Social justice and the role of business: a case study of Sorbet franchisees in KwaZulu-Natal
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Abstract
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are crucial to the nation's
prosperity. A robust SME sector significantly contributes to the economy's Gross
Domestic Product by lowering poverty and unemployment rates and encouraging
entrepreneurship. Despite their substantial relevance and contribution to
economic growth, SMEs worldwide— particularly in South Africa—continue to
suffer a number of difficulties. This study explored the role of Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) in promoting social justice and business transformation in
KwaZulu-Natal. The growth and prevalence of SMEs are both noticeably low in
KwaZulu-Natal. As a result, the objectives of the study are to examine the
difficulties in KwaZulu-Natal with regard to SME funding and governmental
support for Sorbet, to identify the function of change management in advancing
Sorbet's social justice in KwaZulu-Natal and to list the social justice initiatives that
Sorbet in KwaZulu-Natal has implemented and to establish Sorbet, the chosen
SME, and its plans for promoting transformational business in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sorbet is a well-known network of beauty and wellness salons that is well
regarded for its exceptional services and dedication to promoting social justice
and improving the society. Sorbet effectively incorporates corporate social
responsibility into their business strategy, actively participating in a range of social
issues such as women's empowerment, youth development, and community
assistance projects. The brand's inclusive policies and commitment to ensuring
equal opportunities for workers and customers demonstrate the important role
that companies can have in advancing social change and justice in society. The
study examined the various forms of social justice and business transformation
strategies perceived by employees and managers of a selected SME, Sorbet, in
KwaZulu-Natal. The research design adopts a quantitative approach with a pre
coded structured questionnaire administered to the selected sample. Using
Sekaran and Bougie's (2016) computed statistical table, out of a target population
of 330 elements, the sample equated to n = 181. The simple random sample
without replacement was used to select the requisite selection. The researcher
collected the completed questionnaires, capturing the data to form a data set. The
questionnaire used for this study included a mix of structured questions with closed-ended responses and Likert-scale statements. These were designed to
target a specific area and gather accurate data that could be analysed
statistically. This was statistically tested using the more robust tools of parametric
tests with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The
statistical breakdown was performed in two stages, specifically a descriptive
statistical analysis and inferential statistics to evaluate the hypotheses. Several
significant findings emerged from the thorough theoretical examination of the
statistics. Furthermore, these findings were corroborated by other authors and
researchers who conducted comparable investigations and whose results were
analysed in relation to the findings of the present study. The study contributes
academically to the field of Management, specifically the SME sector, within
South Africa and explores its adaptability to the South African context. The
research design includes descriptive statistics for the quantitative data gathered
in the form of graphs, cross-tabulations, and other figures.
Examples of inferential techniques include correlations and chi-square test
results, which are interpreted using p-values. A statistical significance
statement is typically used to report a result. A test statistic generates a p-value.
"p 0.05" indicates a significant finding. "p 0.05" indicates an important finding.
The exploratory framework created as a model for Sorbet, in conjunction with
the study's findings and suggestions, may prove useful for future goal-oriented
strategies by the Organisation. The study concludes with recommendations for
future research in this emerging field.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Management Sciences, specialising in Business Administration at the Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2024.
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.51415/10321/5932