The factors that influence the scalability of tenderpreneurs
- Authors: Ngwane, Amanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa Corporations -- South Africa -- Growth Success in business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41841 , vital:36602
- Description: This study investigated the scalability of tenderpreneurs in South Africa. The South African government has invested a lot of capital towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through the tender system. The unemployment trend in the country continues and is a reflection of symptoms and problems that impede the effectiveness of government initiatives such as the tender system. The main aim of this study was to establish the factors influencing the scalability of tenderpreneurs in South Africa. Further objectives intended to establish the factors that would enable tenderpreneurs to scale their businesses, to define the characteristics of a tenderpreneur in South Africa, to determine the factors that influence the growth of tenderpreneurs in South Africa and to establish the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities for and threats to the scalability of tenderpreneurs in South Africa. In order to achieve the said objectives, a sample of ten tenderpreneurs from the Ilembe District in KwaZulu-Natal, was selected from an estimated population of over 50 tenderpreneurs in the region, using the convenience sampling technique. The phenomenological paradigm was employed and qualitative research was done using the exploratory research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data for the study. The findings of this study characterised a tenderpreneur as an individual bent on providing requested services, engaging in competitive bidding, usually awaiting opportunities or bids, who do business with or without prior capital. In the political front, the advent of the end of the apartheid era, the emergence of the democratic movement and emancipation of the black majority contributed to the drive towards business ownership by the previously disadvantaged groups. Recommendations made included the fact that the relevant government authorities should assist in supporting the tenderpreneurs through a number of policy and political initiatives such as ensuring broader stakeholder participation, fostering established public funded partnerships, mainstreaming corporate social investment to uplift communities, enforce sustainable business practices and drive infrastructure development.
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- Date Issued: 2019
The role of Information and Communication Technology in developing entrepreneurial skills in marginalised communities: the case of Grahamstown
- Authors: Mabika, Vinia Ruvimbo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Occupational training -- South Africa , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Vocational education -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Businesspeople, Black -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Businesspeople -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa -- Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/94169 , vital:31012
- Description: A call to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 was made by the United Nations in 2015 after the expiry of the Millennium Development Goals. This has led to the need for youth entrepreneurship studies in marginalised communities that are burdened by poverty. The marginalised communities in South Africa, where most poor unemployed people live face numerous challenges. These range from a shortage of skilled people, inequality, poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of formal and informal skills development for communities. Employing information and communication technologies (ICTs) has the potential to improve socio-economic activities, aid comprehensive human development and empower communities. To ensure human development, provision of ICTs to communities should be accompanied by approaches and guidelines that can be used to empower them through entrepreneurship. This requires investigating how ICTs can lead to the empowerment of unemployed citizens within a community. Specifically, the types of tailored ICT skills that are needed to access such empowerment opportunities and are typically taught at skills development programmes (SDPs). An interpretivist, qualitative case study approach was employed during the investigation of four skills development programmes in Grahamstown (Eastern Cape). The participants included programme directors, managers, trainees who had become entrepreneurs after attending training and those who had not started a business yet. Semi-structured interviews were employed for data collection and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data; while making use of absorptive capacity theory (ACT) as a theoretical framework. The researcher sought to answer the following main question: How should ICT-based skills development programmes be applied to enhance entrepreneurial skills within marginalised communities? To answer this, the research contributes by proposing a guideline that can be implemented to address the skills shortage in Grahamstown. The first stage requires a community needs assessment, looking at the community members prior and related knowledge. Secondly, the SDPs should create a culture of learning by transforming participants’ mindsets through core programmes. Thirdly, the core programmes should be linked with ICT skills training. After training is completed, the SDPs and external world bodies should assist with follow up support courses. During all these stages monitoring and evaluation should be implemented, and all key stakeholders should be involved.
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- Date Issued: 2019