Small Businesses

PHP is one of the most commonly used languages to develop web sites because of its simplicity, easy to learn and it can be easily embedded with any of the databases. A web developer with his basic knowledge developing an application without practising secure guidelines, improper validation of user inputs leads to various source code vulnerabilities. Logical flaws while designing, implementing and hosting the web application causes work flow deviation attacks. In this paper, we are analyzing the complete behaviour of a web application through static and dynamic analysis methodologies.

The article is concerned with the elaboration of approaches to the development of
small businesses at the regional level. It has been found that the development of small
businesses at the regional level requires measures to accumulate internal and external
investment resources, to improve the structure of investment sources and optimize areas
for investment. It has been determined that further training of people who work at small
enterprises and training of a region’s unemployed to learn the basics of entrepreneurial
activities should include measures to organize the preparation and retraining of
employees of local authorities and people who work in small enterprises in the
conditions of the market economy, to develop training methodical materials and
training aids on small business basics. While providing small businesses with the
relevant information, it is essential to provide access to business information, to create
a computer network for resource and goods bases and investment offers, to solve the
problem of discussing draft regulatory acts in public and bring them to the attention of
small businesses on time

The main purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of nomadic organizations
in tourism sector. In this study, data which was acquired from the interviews made with the
owners of small enterprises was analyzed. At the end of the analysis, it was found out that
there was a potential of nomadic organization in simple structure tourism establishments.

Businesses using cyberspace are expanding every day, with Internet users performing different activities affecting cyber hygiene. The user's actions may be good or badultimately determining the state of cyber hygiene. Good cybersecurity hygiene requires a thorough implementation of the best practices to improve safety and protect information or resources, while bad practices lead to data corruption, loss and breaches. Compromised cyber hygiene is the result of exposure to various cyberattacks. Our paper reports the best practices used by different business sectors to maintain cyber hygiene. The study used a qualitative survey mounted on google with 20 business owners and Information Technology managers. We explored the use of best practices to understand business experiences in reducing and avoiding cyber-attacks and improve cyber health. We analyzed the collected data and presented the findings. Cyber essentials have been recommended as the guideline to mitigate cyber risks.

ABSTRACT
This study was designed to assess financial accountability and economic development in Nigeria. The current financial accountability had not enhanced economic growth in Nigeria. The current process and current time of accounting for financial resource in Nigeria had not helped economic growth. For this study, the structure of the research design was descriptive survey adopted for the purpose of describing the state of affairs as it existed and expected achievement for growth with appropriate recommendations. The population of the study was 850 of different calibers of both public and private respondents engaged in economic activities in Nigeria. The age bracket was from twenty five years and above. To enable adequate and proper research, the whole population was used. The selection of the target respondents was by the researcher personally visiting some public and private establishments in Jos metropolis of Plateau State, formed into strata within four weeks.  Basically, the source of data for this research was primary. The instrument for the data collection used was a self-administered questionnaire mainly of open-ended questions. This enabled respondents express their opinions without constrain. The instrument was validated by three senior academics in the Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Jos, by making available to each all the questionnaires. The method of data analysis was by Chi-square statistical tool which was employed to test the hypothesis to see deviations of the actual observations (observed frequency) from the expected. This led to the acceptance or rejection of the null hypothesis. Findings showed that, the current practical process of financial accountability in Nigeria did not enhance economic growth and the current needed time for reporting financial accountability did not ginger economic growth in Nigeria which were big concerns to be tackled., In conclusion, financial accountability is the ability of putting together figures to form a report. The more financial accountability is modified in consideration of a revisit to the current process and timing, to better the growth of the Nigeria economy. The “process” and “timing” of financial accountability in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria have a negative turnaround behavioural attitude.  All these do not enhance the economic growth of Nigeria. Recommended were that the time for financial accountability should be clearly short and brief but with the major variables captured, not too voluminous figures, a maximum time of one month accountability after the close of the books be applied.

