Economic growth and private sector development have been sluggish in China’s western regions, where ethnic minorities make up a sizeable part of the population. In the northwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the state maintains a steady presence in the small but growing urban private sector, largely populated by Han-owned firms and entrepreneurs. A small group of minority Uyghur entrepreneurs have positioned themselves in markets where they hold a cultural and linguistic advantage, particularly in trade with neighbouring Central Asia and the production of Muslim foods. However, clustering in similar industries and markets limits the growth of Uyghur businesses in the private sector where they have little presence. To understand how these new entrepreneurs adapt to this environment, and their move toward ‘modern’ business practices, this thesis analyses the characteristics of Uyghur entrepreneurs and their role as ‘agents of development’ in Xinjiang’s capital of Urumqi. / Since the institution of China’s national economic reforms, Uyghurs have progressively engaged in traditional merchant and ‘bazaar’ economic activities, generally outside the registered, firm-type private sector. In Urumqi, the majority of new Uyghur entrepreneurs are disadvantaged in operating firms by a lack of management experience, skilled employees and start-up capital, so that they primarily rely on resources within the Uyghur community for support. Entrepreneurs who seek to modernise their business and ‘break out’ of traditional Uyghur market niches tend to broaden their networks outside the Uyghur ethnic group. Social networks with larger Han firms and government officials allow better access to resources and financing for Uyghur entrepreneurs. In this way, the shift to ‘modern’ business practices entails cooperation and networking with the majority Han, rather than within the Uyghur community alone. / This thesis presents Urumqi’s Uyghur entrepreneurs, traditionally operating on the fringe of the private sector, as agents of social change through business modernisation and cooperation with Han. In Xinjiang, where economic development is often conflated with the state and increasing numbers of Han migrants, Uyghur entrepreneurs are engaging in the market and contributing to the development of Uyghur society as a whole. This thesis demonstrates how these new entrepreneurs integrate into the Han-dominated private sector and thus participate in development in Xinjiang.

Thesis (PhD (Entrepreneurship)) - University of Pretoria, 2006. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

This study highlights the need for a youth entrepreneurship education program of value in South African secondary schools. It examines the enterprising tendencies of grade 12 learners in 10 secondary schools in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State province, South Africa, using the General Enterprising Tendency (GET) test. An investigation into the current status of entrepreneurship in South Africa revealed that there is a lack of entrepreneurs and not enough people who have the orientation and skills to create new businesses. This leads to a situation where the South African economy performs poorly and the recent financial crisis exuberated South Africa’s challenges in terms of poverty, unemployment and income inequality. In addition, youth unemployment has worsened as a result of the recession, because the youth lack the needed qualifications, experience and skills to compete for the few job opportunities in the labour market. Entrepreneurship and innovation are widely seen as key sources of renewed economic growth, creating jobs and advancing human welfare. This study shows that the South African youth has a positive enterprising tendency. The ‘General Enterprising Tendency Questionnaire’, completed by 530 grade 12 learners was evaluated and learners scored within the average score, although at the lower end of the suggested average. When the questionnaire’s constructs are evaluated, learners scored below the suggested average score on ‘need for achievement’, ‘need for autonomy’, ‘creative tendency’ and ‘moderate/calculated risks’, but above the suggested average for ‘drive and determination’, but it can be conclude that learners shows a tendency to be entrepreneurial. However, the study suggests that grade 12 learners in the Lejweleputswa sample have overrated expectations on the ‘drive and determination construct’. It appears that they do not have the propensity to be creative and have a low drive to be autonomous. The study also reveals that there are no practical significant differences between the mean values for the demographic variables school, age, gender, home language and ethnic group regarding the measured constructs. Major shortfalls in the current education system are highlighted, including teachers with no previous knowledge of commercial subjects that are forced to teach entrepreneurship, most schools do not implement Economic and Management Science (EMS) as learning area and as from 2013, EMS will only be introduced to the curriculum in the Senior phase (grade 7 to 9). In addition, learners are not motivated to be creators of jobs, but to rather seek employment. The study concludes that public schools in South Africa do not have the capacity to implement a successful program of youth entrepreneurship education. The involvement of Government, Department of Education, schools, teachers, parents, learners, entrepreneurs and organised business is needed to promote youth entrepreneurship in South Africa. The study expands on recommendations and presents a national strategy to enhance youth entrepreneurship in South African schools, but concludes that future research is needed. