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SMEs working in the dark

Written by: Dr. Rob Smorfitt

Article Overview: Poor statistical information leaves SME's with no direction.

Free Download - SMEs – SMEs struggling in South Africa. Why? By Dr. Rob Smorfitt
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SMEs working in the dark

South Africa is ahead of many other African countries in many contexts, but itself remains riddled with issues.

Confronted with a GDP growth rate that just will not budge over 5%, South Africa has, together with the rest of Africa, reached out for the golden fleece called the SME.

However, while there are no specific interventions aimed at growing the existing SME's, the existing businesses are still able to thrive simply because the economy is still doing reasonably well at 5% growth rate.

But these unassisted SME's, together with those government is trying help, all have the same problem to contend with. A complete and utter lack of formal market information. At a recent high level function with the Department of Trade & Industries, they handed out booklets on a variety of economic topics. The biggest and most impressive full colour book, was 3 YEARS OLD.

This speaks to the problem in a clear voice. Overtrading is a major problem in South Africa, simply because there is no information to guide or inform wannabe SME's. This is a disgrace considering that we have such an advanced and informed constitution, and yet the departments themselves do not share valuable information with the country's business people!!! Why not? Do they not have it?

Until such time as our businesses, particularly the SME's who cannot afford to do their own research, get access to useful and timeous market related information and research, we will never become a great nation of entrepreneurs and SME owners.

Rob Smorfitt

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Home > African-Accounts > Dr. Rob Smorfitt > SMEs working in the dark
Article Tags: entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, information, information provision, market research, research, SME, SMME, Smorfitt

About the Author: Dr. Rob Smorfitt
RSS for Dr. Rob's articles - Visit Dr. Rob's website

Have an MBA and a PhD in entrepreneurship. Three key areas of ongoing research are entrepreneurship and innovation in large business strategy, the impact of legislation on SME development and SME finance. 


Run my own SME blog at http://sme-smb-smme.blogspot.com as well as an entrepreneurship and innovation for large businesses blog at http://innoveur.blogspot.com 


I have been self-employed since 1982. I have started or purchased in excess of 50 businesses since then. Most were sold again and a few were shut down because of a lack of profitability. Many were run by staff or family while I worked full time in my bigger businesses. 

Author of 6 books. Written articles for various magazines, newspapers and websites.  


Experienced in research within developing countries.

 



Click here to visit Dr. Rob's website
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