Keywords: Assessment, Financial, Accountability, Economic, Growth

The governance field is well studied. However, small family firms do not receive their fair amount of coverage, despite their importance. In this work the field of governance in small family firms is qualitatively explored, using a sample of eight Swedish firms with a total of ten interview partners. Using a Constructivist Grounded Theory, informed by previous literature, we find nine key themes characterizing governance in small family firms: (1) Ownership & Board, (2) Holding Company, (3) Advisor & External Help, (4) Responsibility, (5) Formality, (6) Informality, (7) Conflict, (8) Succession and (9) Discussion & Conversation. Our findings suggest that all small family businesses employ some form of governance, however, this is not always recognized as such in previous literature, showing that corporate governance is too narrowly defined. We also investigate why governance structures are (not) implemented and how this is done. In connection to this, we visualize the factors influencing whether or not a small family firm implements formal governance structures. Additionally, we discuss what actually makes a family firm small. We contribute by investigating governance concepts in another context, namely the one of small family businesses, and seeing to what extent they hold up. The work allows us to conclude that some findings confirm existing theory, while others question it or cannot be found therein at all.

Earthquake is one of the most important and destructive natural disasters that can disrupt the business process and cause a long interruption affecting the livelihoods and income of the survivors. The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify not only the ways in which small businesses are restored and damaged but also their effective factors after the earthquake of 2017 in Kermanshah. The research is a kind of qualitative type based on grounded theory. The study population consisted of the owners of damaged and destroyed urban and rural businesses as well as government officials in Kermanshah province; earthquake-prone areas. The sampling method was a theoretical one using targeted and snowball techniques. Accordingly, 56 interviews were conducted with urban and rural business owners and government officials. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis using Strauss and Corbin strategy. Long-term researcher engagement methods, triangulation method and member control technique were used in order to evaluate the validity of the research. The reliability of the study was calculated using Holsti's formula which was 82%. Inductive Content Analysis Results of Interview Data, Through Three Open, Axial, and Selective Coding Procedures, to Identify and summarize factors affecting small business sustainability after the earthquake crisis based on grounded theory, including 263 Codes, 52 concepts and 14 subcategories, with the axial category included. Based on the findings of the study, the primacy or synchronization of the reconstruction of damaged and demolished businesses with other aspects of post-crisis reconstruction could provide the basis for the livelihoods of the survivors to continue.                 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
The earthquake is one of the most significant and devastating natural disasters that can disrupt the business process for a long time and affect the livelihoods and income of the survivors. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of post-disaster recovery is to rebuild the affected small businesses and keep them running. After the earthquake crisis, the re-creation of damaged and destroyed small businesses is a complex and well-deserved study in this field. Accordingly, how small businesses are re-created due to the importance they play in the livelihoods and income of traumatic survivors has been a major challenge in disaster towns and villages. Choosing the right approach based on the economic, social and cultural conditions of the affected community, is very important. In fact, the overall goal of rebuilding and rehabilitating a disadvantaged community will be achieved when, in addition to revitalizing other parts of the community, disadvantaged businesses are re-established. However, despite the interest of social science researchers in the long-term effects of natural disasters on affected businesses and the factors affecting their regeneration, relatively little systematic research has been conducted on the processes and outcomes associated with the regeneration of affected businesses. Moreover, the role of business regeneration in the reconstruction process has been underestimated, and due to time constraints, all efforts by officials and executives to restructure have focused on accelerating physical restructuring in the least time, which reduces the quality. As a result, the category of business regeneration has been neglected. In this regard, the subject of the present study is an important part of post-disaster recreation societies, unfortunately the complex dimensions of which is unknown in the country. Focusing on physical reconstruction, usually during the disaster, is usually the focus of reconstruction planners and officials. Besides, the issue of business regeneration has been neglected and underestimated. As a result of the Kermanshah 2017 earthquake, many small town and rural businesses which used to be instrumental in providing services to citizens were severely affected. In fact, did they not only lose their business market but also they were disrupted in their operations. Based on these interpretations, the present study was conducted to investigate and identify the regeneration and sustainability of damaged small businesses and the factors affecting their regeneration after the 2017 earthquake of Kermanshah.
2-Materials and Methods
The research is a kind of qualitative one which is based on grounded theory. The study population includes the owners of damaged and destroyed businesses in urban and rural areas, as well as government officials in earthquake-prone areas of Kermanshah province. The sampling was done theoretically using targeted snowball techniques. The sample size was dependent on theoretical data saturation. Accordingly, 56 interviews were conducted with different urban and rural business owners and government officials. The data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis using Straus and Corbin strategy. Long-term researcher involvement methods, triangulation method and member control technique were used to assess the validity of the research. Reliability of the study was calculated using Holste's formula which was 82%.
3-Results and Discussion
The results of inductive content analysis of interview data, through three open, axial, and selective coding procedures, to formulate a Model for the reconstruction and sustainability of small businesses after the earthquake crisis based on grounded theory, including 263 codes, 52 concepts, and 14 the category led to the axial category. The results of the content analysis of the interviews resulted in the identification and categorization of seven categories of factors affecting the regeneration and sustainability of small businesses including managerial and economic, cultural and social factors, regulatory and enforcement, legal, individual, infrastructure, information and awareness. In addition, the strategies recreating affected businesses include infrastructure, motivational planning, management requirements, and supportive planning. The repercussions and non-repercussions of disaster-stricken businesses, respectively, include the positive repercussions, such as opportunity-threatening, returning to life and hoping among the affected and increased employment and migration. Besides, the negative consequences of non-re-employment jobs include intensifying traumatic stress, exacerbating poverty and rising unemployment, marginalization and migration, exacerbating social damage and lack of investment due to the lack of stability in earthquake-prone areas.
4-Conclusion
The findings reveal that prioritizing or simultaneously recreating affected businesses in earthquake-prone areas with other aspects of post-crisis reconstruction can provide the basis for sustaining businesses, sustaining livelihoods, and earning survivors' attention and focusing on factors affecting recreation. Moreover, the sustainability of the affected businesses will facilitate and accelerate their regeneration process.

