International opportunity recognition by South African entrepreneurial firms
Date
2016-08-25
Authors
Willard, Candice
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Abstract
The global market is a dynamic, competitive environment offering
business growth and development, and as such a pull towards
international activities exists for firms. Despite this globalisation of
markets, international entrepreneurship research has not focussed on the
opportunity recognition process in an international context. In addition, the
cross-national differences that may exist, and the validation of
perspectives to emerging economies, is poorly understood.
This research was conducted in South Africa, a country considered to be
an emerging economy, with the purpose of ascertaining how local
entrepreneurial firms recognise international opportunities, and the main
factors influencing this process.
This was done using a quantitative statistical research methodology, in the
form of a cross-sectional study. An online self-administered survey was
utilised for data collection, which was then subjected to the research
selection criteria.
Prior experiential knowledge and the levels of entrepreneurial orientation,
in terms of proactiveness, risk-taking and innovativeness, did not seem to
have a significant effect on the international recognition process by South
African firms. The effect of organisational learning could not be
conclusively drawn. However, international social networks, in relation to
the amount of time invested in interacting with contacts, and developing
and maintaining contacts, seemed to have a significant effect on this
process.
This research provides the initial insights into an under-researched area,
and contributes to international entrepreneurship research with empirical
testing of a sample from South Africa.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and
Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of
the requirements for the degree of Master of Management
specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
Johannesburg, 2015