The role of microfinance in women empowerment in Gqeberha, South Africa
- Authors: Munyoro, Ruvimbonashe Doreen
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Microfinance -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Empowerment -- Women , Women executives , Businesswomen
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65274 , vital:74085
- Description: This research studied the role of microfinance in women empowerment in Gqeberha, in Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Various development strategies and approaches have been devised across the world, aimed at empowering women and eradicating poverty, particularly in developing countries. One of these development strategies is microfinance. Microfinance has provided financial assistance through loans to people, unable to access formal financial banks. Empowering women to participate fully in their economies is not only essential to building economies but to achieving the internationally agreed goals for development, human rights and sustainability. The inclusion of women empowerment and poverty alleviation in the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals demonstrates the importance of poverty alleviation (SDG1) and women empowerment (SDG5) in the development of economies across the world. This qualitative research study collected data, using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with 30 beneficiaries of MFIs and three MFI managers in Gqeberha. The sampling method used were non-probability purposive sampling, and the data were analysed through content analysis and descriptive statistics. The results suggest that microfinance through micro-loans and micro-business loans has had a positive role in the empowerment of women through the ease of access to finance through small loans. However, a gap exists in the market for long-term loans which could aid with starting small businesses and give the beneficiary more financial independence, improving their livelihood. It is recommended that MFIs across Gqeberha offer loans in the form of start-up capital and financial advice or education. , Thesis (MPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
The role of Muslim women in family businesses
- Authors: Salie, Najmiea
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises , Women executives , Businesswomen
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8859 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020171
- Description: The primary research objective of this treatise is to determine the role of Muslim women in family businesses. Muslim women actively participate in various private and public sectors of the economy as well as in family businesses. The literature review discusses the family business and its definitions and portrayed the advantages and disadvantages of family businesses. Furthermore, the research explored women in family business and investigated common reasons for joining the family business as well as conflict and success planning experienced by the women in the family business. Thereafter, the literature review discussed the Muslim women in family businesses and highlighted the background of the history of Muslim women in Islam. The Muslim women and their rights in Islam were presented followed by the rules of hijab. An overview of Muslim women in the history of Islam of the past and in the current economy was completed. The literature review then discussed the Muslim women in business and concluded with the Muslim women and their role in family businesses. The research methodology and research design literature lead to a qualitative research strategy being adopted to determine the role of Muslim women in family businesses. A questionnaire was designed and participants from the local Muslim business community who live in Port Elizabeth were approached to participate in the research treatise. The participants were initially contacted telephonically followed by an interview session where the questionnaire was used as a guide to the interview. The main purpose of the structured questionnaire was to determine sufficient data for adequate analysis of the research problem. The data were analysed and recommendations were made to address the primary research objective. The findings presented highlighted the role of Muslim women in family businesses. During the research further opportunities for research were presented, particularly to determine the impact of the Muslim daughter in family business is recommended for future research.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Women in organisational management in Zimbabwe: theory and practice
- Authors: Zikhali, Whitehead
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Businesswomen , Discrimination in employment -- Zimbabwe , Women executives -- Zimbabwe , Success in business -- Zimbabwe , Corporate culture -- Zimbabwe , Leadership -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Science Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11415 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1001185 , Businesswomen , Discrimination in employment -- Zimbabwe , Women executives -- Zimbabwe , Success in business -- Zimbabwe , Corporate culture -- Zimbabwe , Leadership -- Zimbabwe
- Description: The study was premised on the truism that men have historically served in higher echelons of organizational management structures and women are under-represented. The principal objective was to explore the constraints faced by women in accessing higher leadership and senior management positions in public, private and non-governmental organisations in Zimbabwe. This study adopted the triangulation method, that is, qualitative and quantitative approaches. These mixed research methods, were upgraded by the feminist research methodologies, thereby making a contribution in the field of research. The study found out that the constraints that mostly hinder women from accessing leadership and senior management positions in public, private and NGOs were cultural practices, which represent levels of power and control that in turn hinder reforms; and women's socialisation into feminised roles. The study also found out that in most organisations, most females work under male leadership, and this traditional organisational culture, needs to be deconstructed and reversed in order to achieve gender equality. The study recommended for a human centric and integrated organizational management strategy for public, private and NGOs in Zimbabwe. The adoption of a human centric and integrated management approach should aim at gender equity and reduce women's under-representation. A human centred organizational culture has to be practiced, that would create organisational ethos that guide organizational management. An integrated organizational management approach should integrate all systems and processes into one complete framework, enabling people to work as a single unit, unified by organizational goals, shared vision and common values. The system should depend on a balanced mix of the masculine and feminine attributes. The approach should put its weight towards adoption of measures to attract, advance and empower women so as to benefit from their qualifications, experience and talent in a highly competitive environment.
