Assessing factors that mitigate business risks in the operations of emerging black-owned businesses in Mthatha, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Bovungana, Afrika Khanyiso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Black
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47502 , vital:40121
- Description: The study sought to assessfactors that mitigate business risks in the operations of emerging black-owned businesses in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. Small businesses in the country are significant contributorsto the South African economy,as they provide employment and development opportunities to disadvantaged communities. Many of these businesses are operationalbut have no formal systems in place to operate effectively. The lack of proper operating procedures can result ininefficiencies that often lead to the collapse and eventual failure of these businesses. Van Vuuren,a professor at the University of Pretoria,mentionedin a round table dialogue that in South Africa the early stage entrepreneurial activity rate has been recorded as9.2% whereas in similar developing economies such as Brazil early stage entrepreneurialactivity isapproximately 40%. The study utilised a quantitative research design and employed a Likert scale questionnaire on a sample of 64 black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) chosen by means of a random probability samplingmethod. QuestionPro was used to analyse the data and discuss the findings of the study.The various factors identified and highlighted indicate the integral challenges faced by the black-owned SMMEs remain prevalent. The success or failure is dependent on dynamic interventions that are taken into consideration and implemented for the improvement of the environment and business life cycle of black-owned businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Bovungana, Afrika Khanyiso
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Business enterprises, Black
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47502 , vital:40121
- Description: The study sought to assessfactors that mitigate business risks in the operations of emerging black-owned businesses in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. Small businesses in the country are significant contributorsto the South African economy,as they provide employment and development opportunities to disadvantaged communities. Many of these businesses are operationalbut have no formal systems in place to operate effectively. The lack of proper operating procedures can result ininefficiencies that often lead to the collapse and eventual failure of these businesses. Van Vuuren,a professor at the University of Pretoria,mentionedin a round table dialogue that in South Africa the early stage entrepreneurial activity rate has been recorded as9.2% whereas in similar developing economies such as Brazil early stage entrepreneurialactivity isapproximately 40%. The study utilised a quantitative research design and employed a Likert scale questionnaire on a sample of 64 black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) chosen by means of a random probability samplingmethod. QuestionPro was used to analyse the data and discuss the findings of the study.The various factors identified and highlighted indicate the integral challenges faced by the black-owned SMMEs remain prevalent. The success or failure is dependent on dynamic interventions that are taken into consideration and implemented for the improvement of the environment and business life cycle of black-owned businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A comparison of different strategies to control pests and diseases in Brassica spp. production in the Western Cape
- Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The effectiveness of risk mangement in local government with reference to the Nelson Mandela Bay Minicipality
- Authors: Sihlali, Siphosihle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Risk management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4407 , vital:20596
- Description: In the 1960s, risk management primarily took the form of purchased insurance against force majeure events. Today, many corporate executives are worried about not only these types of events but also many others (Mair and Cendrowski, 2009:3). “People risks” versus environmental risks, financial risks and technical risks are examples of risks that are often overlooked. People risks include, succession planning (this refers to identifying and developing key talent) and competency and skills building (dealing with employees that do not have requisite skills for success), (William & Paul, 2007:4). Massingham (2010:464) mentions that corporate disasters, such as the collapse of Enron, have increased the need for effective corporate governance, while catastrophic natural disasters, man-made tragedies such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and tsunami of 2004, have increased risk awareness as well as its consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sihlali, Siphosihle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Risk management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4407 , vital:20596
- Description: In the 1960s, risk management primarily took the form of purchased insurance against force majeure events. Today, many corporate executives are worried about not only these types of events but also many others (Mair and Cendrowski, 2009:3). “People risks” versus environmental risks, financial risks and technical risks are examples of risks that are often overlooked. People risks include, succession planning (this refers to identifying and developing key talent) and competency and skills building (dealing with employees that do not have requisite skills for success), (William & Paul, 2007:4). Massingham (2010:464) mentions that corporate disasters, such as the collapse of Enron, have increased the need for effective corporate governance, while catastrophic natural disasters, man-made tragedies such as the September 11 terrorist attacks and tsunami of 2004, have increased risk awareness as well as its consequences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Experiences of operating room nurses in their work environment at a state hospital in Ethiopia
- Authors: Woldehawariat, Negat
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Operating room nurses -- Ethiopia , Operating rooms -- Ethiopia , Work environment -- Ethiopia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008177 , Operating room nurses -- Ethiopia , Operating rooms -- Ethiopia , Work environment -- Ethiopia
