UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Visser, Kobus"

Browsing by Author "Visser, Kobus"

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An assessment of management practices in Chinese family-owned SMEs in the Cape Metropolitan area
(University of the Western Cape, 2004) Ping, Yu; Visser, Kobus; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
China is a country built on traditions and one of its most respected traditions is a preference for the family unit. The closeness of the family unit is carried over into the economic life of the country. Family members not only live together, but also work together in the fields or in enterprises. The advantage of this is that families have a guaranteed labour force that is not only loyal and can also be trusted. The disadvantage however is that positioning within the business is not always based on merit and competence, or trustworthiness which can ultimately impede growth. This research was an examination of Chinese family-owned businesses that focused on their management practices. The purpose of the study was to explore the management characteristics of Chinese family-owned businesses by means of interview data collected from five Chinese businesses in the Cape Metropolitan area. The emphasis of the project concentrated on the establishment, expansion and growth, ownership and leadership, management structure, the impact of cultural factors and the strategy for the future as well as challenges in terms of competitors and environments.
Entrepreneurship education and training at the Further Education and Training (FET) level in South Africa
(Education Association of South Africa, 2007) Isaacs, Eslyn; Visser, Kobus; Friedrich, Christian; Brijlal, Pradeep
We assessed the levels of entrepreneurship education and training at the Further Education and Training (FET) level in a South African context. We are of the opinion that entrepreneurship education and training (of necessity) must fulfill a primary role in preparing our youth for their future. Evidence from elsewhere, in particular industrialised countries, indicates that entrepreneurship education and training at school level play important roles in the contribution to economic growth. Experts in the field of entrepreneurship believe that the contribution of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the growth of our country can be much higher if entrepreneurship education is implemented at school levels. Entrepreneurship is now one of the outcomes of Grades R – 12. However, our research clearly showed that various problems in schools hinder the effective implementation of entrepreneurship education, some of which are poorly trained educators and lack of adequate resources. Better entrepreneurship education could make a significant contribution to job creation and ultimately to poverty alleviation.
Entrepreneurship education at tertiary institutions in Rwanda: a situation analysis
(University of the Western Cape, 2005) Niyonkuru, Richard; Visser, Kobus; Dept. of Management; Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences
This study explored the provision of entrepreneurship education at higher education institutions in Rwanda with special reference to the levels of provision, support mechanisms, course objectives, contents, teaching and assessment methods to ascertain whether they are appropriately developed to prepare students for entrepreneurship as a career option.
The impact of microfinance on household livelihoods : evidence from rural Eritrea
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Habte, Amine Teclay; Visser, Kobus; Ocran, Matthew
Eritrea, a relatively young African nation, is one of the least developed countries in the world. Its economy is predominantly dependent on subsistence agriculture and the level and magnitude of poverty is more severe in rural areas. The formal financial sector is underdeveloped, state-owned, far from being competitive, and limited in terms of depth and breadth as measured by the relevant financial sector development indicators. To address the limitations of the formal banking sector and to help fill the financing gap, and improve the general livelihood of those at the lower income group, the Government of Eritrea introduced a Saving and Microcredit Programme (SMCP) in 1996 for which no scientific study measuring its impact has been done at the household level. The study was conducted in rural areas to find out whether the SMCP as a microfinance institution has improved the livelihood of its clients. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the characteristic feature of rural livelihoods in terms of the resources owned, the strategies pursued and outcomes achieved, identify and examine the determinants of household participation in the SMCP and finally assess the impact of participation in SMCP on household livelihoods. The study employed a quasi-experimental cross-sectional survey design involving structured and semi-structured questionnaire administered to 500 respondents of whom 200 represented the treated group and 300 the controlled group. Logit regression was employed to identify the factors that determine household participation in the SMCP. In regard to this, age of the client household, household size, marital status, level of education of the client household, the size of first round loan, entrepreneurial experience, type of loan product offered by the institution, ownership of livestock and microenterprise, the perception of the client on involuntary deposits, the occurrence of a negative events (shock) to the household and village access to electricity were found to have statistically significant effect on the household‟s probability to participate in the SMCP. Furthermore, the marginal effects were also computed to evaluate the contribution of each of these factors to the likelihood of participating in the SMCP. A propensity score matching model was applied to assess the impact of the programme on the livelihood of its clients. The findings reveal that participation in the SMCP has a significantly higher average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) households. Profits generated from off-farm and small microenterprises, the values of household and livestock assets, food and non-food consumption expenditures and nutrition quality, were found to be on average higher for the treated households than for the controlled households. Therefore, it could be argued that the provision of micro financial resources has significant positive effects on household livelihood outcomes. The study has important social and economic policy implication regarding the role of finance in rural development.
