The most crucial issue facing today`s business leaders is the decreasing profitability of the local market, found a "dipstick" survey conducted by Bateleur Financial Services among managing and financial directors in South African insurance, banking and financial services sectors. The survey highlighted the need for cost efficiency amid increasing high cost of doing business in South Africa. It further showed that managing change on national and global levels, handling crime and fraud, employing and keeping well-skilled people, and the Rand`s behavior on foreign currency markets are also vital for business success today.
South African Internet users are not lonely singles using the medium as a substitute for a social life, The 1998 Web User Survey found. Fifty six percent of local Net surfers were married or living together. The survey on user profile, conducted by South Africa Online (http://www.southafrica.co.za) and published by Media Africa, had a respondent base of more than 1400 South Africans. The key findings on user profile show the average age of web users is 35, with the biggest single age group being those between 20 and 30. The survey also found a growing importance of the Internet to mature users.
ComputerWeek, a Systems Publishers` weekly, yesterday released the results of its third annual Global Communications survey, sponsored by British Telecommunications. Niall Murphy, a Systems director, said over 150 companies with the average annual revenue of around R250 million participated in the survey. The survey showed e-mail continues to be the most popular business application. The full survey results report will be available in 27 April issue of ComputerWeek.
A new Internet survey has found that the number of South Africans dialing in to the Internet is at least 50% higher than most estimates have revealed until now. The survey, undertaken by Internet specialists Arthur Goldstuck and Cathy Stadler, is the first independent survey to enjoy the cooperation of all major Internet Service Providers in South Africa.