The management impact of the new Warrant of Fitness inspection regulations on small workshop businesses in New Zealand

Abstract

Small business delivers a massive contribution to the New Zealand economy by generating job opportunities. Besides that, small business has several key advantages namely: small businesses are more efficient than large businesses in producing certain goods and services; they are the source of competition and innovation in the economy; they are an important way for entrepreneurs to get into business; and they offer choice and variety to customers. As a matter of fact, several new small businesses are established every day around the country. However, there is some restriction holding back the further growth of small businesses and so a narrowing of the opportunities to generate jobs; this is due to the introduction of new regulations by the New Zealand government.

The purpose of this research is to focus on identifying and measuring the management impact of the new Warrant of Fitness regulations inspection on small auto workshop business in New Zealand. By identifying the issues that cause uncertainty for business in the new regulatory environment, alternative business strategies can be proposed to help management adapt and thus succeed. The research will also examine the level of management impact on small auto workshop businesses in New Zealand.

This research is based on the positive paradigm and uses a quantitative research method, which is capable of providing a result that is objective. This research targets owner/managers, supervisors, and inspectors of small auto workshop business in New Zealand. The quantitative data was collated from 100 respondents, the sample size of this research.

Hypotheses that are associated with the research objective will be tested and verify using several quantitative analysing methods that are available in SPSS software application. The findings of this research established that the new Warrant of Fitness inspection regulations impact negatively on small auto workshops performing WOF business in New Zealand. Most managers and inspectors are not satisfied with the new inspection regulations due to slow down the work process and loss of confidence in their job security. The study suggests that applying a new alternative business strategy and adopting a flexible working environment is the best way to generate business continuously for the future of small auto workshop businesses in New Zealand.

1. What are the alternative business options that could be implemented and adopted to keep the business continuing in the future?

2. What are the main responsibilities of managers to handle the issues in order to protect the businesses from the resulting loss in revenue?

3. What management change will WOF inspection providers need to make in order to improve the financial measures for the future

4. What is the New Zealand government contingency plan to support WOF inspection provider employees if they are losing their jobs specifically due to the impact of these new regulations?