Bruwer, J-P. 2010. Sustainability of South African FMCG SMME retail businesses in the Cape Peninsula. Dissertation submitted in complete fulfilment of a MTech: Internal Auditing. Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

The concept of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) was created and implemented by the South African Government in an attempt to improve the economy of South Africa, reducing the unemployment rate and eliminating poverty. As a basic objective, SMMEs strive toward sustainability, however in recent years sustainability is at an all time low as substantial a number of these businesses fail to become viable entities. Popular literature show that Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) retail SMMEs make ineffective use of their accounting resources, resulting in them making critical business decisions without understanding and interpreting their financial performance or financial positions. These decisions have a ‘toxic’ affect on their business sustainability and as a result, it is perceived that these SMMEs make inefficient use of financial performance measures. The key objective of this research is to establish what financial performance measures sourced from accounting resources are regarded as being critical for the sustainability of FMCG retail SMMEs during the current dispensation of an economic depression in South Africa. To achieve the above dispensation, applied research will be used using ‘action research’ as the primary research paradigm supported by questionnaires for the purpose of data analysis, results of which were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Recommendations culminate from the research to mitigate the research problem.

Go to http://digitalknowledge.cput.ac.za/jspui/bitstream/11189/1026/1/Bruwer_JP_MTech_Sustainability%20of%20South%20African.pdf for a copy of the full text of this research output.

Salie, M., Strauss, N. Davids, M., Smit, Y., Boshoff, S. & Bruwer, J-P. 2014. The effects of sin tax on the profitability of SMME convenience stores in the Cape Metropole. Topclass Journal of Business Management, 1(2): pp. 25-36, 26 June 2014.

Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) contribute significantly to the South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and play a critical role in job creation and poverty alleviation. Prior research shows that objectives relating to job creation and poverty alleviation are not successfully being met as approximately 75% of newly created South African SMMEs fail after operating for an average of 3 years – one of the worst failure rates in the world. This high failure rate is perceived to be attributed to a magnitude of economic factors e.g. shortage of skills, economic uncertainty, crime, legislation and taxation among others. Encapsulated within legislation and taxation is the burden of tax compliance and governmental regulation which diverts SMME leaders’ attention away from core business operations. In South Africa, sin tax (a mandatory form of excise taxation), is levied on products considered to be socially undesirable such as tobacco related products and plastic bags. At present time, the taxation levied on tobacco products is 45% per unit sold, while the taxation levied on plastic bags is 6 cents per plastic bag sold. The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of sin tax on SMME profitability. This research was exploratory in nature, and took the form of quantitative research. A total of 47 responses were obtained from SMME leaders of convenience SMME stores from where all data were analysed through means of descriptive statistics. Findings indicated that sin tax has a direct adverse effect on the profitability of convenience SMMEs stores within the Cape Metropole.

