Magister Commercii - MCom (Business and Finance)

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    An investigation into the problem of debt collection in the Durban area, with the aim of suggesting cost-reducing alternatives
    (Univeristy of the Western Cape, 1982) Patel, Madhubala Lila
    The purpose of this study is to investigate the problems faced by businesses in the Durban area, in the field of Debt collection, with the aim of suggesting alternatives that would help reduce the cost of collections, as well as lead to the development of a sound system of credit approval. Accounts receivables is an important asset in the books of any organization. In some smaller companies it is often the single largest asset which the firm owns. It is therefore vitally important that top management pay attention to the development of sound business policies and procedures to control this asset and also make certified effort in developing the quality of personnel to head this department. It is hoped that the results of this investigation will point out to management some of the problems facing credit departments, and also provide them with some solutions and areas which need improvement. To achieve the aim of this study it was necessary to ascertain what practices and procedures were being followed by businesses with respect to credit and collections and to evaluate the strength and weaknesses of these procedures.
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    An investigation into the applicability of a retail audit as a planning and controlling tool for small clothing retailers.
    (Univeristy of the Western Cape, 1992) Isaacs, Eslyn Bleighnaul Hugh
    "The affluence of a nation may be judged by its ability to produce useful goods and services and to distribute them widely throughout the population." 1 The distribution of goods and services from the producer to the final consumer is handled by one or a combination of the traditional institutions in the distribution system. These traditional institutions are wholesalers, retailers and agents. This study will concentrate on the retailer but with particular reference to the small retailer. A retail business is defined as a business which derives more than 50%2 of its sales income by selling directly to consumers. Wholesalers, however, derive more than 50%3 of their sales income by selling directly to retailers and other wholesalers. The small 1 retailer, because of its location, is in many respects in a better position to satisfy the needs and want s of its target market than its bigger counterparts. Since 1967, there has been a sharp growth in the establishment of small retailers. 4 This could be attributed to the relative perceived ease with which these types of businesses can be started. In South Africa the only legal requirement to start a formal small retail business is a valid business licence. No regulations stipulate that a person should have been trained to manage a retail business. It could be argued, therefore, that this relative ease is also contributing to the unprofessional management of these enterprises, resulting in relatively high small business failures. Statistics show that at least 27,2%5 of small retail businesses in the United States of America fail within the first three years of operation. The probable causes of these failures are the following: 6
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    Gender differences in the motivations and barriers of entrepreneurs: evidence from a survey in Mitchell's Plain
    (University of the Western Cape, 2011) Moses, Denver Barry
    The small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) sector within the South African and global context is perceived to have the potential to drive economic growth, and produce positive spinoffs in terms of both poverty alleviation and job creation. In this regard, entrepreneurs are seen as the cornerstones of SMMEs. This is especially true if one keeps in mind that sustainability within this sector depends heavily on the ability to recognise a niche in the market and then being able to convert it into a lucrative business opportunity. It could be argued that the greater the pool of potential entrepreneurs, the greater the prospects for economic growth for the country as a whole. Therefore, critical to economic growth is the lowering of barriers for entry of potential entrepreneurs. In addition, maximising the pool of potential entrepreneurs requires that the opportunity to start and operate a business be equally accessible to both females and males. GlobaJly there is a gender gap that illustrates the existence of more male than female entrepreneurs and many countries, including South Africa, are initiating interventions to narrow that gap. Within this context, this study attempted to disclose the motivations and barriers faced by both females and males when deciding to embark and ultimately remain on the entrepreneurial journey. Additionally, the study sought to establish how female and male entrepreneurs perceived themselves and how they thought others perceived them.