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Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry

Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Ntshakala, Thembekile
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Ntshakala, Thembekile
author_browse Ntshakala, Thembekile
author_facet Ntshakala, Thembekile
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:25.358Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/102064 Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry Ntshakala, Thembekile ichelp@gibs.co.za Nkomo, Thabile Monica UCTD Customer Orientation Competitive Advantage SMEs Relationship Marketing Success Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2024. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are an integral part of developing economies as they play a significant role in driving economic growth. South African SMEs are facing numerous challenges that are making it difficult for them to realize long-term success. The contributions to this are both at a macroeconomic level as well as an entrepreneurial skill level. This study focused on the latter with the aim of contributing to studies that investigate how SMEs can improve their chances of long-term success. An important enabler of long-term success is the ability to attain and maintain a competitive advantage as an SME. Customer-orientation strategies are regarded as fundamental in this regard. This study focused on successful South African SMEs operating in the mining industry and explored whether customer orientation plays a role in their success. These SMEs were defined as successful in that they have managed to operate for a fairly long time, considering the failure points of South African SMEs. The study found that these SMEs implement customer-orientation strategies in how they operate their businesses and that these strategies contribute to their success. It was also found that customer orientation assists in the attainment of a competitive advantage, along with other strategies. This study contributes academically in that it conducted research in an area that is understudied within the South African SME and mining industry context. It also contributes to businesses by providing guidance for other SMEs in this sector on strategies that can be employed to improve their chances of long-term success. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-08:Decent work and economic growth SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure 2025-04-15T07:55:47Z 2025-04-15T07:55:47Z 2025-05-05 2024-11 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/102064 en © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Customer Orientation
Competitive Advantage
SMEs
Relationship Marketing
Success
Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title_full Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title_fullStr Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title_short Exploring the role of customer orientation - a look at successful SMEs in the South African mining industry
title_sort exploring the role of customer orientation a look at successful smes in the south african mining industry
topic UCTD
Customer Orientation
Competitive Advantage
SMEs
Relationship Marketing
Success
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/102064