Browsing by Author "Visser, D.J."

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    An assessment of the business plan support offered by SEDA to its business clients in the Western Cape
    (2010) Kamala, Sophie; Visser, D.J.
    The Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) is an organisation that gives various types of business support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in order to foster their growth. It is widely believed that there can be failure in the performance of SMEs that is partly due to limited provision of business support. This study aims to assess the work of SEDA, in particular the ‘business plan’ support it provides to SMEs. This will assist in establishing factors that hinder, or promote, the growth and success of SMEs.The main objectives of this study were firstly, to assess the perceptions of SEDA’s business clients with regards to the business plan intervention. Secondly, to assess the effectiveness of the SEDA’s business plan intervention, and lastly to identify and recommend other interventions that its clients suggest, that can improve the services it provides to business owners.A review of literature highlighted the continued difficulty that SMEs in South Africa face in accessing finance, and the vital role that support institutions like SEDA can play to not only alleviate the problem, but also strengthen the owners business and entrepreneurial skills. A qualitative case study design was used in this study. Two data collection methods, document analysis and in-depth interviews, were employed. A thematic data analysis was conducted to assess the business plan support activities provided by SEDA.The findings of the study show that, firstly, access to finance remains a challenge for most SMEs. Secondly, the lack of business skills is a key limitation to success among SEDA’s clients and thirdly, the study revealed a communication gap between SEDA and its business clients.The study recommends that SEDA should bridge the communication gap in order to improve the impact of the vital services it offers to existing, and potential clients. The Results of the study may apply, generally, to the development of SMEs in South Africa.
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    An empirical study of the development of factory shops in the clothing industry in the Cape Peninsula
    (University of the Western Cape, 1991) Visser, D.J.; Kritzinger, André
    Over the 1ast eight years up to 1989, a new business phenomenon has manifested itself in South Africa. During this period, the so-ca 11ed "factory shop" concept has developed into one of the fastest growing industries in both the manufacturing and commercial sectors. In South Africa, factory shops have initially established in the Cape Peninsula.4,5. The nature of these shops is such that their creation may be attributed to the clothing industry itself ;" This trend originated in about 1980 at a few clothing manufacturers in Cape Town, inter alia, Desiree, Readywear, Atlantic Knitting Mills. Originally these factory shops were open for limited hours, I usually over lunch-time and on only one Saturday per month. They were strictly limited to and for the sole benefit of I the staff of those firms. Gradually, however, family and later friends and acquaintances of these staff members became aware of the so-called bargain prices at these stores. Both supply and demand played important roles in the development of factory shops. For example, increasing pressure on management to supply larger quantities of these merchandise items at bargain prices, as well as the fact that clothing factories had excess stock which was difficult to clear through the normal distribution channels. Factory owners recognized and seized this opportunity to reduce stock at little additional cost. From their inception, factory shops have had a significant influence on the turnover and profitability of the retail clothing industry. This trend is documented in reports by the organ i zed trade, 7 ,B where reference has been made to the influence of these factory shops and where independent clothing retailers have been calling for a plan of action for protect i on against the encroachment by these factory shops on their (the clothing retailers') markets. However, up to that stage, no in-depth study or formal research was done to justify such action for protection. The ref 0reitwa s felt that" An empirical stud y of the development of factory shops in the clothing industry in the Cape Peninsula" was needed to acquire an objective view of the state of affairs.
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    Evaluation of employment creation by African immigrant entrepreneurs for unemployed South Africans in Cape Town
    (University of the Western Cape, 2007) Kalitanyi, Vivence; Visser, D.J.; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
    There has been a lot of comment and reaction to the presence of immigrants in South Africa, and most of it has been very negative. In light of the negative reaction, one can ask whether immigrants do in fact add any value to the well being of the host countries, given their education, experience and high involvement in small businesses. Several studies have noted that the relatively highr level of education and skills of migrants is at the same level as those of the host populations. This research is aimed at contributing to the debate of the perception that immigrants are taking up jobs that are supposed to belong to South Africans.
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    The role of provincial government support in the development of black-owned small tourism businesses in the city of Cape Town
    (University of the Western Cape, 2005) Quesada, Lemay Llorente; Visser, D.J.; Boekstein, M; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
    Since 1994, tourism has become one of the most benefited industries among the overall of the South African economy. However, the industry is still far from being an example of transformations. The tourism industry in South Africa is still dominated by white-owned large enterprises, leaving limited space for the development of black-owned small tourism businesses. The existing literature identifies that government support represents a key variable regarding small tourism business development, specifically among black entrepreneurs. This study evaluated the role of provincial government support in the development of black-owned small tourism businesses in the South Africa, with a focus on Cape Town.