- Description: Operating room nursing skills are some of the most demanding skills in the nursing profession. At the moment nurses trained in operating room technique are in very short supply in Ethiopia, due to the exodus of nurses to better working environments with more reasonable payment. This is especially noticeable in one of the state hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as emerged in conversations with the head nurse of the operating room in this hospital about the high turnover rate, as well as the high absenteeism rate amongst the nurses working in the operating room. Nurses working in the operating room also expressed unhappiness in their work environment which could cause them to look for other jobs or to be absent from duty. The nurses were facing numerous problems in their work environment such as work overload due to staff shortage, stress due to shortage of supplies because they are not able to do their job as much as the need requires. The researcher identified the need to explore the challenges that the operating room nurses are experiencing in their work environment. The researcher used the following questions to meet the research objectives: What are the experiences of the operating room nurses in their work environment?; What potential assistance would such nurses need to better cope with the problems they experience in their work environment? The research study aimed to explore and describe the experience of operating room nurses in their work environment and on the basis of the findings to develop guidelines to assist the operating room nurses in coping more effectively with their work environment. The researcher used a qualitative approach with an explorative, descriptive and contextual design. Fifteen registered nurses were selected using purposive sampling. Informed consent was obtained from the participants and permission from the Ethics Committee of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, as well as Yekatit 12 Hospital. Data were gathered using face to face interviews and field notes were taken to determine the experiences of the participants. Data were analyzed using Tesch's method of descriptive data analysis (in Creswell, 2003:13). Two main themes with two sub-themes related to the experience of the registered nurses working in the operating room of the state hospital were identified. Main theme one focused on the non-conducive work environment and it focused on the lack of support from management and the problems experienced in the environment. It was found that OR nurses had good working relationships among the nursing staff. Main theme two focused on the limited training opportunities in OR techniques. The sub-themes described the limited exposure to new technology and the quality of nursing education which the participants felt was not taken seriously in Ethiopia. Based on the identified themes guidelines were formulated to assist the registered nurses working in the operating room of a state hospital in Ethiopia. Utilization of these guidelines should assist the registered nurses to cope more effectively with their work environment. Recommendation were made, further research and limitations identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Woldehawariat, Negat
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Operating room nurses -- Ethiopia , Operating rooms -- Ethiopia , Work environment -- Ethiopia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008177 , Operating room nurses -- Ethiopia , Operating rooms -- Ethiopia , Work environment -- Ethiopia
- Description: Operating room nursing skills are some of the most demanding skills in the nursing profession. At the moment nurses trained in operating room technique are in very short supply in Ethiopia, due to the exodus of nurses to better working environments with more reasonable payment. This is especially noticeable in one of the state hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as emerged in conversations with the head nurse of the operating room in this hospital about the high turnover rate, as well as the high absenteeism rate amongst the nurses working in the operating room. Nurses working in the operating room also expressed unhappiness in their work environment which could cause them to look for other jobs or to be absent from duty. The nurses were facing numerous problems in their work environment such as work overload due to staff shortage, stress due to shortage of supplies because they are not able to do their job as much as the need requires. The researcher identified the need to explore the challenges that the operating room nurses are experiencing in their work environment. The researcher used the following questions to meet the research objectives: What are the experiences of the operating room nurses in their work environment?; What potential assistance would such nurses need to better cope with the problems they experience in their work environment? The research study aimed to explore and describe the experience of operating room nurses in their work environment and on the basis of the findings to develop guidelines to assist the operating room nurses in coping more effectively with their work environment. The researcher used a qualitative approach with an explorative, descriptive and contextual design. Fifteen registered nurses were selected using purposive sampling. Informed consent was obtained from the participants and permission from the Ethics Committee of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, as well as Yekatit 12 Hospital. Data were gathered using face to face interviews and field notes were taken to determine the experiences of the participants. Data were analyzed using Tesch's method of descriptive data analysis (in Creswell, 2003:13). Two main themes with two sub-themes related to the experience of the registered nurses working in the operating room of the state hospital were identified. Main theme one focused on the non-conducive work environment and it focused on the lack of support from management and the problems experienced in the environment. It was found that OR nurses had good working relationships among the nursing staff. Main theme two focused on the limited training opportunities in OR techniques. The sub-themes described the limited exposure to new technology and the quality of nursing education which the participants felt was not taken seriously in Ethiopia. Based on the identified themes guidelines were formulated to assist the registered nurses working in the operating room of a state hospital in Ethiopia. Utilization of these guidelines should assist the registered nurses to cope more effectively with their work environment. Recommendation were made, further research and limitations identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The impact of regulatory compliance on small, medium and micro-enterprises in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Mahlanza, Zanele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011840 , Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The small, medium and micro-enterprise sector is recognised as being favourable to socioeconomic growth since SMMEs have capacity to generate jobs. SMMEs are particularly beneficial for previously disadvantaged communities, and it is particularly clear that SMMEs play a critical role