The influence of certain factors on South African Small and medium-sized enterprises towards export propensity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The South African government is putting policies, strategies and programmes in place with the intention of establishing an empowering environment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. To make this a success, a thorough understanding of the factors that might influence their export propensity is necessary. The aim of this article was to examine the drivers influencing the export propensity of South African Small and Medium-sized enterprises. A quantitative, descriptive research design was implemented. Management experience was identified as the most significant factor influencing export propensity. The willingness of the business leader to participate in export-related activities largely correlate with management commitment as well as marketing capabilities, this correlation was also evident between management experience and government support as well as between management commitment and marketing capabilities and lastly between marketing capabilities and access to information. Marketing capabilities, government support, as well as management commitment had an impact on business performance (turnover).