The enterprises that result in the creation of companies are in need of implementing strategies that translate into an adequate positioning of their sector against competition. It also allows them to survive in global markets and to undergo continuous changes. For this reason, innovation as a part of the project is an important differentiating factor. In this context, this paper focuses on contrasting the actions focused on innovation by entrepreneurs of micro and small Mexican companies in the service sector of Mexicali, Baja California, and Villahermosa, Tabasco, with the aim of identifying the significant role played by innovation in the course of time. The above was achieved through a quantitative study that has a descriptive, exploratory, and correlational scope. As part of the results, it is through these strategies that it helps to promote an innovative enterprise, facilitating the generation of new ideas, and improving its ability to innovate. This would, however, results to products and services that are scalable and of greater value, taking the company to competitive levels and promoting its development in a sustainable manner. In conclusion, this effort must be permanent because there is a positive and significant relationship between innovation and actions in the development of it. This is not only for the company, but for the entity where they are located.

To start any business one need resources (financial resources, energy resources, human resources), Infrastructure, Transportation, Buyers and above all secure and safe place. Here are 5 reasons why Dubai still is a best place for Starting a business.

Social media are now a crucial part of today’s way of life. Economic factor is another chapter, one
that determines the  wealth and prosperity of a nation. At a micro level,  small businesses are the  economics’
driven  force.  There  is  always  although  a  quivering  thread  in  the  likes  of  economy  and  bu sinesses,  a  danger
known as economic crisis. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the social media and small businesses factors,
based on previous researches in order to give a strategic approach under the economic crisis, based on those
previous researches. The reason this paper was created, is to provide this optimal approach to all businesses
seeking a strategy, a pathway to surpass the economic crisis. Thorough research through previous papers on
the  field,  revealed  that  social  media,  used  vastly  by  millions  of  users  can  be  successfully  used  by  small
businesses as a helping hand to surpass the economic crisis and with great  success.

Economy is the basis of today’s te
chnological  wonders
[1]
.    Businesses  are  the  mainspring  of  economy,  its  source.
Economy  and  businesses  are  interdependent.  In  order  for  the  businesses  to  increase  their  profit,  specific  marketing
techniques are used
[2]
.  Taking it deeper, small  businesse
s  are  the  ones  directly  linked  to  the  bigger  ones
[3]
.
Imagine blending dominant marketing techniques used in major companies with small businesses creating something
remarkable. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of dominant marke
ting techniques in small businesses
and  use  simulation  models  to  modelize  that  analysis.  The  reason  this  paper  was  created,  is  to  provide  this  optimal
solution to all those seeking how to increase their business’s profit effectively through sovereign marke
ting techniques.
Thorough  research  through  the  paper  revealed  that  specific  marketing  techniques,  can  be  successfully  used  to
tremendously increase a small businesses profit, efficaciously

Objectives. Previous studies on agritourism entrepreneurship have identified a variety of economic and non-economic motivations driving farm operators to start the agritourism activity. Nonetheless, local heritage preservation and enhancement have been completely overlooked. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether " heritage preservation and enhancement " (in its three facets related to: tangible rural heritage; agrifood heritage; rural way of life heritage) is a specific non-economic motivation for agritourism entrepreneurship. Methodology. A survey on a sample of 226 Italian agritourism operators was conducted in March 2015. Data were first analysed through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and then through the importance-performance analysis (IPA). Findings. The results show that there are 5 different groups of motivations to start the agritourism business, namely: i) economic motivations; ii) personal and family-related motivations; iii) tangible rural heritage preservation and enhancement; iv) agrifood heritage preservation and enhancement; v) rural way of life heritage preservation and enhancement. Hence " heritage preservation and enhancement " (in its three facets) has a pivotal role and it is more important than economic motivations. Similarly operators are more satisfied for having contributed to heritage preservation than for having obtained economic benefits from the agritourism activity. Research limits. Caution should be paid before extending these results to countries other than Italy (where, for example, agrifood heritage has a strong and peculiar tradition and connection with the territory). Practical implications. Operators are well aware of their contribution to the preservation and enhancement of local heritage but also perceive that tourists are not always able to appreciate the value of this contribution and have misconceptions about the essence of agritourism. This may be the result also of the use of the label " agritourism " to indicate offerings (such as agri-spas or basic accommodation services) which do not primarily focus on the link with local heritage. Therefore, it is important that " authentic agritourism " operators that focus on heritage (in its three facets) are able to share the efforts to make potential guests aware about the uniqueness of their offering, emphasizing the strong link with the local heritage. Originality of the study. This is the first study in the literature stream about agritourism entrepreneurship to demonstrate that locale heritage preservation and enhancement is a distinct, key motivation for agritourism operators.

