The stakeholder ecosystem of women entrepreneurs in South African townships

Abstract

The literature on women entrepreneurs indicates that they have a positive influence on national economic growth and employment levels, yet the lived experience of women business owners in the highly constrained setting of South African townships has not been reported in academic literature. This study thus explored the role of the various stakeholders by conducting semi-structured interviews with 40 women entrepreneurs in eight townships, as well as leaders of five small business support organisations. The research provides a unique insight into the contextual complexities faced by these female business owners, offers a model of their stakeholder relationships, and identifies inhibiting and enabling factors in these relationships.

An information and communication technology adoption framework for small, medium and micro-enterprises operating in townships South Africa

“…Because of the barriers that township SMMEs face, they tend to be reluctant to adopt ICTs. Township SMMEs are not very competitive as they have income below the poverty level and relatively high attrition rates (Cant 2017;Mukwarami & Tengeh 2017;Nambiar, Sutherland & Scheepers 2019). According to Khosla (2013) and Cant, Wiid and Hung (2015), South African township SMMEs seem to be lagging behind in terms of ICT adoption and they show no progress, as most are still confined to their traditional way of operating without incorporating ICTs.…”

The Influence of Internal and External Stakeholder Mechanisms on Entrepreneurial Success: The Moderating Role of Digital Technology Adoption

“…Research has provided multiple examples to support this assertion. For example, regular customers can become an entrepreneur's friends and provide encouragement and referrals (Nambiar et al, 2020). Similarly, peers can provide support and useful recommendations (Nambiar et al, 2020).…”

“…For example, regular customers can become an entrepreneur's friends and provide encouragement and referrals (Nambiar et al, 2020). Similarly, peers can provide support and useful recommendations (Nambiar et al, 2020). Government involvement is vital for converting knowledge and skills into entrepreneurship (Yoon et al, 2018) and government support influences strategic overhauling (Shu et al, 2019).…”

African women entrepreneurs and COVID-19: Towards achieving the African Union Agenda 2063

“…This study, through a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, contributes to the scant extant literature on African women entrepreneurs and the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on their business operations. Over the past decades, women-owned businesses have expanded and grown in many African countries, contributing to the economic development experienced in many African nations (Nambiar, Sutherland & Scheepers 2020). In South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and many other sub-Saharan African countries, women entrepreneurs, mostly operating in the informal and agricultural sectors, have contributed to the eradication of extreme poverty, unemployment and inequalities; lowering of infant mortality; and improvement in the health of children (Chebii & Ogada 2022;Foleu, Menzepo, & Priso 2022;Kamara 2022;Nambiar et al 2020;Olu-Owolabi et al 2020;Simba & Nziku 2022).…”

“…Over the past decades, women-owned businesses have expanded and grown in many African countries, contributing to the economic development experienced in many African nations (Nambiar, Sutherland & Scheepers 2020). In South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe and many other sub-Saharan African countries, women entrepreneurs, mostly operating in the informal and agricultural sectors, have contributed to the eradication of extreme poverty, unemployment and inequalities; lowering of infant mortality; and improvement in the health of children (Chebii & Ogada 2022;Foleu, Menzepo, & Priso 2022;Kamara 2022;Nambiar et al 2020;Olu-Owolabi et al 2020;Simba & Nziku 2022). Furthermore, African women have contributed immensely towards the decline in illiteracy figures, as empowered mothers are more likely to send their children to school compared to those who do not have any means of livelihood (Dabić et al 2022;Mamun et al 2016;Mzini 2020;Sarpong, Nyuur & Torbor 2021).…”