he sustainable competitiveness of Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) is critical for economic resilience, yet many fail to achieve consistent growth and innovation due to inadequately targeted leadership and management development. This study examines the management leadership capabilities and skills that drive sustainable competitiveness among SMMEs supplying ICT solutions in South Africa’s Lowveld Nexus, a unifying term describing the interconnected economic activities of Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. The absence of a context specific framework that links leadership and management competencies to the unique competitive demands of ICT based SMMEs within this economically diverse region was the rationale. Grounded in Agile Management Theory, Transformational Leadership Theory, Socio technical Critical Theory, and Ambivalent Technology Stances, the study adopts a qualitative, exploratory approach to examine the lived realities of ICT SMMEs. Twenty-one SMME owners and managers were purposively selected across the three provinces and participated in in depth interviews. The data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six step framework to ensure analytical rigor and transparency. The findings reveal that existing generic leadership and management frameworks are insufficient for the specialized and dynamic ICT SMME context. Transformational leadership emerged as a critical driver of competitiveness, particularly where leaders demonstrated vision, strategic thinking, innovation orientation, and the ability to motivate and empower teams. Beyond leadership style, the study identifies five interdependent pillars that shape competitiveness, namely strategic education and training, relevant operational experience, robust support systems, adaptive leadership capability, and flexible management practices. The study makes a substantive contribution by developing an integrated framework that demonstrates how leadership, management, contextual realities, and technological dynamics interact to drive sustainable growth and competitiveness. This advances existing theory by moving beyond single theory explanations and introducing a multi-dimensional, context sensitive perspective on ICT SMME performance. Practically, the framework provides actionable guidance for policymakers, training institutions, and SMME leaders seeking to strengthen leadership capacity and enhance competitiveness within the South African ICT sector.
Inhloso yalolu cwaningo kwakuwukuqonda amakhono okuphatha kanye nobuholi adingekayo ekukhuleni kokuncintisana nokusimeme kumaBhizinisi Amancane, Amaphakathi, Nasebenza ngezinga elincane kakhulu (ama-SMME) ahlinzeka ngezixazululo zoBuchwepheshe Bolwazi noKuxhumana (ICT) e-Lowveld Nexus yaseNingizimu Afrika. Leli yigama elihlanganisayo elichaza ukuxhumana phakathi kweGauteng, Limpopo, kanye neMpumalanga. Kucatshangwa ukuthi kukhona ukushoda kohlaka oluzinikele lokuqonda amakhono okuphatha kanye nobuholi adingekayo ekukhuleni kokuncintisana nokusimeme ku-Lowveld Nexus. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise indlela ngokuchazayo, ngokwenza izingxoxo ezijulile nabahlanganyeli abangama-21, abakhethwa ngobuchule kusetshenziswa amasampula ahlosiwe phakathi kwabanikazi bama-SMME ezifundazweni zonke zaseGauteng, Limpopo, naseMpumalanga.
Lolu cwaningo lusekelwe phezu kombono wokuphatha oshesha kakhulu kanye nombono wobuholi benguquko. Imininingwane eqoqiwe yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa indlela yokuhlaziya indikimba edalulwe kuBraun noClarke kuhlonzwe izingqikithi ezibalulekile zokuphatha kanye nekhono lobuholi. Okutholakele kuveze ukuntula okubonakalayo kobuholi obukhona, obujwayelekile kanye nezinhlaka zokuphatha ukuze kubhekwane ngempumelelo nezinselela ezithile kanye namathuba ama-SMME abhekene nawo emkhakheni we-ICT oguquguqukayo. Ucwaningo lwembule izici ezinhlanu ezibalulekile eziyisisekelo ezibalulekile kuma-ICT SMME, okuholela ekuqhudelaneni nasekukhuleni okusimeme endaweni ye-ICT: imfundo nokuqeqeshwa, ulwazi, izinhlelo zokusekela, amakhono obuholi, amakhono okuphatha. Lolu cwaningo lufake isandla ngohlaka lokuphatha ubuchwepheshe kanye nokuqamba izinto ezintsha kanye namakhono obuholi ezisombululo ze-ICT ezihlinzeka ngama-SMME.
Ucwaningo luphetha ngokuthi ‘indlela yomhlaba wonke’ yobuholi nokuthuthukiswa kokuphatha ayanele ukuze kuthuthukiswe ukukhula okusimeme kulo mongo. Lolu cwaningo luphakamisa ukuthi abaholi kufanele basebenzise uhlaka lobuholi obuqondene nemboni ethile, olwakhiwa ngalolu cwaningo, lwafanelana nezidingo eziyingqayizivele kanye nezinkimbinkimbi zabahlinzeki bezixazululo ze-SMME ICT, oluchaza ngokusobala futhi luthuthukise iqoqo lamakhono obuholi adingekayo ukuze kuzuzwe ukuncintisana nokukhula okuzinzile.
