CHAPTER 4: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.5. Section C: Quantitative results
4.5.2. Descriptive Statistics
Research Objective 1: To explore the perceptions of SMEs about responsible and sustainable management
The descriptive statistical results are about the perceptions of SMEs from Pietermaritzburg on responsible and sustainable management practices presented in Table 4.7 below.
Table 4.7.: Responsible and sustainable management practices awareness and perception I understand
responsible and sustainable management practices to be:
Sum of Majority
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq %
Meeting consumers, employees, and community needs
0 0.0% 2 2.4% 13 15.7% 51 61.4% 17 20.5%
Agree or Strongly Agree 81.9%
Complying strictly with labour and
environmental laws. 0 0.0% 2 2.4% 18 21.7% 46 55.4% 17 20.5%
Agree or Strongly Agree 75.9%
Acting over and above what owners, the law, and society expect- simply to enhance society such as voluntary donations etc.
1 1.2% 12 14.5% 35 42.2% 27 32.5% 8 9.6% Neutral 42.2%
The same as charity and voluntary initiatives.
2 2.4% 5 6.0% 9 10.8% 48 57.8% 19 22.9%
Agree or Strongly Agree 80.7%
Responsibility for big business and not SMEs
0 0.0% 9 10.8% 10 12.0% 49 59.0% 15 18.1% Agree or Strongly Agree 77.1%
Practices that help attract customers.
2 2.4% 16 19.3% 35 42.2% 23 27.7% 7 8.4% Neutral 42.2%
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Practices that improve business image (brand reputation).
0 0.0% 16 19.3% 49 59.0% 13 15.7% 5 6.0%
Neutral 59.0%
Initiatives that contribute to employee satisfaction and motivation.
3 3.6% 30 36.1% 17 20.5% 23 27.7% 10 12.0% Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 39.7%
Source: Author’s own compilation.
In understanding responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs Table 4.7 indicates that 81.9% of participants agree or strongly agree that it is about meeting consumers, employees, and community needs. The majority, 75.9% of participants, indicated that they agree or strongly agree it is about complying strictly with labour and environmental laws. The results show 42.2% of respondents were neutral. Meaning, they did not agree or disagree with the statement ‘I understand responsible management practices to be acting over and above what owners, the law, and society expect- simply to enhance society such as voluntary donations, etc.’. In the view of understanding responsible and sustainable management by SMEs, table 4.7 shows that 80.7% of the respondents agree or strongly agree with understanding responsible and sustainable management practices to be the same as a charity and voluntary initiatives.
Furthermore, 77.1% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed to understand responsible and sustainable management practices as responsibility for big businesses and not SMEs. The table shows that 42.2% of participants were neutral about associating these practices to management initiatives that attract customers. Lastly, 59.0% of respondents were also neutral about responsible and sustainable management practices to being initiatives that improve the business image (brand reputation), and the majority of 39.7% strongly disagreed or disagreed with initiatives that contribute to employee satisfaction and motivation.
4.5.2.2. Implementation
Research Objective 2: Investigate how SMEs are implementing responsible and sustainable management practices
The descriptive statistical results are on the implementation of responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal given in Table 4.8.
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Table 4.8.: Responsible and sustainable management practices implementation My
organisation implements responsible and sustainable management practices by:
Sum of Majority
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq %
Incorporating practices in its
operations. 3 3.6% 34 41.0% 26 31.3% 15 18.1% 5 6.0%
Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 44.6%
Engaging in environmental
awareness projects. 2 2.4% 32 38.6% 24 28.9% 21 25.3% 4 4.8%
Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 41.3%
Providing goods/
services that meet
its customer needs. 2 2.4% 3 3.6% 4 4.8% 49 59.0% 25 30.1%
Agree or Strongly Agree
89.1%
Providing training to my employees.
2 2.4% 10 12.0% 25 30.1% 40 48.2% 6 7.2%
Agree or Strongly Agree
55.4%
Implementing practices as
required by law. 2 2.4% 5 6.0% 16 19.3% 49 59.0% 11 13.3%
Agree or Strongly Agree
72.3%
Educating all employees about
the practices 10 12.0% 32 38.6% 20 24.1% 18 21.7% 3 3.6%
Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 50.6%
Motivating everyone
participating in the practices.
5 6.0% 37 44.6% 14 16.9% 19 22.9% 8 9.6%
Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 50.6%
Consulting with all the stakeholders.
11 13.3% 36 43.4% 17 20.5% 14 16.9% 5 6.0%
Strongly Disagree or
Disagree 56.7%
Source: Author’s own compilation.
In view of the implementation of responsible and sustainable management practices by SMEs Table 4.8 shows that the majority of 44.6% of participants do not incorporate these practices in
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their operations. This needs to improve because most of the respondents (41.3%) strongly disagreed or disagreed with engaging in environmental awareness projects, while 89.1% agreed or strongly agreed to provide goods/services that meet their customer needs in implementing responsible and sustainable management practices. In addition, 55.4% agreed or strongly agreed to provide training to their employees and 72.3% also agreed or strongly agreed to implement practices as required by law. Moreover, the majority (50.6%) indicated that they do not educate all their employees about responsible and sustainable management practices.
The same percent of participants strongly disagreed or disagreed with motivating everyone who participates in the practices. When engaging in responsible and sustainable management practices, 56.7% indicated that they strongly disagree or disagree with consulting with all the stakeholders.
4.5.2.3. Challenges
Research Objective 3: Explore the challenges experienced by SMEs in implementing responsible and sustainable management practices
The descriptive statistical results on the challenges that SMEs in Pietermaritzburg face when implementing responsible and sustainable management practices are presented in Table 4.9 below.
Table 4.9.: Responsible and sustainable management practices challenges My organisation
has difficulties in implementing responsible and sustainable
management due to:
Sum of Majority
Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq % Freq %
Financial problems in carrying out the practices.
3 3.6% 0 0.0% 5 6.0% 35 42.2% 40 48.2%
Agree or Strongly Agree 90.4%
Lack of understanding 3 3.6% 5 6.0% 14 16.9
% 34 41.0% 27 32.5%
Agree or Strongly Agree 73.5%
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Failure to manage
time 3 3.6% 3 3.6% 12 14.5
% 42 50.6% 23 27.7%
Agree or Strongly Agree 78.3%
Lack of human
resources 3 3.6% 3 3.6% 8 9.6% 40 48.2% 29 34.9%
Agree or Strongly Agree 83.1%
Source: Author’s own compilation.
In consideration of the challenges that SMEs face when implementing responsible and sustainable management practices Table 4.9 indicates that 90.4% of participants agreed or strongly agreed to financial problems in carrying out the practices is a challenge. 73.5% agreed or strongly agreed to the lack of understanding. Moreover, 78.3% also agreed or strongly agreed to failure to manage time. Lastly, 83.1% of the respondents also agreed or strongly agreed to the lack of human resources.