Owners’ perceptions of factors that constrain the survival and growth of small, medium and micro chemical manufacturing businesses in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.
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Date
2019
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Abstract
The Small Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMME) sector in South Africa is viewed as critical in
improving the current dire economic conditions the country is facing. This perception of an
SMME sector that actively contributes to the economy of the country is not unique to South
Africa, hence entrepreneurship support programmes have been adopted internationally as
policy intervention towards economic development. This research study also points out that a
healthy SMME sector, characterised by a growing and sustainable enterprises requires active
and focused support from SMME-supporting agencies. The study objective was to establish
factors that owners of chemical manufacturing SMMEs in KZN perceive as constraints towards
the growth, survival and sustainability of their small businesses. It also recommends solutions
on how SMME support agencies can address these constraints thereby empowering SMMEs
to contribute towards economic growth, job creation and minimizing societal inequalities. The
study used a mixed methods approach as a research methodology technique and used simple
random sampling as a tool for the collection of quantitative data and purposive sampling for
the collection of qualitative data. The factors that constrain chemical manufacturing SMMEs
growth, survival and sustainability were categorised as those that relate to resource limitations
(financial, human in particular skills shortages), market factors (those that relate to
globalisation and access to markets) and regulatory and compliance factors. Furthermore one
understands how South African SMMEs are also faced with insurmountable business
challenges that prevent growth in business and growth in our economy. Therefore, the study
investigated the factors implicated in the entrepreneurial debacle faced by SMMEs in South
Africa.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.