Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa

The question of “why do some family enterprises survive into successive generations, while other succumb to contextual constraints?” elicited different responses. Explanations vary from that it might be inherent to the industry, or the structure of the firm, or simply market opportunism. In seeking...

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Main Authors: Suzanne van Eeden-Allen, Grietjie Verhoef
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2018-12-01
Series:Contree
Subjects:
Online Access:https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/67
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author Suzanne van Eeden-Allen
Grietjie Verhoef
author_facet Suzanne van Eeden-Allen
Grietjie Verhoef
author_sort Suzanne van Eeden-Allen
collection DOAJ
description The question of “why do some family enterprises survive into successive generations, while other succumb to contextual constraints?” elicited different responses. Explanations vary from that it might be inherent to the industry, or the structure of the firm, or simply market opportunism. In seeking a deeper insight on the impact of industry or structural constraints in the general area of family businesses, this article considers the local South African shoe industry. The article reflects on the history of footwear manufacture in South Africa; how it started and grew from cottage industries to a more main stream, modern manufacturing industry. The article attempts to place this industry and its development in a broader current context by considering the impact of exogenous factors, namely globalisation and cheap shoe imports from the East on the South African footwear industry. To investigate the impact of the aforementioned constraints, the article discusses the birth and growth of two footwear manufacturing family businesses – one operating in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape Province, the other one in Kwazulu-Natal Province – and considers the divergent development trajectories, different styles of management and subsequently, the completely different outcomes of these footwear manufacturing family enterprises.
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spelling doaj.art-de376554d3e34421828495b009ed2dce2023-06-08T15:05:50ZengAOSISContree0379-98672018-12-0181010.4102/nc.v81i0.6767Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South AfricaSuzanne van Eeden-Allen0Grietjie Verhoef1University of JohannesburgUniversity of JohannesburgThe question of “why do some family enterprises survive into successive generations, while other succumb to contextual constraints?” elicited different responses. Explanations vary from that it might be inherent to the industry, or the structure of the firm, or simply market opportunism. In seeking a deeper insight on the impact of industry or structural constraints in the general area of family businesses, this article considers the local South African shoe industry. The article reflects on the history of footwear manufacture in South Africa; how it started and grew from cottage industries to a more main stream, modern manufacturing industry. The article attempts to place this industry and its development in a broader current context by considering the impact of exogenous factors, namely globalisation and cheap shoe imports from the East on the South African footwear industry. To investigate the impact of the aforementioned constraints, the article discusses the birth and growth of two footwear manufacturing family businesses – one operating in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape Province, the other one in Kwazulu-Natal Province – and considers the divergent development trajectories, different styles of management and subsequently, the completely different outcomes of these footwear manufacturing family enterprises.https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/67historyshoe industryfamily businessstrategyprotectionismentrepreneurial typologiesentrepreneurial foresight
spellingShingle Suzanne van Eeden-Allen
Grietjie Verhoef
Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
Contree
history
shoe industry
family business
strategy
protectionism
entrepreneurial typologies
entrepreneurial foresight
title Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
title_full Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
title_fullStr Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
title_short Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
title_sort market and entrepreneurial vision the case of two family businesses in south africa
topic history
shoe industry
family business
strategy
protectionism
entrepreneurial typologies
entrepreneurial foresight
url https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/67
work_keys_str_mv AT suzannevaneedenallen marketandentrepreneurialvisionthecaseoftwofamilybusinessesinsouthafrica
AT grietjieverhoef marketandentrepreneurialvisionthecaseoftwofamilybusinessesinsouthafrica