Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management (ETDs)

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    Entrepreneurial Intentions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Students at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Mazibuko, Ntathu; Murimbika, McEdward
    Entrepreneurship is one of the solutions put forward to curb the rising unemployment statistics in South Africa. It is argued that Entrepreneurial Intentions are a good indicator of Entrepreneurial Activity. The study examines the relationship and influence of Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy together with Innovation and Entrepreneurial Education on Entrepreneurial Intentions. The subject of this study involved students from the University of Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment who are studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) courses. The study collected data from a random sample of 60 students using an adapted questionnaire. The descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The results show Entrepreneurial Education does not have significant impact on the students’ Entrepreneurial Intentions, whilst Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy and Innovation showed a positive relationship. Results also showed that high Entrepreneurial Intentions do not translate to Entrepreneurial Activity.
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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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    Determining entrepreneurial intent among WBS MBA students post-Covid
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Nqoko, Vuyokazi S; Msimango-Galawe, Jabulile
    The study explored entrepreneurial intentions within the MBA cohort at WITS with a focus on the students of 2020 to 2022. The goal of the study was to determine if MBA students at Wits have the desire to launch a company and to ascertain if there are any barriers in their entrepreneurial purpose and its antecedents. These students were given the opportunity to gain experience about entrepreneurship. The study's contribution is to determine which variables are most important in predicting entrepreneurial intent among this cohort. The core data in this research study was gathered from WBS MBA students using a quantitative survey study approach. The main sections of the questionnaire were grouped to form five main variables by taking the means, and also the main variable personality trait was computed from the variables attitude and locus of control. This grouping was necessary to carry out the Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression Analysis and these test the influence of the independent variables and dependant variable. The study focused on the 2020,2021 and 2022 WBS MBA cohort and the results cannot be generalized for the rest of the university or the country. Based on the findings, there is a weak positive influence between entrepreneurial intent and attitude towards entrepreneurship among WBS MBA students post-Covid in South Africa and this result is not statistically significant. Further, there is a strong positive influence between entrepreneurial intent and perceived environmental support among WBS MBA students post-Covid in South Africa and this result is not statistically significant. In addition, there is a strong positive influence between entrepreneurial intent and perceived behaviour control among WBS MBA students post-Covid in South Africa. This result is statistically significant at a 5% level. Based on the findings, there is a strong positive influence between entrepreneurial intent and subjective norms among WBS MBA students post-Covid in South Africa. And, this result is statistically significant at a 5% level. Finally, there is a strong positive influence between personality traits and entrepreneurial intent among WBS MBA students post-Covid in South Africa and this result is not statistically significant.
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    Determining the antecedents of social entrepreneurial intention in Madagascar
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Nirina, Marius; Urbani, Boris
    Social entrepreneurship is widely viewed by scholars as a way to address social challenges that governmental and non-governmental agencies have neglected. In the case of Madagascar, a country characterized by corruption, poor governance acute poverty and a victim of recurring natural disasters, the topic of Social Entrepreneurship (SE) appears to be relevant. This research provides a comprehensive understanding on the antecedents that enhance Social Entrepreneurial Intention (SEI) in a unique African context that has been under-researched. The study adopted a quantitative approach and is cross-sectional in nature. With a total sample size of 330, the questionnaires were directly administered to the respondents which constituted the data for the research. Relationships and influences of the independent variables on the dependent variable were tested using correlational analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. With regards to perceived desirability. it was revealed that empathy is the only dimension that had a significant and positive influence SEI. Also, the findings suggested that only social support had a positive and significant influence on SEI. In a context where SE seems to be a necessity, this study has various implications for researchers and practitioners alike. First, it could contribute as a starting point for policy and strategic reforms pertaining to entrepreneurship. Secondly, it highlights the need of social entrepreneurial education and practices in both the academic and organizational contexts, hence, the need for the involvement of all formal institutions. From an academic perspective, it provides a modest contribution towards existing theories and reinforces what previous studies have put forward. Equally, it provides a basis for future researchers to further extend the topic towards the identification of other influential factors of SEI in Madagascar and, perhaps even test for social entrepreneurial activities as a follow up study.
