The Perception of Barriers to E-commerce Adoption by SMEs

2010 ◽  
pp. 145-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. MacGregor ◽  
Deborah Bunker ◽  
Mira Kartiwi
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Barriers To Adoption ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
The World ◽  
Medium Enterprise ◽  
The Relationship

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has been utilised as a vehicle to rapidly transform the world into an information society. Yet despite the proven potential of e-commerce in the small business sector, studies have shown that it is the larger businesses that have reaped the benefits, with small/medium enterprise (SME) adoption remaining relatively low by comparison. This slow growth of e-commerce adoption by SMEs has been attributed to various adoption barriers that are faced by small business owners/managers. While many recent studies have begun examining the relationship between the perceptions of adoption barriers in developed economies, the relationship between the perceptions of these barriers has not been fully examined in developing economies. This chapter firstly presents the authors’ understanding of what defines an SME and then highlights our current understanding of the similarities and differences in barriers to e-commerce adoption by SMEs in developed and developing economies. It then describes and discusses a study which examines differences in the groupings and priorities, of barriers to adoption of e-commerce as perceived by SME owner/managers in a developing economy (Indonesia) and two developed economies (Sweden and Australia). The chapter finally describes the implications of these findings for practitioners and researchers.

scholarly journals The Impact Of Training Courses On Financial Management Skills Of South African Small-Business Owners

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 825
Author(s):  
Corinna Lina Kirsten
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Training Courses

Short-term financial management skills are regarded as critical for South African small business owners to effectively manage their businesses so they may survive and grow. These skills can be developed by attending training courses, preferably those specifically designed for the small business environment offered by private sector service providers with the necessary experience and expertise. Record keeping, determining future profitability, managing working capital, measuring past performance, and tax and legal entity compliance are identified as key aspects in which small business owners require training. This study investigates the extent to which a training course, developed and presented by academics from the accounting profession, improved the knowledge of a group of South African small business owners regarding aspects of short-term financial management. A pre-test and post-test single group experimental design was used. In addition, the participants satisfaction with the training course and the trainers was assessed using a post-test design. The results show a significant increase in the participants knowledge of aspects of short-term financial management, as well as overall positive feedbac kregarding the training course and trainers. Challenges relating to language and the duration of the training course were identified. Future research on how such a training course could be combined with other types of interventions to further develop financial management skills is suggested.

Attitude and Management Style Matter in IT Implementation

2011 ◽  
pp. 234-262
Author(s):  
Elaine R. Winston ◽  
Dorothy G. Dologite
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
High Quality ◽  
It Implementation ◽  
Shared Management ◽  
Key Factor

According to previous studies, a positive attitude towards information technology (IT) among small business owners appears to be a key factor in achieving high quality IT implementations. In an effort to extend this stream of research, case studies were conducted with small business owners. A surprising finding of this study was that high quality IT implementations resulted with owners who had either a positive or a negative attitude towards IT. Another finding was that these owners also all had an entrepreneurial, or shared, management style. By contrast, owners who had an uncertain attitude about IT uniformly practiced a traditional (non-entrepreneurial) management style. This group also uniformly had low quality IT implementations. It is proposed, based on case study data, that small business owners with an uncertain attitude towards IT might experience higher quality IT results in their organizations through practicing a more entrepreneurial, or shared, management style. The study provides insights for both computer specialists and small business owners planning IT implementations.

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