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- Date Issued: 2009
Effects of discrimination on promotion of women into top managerial positions in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Yona, Noxolo Nondwe Trewhellah
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Sex discrimination against women , Businesswomen
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:10902 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/57 , Sex discrimination against women , Businesswomen
- Description: The effects of discrimination on promotion of women into top managerial positions is investigated in this study. In order to investigate these effects, the use of a questionnaire for survey was developed. The questionnaire consisted of thirty-one statements in which a response to each question contributed towards the results of this study. The literature study was used as an eye opener to the South African situation with comparison to other countries. The purpose of the empirical study was to determine the effects of discrimination especially in the Eastern Cape. The answers of the respondents were analysed and interpreted with relation to the findings from the literature study. Concluding remarks are provided which could assist firms in the private sector when faced with the challenge of the advancement of women and the implementation of the Labour policies which endorse the equal opportunity programme.
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- Date Issued: 2001
The small business entrepreneur : a psychological profile
- Authors: Street, David Michael
- Date: 1995
- Subjects: Businessmen -- Psychology , Businesswomen -- Psychology , Self-employed -- Psychology , Entrepreneurship -- Psychological aspects , Small business -- Psychological aspects , Businessmen , Businesswomen , Businesspeople
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:3065 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002574 , Businessmen -- Psychology , Businesswomen -- Psychology , Self-employed -- Psychology , Entrepreneurship -- Psychological aspects , Small business -- Psychological aspects , Businessmen , Businesswomen , Businesspeople
- Description: With the growing importance being placed on the small business environment as having a positive influence on economic growth and vitality (Erwee, 1987: Burns & Dewhurst, 1989), there has been a corresponding increase in attention being paid to entrepreneurship and the characteristics of the entrepreneur. This increased attention is due to the fact that entrepreneurs have long been linked to small business creation and recognised as an important factor in the small business development process (Boyd & Gumpert, 1983). Despite the quantity of research on entrepreneurship, there appears to be an ongoing controversy oyer what characterises an entrepreneurial business. and the specific characteristics of the small business entrepreneur. It has been argued that although there is an overlap between entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial businesses. they are in fact different entities (Carland, Hoy, Boulton & Carland, 1984: Drucker, 1985), and that not every individual who starts a business is an entrepreneur (Drucker. 1985). Small business entrepreneurship has been found to be specifically related to the psychological characteristics of the owner-manager who controls the business (Miller. 1983). The purpose of this research was to identify and describe psychological characteristics displayed by a group of South African small business entrepreneurs, thereby compiling a psychological profile of the small business entrepreneur. Given the nature of entrepreneurial activities and processes, Hofer and Bygrave (1992) recommend that accurate, precise qualitative data that is rich in its descriptive characterisation of the situation and the phenomenon involved be collected. As a result the researcher used qualitative rather than quantitative methods of investigation. Innovative behaviour has long been linked to entrepreneurship (Schumpeter. 1934) and entrepreneurial businesses were distinguished from other small businesses by their use of innovative strategic practices. Two sample groups consisting of entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial businesses, were created and the data collected were analysed independently. The results, based on personal interviews with 32 small business owner-managers and the administration and interpretation of tihe Structured Objective Rorschach Test (SORT), indicate that small business entrepreneurship should not be used as a term synonymous with small business ownership and/or management. Despite similarities between small business entrepreneurs and other small business owner-managers. the results suggest that a distinction between the two groups is necessary for accurate future research on entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs differed from other small business owner-managers in terms of their psychological characteristics including their motives, their perception and attitude towards the external environment, and various sociological factors. The entrepreneurial businesses were also different in that they were more innovative and growth oriented than the non-entrepreneurial businesses. The research contributes towards a clarification of the concept of small business entrepreneurship and indicates a need for more precise sampling techniques to be used in entrepreneurial research.
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- Date Issued: 1995