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This study highlights the need for a youth entrepreneurship education program of value in South African secondary schools. It examines the enterprising tendencies of grade 12 learners in 10 secondary schools in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State province, South Africa, using the General Enterprising Tendency (GET) test. An investigation into the current status of entrepreneurship in South Africa revealed that there is a lack of entrepreneurs and not enough people who have the orientation and skills to create new businesses. This leads to a situation where the South African economy performs poorly and the recent financial crisis exuberated South Africa’s challenges in terms of poverty, unemployment and income inequality. In addition, youth unemployment has worsened as a result of the recession, because the youth lack the needed qualifications, experience and skills to compete for the few job opportunities in the labour market. Entrepreneurship and innovation are widely seen as key sources of renewed economic growth, creating jobs and advancing human welfare. This study shows that the South African youth has a positive enterprising tendency. The ‘General Enterprising Tendency Questionnaire’, completed by 530 grade 12 learners was evaluated and learners scored within the average score, although at the lower end of the suggested average. When the questionnaire’s constructs are evaluated, learners scored below the suggested average score on ‘need for achievement’, ‘need for autonomy’, ‘creative tendency’ and ‘moderate/calculated risks’, but above the suggested average for ‘drive and determination’, but it can be conclude that learners shows a tendency to be entrepreneurial. However, the study suggests that grade 12 learners in the Lejweleputswa sample have overrated expectations on the ‘drive and determination construct’. It appears that they do not have the propensity to be creative and have a low drive to be autonomous. The study also reveals that there are no practical significant differences between the mean values for the demographic variables school, age, gender, home language and ethnic group regarding the measured constructs. Major shortfalls in the current education system are highlighted, including teachers with no previous knowledge of commercial subjects that are forced to teach entrepreneurship, most schools do not implement Economic and Management Science (EMS) as learning area and as from 2013, EMS will only be introduced to the curriculum in the Senior phase (grade 7 to 9). In addition, learners are not motivated to be creators of jobs, but to rather seek employment. The study concludes that public schools in South Africa do not have the capacity to implement a successful program of youth entrepreneurship education. The involvement of Government, Department of Education, schools, teachers, parents, learners, entrepreneurs and organised business is needed to promote youth entrepreneurship in South Africa. The study expands on recommendations and presents a national strategy to enhance youth entrepreneurship in South African schools, but concludes that future research is needed. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Master's thesis. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

MEs are considered as the major sources of employment creation. Global experiences show that an efficient ME sector is conducive to industrial growth and a flexible industrial structure, which are the cornerstones of a vibrant entrepreneurial economy. The contributions of MEs to the national economy can be measured in terms of some inter-related issues: economic (income generation), social (poverty reduction) and political (wealth redistribution). Current studies show a strong link between entrepreneurship and economic development (ED). The impact of entrepreneurship on ED depends on the level of business performance, and economy is an affect for which entrepreneurship is the cause. ED theories generally emphasise on employment creation by industrialisation with the use of advanced technology. Thus economic histories of the developed countries show the notion that ED has benefited from widespread large scale entrepreneurial activity. However, developing countries (DC) have begun to realize the necessity of encouraging entrepreneurship to achieve their ED goals. But, they in reality can’t achieve these goals like the developed countries, because they don’t have sufficient capital and advanced technology. As a result they need to depend on small scale enterprise development by exploiting available resources, small capital, and indigenous technology. It indicates a strong link between micro enterprise development (MED) and entrepreneurship development. Therefore, national ED policies of DCs should focus on linking MED, entrepreneurship development and ED. Despite these recognized importance, MEs face severe problems and challenges in DCs. They lack appropriate policies and programmes to promote MEs towards ED. This study critically examines the existing MED Policies (MEDP) and the role of different MED Organizations (MEDOs) with a view to articulating appropriate policy recommendations. Based on the objectives and literature review four themes (state of affairs of MEDPs, support services to MEs, financing MEs and networking of ME stakeholders) were identified to establish the interview protocols. This study employed a qualitative inductive approach, case study strategy and in depth interviews with semi-structured protocols to collect primary data based on phenomenology. Thirty five respondents from different ME stakeholders (policy makers, implementing agencies, and the recipients) were interviewed and interpretative phenomenological analysis technique was used for data