https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/issue/feed 2026-02-07T09:06:19+00:00 Open Journal Systems <p>The published book chapters and related research were shared at the International Conference for Business and Management Dynamics (ICBMD), which strives to stimulate research at the crossroads of business management and economic development. Like many ICBMD conferences, this book brings together several scholars and researchers to address the evolving landscape of economic development and entrepreneurship.</p> <p>The entrepreneurial scholarship of this book seeks to explain the equity of position and value afforded to entrepreneurship in the development theory of contemporary societies. More specifically, it seeks to tackle the fundamental societal issues of structural disequilibrium, continuing unemployment, technological unemployment, and ultimately, the sustainable development of society as a whole. The entrepreneurship scholarship of this book is situated at the nexus of a firm, market, and socio-economic activities. Within the socio-economic activities, the book examines entrepreneurial activities within the systemic constraints of the culture, innovation, and public policy of the socio-economic systems. Most importantly, this book is the ICBMD's theory and practice integration to the global and regional development phenomenon.</p> <p>We now have a wide variety of contributions from Africa and the Global South for this edition. This preference is noted in the ICBMD’s scholarship geographies. Peripheral regions in terms of the academic publishing of the sub-disciplines of economics are crucial for the inclusive growth, industrialisation and sustainable development scholarship streams. The contributions focus on: entrepreneurial ecosystems, small and medium enterprise (SME) development, innovation-driven growth, digital entrepreneurship, youth and women entrepreneurship, and the inputs of various development actors and institutions.</p> <p><br />The book incorporates, for example, various empirical, analytical and constructive frameworks and pluralism of methodologies. The conference recognised that intricate development challenges are best addressed through the application of multiple methodologies and diversified perspectives. Such an approach broadens the development of the book and ensures it reaches a varied audience, from the academic world, policymakers and development actors to postgraduate students.<br /><br />This volume, as an ICBMD-bound publication, aims to document current research, but also foster an ongoing dialogue regarding the possible role of entrepreneurship as a transformative vehicle for economic development. We hope that the insights provided will inspire research in new directions, advocacy for the development of evidence-based policies, and for entrepreneurial activities that are inclusive, resilient, and adaptive to the prevailing contexts of uncertainty.</p> https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/925 2026-02-07T08:46:04+00:00 Angela Pike-Bowles [email protected] Juliet Townes

<p>Family businesses face various business risks that affect the continuance of operations if not managed efficiently. Such business risks entail changes in government legislation, economic uncertainty, and the family dynamic. Although family business research has recently proliferated, there is insufficient reference to risk management, particularly within the South African context. The purpose of this study was to explore risk management within family businesses, specifically using a qualitative lens. This study adopted an exploratory research design as it sought to gain insight into a topic, identify practical solutions, and generate innovative ideas. A total of 13 family-owned businesses within the Eastern Cape locale were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The snowball sampling technique was used to select participants for this study, with one family business owner or manager per family business serving as the sample unit. Thematic analysis was then used to analyse the data, during which codes and themes were developed. The research findings concluded that the majority of the family businesses were experiencing a range of risks, ranging from operational, financial and security risks to succession and continuity risks. The results further highlighted that risk aversion and intergenerational risk issues were prevalent in these family businesses. These findings align with agency theory and behavioural family business research, which highlight the complex relationship between business owners (principals) and managers (agents). Formal risk management protocols were common, as well as the development of individual risk management plans focusing on each risk the business may experience. Whilst emotional reactions were often prevalent, most family businesses were engaging in strategic innovation and flexibility to manage business risks. Business continuity, knowledge transfer and ongoing adjustment were common matters discussed when considering risk management in these family businesses. The study's findings have implications and recommendations for family business owners, managers, and practitioners regarding the implementation of a universal risk management framework.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/926 2026-02-07T08:48:52+00:00 Mogapi OT [email protected] Rankhumise EM

