Factors influencing social entrepreneurship propensity in South Africa
Date
2013-10-08
Authors
Teise, Heinrich Richardt
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Abstract
Entrepreneurship, which is attracting notable attention in the modern world, has
roots that extend back in time to the earliest traders. Interestingly, the
phenomenon was only really identified and defined in the 17th and 18th century
French economics. Today, the phenomenon has several permutations, one of
which, social entrepreneurship, still remains enigmatic in its emergence. Several
scholars claim that social entrepreneurship has been present for many years,
however, the phenomenon has thus far been poorly articulated from an academic
perspective. By definition, social entrepreneurship possesses the mission of
addressing social challenges and injustices through economic and commercial
means.
Given this context, the main purpose of this research was to gain insight into
those factors that could influence social entrepreneurship propensity in South
Africa. Furthermore, given South Africa’s socio-economic challenges with poverty,
unemployment and a widening unequal income distribution, social
entrepreneurship bears particular relevance. A quantitative research approach
was adopted, whereby data was collected through 249 questionnaire type surveys
amongst tertiary business students. All the data was subsequently subjected to
factor and multivariate statistical analyses.
The findings of the research revealed six factors that could influence social
entrepreneurship propensity. These factors were empirically derived and
represented literature reasonably well. A particular factor, namely, moral
judgement and empathy, upon which social entrepreneurship substantially hinges,
showed modest levels present in the research. However, the overall results
obtained in this research were positive and the conclusion that the propensity of
possible social entrepreneurship engagement exists can be drawn.
While this research can be considered as relatively new in South Africa, it does
contribute to the body of knowledge in the social entrepreneurship domain.
Notwithstanding, this research has also highlighted the importance of further
research that social entrepreneurship still requires
Description
MBA thesis
Keywords
Entrepreneurship, Social entrepreneurship