Abstract
Ph.D. (Operational Management)
Stated as a brief overview, the study called into question the theoretical and empirical fundamentals for a business framework for the growth of immigrant – owned survivalist and micro craft enterprises in Cape Town. Against a problem of failure to grow of survivalist micro craft enterpirses in Cape Town, the main purpose of the inquiry was to develop a business framework for the growth of immigrant-owned craft enterprises in Cape Town. To achieve the study aim and objectives, a mixed methodology relying on the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data was employed. Four craft markets in Cape Town were identified and three population groups provided data to achieve the research objectives. Firstly, interviews were conducted with eight small and medium sized immigrant-owned craft enterprises; participants were selected utilising the non-probability sampling method of snowballing. Secondly, another snowball sample of five managers of financial development institutions was interviewed to establish the availability of support services among immigrant-owned micro craft enterprises. The last set of data was collected from a purposively-sampled group of 150 owners of micro and survivalist enterprises. In line with study objectives, the key findings were that a business framework for the growth of survivalist and micro entreprses in Cape Town should include the development of critical business-related personal traits of the craft entrepreneur, the acquisition and adoption of appropriate leadership and management skills, the establishment of institutional links and the initiation of collective lobbying through local and regional institutions. In conclusion, the study provides a practical framework that immigrant craft entrepreneurs and policy makers can adopt to ensure growth. In respect of the findings of this study, the South African government, as a key stakeholder, is recommended to create and capacitate strong craft business institutions that to promote growth of the immigrant owned craft enterprises in cape Town. In addition, the study recommends further research on the actual relationship and relative significance of the factor components of the framework provided and the adoption of more rigorous, quantitative analysis of the factor components to ensure completeness of the framework proposed.