analysis. The findings confirm that there are fragmentations and incoherency in existing MEDPs, as a result, they failed to achieve the goals of MED. Specifically, support services and infrastructural facilities to MEs are not well designed, financing systems are not fully supportive to all the MEs, and networking of ME stakeholders are very floppy. Overall a favourable entrepreneurial culture to MED is absent in Bangladesh. The government has failed to plan realistically to mobilize the resources, to exercise control over factors of MED and to give appropriate direction to the developmental process. This study offers a list of practical recommendations to formulate a coherent and comprehensive MEDP based on solid evidences. Especially, a model for appropriate government intervention to MED by linking the main three concepts of this study MED, entrepreneurship development and ED, and an alternative model for ‘interest free ME financing’ are proposed. This study hopes that these recommendations will provide appropriate inputs to the policy makers and concerned ME stakeholders in the DCs, particularly Bangladesh and more generally to the MED literature.

Submitted by Vasti Diniz (vastijpa@hotmail.com) on 2017-10-02T13:08:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1956077 bytes, checksum: d1305eedf1ec9c195a1951678b7743ce (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-10-02T13:08:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 1956077 bytes, checksum: d1305eedf1ec9c195a1951678b7743ce (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-24 / The present dissertation aims to analyse the content of award-winning reporting and series of reporting for the Sebrae Journalism Awards (2011-2015), chapter Paraíba, in the category telejournalism. The study relies on content analysis techniques by Bardin (2009), Fonseca (2005) and Minayo (2004) to discuss 28 pieces of news, questioning the conventional approaches to the economy and drawing near the Entrepreneurship concepts (DORNELAS, 2007), Development (MORIN, 2005; SEN, 2000; FRANCO, 2000) and Civic Journalism (TRAQUINA; MESQUITA, 2003; ROTHBERG, 2011) with the support of an extensive bibliographical research. The study included a brief analysis of interviews with the awarded authors, which supported the specific objectives to understand the process of production and selection of reporting for the awards, as well as the influence on professional culture. Also, using recent studies about awards in Brazil and journalistic meritocracy (DIAS, 2013), we obtained results which identified and indicated the new attributes for news values and practices of a civic entrepreneur journalism, whose contributions are fundamental to a plural and socially responsible media agenda. / A presente dissertação tem por objetivo analisar o conteúdo das reportagens e séries de reportagens vencedoras do Prêmio Sebrae de Jornalismo (2011-2015), etapa Paraíba, na categoria telejornalismo. O estudo recorre às técnicas de análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2009), Fonseca (2005) e Minayo (2004) e discorre sobre 28 reportagens, problematizando as abordagens convencionais sobre economia e aproximando os conceitos de Empreendedorismo (DORNELAS, 2007), Desenvolvimento (MORIN, 2005; SEN, 2000; FRANCO, 2000) e Jornalismo Cívico (TRAQUINA; MESQUITA, 2003; ROTHBERG, 2011), com suporte de pesquisa bibliográfica. A pesquisa incorporou análise de entrevistas com os autores das reportagens, que contribuíram para os objetivos específicos de compreender o processo de produção e escolha dessas reportagens para o prêmio e a influência na cultura profissional. Recorrendo ainda a recentes estudos sobre prêmios no Brasil e meritocracia jornalística (DIAS, 2013), alcançamos resultados que identificam e apontam para novos atributos de valores-notícia e práticas de um jornalismo cívico empreendedor, cujas contribuições são fundamentais para um agendamento midiático plural e socialmente responsável.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Development Planning and Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / Rural entrepreneurship is a relatively young sector in the entrepreneurship field, but it has emerged as one of the most important tools for rural economic growth in developing nations like South Africa. A majority of poor people live in the rural areas and face the challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, appalling socio-economic conditions, and inequalities. Therefore, rural entrepreneurship is regarded as a vital tool for accelerating Local Economic Development (LED) and improvement of the quality of life of the rural people and their communities. Rural entrepreneurship stimulates economic development by improving economic conditions, creating employment, reducing poverty and improving the overall standard of living of the rural populace. Theoretically, there is clear consensus that rural entrepreneurship has the potential to reduce poverty, unemployment, economic inequalities and low income as well as value creation and improving standards of life in rural areas through the creation of new enterprises. Entrepreneurial activities stimulate the local economy and create employment opportunities through the creation of new enterprises in the rural areas. Thus, entrepreneurship development is seen as one of the important components of LED and the development agenda in most developing countries. However, entrepreneurial success is dependent on various factors, internal or external, such as the need for achievement, locus of control and desire for personal control of business, human capital, infrastructure, training, communication network, financial support, business environment, economic climate, competitiveness, risk-taking propensity, confidence, and regulatory environment. These factors may determine or influence the success of enterprises, thereby hampering LED efforts in a particular locality. Literature further reiterates the importance of rural entrepreneurship development towards accelerating economic development of local communities in the developing countries. Entrepreneurship development is regarded as a driving force of local economic growth and development in the developing countries. Many developing countries are faced with numerous socio-economic challenges of extreme poverty levels, high unemployment rates, stagnant economic growth and poor living conditions. Entrepreneurship development has become an important policy agenda and priority for employment creation, poverty reduction and economic growth and development of communities in many developing countries. Thus, many developing countries have turned their focus on entrepreneurship development as an important mechanism and driver of economic development with expectations of addressing these challenges. Despite such efforts, entrepreneurship development in developing countries faces challenges such as financial, human, management, lack of access to markets, lack of capacity, lack of infrastructure and appropriate regulations. These challenges affect and undermine the potential of entrepreneurship to stimulate LED and address challenges affecting many developing countries. The role of local government in creating an enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities and LED to thrive is widely acknowledged in most developing countries. Local governments in developing countries have become important vehicles for the promotion and implementation of LED and the creation of enabling environment for entrepreneurial activities to take place. LED in these developing countries is driven mainly by globalisation and decentralisation as an important strategy to local development. Globalisation and decentralisation play an important role in reconfiguring of planning approaches to local and regional development in developing countries. The observations above are also prevalent in South Africa, where entrepreneurship development is one of the national development policy imperatives. However, South Africa has a low entrepreneurial rate compared to other developing countries because of various factors including those highlighted above. Lack of entrepreneurial spirit or culture is increasing highly in the country. Entrepreneurship development and LED practice in South Africa is shaped by overwhelming policies and legislations, which seek to support and encourage entrepreneurship and LED. These regulatory frameworks are aimed at creating conducive and enabling environment for LED and entrepreneurial activities to take place. Local governments have a constitutional obligation to promote social and economic development as well as improving the overall standard of living of local communities within the municipal area. In the process, municipalities must work collectively with local people and local stakeholders to develop their communities. LED has been adopted as one of the strategies to local growth and development of communities in South Africa. Despite LED efforts, the country continues to grapple with societal challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality and stagnant growth of the economy. Currently, municipalities are plagued with various challenges and are in a dire state that threatens the ability to fulfil their constitutional and developmental mandate of promoting social and economic development. The aim of this study was to investigate rural entrepreneurship and its implications towards LED in the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Limpopo Province. To achieve this aim, the study adopted descriptive, positivist case study design, and used the concurrent mixed methods approach to achieve the aim and objectives of the study. The study sampled 54 rural entrepreneurs around three Service Delivery Areas (SDAs) of Mokopane, Mapela and Bakenberg in Mogalakwena Local Municipality as well as key informants from Small Enterprise Development Agency, Local Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and Municipal LED Unit. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to solicit data from rural entrepreneurs whereas an interview schedule was used to solicit data from key informants. The study findings affirm that rural entrepreneurship plays a significant role towards LED through poverty alleviation, employment creation, economic opportunities, income generation, value or wealth creation, migration and overall improvement of the standard of living of local communities in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Rural entrepreneurship is seen as one of the stimulators of economic activities in rural areas within the municipality. Despite the affirmation, the study found that rural entrepreneurs are faced with persistent challenges such as lack of access to finance and markets, lack of skills or capacity, stiff regulations and completion, crime, lack of infrastructure, lack of support by the municipality and poor participation or integration in LED. These challenges inhibit entrepreneurial activities to take place, thereby threatening the survival and success of rural enterprises. Therefore, the study recommends measures such as creation of an enabling regulatory environment, financial support models for entrepreneurs, skills development and training, recognition and integration of rural entrepreneurs in LED fora and promotion of entrepreneurship culture to maximize the potential of rural entrepreneurship in Mogalakwena Local Municipality. Additionally, future research is also important to tap into the niche area of rural entrepreneurship.

