The high failure rate among small businesses in South Africa has created an urgent need to identify strategies that will improve their levels of performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurially orientated strategies implemented by small businesses in the Eastern Cape and the influence of these strategies on business performance. Entrepreneurial orientated strategies were assessed in terms of the five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, namely innovativeness, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, risk-taking and autonomy. Business performance was assessed in terms of profitability and growth.A measuring instrument was developed based on valid and reliable items. Statistical techniques including descriptive statistics, Pearson's product moment correlations and structural equation modelling, were performed on data gathered from 317 small business enterprises. The results of this study showed that the more small businesses implement the strategies of proactive innovativeness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy, and the less risk-taking their strategies are, the more likely their businesses are to be successful.
orcid no: 0000-0002-8428-7007 ─Abstract ─The high failure rate among family businesses in South Africa is a cause for concern, given the impact and significance that these businesses have on society and the economy as a whole. Improper -or a lack of -succession planning and estate planning among family businesses is considered the most pressing reason why family businesses fail. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that influence family business owners' intention to seek estate planning assistance from a financial planning professional. The four factors that were identified as influencing family business owners' intention to seek estate planning assistance were awareness, family financial norms, trust, and potential benefits. A questionnaire was developed based on the valid and reliable items. Statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha coefficients, and multiple regression analysis were performed on data gathered from 148 family businesses. The results of this study showed that three of the four factors -family financial norms, trust, and awareness -were found to exert a significant influence on family business owners' intention to seek estate planning assistance.
The financial services industry plays a dominant role in promoting economic growth and providing employment. Financial services offered within this industry are highly sort after by the public, and the services offered require high levels of employee-client interaction. Given the importance of this particular industry and the high level of employee-client interaction required in the financial services industry, it is important for employees to be satisfied with their working environments. The motivational factors contributing towards employee satisfaction need to be determined. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected motivational factors on employee satisfaction within the financial services industry. A questionnaire was used in an empirical investigation to gather the responses of 254 financial services employees in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. The questionnaires were subjected to various statistical analyses and significant relationships were found among the independent (management feedback, employee participation as well as job interest and importance) and dependent (employee satisfaction) variables. The implementation of this study's recommendations may lead to improved employee satisfaction within the industry that could lead to increased levels of client satisfaction. In addition, the business performance of financial service providers may improve if they employ more satisfied employees. To conclude, proactive identification of the correct motivational factors may assist financial service providers to positively influence employee satisfaction levels.
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