How do SME owners management information in the Tshwane area, South Africa

The high failure rates of SMEs, due to lack of managerial skills, motivated the lecturers of the Department Marketing & Retail, CEMS, Unisa to initiate training workshops at municipalities in their region. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) skills development community engagement project SME skills transfer workshops are being presented on a monthly basis with Prof Louise van Scheers as one of the project leaders. The aim of this project is to improve managerial skills of small business owners of the formal and informal sectors in the Tshwane municipality area. In South Africa there has been an increase in the number of small businesses starting up which increase competition amongst businesses. Advertising has been seen as a means to aid these small businesses to differentiate them from the competition. Quantitative was used in the form of survay with managers and owners of small businesses participating in the workshops. The most successful advertising medium used by small businesses in the area according to the conducted research is wall painting. With an increase of tourist to the area, the Internet should be considered a more popular form of advertising. The conducted research established that information management of SME owners are below the normal business standards. The research also indicated that information management, managerial skills and access to finance are the biggest hindrances to growing and managing their businesses better. Unfortunately, the basic structural information that smaller entities like SMEs struggle with together with lack of resources hinder their information management. The conducted research recommends that tailor made business management workshops on information management should be designed, and appoint appropriate and accountable organisations with specific outcome targets.