This study is concerned with contributing to solutions that address the problems of youth unemployment, inequality and poverty in South Africa, specifically among those youth who are being marginalised from participating equally in mainstream economic activities. It argues that financial and digital exclusion, as well as poor access to a quality education, are factors which are currently limiting these youths' economic potential and perpetuating a cycle of unemployment, inequality and poverty in South Africa. The literature and theory of social entrepreneurship presents a strong case to address unemployment, inequality and poverty, as well as to stimulate economic growth by creating new business and self-employment opportunities for the youth. This qualitative grounded theory study evaluates the theory of social entrepreneurship in practice, by comparing the theory to the lived realities of some disenfranchised youths in Cape Town. The study also provides an analysis of the systems of privilege and the dual economy that exist in South Africa. Through feedback received during interviews with a representative sample of the target group, the study offers new insights into the challenges faced when young people are seeking employment or want to start a business in the South African economy. Youth social entrepreneurship development and start-up incubation programmes arguably perform a critical function in facilitating inclusive economic participation among the youth. Developing new insights, concepts and recommendations to maximise these programmes' social impact is a critical function of this study, which ultimately hopes to contribute to the creation of more inclusive entrepreneurial opportunities for disadvantaged South African youth.

The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the interventions used by the South African Breweries (SAB) KickStart Programme to establish and grow entrepreneurial small businesses among young South Africans. South Africa has an extremely high unemployment rate, low economic growth and a dismal Total (early-stage) Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA). With regard to established businesses (older than three-and-a-half years), the GEM report of 2005 ranked South Africa the lowest of all the countries surveyed. The SAB KickStart Programme comprises five phases: an awareness campaign, recruitment and training, a business plan competition for grants, success enhancement and national awards. The following interventions form part of the programme: the General Enterprising Tendency (GET) test; two-week live-in business management training; funding and mentoring; and a national competition for prize money. At every stage, adjudication is based on business plans and presentations. The evaluation of the effectiveness of an existing entrepreneurship programme, the SAB KickStart Programme, has several advantages, in so far as it determines whether the programme does indeed attain its objectives, and could help to improve the structuring of such programmes for future use by other corporations in South Africa. The population for the study comprised all the participants of the SAB KickStart Programme, from 2001 to 2006. A questionnaire was developed and a response rate of 28.5% was realised. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to the turnover and percentage profit figures of respondents to investigate the significance of the type of SAB KickStart support afforded. The results were confirmed by the Bonferroni multiple comparison of means test. The deduction is that funding and mentoring, after training, adds value to the programme. Eighty per cent of the SAB KickStarters were still operating their initial businesses, which they owned when they started on the programme, while a further six per cent had started another business, hence a "failure" rate of only 14 per cent. Many other meaningful findings emerged. In conclusion, it can be said that the SAB KickStart Programme adds value and advances entrepreneurship, and could possibly be applied by other large institutions in South Africa In conclusion, it can be said that the SAB KickStart programme adds value and advances entrepreneurship, and can be elevated to other large institutions in South Africa. / Business Management / D.Comm. (Business Management)