Seely, Derek2024-09-132024-09-132023Seely, Derek. (2023). Antecedents of Social Networks and their Influence on the Propensity of Academic Entrepreneurs to Develop Successful Spin-Off Ventures [PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/40770https://hdl.handle.net/10539/40770A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Johannesburg 2023There is an ongoing discussion about potentially commercialisable academic research not resulting in effective commercialisation in South Africa. This research adds to the body of knowledge by considering the role that an individual academic entrepreneur's social network plays in the spin-off process. The purpose of research is to improve our understanding of the social networks used by academic researchers that enable them to identify and commercialise their innovative research and commercialise it within the university context through the formation of an entrepreneurial spin-off. The study followed a quantitative methodological approach to establish the role of these networks in spin-off development and was actualised using a cross-sectional survey. Respondents were self-identified academic entrepreneurs, drawn from South African academic institutions. The research considered assumptions that research mobilisation, collaboration, unconventionality, university support, bureaucracy and the aspirations of the academic entrepreneur impact spin-off success. The study results provided a conceptual framework that integrates and enhances spin-off success using the academic entrepreneur's social network while enhancing entrepreneurial spin-off theory. The research showed that the existence of a triple helix is insufficient on its own to create a successful spin-off by providing insight on the networks needed for success. Further, the study clarified the importance of individual-level characteristics that are important for academic entrepreneurship to succeed. The outcomes highlighted that research mobilisation, collaboration, risk taking activities, bureaucracy and academic aspirations have significant implications for successful academic entrepreneurship. These findings are noteworthy as the research has been conducted across disciplines and universities with vastly different resource availabilitiesen© 2023 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.Triple HelixInnovationAcademic EntrepreneurshipSouth AfricaSocial NetworksSDG-4: Quality educationThesisUniversity of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg