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82 on the Y-Axis) represents the participants (two) who did not mention their age on the questionnaire.
Number of years in operation: Figure 2 illustrates the number of years the respondents had been in operation. It is clear that the majority of the respondents had been in operation for at least 5 to 10 years (34.7%), followed by the ones who had been in operation for 16 years and longer, representing 28.7%. 21.8% of the respondents had operated for less than five years and 14.9% of the respondents had been in operation for 11 to 15 years. This enabled the researcher to analyse the perception of the two different groups and to confront the findings.
28.7%
21.8%
14.9%
34.7%
Less than 5 years 5 to 10 years 11 to 15 years 16 years and over
FIGURE 2: NUMBER OF YEARS IN OPERATION
Academic qualification levels: Figure 3 illustrates the academic qualifications obtained by the respondents. It shows that 18.8% of the business owners who responded had a grade 12 level of education, 29.7 % had obtained certificates or diplomas or had attended other short-courses, 25.7 % had higher education qualifications and 25.7% were in possession of post-graduate degrees. It is interesting to see that all the participants had attained an academic qualification level and could therefore understand the survey questionnaire submitted to them.
25.7%
18.8%
Grade 12 Certificates, diplomas 25.7% 29.7%
Higher education or other short-courses
FIGURE 3: ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION LEVELS Involvement in entrepreneurial association:
Figure 4 shows the owners involvement in
entrepreneurial associations. The aim of an entrepreneurial association is to foster knowledge sharing and networking. The figure shows that 79% of the business owners were not involved in entrepreneurial association activities (e.g. Rotary Club or South African Women Network
THE IMPORTANCE LEVEL OF SPECIFIC SKILLS AS PERCEIVED BY SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS OWNERS 215