World Wide Worx | Business Technology Research South Africa

About

World Wide Worx is headed by Arthur Goldstuck, a pioneer in the South African market in the use of the Internet as a tool for productivity. He developed the first South African benchmarks for web site usability and strategy, and represented South Africa as a judge in the web site category of the Cannes International Advertising Festival in France in 2002. He is also author of a range of books dealing with issues as diverse as business on the Internet and urban legends in southern Africa, and is an award-winning IT journalist, having been honoured in three separate categories of the Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year awards from 2002 to 2004.

He is regarded as South Africa’s leading expert on Internet and mobile technology trends and leads two major annual studies, namely SME Survey, which interviews 6000 decision-makers at SMMEs in South Africa every year, and the Mobility project, which includes a nationally representative survey of consumers, SMEs and corporations.

Strategic alliances

World Wide Worx operates on a strategic networking principle, and has strategic alliances with research houses and individuals representing a far wider range of disciplines than that available to conventional research organisations. While it works extensively with start-ups in an empowerment and skills transfer context, it also selects “best of breed” partners with proven expertise in specialist areas, and works with these partners in construction, conducting, analysis and reporting of primary research.

As a result of its structure, World Wide Worx has been able to empower many researchers who do not have the resources to conduct research on their own behalf, but who still wish to have a stake in the ownership of the research, as well as in the financial and marketing benefits.

Black empowerment joint ventures

From time to time World Wide Worx identifies potential partners that it believes will add value to its services and projects. Some of these partners work with us on an ad hoc basis, while others are involved in formal joint ventures or strategic alliances. In this context, World Wide Worx has developed a strong range of partnerships with organisations representing previously disadvantaged individuals, and has engaged in a skills transfer process with several of these. Its joint ventures include a partnership with Bonngoe Capital, holding company of BEE ratings agency Empowerdex. Bonngoe is an equity partner in the SME Survey conducted annually by World Wide Worx, and its CEO Vuyo Jack serves on the steering committee of SME Survey.