An analysis of the importance of mobile technology on small businesses in Noordwyk
- Elephant, Nontsikelelo, Maphela, Bulelwa
- Authors: Elephant, Nontsikelelo , Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: SMEs , Mobile Technology , Small Businesses
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/290334 , uj:31517 , Citation: Elephant, N. & Maphela, B. 2018. An analysis of the importance of mobile technology on small businesses in Noordwyk. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Volume 22, Issue 4, 2018.
- Description: Abstract: Literature indicates that the use of mobile technology by small businesses improves how the business performs and increases its likelihood of success. This paper sought to identify the access and use of mobile technology by small businesses in South Africa and its perceived impact on their success. A positivism approach was followed with a quantitative research method albeit the study was exploratory in nature. Surveys were conducted through the use of standardised questionnaires to collect data. Results revealed that small business owners in Noordwyk have access to mobile technology, with the majority owning about 3.4 devices on average, and that they make use of mobile technology extensively in the running of their businesses. The costs associated with the use mobile technology such as the cost of data and airtime are some of the obstacles that hinder small business owners from taking full advantage of the benefits of mobile technology. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram play an important role in the marketing and branding of small businesses. This paper recommends that future research should focus on same study on various samples and studies on how mobile technology impacts productivity and profitability in small businesses. In addition, it suggests that the South African government can look into subsidising small businesses with regards to the costs associated with the use of mobile technology, over and above the funding initiatives in place.
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- Authors: Elephant, Nontsikelelo , Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: SMEs , Mobile Technology , Small Businesses
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/290334 , uj:31517 , Citation: Elephant, N. & Maphela, B. 2018. An analysis of the importance of mobile technology on small businesses in Noordwyk. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Volume 22, Issue 4, 2018.
- Description: Abstract: Literature indicates that the use of mobile technology by small businesses improves how the business performs and increases its likelihood of success. This paper sought to identify the access and use of mobile technology by small businesses in South Africa and its perceived impact on their success. A positivism approach was followed with a quantitative research method albeit the study was exploratory in nature. Surveys were conducted through the use of standardised questionnaires to collect data. Results revealed that small business owners in Noordwyk have access to mobile technology, with the majority owning about 3.4 devices on average, and that they make use of mobile technology extensively in the running of their businesses. The costs associated with the use mobile technology such as the cost of data and airtime are some of the obstacles that hinder small business owners from taking full advantage of the benefits of mobile technology. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram play an important role in the marketing and branding of small businesses. This paper recommends that future research should focus on same study on various samples and studies on how mobile technology impacts productivity and profitability in small businesses. In addition, it suggests that the South African government can look into subsidising small businesses with regards to the costs associated with the use of mobile technology, over and above the funding initiatives in place.
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Critical assessment of South Africa’s water policy
- Authors: Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Water resources development - Government policy - South Africa , Water-supply - South Africa - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/55050 , uj:16267
- Description: Abstract: The impact of climatic change on the availability of fresh water for human consumption has become a global phenomenon. Looming water scarcity has been projected for years ahead. Countries that are known to be semi-arid and arid, had to swiftly adapt their consumption patterns to mitigate to possible water scarcity challenges. Informed by the Water Resource Management Guidelines, SA infused the guidelines into its water management regime. This exercise coincided with the changes in the political dispensation of the country. Amongst all the policies of the previous regime, the Water Policy needed urgent attention. The previous Water Policy of 1956 was found to be woven with political motives, where ownership and access to the resource was in the hands of a few. When the African National Congress came into power in 1994, it adopted the international guidelines on water management. This free access was capped at 6kl for all South Africans for uniformity and equality in the management of the resource. The study asserted that the attitudes, perceptions and willingness to pay by the communities had an impact on the management of the resource in the townships. In an effort to highlight this supposition, a mixed housing development area was used as a focus area of study. In this study, three different households were identified. Four-roomed section and the Reconstruction Development Program houses, were identified to be mostly below the acceptable economic status. The mortgage section was found to have high levels of education with corresponding incomes. Thus the study was able to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the indigent status of the household was not the determining factor in the inability of the achievements of policy objectives. All three sections did not believe in paying for water. Indigent status was found to be insignificant to the willingness to pay for water. During this period, the demand management of the resource was absent; therefore, communities adopted the attitude of a free resource. Willingness to pay by the communities was also found to be dependent on the existence of governance between the two role players in the townships. Improving governance overtime would improve willingness to pay by the households. In the policy agenda, infusing the human element may take longer than envisaged in policy goals, however the study found that it was necessary towards a sustainable usage of the resource by the... , D.Litt. et Phil. (Public Management and Governance)
