Relationship between personality of owner-managers and performance of internet cafes in Free State, South Africa

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although small businesses, including internet cafes, contribute to the country's economy, the majority of internet cafes fail to survive for more than 2 years after their first year of operation AIM: The main aim of this article was to promote the growth and survival of small businesses in the telecommunication industry through profiling owner-managers and the business performance of internet cafés in the Free State province, South Africa SETTING: The study focuses on the relationship between the personality of owner-managers and the performance of internet cafés METHODS: This study draws on a quantitative approach in line with the positivist paradigm, with a participation of 88 owner-managers who completed the questionnaires RESULTS: The findings of the study showed that conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience traits are positively related to the performance of internet cafes CONCLUSION: Despite most studies investigating the relationship between the performance of internet cafes and the personality traits of owner-managers, this study concludes that there is a relationship between the two variables. This informs institutions that provide funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to encourage people with conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience personality traits to pursue businesses in the technology industry