Theses and Dissertations (Business Management)https://hdl.handle.net/10500/27352024-03-29T08:33:54Z2024-03-29T08:33:54ZAn investigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS on small business in the Vaal regionMngomezulu, Thato Davidhttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/309592024-03-19T09:05:52Z2002-10-01T00:00:00ZAn investigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS on small business in the Vaal region
Mngomezulu, Thato David
One of the dangerous things about HIV/ AIDS is that people do not want to know
about it. It is a frightening disease for which there is no vaccine and no cure. It
is also sex-related and therefore treated with embarrassment by many people.
Many of us are scared by what is happening. Family members, relatives, friends
and work mates are falling ill and dying, often when they are quite young.
Husbands, wives and infants are being struck down. People do not like to talk
about the cause of death. It seems mysterious and shameful (Asma!, in Jewkes,
1999).
Today it is common to hear about employers who require job applicants to prove
that they are not HJV-positive before offering them work.
Some business privately acknowledged the likely long-tenn effects of HIV/AIDS
were one reason for the trend away from labour - intensive processes and
towards increased mechanisation and higher capital investment. Unfortunately
even production processes dominated by robotics can not entirely remove the
human factors. People are needed to maintain, repair and re-programme the
robots.
Many employers and employees have already been significantly influenced by
the impact of the HlV-positive condition of an employee or full-blown AIDS.
This is hardly surprising, given the ever-growing number of HIV-infection
(Healy, 1999).
The workplace is precisely an arena where education and awareness programmes
can be beneficial. Employers can contribute to employee education by providing
training and educational programmes, which focus on awareness and prevention.
The main objective of this research was to identify the business activities and
procedures used to deal with the impact of HIV/ AIDS on Small Business.
Previous studies has shown that the number of people in Small Businesses who
have AIDS or are infected with HIV, is increasing steadily (Myslik, 200 I).
HIV/ AIDS is seen by many businesses as such an overwhelming issue that they
take the easy way out by ignoring it, or giving it minimal attention.
The thesis is divided into three main sections. Firstly, a literature study of the
subject is undertaken. Secondly, an empirical study is conducted by means of
data collected from Small Businesses in the Vaal Region. The data is analysed
and reported on. Thirdly, a munber of conclusions are drawn from the analysis of
the data and a number of recommendations are made.
This thesis serves as an introduction on investigating the impact of HJV/AIDS on
Small Business in the Vaal Region and further research in this field, using this
study as a basis, is recommended.
2002-10-01T00:00:00ZA development model for middle-managers in the Sedibeng district council : a case studyMoshebi, Oupa Mochongoanehttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/309212024-03-06T11:48:28Z2002-10-01T00:00:00ZA development model for middle-managers in the Sedibeng district council : a case study
Moshebi, Oupa Mochongoane
This research shows that the current municipal management in South Africa does not provide for the future. An alternative is suggested that will provide a framework for the future of municipal management development model in South Africa. One of the major aspects of this work is that it is founded on the basic assumption of inherent change in South Africa. It is this change and the historical socio-political issues that refute the hypothesis that current management are providing for the future.
The literature study exposed the need for a new municipal management development approach in South African municipalities, the nature, scope, and major aspects of management development. Furthermore, management development approaches techniques and methods as well as guidelines for a new holistic approach are described. The investigation into the municipal management development practices for municipal managers exposed advanced levels in this regards in the UK and USA (Western countries) and South Africa is focusing on a holistic approach, with a significant step taken being, the establishment of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).
The empirical study consisted ofa structured questionnaire (and interviews) distributed to a sample population of 284 municipalities and to municipal managers, 4 538 executive managers and IO 375 heads of departments (through SALGA) to investigate their management development needs, experiences and activities. Main findings revealed a lack of training for municipal management, uncoordinated management development programmes, with existing ones being reactions to crisis situations, and ill-defined management roles for municipal middle managers. Municipal managers seem solely responsible for municipal management, thus exposing a need for a municipal-based management development approach. The Management development model recognises the participatory management vision of the new municipal system, includes stakeholder involvement in municipal management development, and provides municipal managers with a model that employs South African Local Government Quality Assurance Framework,
This research is not definitive by any means, it merely shows that there are problems in the field of municipal management, and it provides an alternative management development paradigm for South African municipalities.