The impact of microfinance on household livelihoods: Evidence from rural Eritrea
(Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2017) Habte, Amine; Visser, Kobus; Ocran, Matthew Kofi
This study examined the impact of microfinance on the livelihoods of households in rural Eritrea. It specifically sought to find out whether the Saving and Microcredit Programme (SMCP), introduced by the Eritrean Government in 1996 to support the poorest of the poor, had a significant impact on the livelihood of its clients. The study employed logistic regression and propensity score matching estimation techniques. The findings reveal that households that participated in the SMCP had reported significantly higher profits from their microenterprises, had more valuable assets, higher consumption expenditure, significantly improved nutrition and increased savings. The findings have important social and economic policy implications regarding the role of finance in rural development in an African context.
Influential factors impacting leadership effectiveness: A case study at a public university
(AOSIS, 2022) Jansen van Vuuren, Carel D.; Visser, Kobus; du Plessis, Marieta
As a result of increased globalisation and rapid changes in the technological, social, economic and political spheres, the environment in which businesses and organisations function has become increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA). This has created a unique set of challenges for the leaders of these organisations, including higher education (HE) in South Africa. This study aimed to identify potential influential factors that have impact on leader effectiveness in a HE VUCA environment.
The moderating effect of microfinance on the financial constraints to SMME growth in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Omer, Nasraldin Abdelkarim Eldod; Peters, Ricardo; Visser, Kobus
Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play a significant role in an economy. Thus, governments all over the world concentrate on the development of the small business sector to endorse economic growth. SMMEs are a large contributor to the creation of job opportunities, improvement of the economy, and promote the effective use of regional resources which leads to the engineering of economic development and growth. SMMEs are an important source of jobs, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation and are thus vital to promoting competitiveness. However, despite the noted contribution of SMMEs, in many countries they face serious constraints, often resulting in failure. The constraints and economic environment have significant and unequal effects on SMMEs in different industries and in different locations. Constraints have been used, amongst other growth factors, to understand why some SMMEs fail to grow.This study lays the foundation for understanding the concept of SMME growth. SMME growth was examined in detail, and found to be heterogeneous in nature. The variation in measures used in SMME growth studies, the variation in growth indicators, the variation in the measurement of growth over time, and the variation in the characteristics of the SMMEs are all important features of SMME growth as a phenomenon. SMME growth models were examined to further understand why some firms survive and grow, and others fail. The models examined the problems SMMEs experience at different stages of growth, and the actions to be taken to overcome them as they progress from one stage to the next. Four growth models identified in the literature is discussed: stochastic models of firm growth, the resource-based view of firm growth, the motivation view on organizational growth, and the life cycle view of firm growth. The study then discussed the concept of constraints to growth, and conducted a literature review on the effect of some factors that act as constraints to SMME growth. It was concluded that constraints have a negative effect on SMME growth. The study also discussed various theoretical models on the financing of firms, starting with the traditional concept of the financial behaviour of firms. The relevancy of trade-off theory, agency theory, and the pecking order theory to SMME finance and capital structure is also examined. The theories explain the financial behaviour of enterprises, taking into account their different characteristics and problems. It is suggested by the theories that internal sources of finance such as equity, retained earnings, and venture capitalists represent the cheapest and best source of SMMEs capital structure. The study applied a quantitative research survey. The approach enabled the determination of the factors acting as constraints to SMME growth, and examination of how SMMEs could overcome these constraints to survive and grow. The approach chosen aims at investigating the moderating effect of microfinance on the relationship between financial constraints and SMME growth. The primary aim of this study was to explore and investigate the factors acting as constraints to SMME growth. The study investigated the effect of nine types of constraints on SMME growth namely: lack of access to finance, lack of skilled employees, competition, corruption, lack of professional financial advisors, lack of clear business plan, government rules and regulations, lack of awareness of financial services and assistance, and lack of government support. The study also empirically examined the moderating effect of microfinance on overcoming, avoiding or mitigating the financial constraints to SMME growth in South Africa, particularly in the province of the Western Cape. In order to assess the aim of the study, five secondary objectives were developed. The objectives were subdivided into seven hypotheses. The study found evidence that the lack of skilled employees, competition, corruption, lack of awareness of financial services and assistance, lack of professional financial advisors and lack of access to finance were significant constraints to SMME growth in South Africa. An important contribution this study makes is that microfinance provides a way to overcome or mitigate financial constraints for SMMEs. The negative effect of a lack of professional financial advisors and the lack of access to finance is reduced when SMMEs make use of microfinance source. As such this is an important finding that adds to existing studies on the role of constraints as well as to the literature on entrepreneurship in developing economies. However, contrary to the study hypothesis, microfinance does not moderate the relationship between the lack of awareness of financial services and assistance, and SMME growth. This can be attributed to the important role that has to be played by the microfinance institutions (MFI) and government agencies in ensuring that procedures are simple, financial products are demand driven, and clear and brief financial information is provided. These results imply that microfinance can play a positive role in SMME growth particularly for SMMEs that experience financial constraints. The study also suggests that MFIs and government agencies should provide more information to the public in particular to SMMEs. This study is not without its limitations. Firstly, the study is based on the province of the Western Cape, of South Africa. In a South African context, with its two tiered economy, the Western Cape is perceived to be a "developed" economy as opposed to other developing African countries. Further studies can be conducted in other countries or can include samples from other provinces to compare the results. Secondly, as this study provides only a measurement at one moment in time, we are not able to establish causal and longitudinal effects. However, the sample size of this study is favourable in comparison to other recent studies, and thus provides extended validity. Future studies that apply longitudinal designs are needed to establish the causality of the relationships found in this study.