Este estudio tiene como principal objetivo analizar el impacto de la ineficiencia judicial sobre la pequeña empresa en Perú. Se funda sobre la hipótesis de que los problemas crónicos de los sistemas de justicia de la región tienen consecuencias negativas para el desarrollo de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas. Nuestro análisis se concentra, en primer lugar, en la forma en que las pymes se relacionan con el sistema de justicia. En segundo lugar, indaga acerca de las decisiones tomadas por los pequeños empresarios a fin de mitigar los efectos del mal desempeño de los tribunales. Por último, identifica las diversas maneras en que la ineficiencia judicial se traslada al sector productivo y se intenta cuantificar su impacto económico.

This study analyzes the impact of judicial inefficiency on small businesses in Peru. It is based on the hypothesis that chronic problems in the region’s judicial systems have negative consequences on the development of micro, small and medium-sized businesses. The analysis focuses, first, on the relationship between small businesses and the legal system. Secondly, it looks at decisions made by small businesses to mitigate the effects of poor performance by the courts. Lastly, it identifies several ways in which judicial inefficiency is transferred to the business sector. The analysis also attempts to quantify the economic impact of judicial inefficiency.

Hair salons provide a partial solution to South Africa's high unemployment, poverty and inequality problems because they are labour intensive and have low start-up costs making them affordable even to the poor and the marginalised. Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in South Africa is a socioeconomically depressed area that largely depends on hair salons for employment. The prosperity of hair salons is therefore critical to the economic well-being of the inhabitants of the area. The proliferation of hair salon business since South Africa's 1994 democracy has led to fierce competition among these businesses in the region. There is a consensus that in the current information economy, effective records management allows for quick access to reliable information which is key for business success. In addition, the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm suggests that quick access to reliable information allows firms such as hair salons to gain sustainable competitive a...

The feedlot industry is the main beef producer in South Africa and falls in the category of ‘Small Businesses’. For these small business enterprises to be successful in an industry subjected to fierce competition, it is necessary to be innovative in a market where high quality beef serves as just another commodity. Previous research has shown that demographic factors can influence brand preferences. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between language and gender with brand attribute preference. Another objective was to identify opportunities that will differentiate and position branded meat products that will create consumer equity and build strong brand names. The case study approach was used, and included quantitative and qualitative research. The population consisted of consumers buying meat products at the different retailers in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, under the brand names; Kanhym Fresh Meat, Farm Inn Meat and Frank’s Meat. A sample of 612 was conveniently selected for the study.  A total of 588 questionnaires were completed. This study confirmed the interrelationship of the demographic variables gender and language that may affect consumers’ preferences. This means consumers will try different products with specific attributes.  The results of this study identify opportunities of implementing strategies to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of branded meat retailers. It is finally recommended that brand retailers determine the demographic and psychographic profile of their target market for a specific product when producing or marketing products.

Leadership is one of the most widely practised and researched phenomena in modern times. While the relationship between the demographic variables of leaders and their leadership style has been investigated, leadership research has neglected employees’ demographics and how these relate to their perception of adopted leadership styles. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected employee demographic variables and the perceived existence of four contemporary leadership styles, namely Servant leadership, Authentic leadership, Ethical leadership, and Participative leadership, among SME owners. A survey was conducted among 236 employees working in SMEs operating in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was undertaken to determine the influence of several demographic variables on the leadership styles investigated in this study. The findings of this study show that female employees and those with a post-matric qualification perceived SME owners as displaying a Participative leadership style more than their counterparts thought they did. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing insights into the perceptions of employees working in SMEs about contemporary leadership styles displayed by SME owners.

Este estudio tiene como principal objetivo analizar el impacto de la ineficiencia judicial sobre la pequeña empresa en Perú. Se funda sobre la hipótesis de que los problemas crónicos de los sistemas de justicia de la región tienen consecuencias negativas para el desarrollo de las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas. El análisis se concentra, en primer lugar, en la forma

PHP is one of the most commonly used languages to develop web sites because of its simplicity, easy to learn and it can be easily embedded with any of the databases. A web developer with his basic knowledge developing an application without practising secure guidelines, improper validation of user inputs leads to various source code vulnerabilities. Logical flaws while designing, implementing and hosting the web application causes work flow deviation attacks. In this paper, we are analyzing the complete behaviour of a web application through static and dynamic analysis methodologies.

