HOW SME'S IN SOUTH AFRICA CAN CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH RECOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT
Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) make up the largest number of firms in the private sector. They are known to comprise up to 90% of all registered firms in the economy including the informal sector (Jeppesen & Kothuis & Ngoc Tran, 2012). According to Falkena et al. (2001), the total economic output from SMEs amounts to 50% of gross domestic product (GPD). This sector also employs 60% of the total labour force. SMEs are critical providers of employment and contribute to large industrial output. SMEs also play an important role in developing countries as they contribute to socio-political stability. Additional positive aspects of SMEs include their decrease in the unemployment rate, reduction in crime as well as a government expenditure (security and legal services). SMEs are also a means to redistribute the ownership of assets thus, in terms of South Africa, improving on black economic empowerment.
With reference to Mahembe (2011), SMEs are the first step towards industrializing an economy as they play an important role in its development. Their contribution toward job creation and development socially is essential in economic growth. SMEs are said to employ up to 22% of the population in developing countries. Table 1 below show the contribution that SMEs have on the South African economy.
Table 1: Contribution of SA's SMEs to the economy
% Survivorlist Micro(0) Micro(1-4) Very small Small Medium Large
No. of firms 19.6 31.3 19.8 20.5 6.8 1.3 0.7
Employment 2.2 3.5 6.5 13 15.7 13 46.1
GDP 5.8 13.9 15 65.2
Source: Falkena et al. (2001)
A study conducted in 2010 by Abor and Quartey (2010) discovered that within South Africa, 91% o...
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The Small Business Administration (SBA). In July of 1953, the United States Congress amended an act called the Small Business Act. Many believe that the essence of the American economic system of private enterprise is free competition. Also, that only through full and free competition can free markets, free entry into business, and opportunities for expression and growth of personal initiative and individual judgment can be assured.
The world of technology is ever changing and advancing. With the automotive industry in play technology is constantly surpassing what is available today with what can be done for tomorrow. Technology and the automotive industry go hand in hand with constant improvement to components of cars. Due to technology advancement there is competition within the car industry, especially between American car companies and European car companies. European car companies provide their buyers with innovative variety and revolutionary luxuries. European car technology is superior to American car technology due to their safety, entertainment, and luxury features.
Small businesses success is dependent on the perceptions they create within their communities. A business trying to get established in their market depends on their local economy for support in order to get their name out there. If a business is not operating ethically or showing social responsibility to their community, they close those doors to the support they need in order to grow. Small businesses can have the greatest impact on a community by creating jobs and providing good and services for customers in smaller markets that larger corporations are often not interested in serving (Ferrell & Hartline, 2011).
The automotive industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy for every country in the world. It involves a large number of corporations and institutions engaged in the manufacturing process of motor vehicles including designing, developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling. It contributes to the global economic growth by generating a significant return and creating a ripple effect on supporting the supply chain as well as providing job opportunities for the skilled workers (ACEA, 2016).
In conclusion, a precise and more appropriate definition that reflects the size, the nature and needs of SMEs is essential and advantageous not only for a particular SME itself, but also for policy makers and supporting agencies in planning and nurturing the proper growth and development of the SMEs sector in Malaysia as a whole.
Introduction: Toyota Motor Corporation is a very successful automobile manufacturer that is recognized globally. They have continued to obtain and retain a competitive advantage over their counterparts, despite recalls over many years. Regardless of recalls, Toyota has been quick to rectify their shortcomings and continue to lead the automotive industry with their innovative measures. In this essay, I will discuss key internal factors for Toyota. Within those factors will include Toyota’s core competencies, which are what they do really well in comparison to their competition, three of their strength’s, which will include their posture within the automobile market and their heavy focus on research and development, and two of their weaknesses.
As a result of the increased demand of cars, the competition among car companies is becoming intense. Although the market of car is the biggest growing market in the world, there are still some companies who make cars failing year after year. However, there are some outstanding car companies such as The BMW Group performing distinctly.
