Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorO'Brien, Connieen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorClack, Elizabethen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-06T14:19:19Z
dc.date.available2015-05-06T14:19:19Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe study explored factors that sustain successful women-owned informal micro businesses. This explorative qualitative study was conducted in Cape Town in the communities of Philippi and Khayelitsha. Face- to- face in-depth interviewing was carried out on a purposive sample of sixteen women-owned informal microbusinesses (WBOs) and five key informants from government and NGO institutions offering small business support services. The main findings indicated that some of the women are successful due to a variety of multifaceted and linked factors. These women have been operating their businesses successfully despite economic downturns and gender exclusion and other community related factors. A variety of behavioural and motivational factors also contribute to small business success. The WBOs are able to successfully operate businesses in economic downturns due to their adaptability, flexibility and innovation in their business practices. A resilient mindset, their strong spirituality, confidence and business aspirations enabled them to persevere in difficult economic and personal circumstances, while conducting business in often violent communities. The nature of trade and their knowledge of the market, customer care, relationships and their attitudes to competition were key to their business success. The family and institutional support however appears to be weak and barriers included sparse information about the support services from NGOs and government. The main recommendation is that these more successful informal micro-business women owners could be better documented and used as case studies and role models for best practice. Much more research is needed on a larger scale across the country since the informal sector is constantly expanding and changing.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationClack, E. (2014). <i>Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12753en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationClack, Elizabeth. <i>"Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12753en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationClack, E. 2014. Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Clack, Elizabeth AB - The study explored factors that sustain successful women-owned informal micro businesses. This explorative qualitative study was conducted in Cape Town in the communities of Philippi and Khayelitsha. Face- to- face in-depth interviewing was carried out on a purposive sample of sixteen women-owned informal microbusinesses (WBOs) and five key informants from government and NGO institutions offering small business support services. The main findings indicated that some of the women are successful due to a variety of multifaceted and linked factors. These women have been operating their businesses successfully despite economic downturns and gender exclusion and other community related factors. A variety of behavioural and motivational factors also contribute to small business success. The WBOs are able to successfully operate businesses in economic downturns due to their adaptability, flexibility and innovation in their business practices. A resilient mindset, their strong spirituality, confidence and business aspirations enabled them to persevere in difficult economic and personal circumstances, while conducting business in often violent communities. The nature of trade and their knowledge of the market, customer care, relationships and their attitudes to competition were key to their business success. The family and institutional support however appears to be weak and barriers included sparse information about the support services from NGOs and government. The main recommendation is that these more successful informal micro-business women owners could be better documented and used as case studies and role models for best practice. Much more research is needed on a larger scale across the country since the informal sector is constantly expanding and changing. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape TI - Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12753 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12753
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationClack E. Exploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Cape. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Social Development, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12753en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Social Developmenten_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherSocial Worken_ZA
dc.titleExploring factors that sustain succesful women-owned informal micro businesses in the Western Capeen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hum_2014_clack_elizabeth.pdf
Size:
361.42 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters