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A comparison between the mental models of entrepreneurs involved in successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurial activity

  • Authors: Le Roux, Suzette Johanna
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Organizational change , Economic development , Businesspeople , Success in business
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/374712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/82617 , uj:18980
  • Description: Abstract:Orientation As an entrepreneur/mentor, I am fascinated by the issue of why some start-up businesses flourish and others struggle to survive. In line with this and in order to increase understanding of entrepreneurial success, there is, as Bakker, Curşeu, and Vermeulen (2007) state, a need for empirical research to be conducted into the thought processes of entrepreneurs during strategic decision-making. In this study I endeavoured to discover why so many businesses fail and, subsequently, find a way to improve the success rate of novice entrepreneurs by exploring the mental models that support their decision-making. Research question The research question that guided the study investigated the differences between the mental models of entrepreneurs involved in successful businesses and those involved in unsuccessful entrepreneurial activity. Research aim and objectives The aim of the study was to explore and describe the concrete experiences and mental models of a small group of entrepreneurs, of which I was one. The following key objectives were identified for the study:  To identify the critical elements of the mental models of entrepreneurs involved in successful entrepreneurial activity  To ascertain the way in which the mental models of entrepreneurs involved in successful entrepreneurial activity differ from those involved in unsuccessful entrepreneurial activity  To suggest interventions that would be appropriate for altering the mental models of entrepreneurs involved in unsuccessful activity so that they resemble the mental models of those involved in successful entrepreneurial activity... , D.Phil.
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Die kontekstualisering van entrepreneurskap

The extent to which mentors transfer business and management skills to entrepreneurs

  • Authors: Bosch, Willem Adriaan
  • Date: 2012-06-06
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Mentoring in business , Executive coaching
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:2528 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4983
  • Description: M.Comm. , Business Partners Limited is a specialist investment group providing customised and integrated investment, mentorship and property management services to small and medium enterprises in South Africa. The vision of Business Partners Limited is to be a word class, added-value investor in small and medium enterprises, facilitating wealth generation, job creation and economic development in South Africa. One of the major challenges in South Africa is the shortage of skills and the efforts and expertise required to address this problem. Government had introduced various new legislation to address this problem since 1994. However, the focus is mainly on the workplace and does not fully address the issues of training entrepreneurs in business skills and knowledge. The South African educational system is currently failing to equip learners with the necessary skills to start and run a business successfully. The entry of entrepreneurs who lack the necessary skills and knowledge increases the risk of business failures. Mentorship, being a reasonably protected relationship, and situation where learning takes place, is one of the interventions by which the issue of skills transfer can take place and where progress can be monitored. The study focused on the extent to which mentorship plays a role in the transfer of business and management skills in a business environment.
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Barriers to the creation of entrepreneurs through black economic empowerment

  • Authors: Sekgaphane, Lorraine Pulane
  • Date: 2012-06-06
  • Subjects: Black Economic Empowerment (Program : South Africa) , Entrepreneurship , Black businesspeople
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:2481 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4936
  • Description: M.Comm. , When the ANC government came into power in 1994 various policies aimed at redressing inequalities of the past enforced on the black majority by apartheid were introduced. Government envisaged creating a conducive environment through BBBEE, in which the black majority could participate in economic activities of the country. However, these policies had unintended consequence of empowering a few powerful black individuals, stifling true entrepreneurial activity and reducing economic value creation. Currently, BEE partners acquire equity from established white businesses at an agreed price without being operational in those entities. From this view point, the present study attempted to understand what appears to be the failure of BBBEE policy to meet its objectives of increasing the number of black people who manage, own and control the country‟s economic activities in the mining and financial services industries. BBBEE appears to inhibit the promotion, development and inclusion of black entrepreneurs into the country‟s formal economy and thereby constrains entrepreneurship. An exploratory research approach using qualitative research was followed. The population comprised of 15 entrepreneurs and advisers from both the mining and financial services industries.
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Entrepreneurial leadership as a critical success factor in the sustainability of non-governmental organisations

  • Authors: Dube, Zakhele V.
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Leadership , Non-governmental organizations - South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Masters (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/292065 , uj:31734
  • Description: Abstract: The non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector in South Africa has witnessed an increase in the number of emerging NGOs, particularly within the last decade of democratic dispensation since 1994 and has been perceived as reliable entities that support the government in addressing the socio-economic issues. The nature and composition of NGOs have transformed into a high-paced, highly threatening and increasingly global environment. Economic pressures and increased competition for funding are some of the challenges that have an impact on NGO’s performance and sustainability. The government’s gradual inability to provide high quality public services continues to create a vacuum in the delivery of public services that NGOs strive to fill, and these are some of the main contributing factors resulting in the emergence of NGOs in the developing economies. The study was based on a quantitative methodology. The adopted methodology allowed the researcher to utilise obtained data to explore and examine the relationship between variables and provide responses to the research questions and objectives. A descriptive and correlation research design was adopted, which focused on describing the variables and examine the relationship between the variables. The literature findings of the study indicated that the creation of collaborations and partnerships with multiple stakeholders resulted in the birth of public-private partnership models, which has benefited the NGO sector through improved financial, technical and operational strengthening. Furthermore, the study revealed a strong relationship between Entrepreneurial Leadership, Entrepreneurial Orientation and NGO Sustainability (performance). No evidence was found to support the relationships between Entrepreneurial Leadership and the number of years in the particular organisation, nor was there any evidence found that there is a relationship between Entrepreneurial Leadership and the number of years in the NGO sector. The study also revealed that there was no statistical significant difference between age groups and gender for the Entrepreneurial Leadership scores. , M.Phil. (Management)
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Success factors of entrepreneurial activity in the Overberg region of Western Cape, South Africa

  • Authors: Witbooi, Megan , Cupido, Chris , Ukpere, Wilfred I.
  • Date: 2011-03
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Social entrepreneurship , Entrepreneurial activities
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5833 , ISSN 1993-8233 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7850
  • Description: Entrepreneurial activities around the world accounted for about 70% of the global GDP on average. However, in South Africa entrepreneurial activities only share 40% of the country’s GDP. With an unemployment rate of approximately 25%, accelerating entrepreneurial activity becomes crucial in a developing country like South Africa. A recent study executed in the Overberg rural district has shown vast opportunity for new endeavors in this direction. Entrepreneurial activity is mostly centered on large-scale agricultural practices. This district is the largest apple producer in the country and the second largest pear producer. However, unemployment in this region has increased in recent years due to the nature of fruit farming which is seasonal. Off-season farmers employ only up to 9% of the district farm workers which leaves 11.1% workers without employment for the rest of the year. Though this area is affluent with natural resources; scarcity of skills, poor infrastructure and lack of technology result in slow economic growth. Further, the absenteeism of entrepreneurial success factors makes it impossible for the many survivalist businesses in the informal sector to be sustainable and to show any form of growth. This paper will analyze the success factors or lack thereof and make recommendations towards opportunities that will help to advance the Overberg region’s entrepreneurial activity.
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Entrepreneurial leadership in dynamic markets

  • Authors: Davids, John Peter
  • Date: 2013-05-01
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Leadership , Success in business , Organizational change
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:7490 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8349
  • Description: M.Comm. (Business Management) , Entrepreneurial Leadership has become an important source of sustainable competitive advantage. The generally dynamic nature of the South African business environment, the low entrepreneurial activity and the high failure rate of small and medium-sized businesses in the country suggest that (i) the importance of Entrepreneurial Leadership is not recognised, (ii) Entrepreneurial Leadership capabilities are insufficient, and (iii) perceptions about the business environment are not clear. The purpose of the study is to explore Entrepreneurial Leadership and its importance in small and medium-sized businesses in South Africa. Using the survey methodology, the empirical study was conducted amongst leaders and managers of small and medium-sized businesses operating in the Johannesburg region. The objectives of the study were to answer the following three research questions: 1. Is Entrepreneurial Leadership regarded as important? 2. Are Entrepreneurial Leadership capabilities exhibited? 3. Is the business environment regarded as dynamic? The findings of this study suggest that: (i) Leaders and managers of small and medium-sized businesses operating in the South African business environment perceive Entrepreneurial Leadership as significantly important. (ii) The perceptions of leaders and managers of small and medium-sized businesses operating in South Africa are that they exhibit Entrepreneurial Leadership capabilities. (iii) Leaders and managers of South African small and medium-sized businesses operating in South Africa appear indifferent about market dynamics.
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Perceptions and experiences of radiographers regarding professional development through entrepreneurship in Gauteng

  • Authors: Mbambo, Collen Khulekani
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Radiologic technologists - South Africa - Gauteng - Attitudes , Career development , Entrepreneurship
  • Language: English
  • Type: Masters (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/226435 , uj:22894
  • Description: M.Tech. (Radiography) , Abstract: This was a qualitative phenomenological study investigating the perceptions and experiences of radiographers regarding personal and professional development through entrepreneurship in Gauteng. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and describe the reasons behind radiographers’ reluctance to establish their own private imaging practices with an aim to develop guidelines that will assist radiographers in making use of the opportunities for professional development through entrepreneurship in medical imaging. The study was conducted using three data collection methods, namely focus group discussions, an in-depth interview and field notes. The participants included in the study were diverse in terms of gender, experience and nature of practice (private or public) as radiographers. This diversity of participants enabled a wider variety of views on the subject matter. An open coding process was used to analyse the data and an inductive reasoning process was employed from the early stages of coding the data. Findings suggested that participants were optimistic about opportunities available for radiographers in private practice and were willing to use this opportunity for their professional development purposes, while others were not convinced that there was such an opportunity for them and thus did not have any aspirations to pursue private practice in medical imaging. Guidelines to assist radiographers who wish to open their private imaging practices were developed, recommendations for radiography practice, education and research were suggested.
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Validating antecedants as predictors in the entrepreneurial orientation model

  • Authors: Hewitt, L. M. M.
  • Date: 2012-06-06
  • Subjects: Strategic planning , Entrepreneurship , Organizational effectiveness
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:2521 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4977
  • Description: D.Phil. , The importance of entrepreneurship in economic development is hardly disputed since entrepreneurs launch successful businesses, which create employment, expand markets, and increase production and services, which can revitalize social and productive networks to bring vigour into communities (Luiz, 2007). Recently, empirical studies were conducted that provided evidence that supports the common understanding that Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) leads to superior Firm Performance (FP) (Covin & Zahra, 1995). EO as a topic in the entrepreneurship literature is much debated and deliberated. A plea has been made to explore the antecedents External Environment (EE), Internal Organisation (IO), firm demographics, and founder/owner/manager biographical data of EO. The key focus of this study is to provide research evidence for the predictive model EO - FP and the relationship(s) of the antecedent’s: Owner/Manager Biographics, Firm Demographics, EE, and IO factors might have with a firm’s EO – FP.
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The effect of labour legislation on entrepreneurship and job creation

  • Authors: Bekker, Helene
  • Date: 2011-02-28T06:05:58Z
  • Subjects: Job creation , Entrepreneurship , Labor laws and legislation , Unemployment , Labor supply
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7033 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3555
  • Description: M.Comm. , The purpose of this paper is to describe poverty reduction, the essentiality of labour, and entrepreneurship as a way of creating opportunities, the need for labour law in the workplace, while referring to some of the constraints it may place on employers, labour practices and finding a win-win solution for all three players within the labour relationship to the benefit of the greater economy as a whole. Tackling unemployment is arguably South Africa's most important priority, while realising that the country will only attract investment in labour-absorptive sectors if it is competitive in terms of labour unit costs. Government has committed it to an employment strategy framework, while at the same time challenging business and labour to participate. There is a need for capable individuals who are prepared to accept the brunt of risk, to assist in job creation and assist in positive growth in the economy. We are part of a capitalistic SOCiety. Entrepreneurship offers the total solution. It places no risk on government or the employee, while having the ability to assist in the creation of jobs and with the alleviation of poverty. Entrepreneurship needs to be positively influenced and encouraged so as to fill the void emanating from high unemployment, and help the economy further. Potential entrepreneurs find themselves lost in a maze of legalities and tax laws, coupled with the unavailability of capital and heavy taxes on any positive returns, creating a barrier to entry for entrepreneurs. Labour is a very real necessity in the need for progress and actual implementation of opportunities. The essence of labour laws is to ensure no exploitation of workers, create fair working conditions and reward for the worker. South Africa has a very turbulent labour history. The characteristics of the labour market are commitment to the social contract; removal of obstacles in the way of international trade and production; reduction in unemployment. There are three players in the labour market, being employers, employees and government, who all have to contribute their shares before successful production can take place.
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Establishing an intrapreneurial orientation as strategy : a framework for implementation

