Abstract
Abstract : There have been noteworthy developments in the field of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship research over the recent years, with research into women entrepreneurship fast becoming the leading area of interest in this field. Scholastic research on women entrepreneurship has focused mainly on existing business as well as the factors that impact the successes of such businesses. Notwithstanding the developments in this area, it is imperative to keep in mind that, within this sphere, women possess a variety of characteristics that may further impact on their intentions to participate in entrepreneurial activities. These additional/different characteristics include age and race. In a nation like South Africa, with a history of oppression of particular individuals, the development of these individuals in the era of democracy warrants in-depth research. This study was undertaken with the purpose of obtaining more insight into a group that is characterised by elements of age, race and gender that in the past and, to an extent in the present, would have been considered disadvantageous. This study is aimed, therefore, at determining the factors that influence entrepreneurial intentions among black female millennials. The study is a combination of exploratory and descriptive research. Data collection was conducted through a focus group and questionnaire. The population group that was targeted for the purposes of this study were black female individuals born between the years 1980 and 2000 (known as ‘millennials’). The sampling size was 250 (10 participated in the focus group participants, while the remaining 240 completed the questionnaire). The administration of the questionnaire yielded 200 responses that were usable for statistical analysis. The statistical tests applied included exploratory data-, correlation- , as well as multiple regression analyses, to determine the conclusion of what the study sought to address. The results from the analysis indicated that entrepreneurial intentions among black female millennials varied based on the impact of various factor. From the data gathered for this study, it revealed that the respondents hereof found that family responsibilities, Black Economic Empowerment and access to entrepreneurial education and training is key to enhancing entrepreneurial intention. Overall, this study will assist both individuals and entities to understand which factors ought to be addressed to stimulate entrepreneurship. Suitable strategies can then be developed in a bid to encourage entrepreneurship and subsequently to increase economic development.
M.Com. (Business Management)