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Worldwide, small businesses are relied upon to kick-start the economy by creating employment opportunities, while well-established, larger organisations struggle due to the current economic climate and meltdown. With small businesses being more and more in the spotlight, the moral values and behaviour of entrepreneurs as individuals, and their business values are being questioned. In order for small businesses to operate morally correct, it is expected that the entrepreneurs will not have conflicting values. Hence, the personal values of the entrepreneur and the business values the entrepreneur practices should preferably be the same. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine whether entrepreneurs' own sense of moral behaviour has an effect on their business moral values within the business environment. The study made use of a quantitative approach whereby a web-based questionnaire was distributed to small business entrepreneurs. The results of the study could potentially add to the body of knowledge and provide small businesses with a clearer understanding of the disparities between entrepreneurs' personal and business values and morals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students in all tertiary institutions have become more and more adapted to the use of technology. Students are increasingly expecting that their lecturers and the institution that they study at make use of technology in the delivery of study material and the tuition mode. The main aim of this study was to determine students' perceptions on social media networking systems and their use of it. The study also determined whether students make use of social media networking systems and for what purposes they are using the social media networking systems, as well as whether they believe that it will be an effective and easy way to study course content. These were tested by making use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs namely; 'Perceive ease of use', 'Perceived usefulness', 'Attitude towards using', 'Intention to use', and 'System accessibility'. A survey was distributed to a sample of students in the Western Province region of a leading Open Distance Learning (ODL) institution in South Africa, 198 completed and usable questionnaires were received back. It was found that social media is mostly being used by students for social purposes rather than for educational purposes, and that Facebook is the most popular social media networking system to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions consumers' of Black urban areas of Tshwane, South Africa hold in relation to advertised retail brands and branding. The importance of Black urban area consumers' perceptions in relation to advertised retail brands is that in the era before independence these communities were generally regarded as being lower income and not brand loyal due to financial constraints. The number of shopping malls and branded stores were limited in these areas but since 1994, when South Africa became a democracy, things have changed. The income in these communities has steadily risen thereby attracting the attention of retail developers [13] [27]. With the increased retail development in these communities, consumers residing in these areas have become more exposed to branded merchandise and the advertising thereof This has led to new perceptions towards brands being formed and in the process opening possible new opportunities for retailers. In order to satisfy the research objectives of the study, a self-administered location based survey was distributed to the residents of Shoshanguve, Mamelodi and Attridgeville; Black urban areas within the Tshwane region of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small businesses play a vital role in most economies worldwide. These businesses are in many instances the creators of jobs and in many instances barely surviving. In Africa, in general, and South Africa in particular, there are huge pressures on small business development and to assist in alleviating poverty and help with social upliftment. Many small business entrepreneurs are forced into business in order to survive which in turn may lead to them being less ethically inclined and rather focused on survival. This in itself can lead to a moral dilemma for them. It is therefore important to consider the attitude SME owners have towards ethical issues in the business sector, and to what extent they would compromise on these issues in order to survive. The main purpose of the study is therefore to determine the attitude owners of small businesses in South Africa have towards the ethical environment in which they operate. The research followed a quantitative approach where a survey questionnaire was used as the data collection method. The results indicate that owners of small businesses have a negative attitude towards the ethical responsibilities of the organisation in which they operate. Alternatively, respondents do understand what is meant by ethics and what it entails. Their attitude regarding their perception of what an organisation should commit to in order to be ethical, shows that respondents understands what constitutes ethical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions consumers' of Black urban areas of Tshwane, South Africa hold in relation to advertised retail brands and branding. The importance of Black urban area consumers' perceptions in relation to advertised retail brands is that in the era before independence these communities were generally regarded as being lower income and not brand loyal due to financial constraints. The number of shopping malls and branded stores were limited in these areas but since 1994, when South Africa became a democracy, things have changed. The income in these communities has steadily risen thereby attracting the attention of retail developers [13] [27], With the increased retail development in these communities, consumers residing in these areas have become more exposed to branded merchandise and the advertising thereof This has led to new perceptions towards brands being formed and in the process opening possible new opportunities for retailers. In order to satisfy the research objectives of the study, a self-administered location based survey was distributed to the residents of Shoshanguve, Mamelodi and Attridgeville; Black urban areas within the Tshwane region of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small businesses play a vital role in most economies worldwide. These businesses are in many instances the creators of jobs and in many instances barely surviving. In Africa, in general, and South Africa in particular, there are huge pressures on small business development and to assist in alleviating poverty and help with social upliftment. Many small business entrepreneurs are forced into business in order to survive which in turn may lead to them being less ethically inclined and rather focused on survival. This in itself can lead to a moral dilemma for them. It is therefore important to consider the attitude SME owners have towards ethical issues in the business sector, and to what extent they would compromise on these issues in order to survive. The main purpose of the study is therefore to determine the attitude owners of small businesses in South Africa have towards the ethical environment in which they operate. The research followed a quantitative approach where a survey questionnaire was used as the data collection method. The results indicate that owners of small businesses have a negative attitude towards the ethical responsibilities of the organisation in which they operate. Alternatively, respondents do understand what is meant by ethics and what it entails. Their attitude regarding their perception of what an organisation should commit to in order to be ethical, shows that respondents understands what constitutes ethical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]