Research

A number of PhD and Master’s students at USB are undertaking research to evaluate the impact of the SBA Development Programme on the participants and their businesses. They also do research on the longer term effects of the programme on the economy in the areas involved in the SBA DP.

A number of PhD and MBA students are undertaking research on various aspects of small business development in South Africa and Africa. Please see recent research projects below:

• Exploring small business owners’ perceptions of the factors required to achieve business success – Henem van Staden
• The impact of market orientation on the financial performance of small and medium-sized construction firms in South Africa – Odirile Rapereng Mametse
• Do the demographic attributes of small business owners play a role in their implementation of business elements after training? – Sabelo Savimbi Ntanjan
• Exploring factors that lead to the failure or non-growth of small businesses in the Western Cape – Donovan Adams

The formal business sector, international corporates and government entities often request research on small-business development topics. These topics are made available to MBA and MPhil students at USB to complete as part of their research projects. Feedback is incorporated into the wider body of knowledge at USB as African-based solutions, research and case studies.