Resources and capabilities remain one of the most important factors that influence firms, more especially entrepreneurial ventures, to improve their competitiveness and achieve competitive advantage. In this context, present paper explores how entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses can better identify and distinguish the cause-and-effect relationship amongst resource and capability factors. Resource and capability factors among entrepreneurial ventures were classified into three dimensions and fourteen criteria after a review of the literature. The study applied the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) model to identify and describe the cause-and-effect relationship amongst resource and capability factors. The findings reveal that in prioritizing the importance of criteria and cause-and-effect relationship among criteria under the three core dimensions, firm climate, managerial competence, market knowledge and technological capabilities and equipment were the most critical criteria. Furthermore, the result has shown that firm climate is the most significant criterion in the adjustment of resource and capability factors of entrepreneurial ventures. Therefore, promoting a supportive and conducive firm climate among entrepreneurial ventures can enhance other resources and capabilities factors which, in turn, will improve the overall performance of entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses. Developed and developing nations have long recognized that entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses play a pivotal role in accelerating socioeconomic development. However, the strategic tasks facing entrepreneurial ventures of all shapes and sizes have been how they can survive, gain and sustain competitive advantage with their limited set of distinctive resources and capabilities. According to Barney (1991), the strategic source of sustainable competitive advantage can only be derived from the resources and capabilities that an organisation or an entrepreneurial venture control. More importantly, sustainable competition, through resources and capabilities, largely begin with

Focuses on providing management assistance to clients of a small business development center while helping to prepare students for business. Meeting between director and instructor; Student groups; Client and student group meetings; Group proposals; Data collection; Formal written reports; Oral presentations; Evaluation of projects

Internacionalização das redes de franquias brasileiras: um estudo comparativo Internacionalización de las redes de franquicias brasileñas: un estudio comparativo The primary goal of this paper is to comprehend the fundamental organizational differences between Brazilian franchise chains that only operate in the home market and Brazilian franchise chains that operate internationally. The sample chosen for this study comprehends 96 Brazilian franchises ope-rating in the home market and 67 franchises with international operations; logistic regression was used to analyze data obtained from these sources. Our findings suggest that the development of a brand in international operations can be strategic for certain Brazilian franchise chains; this seems to be, however, a scarce resource for many franchises and it could be developed through international operations. With regard to the fees charged, the outcomes demonstrate that Brazilian franchises with international operations tend to char...

This study examines crisis planning in a survey of small businesses. It specifically focuses on the per-ceived importance of crisis planning by small busi-ness managers. In particular, we investigate whether the experience of an actual crisis event by a business generates concern for future crises, if concern is generated more from the occurrence of a crisis event or from the presence of a crisis manage-ment team. Results of the study indicate that crisis planning receives little attention in the small busi-nesses surveyed, and for most small business man-agers, an actual crisis event must occur before crisis planning becomes a concern. Concern for crises is generated by experiencing crisis events, rather than by the presence of crisis management teams. It was found that even those businesses that had pre-viously experienced crises did not have crisis man-agement teams.

One of the strategic goals in the Russian Federation is to relieve social tension by increasing the number of
people employed in the segment of small and medium enterprises (hereinafter - SMEs) up to 25 million people by 2024.
In order to stimulate the development of this segment, the Government of the Russian Federation sets the task of
expanding the access for SMEs to the procurement system. That’s why the analysis of the existing mechanism for
attracting SMEs to procurement is of interest. The primary purpose of the study is to investigate the peculiarities of SME
involvement in procurement within the framework of two main laws operating in the sphere of procurement activity and
problems arising in the procurement’s organization and economic growth. The practice of procurement activity is
accompanied by the emergence of risks that affect the procurement result. These risks are inherent both to customers
and suppliers of procurement activities. In the article risks are classified by stages of procurement activity. In particular,
risks of poor-quality performance of the contract arise long before the stage of its conclusion. In the conclusion,
recommendations are made which can be directed to solving the issues of SMEs access to procurement.

Hair salons provide a partial solution to South Africa's high unemployment, poverty and inequality problems because they are labour intensive and have low start-up costs making them affordable even to the poor and the marginalised. Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality in South Africa is a socioeconomically depressed area that largely depends on hair salons for employment. The prosperity of hair salons is therefore critical to the economic well-being of the inhabitants of the area. The proliferation of hair salon business since South Africa's 1994 democracy has led to fierce competition among these businesses in the region. There is a consensus that in the current information economy, effective records management allows for quick access to reliable information which is key for business success. In addition, the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm suggests that quick access to reliable information allows firms such as hair salons to gain sustainable competitive a...