<p>Worldwide, small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are recognised as the fundamental building blocks for developing countries economically. The concept of humane entrepreneurship is a new field of study in entrepreneurship, and yet, the concept of humane entrepreneurship is central to economic productivity and human development. The aim of this chapter is to determine the relationship between humane entrepreneurship strategies, namely, entrepreneurship orientation, sustainability orientation, and human resource orientation, and their effects on business performance. The study adopted a quantitative research method based on the positivist paradigm to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, sustainability orientation, and humane resource orientation in relation to the performance of small, medium, and micro enterprises. A descriptive research design was adopted, and the Spearman correlation analysis was employed for the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire from a sample of 158 participants selected through convenience sampling within Region One of the City of Tshwane Municipality, and we received a 100% response rate. The study findings revealed that the Spearman correlation analysis indicated a strong and significant correlation between sustainability orientation (r=0.69) and human resources orientation (r=0.63) with business performance.</p> <p>This study offers a new entrepreneurial paradigm that combines three entrepreneurial principles, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and human resource orientations, into a single concept known as humane entrepreneurship. This study is highly pertinent to small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa, a sector that frequently faces challenges related to performance and sustainability. Moreover, this study enhances the paradigm of entrepreneurial orientation by integrating strategic considerations with environmental, social, and human resources. It offers statistical information about how humane entrepreneurship practices may improve the performance of SMMEs, which is crucial for promoting sustainable and equitable economic development. The results indicate that both sustainability and human resource orientation are strongly correlated with SMMEs’ performance, which may help guide future research and development of entrepreneurial orientation.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/927 2026-02-07T08:51:17+00:00 Manikam Michael Nadar [email protected] Manduth Ramchander Raveen Rathilall Kishan Singh

<p>The South African packaging industry’s economic trends, together with the 184,000 tons of metal packaging placed on the market in 2022, highlight major socio-economic and socio-political challenges in the collection, recovery, and recycling of post-consumer metal packaging. A Circular Economy approach shifts from the linear “take-make-use-throw” model toward one that minimises environmental impact and keeps aluminium and ferrous materials circulating within the economy. In 2022, South Africa recovered 53.48% (98,403 tons) of post-consumer metal packaging, falling 5.52% below the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment target, with projections suggesting the gap may widen to 9.19%. Continued underperformance may lead to penalties that threaten business sustainability within the metal packaging value chain.</p> <p>The study used qualitative interviews with converters, brand owners, and recyclers to evaluate South Africa’s post-consumer metal packaging recovery system, revealing key challenges, opportunities, and industry perspectives through thematic analysis.</p> <p>Results show that inefficiencies in collection and recycling systems, inadequate infrastructure, weak policy support, and limited incentives for informal collectors continue to constrain recovery performance. The study recommends a harmonised recovery model, including legislative refinements to integrate buy-back centres, recyclers, and re-melters into the EPR framework, supported by advanced technologies, deposit return schemes, and consumer awareness initiatives to strengthen recovery rates and data accuracy.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/928 2026-02-07T08:54:49+00:00 Bongani Penuel Qwabe [email protected] Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya

<p>Entrepreneurship education and development (EED) is crucial for youth empowerment and for addressing the socio-economic challenges of unemployment, poverty, crime, and inequality. However, concerns persist regarding its poor implementation at the basic education level, which may negatively affect learners' entrepreneurial spirit. This study gauged perceptions of the institutionalisation of entrepreneurship education to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit in primary and secondary schools in South Africa, focusing on the perspectives of educators and principals in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The study adopted a quantitative approach, using a Likert scale-based questionnaire as the primary means of data collection. A total of 356 educators across 22 schools in KwaZulu-Natal, covering all 10 district municipalities and one metropolitan area, participated in the survey. Participants were selected using a non-probability quota sampling technique. A 5-point Likert scale-based questionnaire was used to collect data from teachers, principals, and school governing bodies (SGB) members. The research instrument comprised 46 items, with measurements categorised as nominal or ordinal. The collected data were analysed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0. The findings reveal that most participants believe that a well-managed entrepreneurship education curriculum has the potential to transform the South African economic landscape. In the investigation, 95.9% respondents either agreed (150, or 44%) or strongly agreed (177, or 51.9%) that EED encourages the founding of new businesses by learners. Additionally, the majority of respondents (94.4%) either agreed (164, or 48.1%) or strongly agreed (158, or 46.3%) that EED equips learners with critical decision-making skills. Based on the results, the study suggests that the government develop an entrepreneurship education policy that mandates the integration of entrepreneurship teaching from primary to secondary school levels. As the survey was conducted in only one province (KwaZulu-Natal), generalisation of the results should be approached with caution.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/929 2026-02-07T08:57:04+00:00 Nokhutula Tinotenda Nyati Tendai Chimucheka [email protected]

