Submitted by Franciele Moreira (francielemoreyra@gmail.com) on 2018-02-09T13:52:40Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Hyara Paula Fleuri Xavier - 2017.pdf: 1558991 bytes, checksum: 03535b693efa8cdc053f47c33646cd59 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-02-09T14:41:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Hyara Paula Fleuri Xavier - 2017.pdf: 1558991 bytes, checksum: 03535b693efa8cdc053f47c33646cd59 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-09T14:41:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Hyara Paula Fleuri Xavier - 2017.pdf: 1558991 bytes, checksum: 03535b693efa8cdc053f47c33646cd59 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-10 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / The objective of this essay was to evaluate the use of guava extract processing as an antioxidant additive on the diet of Japanese quail matrices about the parameters on the matrices fertile performance on posture phase and the newborn quail parameters in the quality and internal health resulted from the eggs of these matrices. Three experiments were done in the School of Veterinary and Animal Science in the Federal University of Goiás (EVZ/UFG) and in all three of them, it was adopted the completely randomized design (CRD). In the first experiment, 384 Japanese quail matrices were used, 288 being females and 96 males, distributed in 4 groups, following the level of guava extract inclusion on the diet of the matrices, with a recurrence of 6 times each group, in a total of 12 females and 4 males in each recurrence. The levels of guava extract inclusion were 0,0%, 0,3%, 0,6% and 0,9%. In the second experiment, it were collected 162 eggs from each group during three days and at the end of the third day they were put in the incubator, in a total of 648 eggs. In the third experiment, 432 eggs were collected and put in the incubator in a factorial arrangement that considered two periods of preincubation storage – 216 eggs with nine days and 216 eggs with 3 days – and the four levels of guava extract inclusion on the diet of the matrices. The performance data results were submitted to the variance analysis and the quality data of the eggs were submitted to the regression analysis. The newborn quails quality parameters were submitted to the regression analysis. The hatch window were submitted to the Tukey’s test, the embryo diagnosis and the score percentage were assessed by Fisher’s exact test, the villus height analysis and intestinal crypt depth were submitted to the variance analysis. It was adopted in all the analysis 5% of probability. The use of guava extract has not influenced neither the birds’ performance nor the physicochemical quality of the eggs. In the second experiment, there was no statistical difference to the percentage of total hatch and the percentage of hatch/fertile, hatch window and the quality score of the newborn quails among the four levels of extract inclusion. The birth dispersal in the group with 0,0% of guava extract inclusion was lower than the other dispersions. 0,3% level of inclusion, the guava extract promoted improvements in the newborn quails intestinal health. In the third experiment, the guava extract inclusion was able to standardize the birth dispersal in both storage periods and promote the maintenance of the newborn quails resulted from the eggs stored for nine days. This study concludes that the use of the guava extract has not affected the matrices’ fertile performance and helped to standardize the hatch window as well as promoting intestinal health of the newborn quails. / Objetivou-se avaliar o uso do extrato de resíduo de goiaba como um antioxidante zootécnico nas dietas de matrizes de codornas Japonesas sobre os parâmetros de desempenho produtivo das matrizes em fase de postura, qualidade de ovos, incubação e parâmetros de qualidade e desenvolvimento intestinal das codornas neonatas oriundas de ovos dessas matrizes. Foram realizados três experimentos no aviário experimental da Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade Federal de Goiás (EVZ/UFG) e em todos adotou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC). No experimento 1, foram utilizadas 384 matrizes de codornas Japonesas, sendo 288 fêmeas e 96 machos, distribuídos em 4 tratamento, de acordo com o nível de inclusão do extrato de goiaba na dieta das matrizes, com 6 repetições cada tratamento, num total de 12 fêmeas e 4 machos em cada repetição. Os níveis de inclusão do extrato de goiaba foram: 0,0%, 0,3%, 0,6% e 0,9%. No experimento 2, 162 ovos por tratamento foram coletados durante três dias e incubados ao final do terceiro dia, num total de 648 ovos. No experimento 3, 432 ovos foram coletados e incubados em esquema fatorial que considerava dois períodos de armazenamento pré incubação – 216 ovos com nove dias e 216 ovos com três dias – e os quatros níveis de inclusão do extrato de goiaba na dieta das matrizes. Os resultados dos dados de desempenho foram submetidos à análise de variância e os dados de qualidade de ovos foram submetidos à análise de regressão. Os parâmetros de