Theses and Dissertations
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/2179
2024-03-28T21:18:17ZAgricultural technology's effect on entrepreneurship: a case study of the Mopani District Municipality in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/2662
Agricultural technology's effect on entrepreneurship: a case study of the Mopani District Municipality in the Limpopo Province, South Africa
Mangena, Mokgadi Lucy
Traditionally, agriculture was considered a low-tech industry with limited technical dynamics. As modernisation engulfed human kind, changes to the agricultural sector occurred, spearheaded by economic liberalisation. Economic liberalisation helped to reduce the sector’s protection. These changes brought new entrepreneurial players into the sector, in addition to innovation and portfolio entrepreneurship. Despite these positive changes, the agricultural sector faces entrepreneurship challenges. A lot of these situational challenges are widely publicised in literature but not much has been written about agricultural entrepreneurship. This study, therefore, brings a new dimension to the entrepreneurship field of research. That is, the need for a study about the agricultural technology’s effects on entrepreneurship is long overdue. Against this backdrop, this study investigated the agricultural technology’s effects on entrepreneurship in the Mopani District Municipality. The study adopted a qualitative approach with a sample of ten participants using purposive sampling. Interpretive paradigm was used to underpin the study. Data was collected through interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that agricultural technology provides unparalleled benefits to farmers despite negative consequences associated with its use. The study recommends that farmers should familiarise themselves with the new agricultural technology’s effects on their trade before embracing it. Policy makers are encouraged to formulate appropriate policies that would help to develop the farmers’ knowledge and skills about agricultural technology.
MCom (Business Management); Department of Business Management
2023-10-05T00:00:00ZThe of banks on SMME's development in Vhembe District Municipality
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/2648
The of banks on SMME's development in Vhembe District Municipality
Ramudingane, Khamusi
In the aftermath of the worldwide financial crisis that happened in 2008, there has been an increased interest in the role of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in economic growth and fighting unemployment. In a country with a high unemployment rate, such as South Africa, the role played by SMMEs cannot be undermined in creating jobs opportunity. However, the lack of financing from banks have somewhat hindered SMMEs in playing that role in the communities. This study was therefore undertaken to explore the role that banks play in the development of SMMEs in Vhembe District Municipality.
The aim of this study was to determine the role that banks play in the development of SMMEs in the Vhembe District Municipality area. The study adopted a qualitative research method and drew in participants, which included officials from managers, or owners of small businesses derived from stratified sampling which was used to determine various characteristics of the study population. The study was based on the data collected from SMMEs around Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo province. The research adopted an interview guide using semi-structured interviews to allow discretion on the number and order of predefined questions posed to the participants. By using semi-structured interviews, it allowed the possibility of exploring topics in a depth and breadth that may be harder to achieve with fully structured interviews. The collected data were analysed using ATLAS.ti software which offers a variety of tools for accomplishing the tasks associated with any systematic approach to unstructured data.
The challenges identified in this study were collateral security, lack of financial assistance education, credit access regulations, qualifying criteria, stringent credit system as well as stringent documentation requirements. The study also found that for SMMEs to develop and maintain sustainability, there should be a well-established partnership, relation building and business development programmes between banks and SMMEs. Based on the findings of this study, small business owners should make every effort to gather information on credit or funding they require from banks and they must also be involved in credit policy formulation, which will lead to informed policy. It was concluded that the development of SMMEs can be realized if the banks can do away with their stringent credit application system.
