Browsing by Subject "Small enterprises"
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Temtime, Z.T.; Chinyoka, S.V.; Shunda, J.P.W. (Journal of Management Development; Emerald Group Publishing Limited; www.emeraldinsight.com/0262-1711.htm, NaN, 2004)[more][less]
Abstract: There is a general consensus among public policy makers, academics and researchers that entrepreneurship is a vital route to economic advancement for both developed and developing economies. As a result, a host of small business assistance programs are conducted by public, private and nonprofit organizations. Although the need for integrating these programs has always been a high priority on the national agenda for public policy and research in entrepreneurship, their implementation particularly in developing economies is characterized by fragmentation and lack of coordination. Small business assistance will be meaningful if they are designed in a holistic and systematic way and implemented with a view to achieve long term sustainable development. This paper offers a conceptual framework for designing an integrated model of small business assistance. The paper identifies the major characteristics of small firms and potential small business assistance programs, and presents a decision tree model that matches the characteristics of firms with appropriate assistance program(s). A case study of small business assistance programs in the Republic of Botswana was conducted to provide an empirical evidence of the need for an integrated design or model. Finally, conclusions, discussions and the implications of the model for policy makers, practitioners and further research are presented. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/12 Files in this item: 2
license.txt (1.998Kb)temtime_decision_tree.pdf (5.483Mb) -
Temtime, Z.T.; Chinyoka, S.V.; Shunda, J.P.W. (Emerald Group Publications, www.emeraldinsight.com, NaN, 2004)[more][less]
Abstract: There is a general consensus among public policy makers, academics and researchers that entrepreneurship is a vital route to economic advancement for both developed and developing economies. As a result, a host of small business assistance programs are conducted by public, private and nonprofit organizations. Although the need for intergrating these programs has always been a high priority on the national agenda for public policy and research in entrepreneurship, their implementation particularly in developing economies is characterized by fragmentation and lack of coordination. Small business assistance will be meaningful if they are designed in a holistic and systematic way and implemented with a view to achieve long term sustainable development. This paper offers a conceptual framework for designing an integrated model of small business assistance. The paper identifies the major characteristics of small firms and potential small business assistance programs, and presents a decision tree model that matches the characteristics of firms with appropriate assistance program(s). A case study of small business assistance programs in the Republic of Botswana was conducted to provide an empirical evidence of the need for an integrated design or model. Finally, conclusions, discussions and the implications of the model for policy makers, practitioners and further research are presented. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1059 Files in this item: 1
TEMTIME_JMD_2004.pdf (1.334Mb) -
Temtime, Z.T. (WileyInterscience, http://www.wileyinterscience.com, NaN, 2008)[more][less]
Abstract: Today’s business environment is characterized by stiff competition, rapid technological advancements, and changing requirements of customers and employees. To grow and survive in this turbulent environment, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) must balance the emphasis they put on the improvement of short-term operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. Due to the apparent lack of resources and expertise, most SMEs pay very little attention to long-term competitiveness and dynamism. Preoccupied with operational bits and pieces, SMEs lack strategic awareness and orientation. Strategic awareness is a mental process of continually evaluating organizational and environmental factors and improving on how they are identified, recognized, influenced, and interpreted, and consequently used in making strategic business decisions. The widespread use of short-term oriented, non-formal business planning practices indicates lack of strategic awareness and competitiveness among SMEs. This paper examines the degree of emphasis attached by SMEs, during their business planning, to the achievement of long-term competitive advantages by presenting evidence from a recent empirical study based on data collected from 91 SMEs and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. The findings indicated that SMEs put greater emphasis on short-term profitability and operational efficiency than developing strategic awareness and long-term competitiveness. Although this could be attributed to the relative lack of resources required for the implementation of strategic planning, policy deployment, and positioning, SMEs should be assisted to think and act strategically if they are to survive and grow in today’s turbulent and dynamic markets. Government agencies, policy-makers, consultants, non-governmental organizations, and other small business support agencies must redirect their efforts toward bridging the gap between short-term operational efficiency and strategic competitiveness and sustainability. This paper provides managerial and policy implications for SMEs, SME support agencies, government and non-government agencies, and future research. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/841 Files in this item: 1
Temtime_SC17_2008.pdf (1.252Mb) -
Iwisi, D.S.; Kitindi, E.G.; Basson, N. (Emerald Group Publications, www.emeraldinsight.com, NaN, 2007)[more][less]
Abstract: Auditing lends credibility to financial statements of enterprises. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has committed itself to the promotion of small businesses in member countries. This implies that auditors will become more involved with small businesses as a result of their expected growth and expansion. However, small businesses are said to have characteristics that cause difficulties to their auditors. This study investigates the characteristics of small businesses in three SADC countries, problems auditors of small businesses in those countries face, frequency of occurrence of those problems, and their impact on auditing. The findings suggest that characteristics of small businesses in the selected SADC countries are similar to those of small businesses in other countries. Many of twenty-three problems suggested to auditors rarely occured, or occurred only occassionally. However, some problems are considered to have an important effect on auditing. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1060 Files in this item: 1
IWISI_ARA_2002.pdf (1.365Mb)
Now showing items 1-4 of 4