Stimulating black entrepreneurship through training: A case study in development

Abstract

Economic problems and threatening food and energy shortages, together with the contrast and polarization between the developed and underdeveloped countries, have brought the world to the brink of a crisis. The development of self-reliance and entrepreneurship among the poorer communities could contribute to solving the above problems. Several barriers need to be overcome to stimulate black entrepreneurship in South Africa, one being the need for specialized business management training. The paper describes as a case study the Small Business Management Programme introduced in 1975 by the School of Business Leadership of the University of South Africa. A progress report on the course is given, with fairly high success rates in terms of both academic and business achievement. Of particular interest is the wide range of projects (business viability studies) investigated by students as a course requirement, several of which have been implemented as successful business ventures.
Ekonomiese probleme en dreigende voedsel- en energietekorte, saam met die kontras en polarisering tussen die ontwikkelde en onderontwikkelde lande, het die wereldgemeenskap tot op die rand van 'n krisis gebring. Die ontwikkeling van selfstandigheid en entrepreneurskap onder die armer gemeenskappe kan grootliks bydra tot die oplossing van bogenoemde probleme. Verskeie struikelblokke moet oorkom word om swart entrepreneurskap in Suid-Afrika te stimuleer. Een hiervan is die behoefte aan gespesialiseerde sakebestuursopleiding. Die artikel beskryf as 'n gevallestudie die Kleinbesigheidbestuursprogram wat die Skool vir Bedryfsleiding van die Universiteit van Suid-Afrika in 1975 ingestel het. 'n Vorderingsverslag word oor die program gegee, waarin redelike hoe akademiese sowel as sakeprestasies aangedui word. Veral van belang is die wye reeks projekte (uitvoerbaarheidstudies van sakeondernemings) wat studente as 'n kursusvereiste ondersoek het; verskeie van hierdie projekte is intussen as suksesvolle ondernemings in bedryf gestel.