  • Authors: Jacobs, Hannelize
  • Date: 2012-09-13
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Small business - Management , New business enterprises - Management , Creative ability in business
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:10364 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7726
  • Description: M.Comm. , Today's managers, faced with rapidly changing and fast-paced competitive environments, are challenged to manage "discontinuities created by an interdependent global economy, heightened volatility, hypercompetition, demographic changes, knowledge-based competition, and demassification of some sectors accompanied by enormous growth in others" (Daft & Lewin, 1993:i). Such environmental conditions place intense demands on organisations to interpret opportunities and threats actively when making key strategic decisions. To cope with such challenges, existing larger firms are increasingly turning to corporate entrepreneurship as a means of growth and strategic renewal (Guth & Ginsberg, 1990). Entrepreneurship involves a process of value creation in which an individual or team brings together a unique package of resources to exploit an opportunity. The key steps involved are: identifying opportunities, developing business concepts, determining needed resources, acquiring resources, and managing and harvesting the venture (Jones, Morris & Rockmore, 1995:86). Corporate entrepreneurship (also termed intrapreneurship) involves extending the firm's domain of competence and corresponding opportunity set through new resource combinations that are internally generated (Burgelman, 1984).- Terms such as 'reinventing the corporation', 'the empowered organisation' and 'organisational renewal' are used to describe change efforts where entrepreneurship is a central ingredient. Research has shown that organisations that adopt an entrepreneurial posture in order to cope with the uncertain environment are characterised along dimensions such as unpredictability, dynamism and heterogeneity. These organisations enjoy superior performance (Covin & Slevin, 1988; Zahra & Covin, 1995). The domain of entrepreneurship is no longer restricted in a conceptual sense to the process of creating an independent new venture (Wortman, 1987; Low & MacMillan, 1988). Lumpkin and Dess (1996:136) describe the essential act of entrepreneurship more appropriately as 'new entry'. New entry is the act of launching a new venture, either by a start-up firm, through an existing firm, or via 'internal corporate venturing' (Burgelman, 1983). With this in mind, they distinguish between entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurship explains what entrepreneurship consists of, and entrepreneurial orientation describes how new entry is undertaken. Entrepreneurial orientation can therefore be defined as the processes, practices and decision-making activities that lead to new entry (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996:136). However, the entrepreneurial orientation (also referred to as entrepreneurial posture) is not limited to the creation of new organisations, but exists in all actions that distinguish entrepreneurial behaviour from other types of business activity that might be undertaken to capitalise on an opportunity (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996:153). These actions also pervade the organisation at all levels (Covin & Slevin, 1991:7).
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Cross-country entrepreneurial growth aspirations

  • Authors: Reddy, Colin
  • Date: 2015-03-19
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5579 , ISSN 20196834 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14232
  • Description: How do growth-aspiring entrepreneurs respond to their national contexts? Socio-cultural norms, income per capita and government regulations seem to underlie such responses. We associate the effect of the entrepreneurial responses, growth responsive post-materialist, situated-optimism and resource-constrained with these aspirations. An analysis of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data from 2001 to 2010 found that low levels of regulatory support, sociocultural norms do not affect a nation’s entrepreneurial growth aspirations when income per capita increases. However, when there are high levels of regulatory support the opposite is true. We provide a nuanced perspective of how government regulations, societal norms and resource availability influence entrepreneurial growth aspirations. Policymakers who wish to target growth-aspiring entrepreneurs must ensure that they design regulations with short response times for permit and license applications, a light tax burden, increased predictability and regulations with which the entrepreneur can adequately cope. If these factors are not evident, entrepreneurial growth aspirations will not be evident, even when socio-cultural norms are supportive and resources are readily available.
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Customer Loyalty and Employee Enthusiasm: an eclectic paradigm for strategic sales improvement at MB Silicon Systems

  • Authors: Botes, Jacobus Abraham
  • Date: 2008-08-22T06:01:25Z
  • Subjects: Relationship between Value Creation and Loyalty Creation , Customer Loyalty , Customer Satisfaction , Employee Enthusiasm , Entrepreneurship , Loyalty and Motivation Framework , Value Creation , Reward Management
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:3654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/903
  • Description: Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration at Milpark Business School. , The objective of this study was to examine the role that customer loyalty and employee enthusiasm can play as a strategic objective to increase sales at MB Silicon Systems. In order to address these two factors from a strategic perspective, elements from various concepts have been used to gain a new understanding of customer loyalty, employee enthusiasm and strategy. The final goal of the study was to use the knowledge gained throughout the report to propose a management framework which can be implemented to give MB Silicon Systems a competitive advantage in its competitive industry. The literature review suggested that a strategy of customer loyalty and employee enthusiasm will result in above average financial performance. Customer loyalty and employee enthusiasm cannot be separated from each other and they are linked by leadership, the vision and core values of the organisation. It is not possible to achieve customer loyalty and employee enthusiasm without the proper formulation and execution of a strategy. Such a strategy needs to utilize core management tools like the Balanced Scorecard which will bridge the vision of the organisation with goal setting mechanisms of motivation. The Balanced Scorecard will ensure that strategic objectives of the organisation will be mapped into the Balanced Scorecard while employees will be rewarded according to achieved targets of these objectives. Surveys which were conducted with customers and employees have shown that MB Silicon Systems performs below international standards with respect to customer loyalty and that the organisation is failing with its existing strategy. The surveys have also shown that employees are demotivated. This state of demotivation results in a lack of teamwork and mistrust between employees. The lack of teamwork and mistrust is only the symptoms of organisational problems which need to be resolved by organisational redesign, implementation of management principles and healthy corporate governance. The low base of loyal customers and the demotivated state of employees is resulting in below average financial performance. A management framework was recommended that will transform a strategy of customer loyalty and employee enthusiasm by using proven management tools. Implementation of the framework will ensure a competitive advantage to MB Silicon Systems which will result in above average financial performance.
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Entrepreneurial skills

