Electronic Theses and Dissertations (PhDs)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37943

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    The Cognitive Process of Entrepreneurs Seeking Access to External Finance to Drive SMME Growth
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Rathogwa, Kediboni Belinda; Msimango- Galawe, Jabulile
    Small, micro and medium enterprises (SMME) need access to external finance to grow. Entrepreneurs’ financing decisions play an important role in enabling SMME access to external finance. Existing research does not adequately capture the complexity and dynamics involved when entrepreneurs make decisions. This study explored the cognitive process of entrepreneurs seeking external finance through which entrepreneurs’ financing decisions promote or limit SMME access to external finance. The study collected qualitative data through 14 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs who operated businesses in South Africa. The data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate themes. Based on its findings, the study proposes a model of entrepreneurs’ process of choosing a course of action (MEPCCA). In addition, the study proposes an integrated model of the cognitive process of entrepreneurs seeking external finance to drive SMME growth (MCPESEF). The proposed MCPESEF provides a temporal account of the complex and dynamic process of seeking external finance. The study proffers that growth aspirations promote entrepreneurs applying for external finance by increasing its desirability, which positively influences their intention to apply. In contrast, the study proposes that discouragement limits entrepreneurs applying for external finance through its negative influence on entrepreneurs’ intention to apply. Further research is required to test the effect of perceived desirability and feasibility on entrepreneurs’ intention to apply for external finance. An in-depth understanding of the cognitive process of entrepreneurs seeking external finance supports efforts to improve SMME access to the external finance needed to drive growth.
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    Entrepreneurial Orientation and Performance within the South African Minibus Taxi Industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Kier, Jessica; Urban, Boris
    The primary purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation within the South African minibus taxi industry. This industry is pivotal to the South African economic structure and landscape as a whole. The taxi industry serves as the main mode of public transport in South Africa. A survey was used to conduct an empirical research study. A sample size of 120 participants was originally selected; however, of those 120, only 95 surveys were valid and used due to missing values in the data provided in the others. This sample size is representative of the population concerning the taxi industry. The research instrument included a 7-point Likert scale. Further, the instrument included demographic coverage and sections covering the three entrepreneurial orientations’ dimensions. The aim of this study is to understand the extent to which entrepreneurial orientation enables small- to medium-enterprise growth performance within the South African taxi industry. Empirical data to support research suppositions is difficult to access within the public domain, but this research identified and provided an analysis extracted from private enterprise which fills the gap in the current research literature space. The results indicated a weak positive influence between the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation and growth performance within the industry. Due to the significance of the findings, the results are not strong enough for generalising the same findings for the entire South African minibus taxi population. This industry is the main source of public transport within the country and needs to increase its literature in order to grow and further improve. Further findings can contribute to the understanding of the complexity that surrounds the industry’s atmosphere. The value of working to formulate constructive information on the taxi industry will allow for further engagement within the field