Innovativeness as a competitive advantage for SMMEs in South Africa

Godknows Gomwe, Marius Potgieter and Alpheaus Litheko
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Godknows Gomwe: North-West University, South Africa
Marius Potgieter: North-West University, South Africa
Alpheaus Litheko: North-West University, South Africa

in ABEM Conference Proceedings from Academy of Business and Emerging Markets (ABEM), Canada, currently edited by Satyendra Singh

Abstract: Digital business innovation can result in a competitive advantage for small, medium and micro-organizations SMMEs. This study explores the obstacles SMMEs face in South Africa. Registered SMMEs served as the study population, and a non-probability sample was selected for in-depth interviews to obtain the qualitative data. The findings indicate that SMMEs adopt innovation for management support, funding, employee motivation, staff education and training, and internal environment commitment. SMMEs support employees' innovation efforts, and find ways to increase the flow of financing for innovation implementation and commit to creating a healthy workplace culture. It is important for SMMEs to be competitive and augment their ability to innovate businesses, products, processes, markets and human capital skills through education and training to be able to stay abreast with new developments in the field of digital business.

Keywords: competitive advantage; innovation; SMMEs; South Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8137199

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:abemcp:023165

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8137199

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