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- Authors: Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Water resources development - Government policy - South Africa , Water-supply - South Africa - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/55050 , uj:16267
- Description: Abstract: The impact of climatic change on the availability of fresh water for human consumption has become a global phenomenon. Looming water scarcity has been projected for years ahead. Countries that are known to be semi-arid and arid, had to swiftly adapt their consumption patterns to mitigate to possible water scarcity challenges. Informed by the Water Resource Management Guidelines, SA infused the guidelines into its water management regime. This exercise coincided with the changes in the political dispensation of the country. Amongst all the policies of the previous regime, the Water Policy needed urgent attention. The previous Water Policy of 1956 was found to be woven with political motives, where ownership and access to the resource was in the hands of a few. When the African National Congress came into power in 1994, it adopted the international guidelines on water management. This free access was capped at 6kl for all South Africans for uniformity and equality in the management of the resource. The study asserted that the attitudes, perceptions and willingness to pay by the communities had an impact on the management of the resource in the townships. In an effort to highlight this supposition, a mixed housing development area was used as a focus area of study. In this study, three different households were identified. Four-roomed section and the Reconstruction Development Program houses, were identified to be mostly below the acceptable economic status. The mortgage section was found to have high levels of education with corresponding incomes. Thus the study was able to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the indigent status of the household was not the determining factor in the inability of the achievements of policy objectives. All three sections did not believe in paying for water. Indigent status was found to be insignificant to the willingness to pay for water. During this period, the demand management of the resource was absent; therefore, communities adopted the attitude of a free resource. Willingness to pay by the communities was also found to be dependent on the existence of governance between the two role players in the townships. Improving governance overtime would improve willingness to pay by the households. In the policy agenda, infusing the human element may take longer than envisaged in policy goals, however the study found that it was necessary towards a sustainable usage of the resource by the... , D.Litt. et Phil. (Public Management and Governance)
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The impact of price on residential water demand: (a comparative study)
- Authors: Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2010-10-04T07:52:27Z
- Subjects: Water-supply management , Water-supply costs , Water-supply rates , Climate changes , Water prices
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3420
- Description: M.Comm. , Southern Africa is considered by the rest of the world to be a water scarce region. Previously within the region water was not regarded as a high profile subject in the development process. A paradigm shift is required in the region to recognise the need to concentrate on demand management instead. The paper briefly examines the climatic conditions as a contributing factor to scarcity of the water resources. It further focuses on the human factor which is regarded as a factor that can be managed as opposed to the climatic conditions. In managing the human factor, the usage of water cannot remain the same as it was before the scarcity problem that the SADC region is faced with. It is also recognised that water resource is necessary for survival, therefore basic human requirements are examined. This scarcity makes water to be regarded as an economic good. The paper further explains the elements that make water to be regarded as an economic good. Water being an economic good, it commands a price. The study explains pricing the resource as the only method of making the population understand about the importance of the resource. Different pricing methods are explained in detail. To demonstrate this demand management of water the study interrogates three cities namely Soweto, Cape Town and Durban. In this interrogation the demand management techniques used and their efficiency are compared and contrasted to ascertain the efficiency of the chosen demand management techniques and the existence of gaps within these techniques.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Maphela, Bulelwa
- Date: 2010-10-04T07:52:27Z
- Subjects: Water-supply management , Water-supply costs , Water-supply rates , Climate changes , Water prices
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3420
- Description: M.Comm. , Southern Africa is considered by the rest of the world to be a water scarce region. Previously within the region water was not regarded as a high profile subject in the development process. A paradigm shift is required in the region to recognise the need to concentrate on demand management instead. The paper briefly examines the climatic conditions as a contributing factor to scarcity of the water resources. It further focuses on the human factor which is regarded as a factor that can be managed as opposed to the climatic conditions. In managing the human factor, the usage of water cannot remain the same as it was before the scarcity problem that the SADC region is faced with. It is also recognised that water resource is necessary for survival, therefore basic human requirements are examined. This scarcity makes water to be regarded as an economic good. The paper further explains the elements that make water to be regarded as an economic good. Water being an economic good, it commands a price. The study explains pricing the resource as the only method of making the population understand about the importance of the resource. Different pricing methods are explained in detail. To demonstrate this demand management of water the study interrogates three cities namely Soweto, Cape Town and Durban. In this interrogation the demand management techniques used and their efficiency are compared and contrasted to ascertain the efficiency of the chosen demand management techniques and the existence of gaps within these techniques.
- Full Text:
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