The strategic behaviour of owners-managers in small, micro and medium tourism enterprises (SMMTEs) in South Africa

Abstract

The South African small, micro and medium tourism enterprises (SMMTE) sector underpins the delivery of the tourism product/offering and is particularly important in destination development. SMMTE owners with a certain attribute profile have a direct bearing on the success or failure of SMMTEs and can thus positively or negatively impact the long-term sustainability of such businesses. The study seeks to explore the potential dynamic interrelationships between attributes (which is characterised by locus of control, reasons for starting a business, holistic capabilities, formal management education and prior experience) and preferred strategic behaviour of SMMTE owners-managers in South Africa. The overall research question in this paper is: do relationships exist between the attributes of SMMTE owners (independent variables) and strategic behaviour (the dependent variable). Overall, the findings of this paper identify statistically significant associations between certain attributes of the owners of the SMMTEs and preferred strategic behaviour. The paper contributes toward an improved understanding of the association between SMMTE owner attributes (predictors) and strategic behaviour. This study involved a largely under-researched SMMTE sector in South Africa; produced a foundation for further analysis of the attributes of SMMTE entrepreneurs and the manifestation of strategic behaviour in SMMTEs; and have made a contribution to the body of knowledge.