Risks and factors contributing towards rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business in an emerging economy
(Virtus Interpress, 2016) Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Visser, Kobus
This paper examines risks and critical factors contributing to the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. The concept of entrepreneurial orientation and various factors influencing the rural entrepreneurial orientation growth are still not well known. The study aimed to assess risks and critical factors affecting rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of businesses. Questionnaire was developed and used to collect primary data from 127 rural entrepreneurs. The sample was made with small and medium entrepreneurs operating in rural places. They were selected using quota sampling, with respondents completing a questionnaire with the assistance of an interviewer. The study used quantitative technique for data collection. SPSS (23.0) version was used for data analysis and scientific statistical significance level found to be (.000*) at the Cronbach’s alpha (.791*) reliability. Results of the survey reveal that majority indicates competition as a big challenge for them. Findings further indicate that competitor is due to the small market and lack of products differentiation. This study introduces an additional literature in the field of entrepreneurship with specific reference to rural entrepreneurship. The paper will benefit rural entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial marketing managers, potential young entrepreneurs, business consultants, policymakers, financial institutions, government agencies and all affiliated stakeholders by introducing a new understanding of risks and various critical factors causative into rural entrepreneurial orientation growth of business in an emerging economy. Most work on the entrepreneurship development has concentrated in the urban areas with little emphasis on the rural places. The findings of this study limited by study’s exploratory, small sample and quantitative nature.
Strategies, practices and skills for competitiveness in the digital economy: a perspective on large companies in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch Business School & Ikamva National e-Skills Institute (iNeSI), 2014) Craffert, Leona; Ungerer, Marius; Visser, Kobus; Morrison, John; Claassen, Walter
The impact of the digital developments of our time - new digital devices, new software, and new areas of applications - can be felt in more and more areas of life and work. In fact, in some areas of business the impact is transformational, changing an area or business sector to such an extent that it is hardly recognisable from what that area was like a decade or more ago. Business introduced information and communication technologies (ICTs) to automate certain processes, to achieve economies of scale (and the benefits associated with that) to involve both suppliers and customers, etc. The introduction of digital mobile devices (especially smartphones) over the past eight to ten years, and the current ubiquitous presence of these devices, brought about more changes to users' interaction with suppliers. Not only do these devices lead to improved communication with business and within business, but increasingly so in the areas of business these devices are used to establish new relationships with customers, both existing ones and potentially new ones. In such an increasingly hyperconnected world, employees become participants in a world beyond the boundaries of companies, thereby being in a position to gauge sentiments outside, to influence opinions and to make a contribution to the positioning of companies. A key factor that has to be taken into account is the wider availability of technology to all players in the ecosystem within which business functions, including the competition. Cloud-based services enable rapid deployment of services and scalability according to need. Just as access to technology, especially in the form of digital technology, holds the possibility of innovation for existing businesses, the same technology also creates the possibility for disruptive innovation and for new competition in the market. “Digital disruption describes a process by which a product or service takes root initially in simple applications at the bottom of a market and then relentlessly moves 'up market,' eventually displacing established competitors”1. Some commentators, as argued by Wladawsky- Berger2, refer to this changing scenario of access to cloud-based services as one characterised by “new economies of unscale”, a situation that could turn into a major disruption for established companies.

Browsing by Author "Visser, Kobus"

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