MCom (Business Management); Department of Business Management
2023-10-05T00:00:00ZA structural analysis of Black Tax impact on business performance among small medium micro enterprises in Limpopo Province
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/2572
A structural analysis of Black Tax impact on business performance among small medium micro enterprises in Limpopo Province
Mikioni, Anyway
Black tax has been widely debated across different media and societal platforms and this has led to it being viewed as a burden that is crippling the aspirations of the 21st century generation. Africans are collectivist people who are grounded on the premise of caring for and assisting other members who are in need either at a family or societal perspective. However, in the 21st century that moral obligation is slowly losing its essence due to the increased level of literacy where individuals prefer to live in a vacuum and give a blind eye to the reality of the needs of others. This resulted in the emergence of a term black tax which addresses the support that individuals extend either to their immediate or extended families. Some studies have focused on its effect on employed individuals and in-inclusive of entrepreneurship. Hence there is a need to test the relationship if any that exists between black tax and entrepreneurship. It is against this background that this study seeks to investigate the effect of black tax on entrepreneurship within the South African context. The study was grounded on the Society Piety theory and Kinscripts framework that posit that individuals are morally obligated to their parents and should be aligned with the societal ideologies, values and norms. This study was conducted using mixed methods and guided by the pragmatism paradigm and ethnography research design. On the qualitative side, the data was collected from 15 entrepreneurs using face to face and online interviews guided by a structured interview guide. The entrepreneurs were purposively sampled. The collected data was transcribed utilizing Microsoft Word and analysed using thematic framework analysis aided by ATLAS. ti. On the quantitative side the descriptive research design guided the study with data collected from 150 entrepreneurs who were purposively sampled. The Likert scale questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data was coded using Microsoft Excel and analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics aided by SPSS. The findings showed that black tax can be defined using the components that are uncodified law, perpetual obligation, background dependent, culture and values embedded, monetary assistance, non-monetary assistance, giving back, pay back and family entitlement. The perceptions of black were found to be act of altruism, family/siblings’ upliftment source, piety towards parents/guardians, futuristic support investment, positivity instilling source, entrepreneurship development stimulus, proper connotation, negative connotation, incessant exploitation, and family entitlement for support. The black tax impact on business performance manifest as boost business image, strong
network development, financial constraints, profit reduction, inventory depletion, stifled business growth, stimulate borrowing and business closure/failure. The findings also showed that black tax experiences are cuts across all ethnic groups, heterogeneous experience across races, more effect amongst blacks, homogeneous experiences across genders and more effect amongst men. The black tax model was also developed that is imperative towards business sustainability. This study recommends that there must be a black tax target set by entrepreneurs towards evaluating and monitoring constantly the black tax payment to establish a shift from constructive to destructive black tax or vice versa. The study also recommends a paradigm shift on how entrepreneurs are viewed thus as community problem solvers and risk takers rather than as ATMs. The study also recommends that black tax be considered for tax incentives purposes. The study also recommends that an all inclusive term such as family tax or responsibility tax be considered in place of black tax.
PhD (Business Management); Department of Business Management
2023-10-05T00:00:00ZThe impact of corporate entrepreneurship and human resources management practices on organisational performances: the mediating role of employee engagement
http://hdl.handle.net/11602/2570
The impact of corporate entrepreneurship and human resources management practices on organisational performances: the mediating role of employee engagement
Vinyu, Charles
Corporate entrepreneurship positively impacts organisational growth and profitability by offering a competitive edge over innovation-driven technology advancements and a tumultuous global marketplace. As developing countries become more involved in international competition, the significance of human resources as a source of high organisational performance has become apparent. Combining corporate entrepreneurship activities and human resource management practices is vital for enhancing organisational performance. There has been increasing research on corporate entrepreneurship, however, research is scarceonthe influence of corporate entrepreneurship, human resources management, and employee engagement on the organisational performance of telecommunication organisations, particularly, in Zimbabwe. This study's purpose was to investigate the impact of corporate entrepreneurship and human resources management practices on organisational performance through the mediating role of employee engagement. This research followed a positivist research paradigm. Four hundred (400) employees in the telecommunication industry were selected using a stratified sampling method and an online questionnaire was utilised to gather data. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed to analyse data using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS) version 27.0. The hypotheses were tested using multi-regression analysis.
The results indicated asignificant relationship between corporate entrepreneurship and human resources management practices on organisational performance. In addition, the results showed that corporate entrepreneurship and human resources management practices, positively impacted employee engagement. Employee engagement emerged to have a positive impact on organisational performance. Employee engagement mediates the relationships between corporate entrepreneurship and organisational performance. Additionally, employee engagement mediates the relationships between human resources management practices and organisational performance.
Theresearch broadens the knowledge base in corporate entrepreneurship, human resources management practices, employee engagement, and telecommunication's organisational performance. Policymakers and human resources practitioners, thus, may use this study as a reference point for adopting corporate entrepreneurship policies and human resources management practices strategies aimed at enhancing organisational performance in this unpredictable business environment. Lastly, a conceptual model was developed to link corporate
entrepreneurship, human resources management practices, employee engagement, and organisational performance in the telecommunication sector of Zimbabwe.
PhD (Business Management); Department of Business Management
2023-10-05T00:00:00Z