Growth in the small and medium business in Canada and other developed countries has been very significant. This sector of the business community now represents about 40 percent of GDP and accounts more than half of total employment. Today small businesses are more diverse and more vigorous than ever, but they also faces newer and more challenges or inhibitors to their growth than their older conter parts. This research will attempt to find the answer to the following hypothetical question:
Company Overview: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) is a German holding company and automobile manufacturer that focuses on the automobile and motorcycle markets worldwide. Franz Josef Popp founded the company in March 1916. BMW is headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It also owns and produces Mini cars, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad. It divides its activities into the three main segments: Automobiles, Motorcycles and Financial Services. Its BMW automobile range encompasses the 1 Series, including three-door, five-door, coupe and convertible models; the 3 Series, including sedan, touring, coupe and convertible models; the brand new 4 series, featuring an only coupe design; the 5 Series, available in sedan and touring models; the 6 Series, available as a coupe or convertible; the 7 Series large sedan; the Z4 roadster and coupe; the sports utility vehicles, X3, X5 and X6 and M models, such as M3, M5 and M6. It has producing, assembly, service and sales subsidiaries throughout the world. For the sake of this project, I will be focusing on BMW’s automobile range mentioned above but specifically the 3 series line. The BMW 3 series proves to be the most profitable line due to its relatively low cost and affordability whilst featuring the thrill and power of a German engineered vehicle.
Within every major economy, a great factor in providing the energy of the core of the nations economy is the small and medium enterprises. These cluster of firms are what provide new economic activity, new innovative products and services, along with growing employment and in general a crucial system in ensuring the economy is at a stable growth level. With a majority of this activity stemming from family controlled or managed businesses, the focus on developing a global and long term perspective for these firms are ever growing in importance because of the global perspective entrepreneurship has started to take.
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Nowadays, entrepreneurship becomes most popular career, where our government encourages our graduated student to involve in business so that unemployment will not happen in our country. Policymakers, academics, and researcher agree that entrepreneurship is a vital route to economic advancement for both developed and developing economics (Zelealem et al., 2004). Entrepreneurship has many types for example small business and others. Today small business, particularly the new ones, is the main vehicle for entrepreneurship, contributing not just to employment, social and political stability, but also to innovation and competitive power (Thurik & Wennekers, 2004).
Small businesses have been considered the mainstay in countries around the world. In many European countries for example, the small business has been considered crucial to the success and flourishment of the country in general. Most individuals start upon a small business venture in the hopes of realizing ownership, independent profits and personal success. Small businesses can prove extremely successful when planned properly. Studies suggest that several small businesses, however, close or fail within the first few years of operation. This failure suggests that a majority of small business owners may not have as yet realized the crucial success factors necessary for successful implementation of a small business.
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Small, medium enterprises (SMEs) are largest types business in the world, making up an estimated 99.7% of business. According to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) there are nearly five million existing businesses in the UK as of 2013. SMEs are a key contributor towards economic growth in terms of creating more employment, stimulating innovation and promoting social unity. SMEs are responsible for 47% of private sector employment, yet despite such global present there is still no agreed definition of a SME (Storey 1994). Bolton (1971) attempted to define them through a statistical and economic analysis. Classifications which are based on criteria, such as number of employees or annual turnover, however, do not remain consistent across borders. Given their size, smaller companies tend to be more intent on survival rather than expansion and profit maximisation. Smaller sized firms have always felt that the current reporting framework for IFRS is tailored more for the needs of larger companies and that the heavy cost burden it imposes upon them may not be entirely justified. In response to these concerns, the IASB subsequently issued the IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs) in July 2009. This standard offers an alternative framework which can be adopted by entities in place of the already extant full set of IFRSs or local national requirement standards.(Holt 2010) This essay will critically evaluate the impact of the IFRS for SME’s and whether or not it stands as the most suitable framework available for SMEs to use.