Centre for Entrepreneurship Development

This paper explores various strategies that department stores can implement to stimulate
growth during a recession. It makes use of a questionnaire survey to provide insight on what
business strategies were used, with a particular focus on whether or not to invest in marketing
and R&D, effective cost-cutting measures as well as effective competition strategies. The
impact of these strategies on business growth is tested in the department store industry in
South Africa during the recession of 2008-2010. While the department stores in the study
sample reported that they invested in marketing and R&D, initiated cost-cutting measures,
and proactively gathered competition intelligence information, statistical analysis shows that
only cost-cutting strategies successfully stimulated business growth. This study highlights
that the implementation of a strategy is fundamental to its success in stimulating business
growth. Consequently; the most effective implementation strategies were explored and
recommendations were made.
Keywords: Business growth, recession, competition strategy, R&D, Marketing, cost-cutting,
Marketing Mix, Competition Intelligence.

ARTICLE INFO Jabulile Msimango-Galawe and Elona N. Hlatshwayo (2021). South African business incubators and reducing the SME failure rate – A literature review. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(2), 194-205. doi:10.21511/ppm.19(2).2021.16 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.19(2).2021.16 RELEASED ON Wednesday, 02 June 2021 RECEIVED ON Monday, 21 December 2020 ACCEPTED ON Thursday, 22 April 2021

This study examines the critical success factors for entrepreneurial coaching in South African business incubators through a qualitative method that involved interviewing 32 participants. The research aimed to identify the factors contributing to successful coaching interventions between coaches and entrepreneurs. The key findings include the importance of demographics, diversity, and cultural intelligence, coaching relational aspects, the coach's personal attributes, the entrepreneur's characteristics, the coach's competence, and coaching elements. The study highlights the need for coaches to possess emotional intelligence, empathy, and a cultural understanding of their coachees. Additionally, the research underscores the significance of coaching programs and methods tailored to the unique needs and characteristics of the entrepreneurs being coached. The study's findings have significant implications for coaching practitioners and programme developers who work with entrepreneurs in South Africa, and it underscores the need for a nuanced and culturally sensitive approach to coaching and mentoring in the context of South African business incubators.

Objective: Despite significant investment in entrepreneurial coaching in South Africa, the failure rate of small businesses remains high. This empirical study addresses this issue by creating an effective entrepreneurial coaching framework with the help of business incubators, entrepreneurs, coaches, and industry experts. Research Design & Methods: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design, with a questionnaire distributed to 296 entrepreneurs and statistical analysis performed using SPSS and STATA software. Findings: The findings support the AQAL model of Ken Wilber in how the entrepreneurial outcomes relate to each other. The findings also align with the literature's emphasis on relationship building as a key factor for business growth, with relationship building emerging as the only statistically significant predictor of business growth. Implications and Recommendations: Relationship building should be prioritised over other coaching outcomes, such as self-efficacy, entrepreneurial resilience, and visionary skills, by entrepreneur development practitioners. Contribution & Value Added: These findings have implications for entrepreneurial coaches, policymakers, and professional bodies, urging them to understand entrepreneurs' contexts, take a systemic approach to entrepreneurial coaching, and provide guidance on industry developments and best practices. It is expected that by implementing these recommendations, the proposed entrepreneurial coaching framework will contribute to better outcomes for entrepreneurs and their incubated businesses.

Introduction/Main Objectives: This study investigates the role of leadership coaching in addressing transformation challenges in South Africa's mining sector. Given the slow pace of transformation, it is critical to understand how coaching can help. Background Problems: The study focuses on leadership coaching and its impact on Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA) being developed for transformation roles. The central research question is how long-term transformation in the mining industry is facilitated by leadership coaching. Novelty: Prior studies on transformation and coaching have generally been broad and not specific to the mining sector, our research fills a critical gap. The study provides a unique perspective by investigating coaching's impact on mining industry transformation. Research Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with mining industry human resources managers, coaches, and coaches. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, ensuring a robust and data-driven approach. Finding/Results: The results of the study revealed that leadership coaching effectively supports the development of HDSA individuals in transformation vacancies. However, it is critical to recognise that coaching is only one component of successful transformation; other factors are also important. Within the mining industry, there are also barriers to transformation and coaching. Conclusion: Leadership coaching emerges as a dynamic force, propelling transformative change in the mining sector. Beyond racial transformation, participants reveal its strategic use for legal compliance, social responsibility, and financial optimisation. A holistic approach, emphasising coaching's multifaceted impact on organisational goals. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of coaching's transformative role in technical industrial environments.