<p>Small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) play an important role in developing countries, including alleviating poverty, reducing unemployment and improving the fair distribution of income. However, most of these businesses fail within a few years of operation. Literature claims that these challenges are severe for the businesses operated by women. Considering the role played by SMMEs, it is necessary to invest in initiatives that help to improve their performance. The study investigated the mediating effect of strategic planning on the relationships between strategic thinking, strategic innovation and the performance of women-owned small businesses in South Africa. Quantitative research approach was used. Data was collected from women entrepreneurs operating in the Eastern Cape Province using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed using convenience sampling. Statistical tests used in this study include Multiple Linear Regression and factor analysis. The mediation effect was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4, suitable for examining mediation with moderate sample sizes. The results suggest that strategic thinking and strategic innovation positively influence business performance. It was also reported that these relationships are significantly mediated by strategic planning. The findings from this study contribute to the literature on women entrepreneurship, strategic management, and small business performance, offering practical insights for policymakers, educators, and women entrepreneurs on the value of strategic thinking, strategic planning and strategic innovation in improving small business performance. Recommendations were provided to women entrepreneurs and parties that provide support to women entrepreneurs.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/930 2026-02-07T08:59:26+00:00 Nonkululeko Khumalo [email protected]

<p>South Africa remains a developing country with a high unemployment rate. Many households include working-age members who are unemployed due to limited education or work experience. As a result, South Africans have increasingly turned to the informal business sector as a means of generating income. The South African economy, therefore, comprises both formal and informal sectors, each contributing to economic growth as reflected in indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP). The informal sector is a key driver of economic activity; however, traders in this sector face significant challenges in accessing formal financial services. The current research aimed to examine how demographic factors influence the financing of informal sector traders in Umlazi, South Africa. To better understand its role in financing informal traders, the methodological approach of the study was qualitative; a non-probability sampling frame was selected, and an appropriate sample size from the various informal sector industries was interviewed. Through in-depth interviews, the research found that informal traders in Umlazi face major obstacles to accessing financial support, including limited awareness of government policies, stringent requirements from financial institutions, inadequate business training, and poor communication about developmental programmes that could improve their financial readiness. Regular policy reviews, improved communication strategies, structured business training, and flexible financing models by financial institutions are essential to enhance financial inclusion were recommendations made to bridge the gap between Umlazi’s informal traders and the formal financial sector. Future research would be recommended to apply the mixed method research technique for testing of the theoretical proposition, which is qualitative, followed by the development of a richer and theoretical understanding, which is quantitative, based on experimentation and survey research strategies. The current research is based on Umlazi informal sector traders, and South Africa has nine provinces consisting of two hundred and seventy-eight municipalities, comprising male and female, young and old, different racial groups, and informal sector traders in various industries.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/931 2026-02-07T09:01:18+00:00 Ian Lyndon Johnson [email protected] Sean Bevin Johnson