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    Factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions of women in the South African digital ecosystem
    (2021) Danisa, Nombulelo
    In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there have been increasing calls in support of female entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa. The entrepreneurial gender disparity against women in South Africa is a cause for concern considering the important role of female entrepreneurs in the economy. Potential female entrepreneurs face challenges and hostile environments that discourage entrepreneurial spirit. However, with the advent of the digital ecosystem, it is hoped that these institutional barriers would be overcome. Thus, an investigation on the influence of institutional factors and the digital environment on entrepreneurial intentions of women is imperative. Utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour within an institutional embedded perspective, a model for the digital economy was inferred to analyse factors affecting female entrepreneurial intention in the South African digital ecosystem. This quantitative study utilised cross sectional data collected for a final sample of 302 females across South Africa. Results reflected that entrepreneurial intentions of women are positively influenced by favourable perceptions of the cognitive and normative institutional dimensions. However, the regulatory dimension had a positive but insignificant influence with no evidence that the digital environment interacts with the institutional environment to influence entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, it is recommended that government and policy makers play a leading role in promoting a culture that values female entrepreneurship. This would assist in creating favourable perceptions of the institutional environment and in turn encourage aspiring female entrepreneurs to start their own business
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    The role of culture and environmental factors on entrepreneurship in Johannesburg, South Africa
    (2021) Lakha, Mitesh
    This paper investigated the entrepreneurial intentions of high school learners in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study was based on the entrepreneurial event model and the theory of planned behaviour. The objective of the study was to test whether these models could help explain the entrepreneurial intentions of high school learners in a South African context and whether the results would differ from the traditional Eurocentric studies given the country’s cultural and environmental nuances. The study took further to understand the perceptions of the regulatory environment and whether this impacted the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and its antecedents, perceived desirability and perceived feasibility. The study was conducted by means of a survey using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that the entrepreneurial intention of the students could be predicated by their attitude towards becoming an entrepreneur as well as their perceived desirability of entering entrepreneurship. The questionnaire was found to be a valid instrument in measuring entrepreneurial intention of high school learners in Johannesburg, South Africa. Recommendations for legislature, educators and researchers have been highlighted
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    Employing the theory of planned behaviour to determine pharmacists’ entrepreneurial intentions in South Africa
    (2020) Sigauke, Kudakwashe
    Pharmacy entrepreneurship has a role to play in addressing inequitable access to health and unemployment through the creation of new pharmacy ventures. Despite the regulatory changes of pharmacy ownership, which opened the market to laypeople rural areas and townships have remained with limited access to pharmaceutical services. A possible cause of this is the decline of creation of new independent community pharmacies which are traditionally known for their willingness to be established across demographics. In South Africa, little is known about employed pharmacists' intentions to transition from being employees to business owners who can potentially address the persistent inadequate pharmaceutical care service. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the study explores the influence of perceived environmental hostility on the entrepreneurial motivations and intentions of employed pharmacists in South Africa. Primary data of the quantitative and cross-sectional study was collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed electronically to pharmacists with online social media profiles. Four hundred forty-three pharmacists participated in this study, with the final sample consisting of 360 responses. Data analysis included correlational analysis, hierarchical multiple regression, and parallel mediation analysis. The empirical findings of the study revealed that environmental hostility had an insignificant direct effect on entrepreneurial intentions. Instead, environmental hostility exerted a significant indirect effect on entrepreneurial intentions by negatively influencing the three motivational antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions in the model: Attitude towards behaviour, bootstrapping and perceived behavioural control. The results support the findings of previous research that environmental influences such as hostility indirectly impact entrepreneurial intent by the mediating effects of the motivational antecedents. The study adds to the existing body of research that highlights the salient role individual and environmental factors play in influencing the preconception phase of entrepreneurship, particularly in under-researched countries such as South Africa. Additionally, the study adds to the existing body of work on entrepreneurial intentions by incorporating a working adult population of health professionals, as most studies on entrepreneurial intentions have targeted students. The information gathered in this research helps inform policy on how to enhance the entrepreneurial participation of pharmacists under the broader context of increasing access to pharmaceutical services in South Africa.
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    The effect of entrepreneurial selfefficacy, experience, and education on entrepreneurial intention among black South African female youth
    (2020) Muchabaiwa, Honest
    In order to advance the study of entrepreneurship, this quantitative study assessed the impact of prior entrepreneurial exposure, entrepreneurship education, and entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the entrepreneurial intention of female, black South African youth. The moderating impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on the relationship between entrepreneurship education and intention as well as between prior entrepreneurial exposure and intention were assessed. The data was collected among 278 female, black South African youth, using a questionnaire that was scripted on Qualtrics. Regression analysis was conducted to assess the hypotheses. The results revealed that both entrepreneurship education and prior entrepreneurial exposure had a direct significant positive impact on entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy did not significantly moderate the relationship between both entrepreneurship education and intention as well as between prior entrepreneurial exposure and entrepreneurial intention. The key message from this study was that entrepreneurial intention is dependent on whether one had a positive prior entrepreneurial exposure and was also exposed to entrepreneurship education. It was concluded that the impact of entrepreneurship education and prior entrepreneurial exposure is not dependent on one’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy.