Motivational factors, intent and contextual factors that influence the creation of small entrepreneurial ventures in Gauteng
Date
2021
Authors
Tsenki, Relebohile G
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Abstract
Orientation – Many South Africans have opted for entrepreneurship to earn a decent living, while the government directs itself to the fighting of unemployment and to increasing economic growth and development. Currently, the country faces high levels of unemployment, leaving entrepreneurship to be viewed as a positive answer to such a problem.
Motivation for the study – For entrepreneurship to occur, there must be some type of motivation, behaviour or action, belief in one’s ability and external forces playing a role. The idea for this topic developed due to the high unemployment rate in South Africa, with the focus being on the Gauteng province. The importance given to identifying the intent (desire and behaviour) to become an entrepreneur led by the motivation through push-and-pull factors, with the necessary belief one had in themself (self-efficacy) and by the external environment (the contextual factors) with which the participants in the current study were faced when attempting to create their venture. The present study did not focus on those individuals who wanted to start a business in the future, but rather on those who had already established a business, which lent additional insight into what they had to endure to get their business up and running.
Research purpose – The main purpose of the current study was to identify the motivational factors, intent and contextual factors that influence the creation of small entrepreneurial ventures in Gauteng, focusing on individuals aged 18 and above.
Research design, approach, and method – The study uses quantitative research methods based on a positivist research paradigm. The questionnaire was administered, using a link via WhatsApp and email, to a sample of 120 entrepreneurs who were registered and who operated in the Gauteng region at the time of the study. The data was analysed using exploratory factor analysis, reliability and validity testing, correlation analysis and linear regression.
Main findings – The findings of the study concluded that a positive relationship existed between entrepreneurial intent, with motivational push-pull and contextual factors, in small entrepreneurial ventures in the Gauteng region. No evidence was found in the study regarding to the relationship between entrepreneurial intent and self-efficacy. Practical/managerial implications – The results of this research have practical implications for policymakers, researchers and incubators. Contribution/value add – The study contributes to the existing empirical findings as to how different dimensions of motivational factors and contextual factors can affect entrepreneurial intent, as well as their effects on small entrepreneurial ventures in a developing country.
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 (in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation), 2021
Keywords
Motivational push-and-pull factor,, Motivational push-and-pull factor, Contextual factors, Theory of planned behaviour (TPB), Entrepreneurial intent, Self-efficacy