2024

• ---

  Ndlela, S. & Barnes, N. (2024)Exploring Innovative Thinking Skills Among SME Owners in South Africa: Implications for Business Longevity

  IN South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, Vol. 21, Pages: 29–39 doi:10.9734/sajsse/2024/v21i9879
  [BibTeX] [Download PDF]

  @article{ndlela_exploring_2024,
  title = {Exploring {Innovative} {Thinking} {Skills} {Among} {SME} {Owners} in {South} {Africa}: {Implications} for {Business} {Longevity}},
  volume = {21},
  issn = {2581-821X},
  shorttitle = {Exploring {Innovative} {Thinking} {Skills} {Among} {SME} {Owners} in {South} {Africa}},
  url = {https://journalsajsse.com/index.php/SAJSSE/article/view/879},
  doi = {10.9734/sajsse/2024/v21i9879},
  language = {en},
  number = {9},
  urldate = {2024-11-14},
  journal = {South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics},
  author = {Ndlela, Sphesihle and Barnes, Neil},
  month = aug,
  year = {2024},
  keywords = {management, competency, entrepreneurial skills, innovative thinking, longevity, Managerial cognitive ability, SME management},
  pages = {29--39},
  }

• ---

  Ndlela, S. & Barnes, N. (2024)The Influence of Creative Problem-Solving on the Longevity of Small and Medium Enterprises

  IN Proceedings of The International Conference on Modern Research in Management, Economics and Accounting, Vol. 1, Pages: 27–47 doi:10.33422/meaconf.v1i1.174
  [BibTeX] [Abstract] [Download PDF]

  This research modeled the influence of critical thinking, creative thinking, organizational innovativeness, creative problem-solving abilities (CPS), and internal business performance factors on the longevity of small and medium enterprises. A total of 105 manufacturing and 99 construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were compared using a survey. Inferences were drawn using structural equation modeling. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that latent variables within the creative problem-solving model overall demonstrated moderate ability to predict longevity. However, the creative problem-solving structural equation models for both sectors showed that creative thinking strongly increased critical thinking, which increased SMEs’ longevity. For the manufacturing sample, creative thinking also increased organizational innovation, which increased longevity. The stronger manufacturing sector also demonstrated more significant paths and larger beta coefficients overall. Respecifying the structural model by introducing the business performance measure increased the size of the model coefficients. Creative problem solving, however, only exerted a weak direct influence on longevity for both sectors. Creative thinking skills strengthened critical thinking, which in turn increased the longevity of SMEs. More emphasis on creative thinking could also improve innovation skills and longevity. Better creative thinking could also improve creative problem solving. Optimizing business performance factors (sales growth, after-tax return on assets, profits after tax, market share, liquidity, customer loyalty, and image) appeared necessary for this process to be most effective. SME managers need creative thinking, critical thinking, innovative thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities. Identifying such creative problem-solving skills and leveraging them can enhance the competitive performance and longevity of individual SMEs.

  @article{ndlela_influence_2024,
  title = {The {Influence} of {Creative} {Problem}-{Solving} on the {Longevity} of {Small} and {Medium} {Enterprises}},
  volume = {1},
  copyright = {Copyright (c) 2024 Sphesihle Ndlela, Neil Barnes},
  issn = {3030-0479},
  url = {https://www.dpublication.com/conference-proceedings/index.php/MEACONF/article/view/174},
  doi = {10.33422/meaconf.v1i1.174},
  abstract = {This research modeled the influence of critical thinking, creative thinking, organizational innovativeness, creative problem-solving abilities (CPS), and internal business performance factors on the longevity of small and medium enterprises. A total of 105 manufacturing and 99 construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were compared using a survey. Inferences were drawn using structural equation modeling. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that latent variables within the creative problem-solving model overall demonstrated moderate ability to predict longevity. However, the creative problem-solving structural equation models for both sectors showed that creative thinking strongly increased critical thinking, which increased SMEs’ longevity. For the manufacturing sample, creative thinking also increased organizational innovation, which increased longevity. The stronger manufacturing sector also demonstrated more significant paths and larger beta coefficients overall. Respecifying the structural model by introducing the business performance measure increased the size of the model coefficients. Creative problem solving, however, only exerted a weak direct influence on longevity for both sectors. Creative thinking skills strengthened critical thinking, which in turn increased the longevity of SMEs. More emphasis on creative thinking could also improve innovation skills and longevity. Better creative thinking could also improve creative problem solving. Optimizing business performance factors (sales growth, after-tax return on assets, profits after tax, market share, liquidity, customer loyalty, and image) appeared necessary for this process to be most effective. SME managers need creative thinking, critical thinking, innovative thinking, and creative problem-solving abilities. Identifying such creative problem-solving skills and leveraging them can enhance the competitive performance and longevity of individual SMEs.},
  language = {en},
  number = {1},
  urldate = {2024-11-14},
  journal = {Proceedings of The International Conference on Modern Research in Management, Economics and Accounting},
  author = {Ndlela, Sphesihle and Barnes, Neil},
  month = may,
  year = {2024},
  note = {Number: 1},
  keywords = {longevity, business performance, Creative problem solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, managerial cognitive competencies, organisational innovation},
  pages = {27--47},
  }

• ---

  Ndlela, S., Barnes, N. & Hoque, M. (2024)The Role of Critical Thinking in Enhancing Business Longevity Among South African SME Owners

  IN Business & IT, Vol. XIV, Pages: 127–135 doi:10.14311/bit.2024.02.12
  [BibTeX] [Abstract]

  According to The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s Annual Survey on Global Entrepreneurship (2011), South Africa had an estimated 5,579,767 small business owners, of which nearly 80\% were retailers while more than 20\% were service providers. These businesses accounted for almost 12 million jobs in the country. It is argued that many prospective entrepreneurs want to start a new business but do not focus on acquiring the essential basic business skills to ensure long-term success and sustainability. As survival challenges arise, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will need thought processes that include defining issues, analysing evidence, and synthesizing information, which is critical thinking. SMEs need to have a good understanding of how to manage and run a business effectively. Managerial cognitive competencies become vital in handling, managing, and running a business effectively. Critical thinking is an important cognitive competency that impacts the expansion and survival of SMEs. Very few studies in South Africa have investigated SME longevity, where critical thinking skills were considered a factor. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the level of critical thinking skills among SME owners in South Africa’s construction and manufacturing industries and explore its impact on SME longevity. This quantitative descriptive study was among 204 SME owners selected using quota sampling from the construction and manufacturing sectors. Data were collected using a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 27. The questionnaire assessed the participants’ levels of critical thinking. The analysis, conducted using SPSS version 27 software, aimed to determine the prevalence of these skills and their implications for the longevity of SMEs. The results indicated that SME owners in the construction and manufacturing sectors exhibited moderate critical thinking. This suggests that while critical thinking is present, further development has the potential to enhance SMEs’ competitive edge and long-term viability. The study found that SME owners’ overall critical thinking was moderate in both the manufacturing and construction sectors in South Africa. The study recommended that SMEs employ critical thinking skills to optimize their competitive advantage and sustainability. SME owners, therefore, need to embed critical thinking in their management skills to address complex problems.

  @article{ndlela_role_2024,
  title = {The {Role} of {Critical} {Thinking} in {Enhancing} {Business} {Longevity} {Among} {South} {African} {SME} {Owners}},
  volume = {XIV},
  doi = {10.14311/bit.2024.02.12},
  abstract = {According to The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s Annual Survey on Global Entrepreneurship (2011), South Africa had an estimated 5,579,767 small business owners, of which nearly 80\% were retailers while more than 20\% were service providers. These businesses accounted for almost 12 million jobs in the country. It is argued that many prospective entrepreneurs want to start a new business but do not focus on acquiring the essential basic business skills to ensure long-term success and sustainability. As survival challenges arise, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will need thought processes that include defining issues, analysing evidence, and synthesizing information, which is critical thinking. SMEs need to have a good understanding of how to manage and run a business effectively. Managerial cognitive competencies become vital in handling, managing, and running a business effectively. Critical thinking is an important cognitive competency that impacts the expansion and survival of SMEs. Very few studies in South Africa have investigated SME longevity, where critical thinking skills were considered a factor. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the level of critical thinking skills among SME owners in South Africa's construction and manufacturing industries and explore its impact on SME longevity. This quantitative descriptive study was among 204 SME owners selected using quota sampling from the construction and manufacturing sectors. Data were collected using a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 27. The questionnaire assessed the participants' levels of critical thinking. The analysis, conducted using SPSS version 27 software, aimed to determine the prevalence of these skills and their implications for the longevity of SMEs. The results indicated that SME owners in the construction and manufacturing sectors exhibited moderate critical thinking. This suggests that while critical thinking is present, further development has the potential to enhance SMEs' competitive edge and long-term viability. The study found that SME owners' overall critical thinking was moderate in both the manufacturing and construction sectors in South Africa. The study recommended that SMEs employ critical thinking skills to optimize their competitive advantage and sustainability. SME owners, therefore, need to embed critical thinking in their management skills to address complex problems.},
  journal = {Business \& IT},
  author = {Ndlela, Sphesihle and Barnes, Neil and Hoque, Muhammad},
  month = jan,
  year = {2024},
  pages = {127--135},
  }

2023

• ---

  Ndlela, S., Barnes, N. & Hoque, M. (2023)Determining the level of creative thinking skills of small and medium enterprises’ owners in South Africa

  doi:10.33422/15th.meaconf.2023.03.005
  [BibTeX]

  @inproceedings{ndlela_determining_2023,
  title = {Determining the level of creative thinking skills of small and medium enterprises’ owners in {South} {Africa}},
  doi = {10.33422/15th.meaconf.2023.03.005},
  author = {Ndlela, Sphesihle and Barnes, Neil and Hoque, Muhammad},
  month = mar,
  year = {2023},
  }