in economic development. It is therefore important to encourage growth of this sector by introducing a favourable and a conducive environment for the sustainability of the SMMEs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of regulatory compliance on SMMEs in the Buffalo City municipal area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. In other words, this study seeks to find out how SMMEs in the Buffalo City experience regulatory compliance. Exploratory quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used in this study. In this instance structured questionnaires were used to collect data. In order to provide a precise presentation of information, face-to-face interviews with the SMME owners were conducted. The results of this study indicate that the regulatory environment within which the SMMEs operate is not a constraining one. Although the manual registering process is reported to take long, the electronic or online business registration is much quicker. Notwithstanding, the business registration agencies were reported not be too easily and readily available and accessible. In terms of labour regulations SMME owners and managers indicated that compliance with labour legislation in terms of health and safety was benefiting to their businesses as they learnt how to develop polices and plans. Although the regulatory environment of the SMMEs is not a constraining one, there are costs involved. For example the respondents indicated that the labour laws increased their operating costs. In accordance with labour legislation, employees are entitled to all kinds of paid leave such as annual leave, maternity leave and sometimes study leave; needless to say a right to strike. The labour law regulations were seen to be time consuming and presented an administrative burden for managers. With regards to tax regulations compliance, there was an indication that due to the extra efforts taken by SARS, it was easy to comply. The SMMEs were exposed to what is required in order to comply fully with tax laws. Some respondents mentioned that they lacked the facilities to deal with VAT issues. The study recommends that government should ensure that the registration costs of small businesses remain low and that the turnaround time for registration is shortened. The support structures which are to assist small businesses need to be mentioned in all the media for everyone to be aware of them including the rural areas. The government needs to educate SMME owners and managers on how labour laws can benefit small businesses. Also the business registration process should be streamlined and linked with the South African Revenue Services in order for a ‘one shop stop’, so to shorten the time during formalisation and registration processes. It is also recommended that the South African Revenue Services together with the government simplify the tax issues applying to SMMEs further more especially Value Added Tax which seems not to be easily understood. This will in turn assist SMME owners as they will know more about tax issues, they will also know more how to handle them which should in turn lower the costs of doing business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mahlanza, Zanele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:9006 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011840 , Small business -- Government policy -- South Africa , Small business -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The small, medium and micro-enterprise sector is recognised as being favourable to socioeconomic growth since SMMEs have capacity to generate jobs. SMMEs are particularly beneficial for previously disadvantaged communities, and it is particularly clear that SMMEs play a critical role in economic development. It is therefore important to encourage growth of this sector by introducing a favourable and a conducive environment for the sustainability of the SMMEs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of regulatory compliance on SMMEs in the Buffalo City municipal area in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. In other words, this study seeks to find out how SMMEs in the Buffalo City experience regulatory compliance. Exploratory quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used in this study. In this instance structured questionnaires were used to collect data. In order to provide a precise presentation of information, face-to-face interviews with the SMME owners were conducted. The results of this study indicate that the regulatory environment within which the SMMEs operate is not a constraining one. Although the manual registering process is reported to take long, the electronic or online business registration is much quicker. Notwithstanding, the business registration agencies were reported not be too easily and readily available and accessible. In terms of labour regulations SMME owners and managers indicated that compliance with labour legislation in terms of health and safety was benefiting to their businesses as they learnt how to develop polices and plans. Although the regulatory environment of the SMMEs is not a constraining one, there are costs involved. For example the respondents indicated that the labour laws increased their operating costs. In accordance with labour legislation, employees are entitled to all kinds of paid leave such as annual leave, maternity leave and sometimes study leave; needless to say a right to strike. The labour law regulations were seen to be time consuming and presented an administrative burden for managers. With regards to tax regulations compliance, there was an indication that due to the extra efforts taken by SARS, it was easy to comply. The SMMEs were exposed to what is required in order to comply fully with tax laws. Some respondents mentioned that they lacked the facilities to deal with VAT issues. The study recommends that government should ensure that the registration costs of small businesses remain low and that the turnaround time for registration is shortened. The support structures which are to assist small businesses need to be mentioned in all the media for everyone to be aware of them including the rural areas. The government needs to educate SMME owners and managers on how labour laws can benefit small businesses. Also the business registration process should be streamlined and linked with the South African Revenue Services in order for a ‘one shop stop’, so to shorten the time during formalisation and registration processes. It is also recommended that the South African Revenue Services together with the government simplify the tax issues applying to SMMEs further more especially Value Added Tax which seems not to be easily understood. This will in turn assist SMME owners as they will know more about tax issues, they will also know more how to handle them which should in turn lower the costs of doing business.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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