Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is one of the legislations intended to achieve
diversity and inclusion in the South African economic context. Of late, there is a much bigger
global shift which requires organisations to rethink their strategies from sustainable economic
development and growth perspectives. Initiatives, drives and models such as Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs), Shared Value, Social Impact, Social Way, People, Planet and
Prosperity (PPP), Environmental Social and Governance (ESG), and many others are rapidly
gaining prevalence and momentum as the panacea to bring about inclusivity and sustainability.
With the above being said and owed to the significant role of Small Medium Enterprises
(SMEs) in both developing and developed economies, it is pertinent that organisations bring
about structure and focus on sustainable SME development in a form of models and
frameworks.
This is in synch the purpose of this mixed method study which was aimed at developing a
framework for sustainable SME development and to critique current SME development models
and frameworks in comparison with practice across industries to identify commonality and
gaps in an effort to develop a more fit-for purpose SME development framework for Company
X.
The results from the qualitative and quantitative data analysis indicated that the company’s
current SME development is generally effecetive and recommended some strategic focus areas
to improve the programme. Some of the key recommendations are; implementation of
graduation pathways, establishment of a suitable funding vehicle, co-development of technical
skills development interventions and lastly, creation of programme awareness within the
communities.
There is currently no study conducted to determine the correlation between programme success
and the use of models and framework, this is a topic worth pursuing for further research.
- Development of a framework for sustainable SMEs in a framework for sustainable SMEs in a forestry, pulp and paper manufacturing company in Southern Africa
- Lesiba George Lamola
- Forbes Chiromo
- University of Johannesburg; M.Eng.
- M.Eng., University of Johannesburg
- 9948104307691
- University of Johannesburg
- University of Johannesburg; Department of Industrial Engineering Technology; Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
- English
- Thesis