The environmental determinants of corporate entrepreneurship

  • Authors: Mokoena, Bakae Aubrey
  • Date: 2012-08-22
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:2989 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6413
  • Description: M.Comm. , The overall purpose of this study is to attain an understanding of the determinants and real driving forces in the environment that can either impede 8 or enhance corporate entrepreneurship. To achieve this purpose, the following objectives are set: The first objective is to look at the nature, differences and links between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, and thus to assess and to look at intrapreneurship as a strategic management tool to maintain organisational competitiveness and to innovate constantly. Secondly to achieve a clear understanding of the external or macro environment in which intrapreneurship will flourish or decay. The purpose is to categorise and analyse the roles played by these almost uncontrollable variables on intrapreneurial behaviour. The third objective of this study is to identify some of the most important internal or micro-environmental factors (within the individual organisation) promoting or impeding intrapreneurship within that organisation. A last objective is to conclude on the major findings of the study and to propose some recommendations
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'n Kontekstuele teorie van entrepreneurskap.

  • Authors: Crous, F. , Roodt, G.
  • Date: 2004
  • Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Entrepreneurial behaviour
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6322 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/1069
  • Description: A contextual theory of entrepreneurship. Industrial psychologists studying the domain of entrepreneurship tend to focus on the independent variables that predispose entrepreneurial behaviour. The challenge, therefore, was to give expression to the nature of entrepreneurship (as dependant variable) from an industrial psychological perspective. This was done by means of the development of a contextual theory of entrepreneurship. Firstly, the fundamental actions were identified that would give expression to the contextual process of entrepreneurship, after which form was given to its structure. This structure was utilised putting in place a typology of entrepreneurship. The geometric characteristics of the structure were explained. Possibilities for application as well as directions for entrepreneurship development, suggested by the theory were discussed.
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'n Evaluering van projekfinansiering uit die oogpunt van die entrepreneur

The integration of intrapreneurship into a performance management model

Creative industries in Central Johannesburg : entrepreneurs, organisation and locational choice

An evaluation of the study skills training programme in the foundation programme at the University of Venda

  • Authors: Sikhwari, Tshimangadzo Daniel
  • Date: 2012-06-07
  • Subjects: Small business management , University of Venda , Entrepreneurship , New business enterprises management
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:8659 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5014
  • Description: D.Ed. , The University of Venda is situated in an educationally disadvantaged environment. The study skills training programme was introduced in the Faculty of Humanities, Management Sciences and Law Foundation Programme to enhance students’ academic performance through structured interventions incorporating learning strategies, effective time management, and self-concept enhancement, among other skills. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the study skills training programme for disadvantaged students in the Foundation Programme at the University of Venda, and to modify the current study skills training programme based on the findings of the research. Comparison was done between students exposed to the study skills training programme (experimental group) and those students that were not exposed to the programme (control group). The comparison focused on study habits, attitudes, study methods as well as academic performance of both groups. The study was completed in two phases. In the first phase, quantitative and qualitative data were collected through the mixed methods sequential explanatory research design. The researcher first collected and analysed the quantitative data. The qualitative data were collected and analysed second in the sequence and helped to explain the quantitative results obtained earlier. The Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes (SSHA) and the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) were used to collect quantitative data. Qualitative data collection was done by means of focus group as well as individual interviews. The results indicated that the academic performance of the experimental group was lower as compared to that of the control group. The current study skills training programme did not do enough in raising the motivational levels of students in the Foundation Programme (experimental group). One would therefore conclude that there were some deficiencies in the programme. The control group appeared to be a better group academically compared to the experimental group. The main determinant therefore appears to be potential rather than training. The literature review has yielded important information regarding the enhancement of academic performance of students. For example, it was noted from the literature that the use of a particular learning approach (strategy) should be linked to the learning context as well as the type of learning task.
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