<p>Project managers in South Africa point to both strategic and operational drivers for unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD). Strategically, UOGD is framed as a way to strengthen energy security, diversify the national energy mix, and unlock gas-based industrial and infrastructure development that can widen participation in the economy. This paper examines the strategic drivers of success in unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) projects in South Africa. It further explores how these drivers can support more sustainable forms of economic inclusion. The study responds to the country’s dependence on imported crude oil and the slow progress of domestic UOGD. It also speaks to the need for credible pathways to broaden participation in the energy economy. A qualitative design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior project managers from eight operators. At the time of the study, all eight held licences issued by the South African Agency for Promotion and Exploitation of Petroleum (SOC) Limited. All participants had more than 15 years of project-management experience and brought technical, legal, and strategic expertise. Interview data were transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed. The findings show that predictable regulation, coordinated licensing, and investment in midstream infrastructure are central to project viability. Governance stability and regulatory coherence are also important. Strong stakeholder relationships and fair risk allocation across the value chain emerged as further strategic drivers. The study shows that UOGD can support sustainable economic inclusion only when key conditions align, such as technical capability, governance quality, environmental safeguards and inclusive engagement. This study contributes to scientific knowledge by identifying project-level factors that enable UOGD in contested regulatory and social conditions. The study provides a practical framework that can be tested in other emerging economies with similar governance complexity. It also draws attention to implications for policymakers, including the need for clearer regulation, coordinated approvals and long-term infrastructure planning.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/932 2026-02-07T09:03:33+00:00 Tryphosah Lerato Ramalepe [email protected] Patrick Ebong Ebewo Knowledge Shumba

<p>Youth unemployment has become one of the most pressing economic challenges, and as a result, it has emerged as a priority for governments, businesses, educational institutions and NGOs. In response to this challenge, the South African government, through the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), has implemented the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) to foster entrepreneurial skills and support small business development. However, despite these efforts, failure and survival rates remain relatively high. The Theoretical Framework for this study is the Entrepreneurship Competence (EntreComp) Model. The Theoretical Framework for this study is the Entrepreneurship Competence (EntreComp) Model, which comprises three competency areas of spotting ideas and opportunities, resources and taking action. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which the NYDA EDP has been able to equip the participants with the competencies which will enable them to improve the performance of their businesses. The studies reviewed reveal that EDPs help participants to acquire the skills, knowledge and competencies required to start and operate their businesses successfully. Participants who received comprehensive entrepreneurship training demonstrated a higher propensity to identify and act on entrepreneurial opportunities. The findings of this review have practical implications for policymakers, educators and practitioners involved in the provision and implementation of EDPs because this intervention can promote economic development and reduce unemployment. Future entrepreneurial development interventions should emphasise practical business skills such as incorporating innovative marketing and sales pitches. Entrepreneurs who have failed are not supported to re-emerge and learn from their mistakes. Beneficiaries should be supported throughout the stages of their entrepreneurship journey, especially during the growth phase. This research review adds to the body of knowledge examining the EDP’s ability to equip the participants with the competencies required for improving business performance, through the EntreComp framework lens.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International). https://stm2.bookpi.org/BEDE/article/view/933 2026-02-07T09:06:19+00:00 Sithembiso Govuzela [email protected]

<p>Organisations frequently encounter entrepreneurial pressures when identifying and pursuing new project initiatives. Although the practical execution of project management differs from entrepreneurial activity, both domains rely on coordinating time, scope, and resource constraints within temporary, goal-driven settings. This conceptual overlap, however, has often limited the development of distinct knowledge streams in each field. Despite the clear presence of project-related practices in entrepreneurial work, contemporary research addressing the intersection between the two domains remains scarce. Investigating entrepreneurial performance within a project context may therefore enhance empirical insights into entrepreneurship. Yet, literature examining how entrepreneurial outcomes relate to project practices—particularly the performance implications of those practices—remains limited. The study aimed to examine the relationship between project success and entrepreneurial performance within project-oriented organisations. This study employed a qualitative research design using an electronic questionnaire administered to 50 individuals across five project-oriented organisations. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings demonstrate a positive association between project success and entrepreneurial performance within these organisations.</p>

2026-02-07T00:00:00+00:00 Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s). The licensee is the publisher (BP International).