Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters/MBA)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37942

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Entrepreneurial

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Entrepreneurial traits among university students in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Mhlanga, Sylvia Shingaidzo
    At a time when South Africa critically needs businesses categorised as small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to contribute meaningfully to the economy, there is a gap in research undertaken on the levels of personality trait among youths in South Africa, specifically focusing on their related impact on new venture formation and entrepreneurial success. Anchored on the Psychological Entrepreneurship Theory, the research was aimed at examining whether university students possess the personality traits that influence new venture formation, as well as one’s success as an entrepreneur. Through examining their entrepreneurial traits, the study evaluated whether entrepreneurship is a viable career option for undergraduate university students and identified if existing policy interventions are adequate in addressing any entrepreneurial personality gaps among university students. The literature review section was targeted at highlighting some of the existing key research work on the interrelatedness of personality traits and entrepreneurship, as well as how each of the personality traits in the Big Five Model influence entrepreneurship. Utilising a questionnaire design consistent with the Big Five Approach, data was collected from 62 undergraduate students at the University of Witwatersrand, to assess the levels of their entrepreneurial personality traits. The data was statistically analysed, using mean scores and frequency distributions, to assess the levels entrepreneurial traits among undergraduate students and the results presented, including all policy recommendations and conclusions. Results of the internal factor validity tests conducted on each of the entrepreneurial traits using the Cronbach’s alpha showed that although the factors used in the questionnaire were generally valid, the research instrument could be improved by replacing the factors that had lower scores. Results of the significance tests on the variables showed that there was strong evidence of relationships between the entrepreneurial traits and demographic variables among the undergraduate students. The results of the study also showed that although there is a high level of entrepreneurial traits among undergraduate university students, some personality traits were less developed and needed further strengthening
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    The impact of entrepreneurial mind-set on cross border trade of small medium enterprise manufacturers in Gauteng Province
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2021) Nhlangothi, Lucky; Venter, Rob
    The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of the entrepreneurial mind-set of entrepreneurs on cross border trade (exporting) and to measure how this affected performance of the SMEs within the manufacturing sector in the Gauteng Province. It is argued that positive entrepreneurial mind-set and understanding perceived constraints of SMEs on cross border trade are determinants of successful entrepreneurship that could contribute to sustainable economic development in South Africa. The study explored the impact of entrepreneurial mind-set on cross border trade of small medium enterprises focussing on manufacturing sector in the Gauteng Province, South Africa. This was survey based empirical study of 120 respondents involved in the manufacturing industry. A descriptive quantitative method was used to address the proposed relationships between measuring metrics and growth of these enterprises. The instrument was checked for validity and reliability: the variables were operationalised and measured against multi- dimensional scales. Analysis for the proposed relationships were measured using multiple regression and correlation analysis. The finding of the research The study also contributed towards the body of literature on entrepreneurship strategy formulation at the SMES level that potentially may promote better strategy implementation by policymakers. It contributed to the existing body of knowledge by providing new findings on the impact of entrepreneurial mind-set on cross border trade amongst SMEs in manufacturing sectorin the Gauteng Province. The study also provided solutions to the declining output in the manufacturing sector. The research findings contributed to the basis for further study to other researchers to follow around the impact of entrepreneurial mind-set on cross border trade
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    The role of entrepreneurial orientation in enabling corporate entrepreneurship in Namibian companies
    (2020) Ballotti, Dino
    Scholars and business leaders discourse on the importance of “unleashing the entrepreneurial potential” of organisations includes getting rid of controls and restrictions on entrepreneurial behaviour (Pinchot & Pellman, 1999:125). The global business environment is changing exponentially, fast becoming ever more competitive, which dictates that entrepreneurial activity is growing in prominence, allowing for the survival and future competitiveness of corporates. At organisation level, the ability to innovate continually and engage in an ongoing process of entrepreneurial action has become the source of competitive advantage, with the dearth of entrepreneurial intent and orientation being the perfect ingredient for failure (Kuratko, 2009). This study provided quantitative first-hand empirical support for academic and practical claims of the role entrepreneurial orientation (EO) played in supporting corporate entrepreneurship (CE) in an emerging market context. The conceptual model, shaped from the work of Urban and Wood (2015), intended to contribute to the body of knowledge providing both researchers and organisations alike the foundation to examine the relationship between EO and CE. The integrated framework of CE allowed for a broad overview of the relationship with EO. A sample of 500 corporate employees was drawn from various corporate employers in Namibia. The findings were established based on three hypotheses. The first hypothesis was supported, as the study found that the higher the level of EO, in terms of the innovativeness dimension, the greater the level of CE in terms of opportunity recognition. The second hypothesis stated that the higher the level of EO, in terms of the risk-taking dimension, the greater the level of CE in terms of opportunity recognition. The study found a negative and insignificant impact of risk-taking on opportunity recognition; the hypothesis was not supported. The third hypothesis found that the higher the level of EO, in terms of the pro-activeness dimension, the greater the level of CE in terms of opportunity recognition. CE theory endures to advance and improve (Zahra, Randerson, & Fayolle, 2013), and although existing studies have enriched the knowledge of the relationship between EO and CE, a serious research gap was identified. This research investigated the roles played by both constructs in a developing market context, with the intention of providing a more comprehensive picture of how EO affects CE, as the study’s main research question. To sum up, whichever form CE takes; it is fundamental and imperative that creating value is observed as the key driver in the pursuit of ongoing competitive advantage.
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    The influence of the institutional environment on entrepreneurial intentions of the youth living in urban and rural areas of Mpumalanga Province
    (2020) Madonsela, Nosipho
    The youth has been identified as having great potential to contribute to the growth of the South African economy through entrepreneurship. Many research studies have been conducted to investigate the impact of the institutional environment on entrepreneurial intentions. However, not much has been explored to understand the cognitive and normative institutional factors that are present in urban and rural areas, that have an impact on entrepreneurial intentions of young people. A research study is performed to understand the level of influence that the institutional environment (cognitive and normative), has on entrepreneurial intentions of young people living in urban and rural areas in the Mpumalanga province. The study will further investigate the impact of the institutional environment on desirability and feasibility towards entrepreneurship of young people residing in urban and rural areas in the province. This study proposed to use mainly the theory of entrepreneurial event and Kostava’s institutional theory to investigate the impact of the external environment on entrepreneurial intentions. The study was quantitative and cross sectional in nature. Electronic surveys were distributed to young people in Mpumalanga, and a total of 376 usable responses was obtained. The data was analysed using linear and multiple regression. The key findings indicated that the normative environment in urban areas had a positive impact on entrepreneurial intent while the cognitive environment in urban areas had a negative impact. In relation to rural areas in Mpumalanga, both the normative and cognitive environment had a positive impact on entrepreneurial intent. The two antecedents of entrepreneurial intention being perceived as desirability and feasibility, were found to be unrelated to the instrument and hence hyphothesis relating to these were not tested. The implications of this research for policy makers is to focus on increasing momentum in entrepreneurship awareness in order to see an increased number of sustainable businesses that will have a greater impact and contribution the economy as a whole.
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    The influence of entrepreneurial pedagogy on entrepreneurial intent among secondary school learners in Gauteng West District
    (2020) Tyeda, Kedibone
    The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of entrepreneurial pedagogy on entrepreneurial intention among Grade 12 learners of West District of Gauteng Province in South Africa. A sample of 169 learners participated in the survey. To collect primary data, the researcher used a quantitative method and handed self-administered questionnaires to respondents. Two constructs were analysed, entrepreneurial pedagogy and entrepreneurial intention. Correlation coefficient was used to determine the direction and strength of the relationship between entrepreneurial pedagogy and entrepreneurial intention, while the regression coefficient was used to determine the influence of entrepreneurial pedagogy on entrepreneurial intention. The findings concluded that entrepreneurial pedagogy does have a positive influence on entrepreneurial intentions among secondary school learners in the West District of Gauteng Province of South Africa.