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2002-10-01T00:00:00ZAn exploratory study into the productivity challenges experienced by manufacturing SMMEs during lockdown in South Africa’s Gauteng Province – Ekurhuleni MunicipalityMashau, Murembiwa Justicehttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/308212024-02-15T11:22:05Z2023-10-05T00:00:00ZAn exploratory study into the productivity challenges experienced by manufacturing SMMEs during lockdown in South Africa’s Gauteng Province – Ekurhuleni Municipality
Mashau, Murembiwa Justice
The focus of this study was to examine productivity issues experienced by small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the manufacturing sector in Ekurhuleni Municipality during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, in order to provide a framework to guide SMMEs, should similar disruptions arise in future. The research also sought to identify and investigate internal and external environmental variables that affected the productivity and sustainability of manufacturing SMMEs in Ekurhuleni Municipality. Based on a positivist research ethic, an exploratory investigation was conducted. A simple random sampling method was used to select the respondents. For a population with more than 4 000 manufacturing SMMEs registered in Ekurhuleni Municipality, a sample of 300 participants was deemed suitable. This quantitative study was conducted using a Google Forms-created online questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to determine manufacturing SMMEs’ perceptions of their companies’ access to technological production management equipment and their knowledge of the company’s internal and external elements. SPSS version 28.0 was used to analyse the responses to determine whether there was a gap between the level of importance assigned to the access to technological production management tools of the business, and to their knowledge of internal and external factors affecting productivity. This research determined the productivity challenges experienced by manufacturing SMMEs in Ekurhuleni Municipality during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. The study found that the respondents were inconsistent in performing specialized tasks. The study showed a clear distinction between the importance that was placed on having access to technological production management tools, and knowledge of internal and external factors affecting productivity. In addition, this study confirmed that South African SMMEs confront significant difficulties in the context of small businesses. This research study could aid business managers and owners and even researchers to gain ideas which may be helpful in making decisions when confronted with challenges such as lockdown restrictions due to a global pandemic. It is recommended that a study be conducted to investigate the impact of manufacturing SMMEs’ productivity on their business performance, growth and sustainability.
2023-10-05T00:00:00ZPublic sector demand-led growth strategy for small and medium enterprises-validation from selected South African TownshipsNhleko, Zephaniahttps://hdl.handle.net/10500/308132024-03-13T09:49:21Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZPublic sector demand-led growth strategy for small and medium enterprises-validation from selected South African Townships
Nhleko, Zephania
This study focused on factors that affect the growth of township SMEs in selected townships in South Africa. The intention was to identify approaches to sustainable business growth that can be reinforced by a carefully crafted public sector strategy that is based on government demand. The strategy aims to support job creation and economic growth. Three theoretical underpinnings were discussed to show their natural linkage to township SMEs, namely, behavioural economics, business management principles and public demand. A comparison of BRICS and SADC SMEs to SMEs in South Africa found that SMEs face more or less the same challenges across these regions.
The overall research paradigm adopted for this study was epistemology in pursuit of gaining new knowledge. A mixed research method was used for the study. An interview and a questionnaire were used as the main data collection instruments. Descriptive and inferential analyses were done on the data collected.
The study assessed the evolution of the relevant factors that drive SMEs growth in townships. It concluded that factors that hindered SMEs growth a decade ago are still prevalent. The findings also revealed that there are new additional factors that have worsened the situation, i.e., the COVID-19 lockdown and loadshedding. It is recommended that the factors hindering SMEs growth should be the foundation for developing a public sector demand-led growth strategy for SMEs, while following sound strategy formulation and implementation principles.
The proposed public sector demand-led SMEs growth strategy is adaptable and considers the development of local value chains. The strategy can be implemented in any region, and it takes into account the core pillars of: undertaking the process of designating priority regions; coordinating human resource drivers; clarifying purpose, targets, products and value chains; harnessing government buying power; developing business sustainability approaches; pursuing cooperation and collaboration; instilling community involvement; maintaining databases; and conducting performance monitoring of the strategy.
2023-10-01T00:00:00Z