qualidade das codornas neonatas foram submetidos à análise de regressão. As janelas de eclosão foram submetidas ao teste de Tukey, as análises de embriodiagnóstico e percentagem de escore foram avaliadas pelo teste exato de Fisher, as análises de altura de vilosidades e profundidade de criptas intestinais foram submetidas à análise de variância. Em todas as análises adotou-se 5% de probabilidade. A utilização do extrato de goiaba não influenciou o desempenho das aves nem a qualidade físico-química dos ovos. No experimento 2 não houve diferença estatística para percentagem de eclosão total e percentagem de eclosão/férteis, janela de eclosão e escore de qualidade das codornas neonatas entre os quatro níveis de inclusão do extrato. A dispersão dos nascimentos no tratamento com 0,0% de inclusão de extrato de goiaba foi menor do que as demais dispersões. Ao nível 0,3% de inclusão, o extrato de goiaba promoveu melhorias no desenvolvimento intestinal das codornas neonatas. No experimento 3, a inclusão do extrato de goiaba foi capaz de padronizar a dispersão dos nascimentos em ambos os períodos de armazenamento e promover a manutenção do desenvolvimento intestinal das codornas neonatas oriundas de ovos armazenados por nove dias. Conclui-se que o uso do extrato de goiaba não afetou o desempenho produtivo das matrizes e auxiliou na padronização das janelas de eclosão bem como no desenvolvimento intestinal das codornas neonatas.

Diante da crescente importância que as empresas de base tecnológica assumem na geração de riqueza e promoção do desenvolvimento econômico sustentável, destaca-se o papel das incubadoras de empresas na promoção da inovação. Imersas em ambientes tradicionalmente geradores de conhecimento, como institutos de pesquisa e universidades, propiciam não só recursos materiais como também os recursos humanos necessários à transformação de idéias em produtos em escala empresarial. No entanto, faz-se necessário adotar um conjunto de ações para dinamizar as oportunidades de sucesso de novos empreendimentos. O modelo de incentivo à inovação e ao desenvolvimento de negócios posto em prática pelas incubadoras de empresas de base tecnológica permite ao empreendedor a obtenção de competências determinísticas de êxito que resultem em aumento do ciclo de vida da empresa. As incubadoras fornecem a estrutura necessária para o desenvolvimento da idéia até a consolidação do negócio. Utilizando como parâmetro de aferição a Pesquisa Global com empresas de sucesso, realizamos estudo com os empreendedores residentes no Centro Incubador de Empresas Tecnológicas. Este estudo visa identificar o potencial uso de ferramentas de gestão que permitam influenciar os fatores críticos de sucesso do empreendedorismo de base tecnológica. A Pesquisa Global, referência deste estudo, é realizada há mais de catorze anos e conta com um banco de dados de 8.504 empresas que sobreviveram ao teste do tempo. Em 2007, a pesquisa foca em 25 ferramentas e a amostra foi de 1221 gestores em todo o mundo, dos quais 101 no Brasil, na busca de identificar quais ferramentas de gestão eles utilizam e quais resultados elas têm gerado. Para fazer parte da Pesquisa Global, as ferramentas precisam ser consideradas importantes pelos gestores, ter aplicação específica e resultados mensuráveis. Neste trabalho, baseado na hierarquia entre inovação e valor, ao monitorar quais ferramentas os gestores das empresas incubadas de base tecnológica utilizam, em quais circunstâncias e com que intensidade e compará-las com as utilizadas pelas empresas da pesquisa global, busca-se identificar os fatores críticos de sucesso para o crescimento sustentável. / Since technology companies have become a significant source of income generation and sustainable economic development, business incubation centers have been standing out due to the support they offer to start-up innovation companies. As they are embedded in research institutes and universities, not only do these business incubation units take care of the material aspects needed to establish innovation companies, but they also provide the necessary human resources to turn ideas into products on a business scale. However, further action is required to augment the chances of success for those fledgling businesses. The business incentive model provided by technology-based incubation units with regard to fostering innovation and business development offer start-up business owners the necessary tools to succeed in their venture, thus guaranteeing that their companies enjoy a longer life cycle. Business incubation centers can provide the necessary structure from the development of an idea up to the consolidation of a business. For this study, we have considered successful new companies that are part of the Technology Business Incubation Center. Our goal was to identify potential management tools that could be critical in fostering the growth of such technology-based businesses. The Global Research used as reference for this study has been conducted for over 14 years, and counts on a database with over 8,504 companies that have survived the test of time. The research focused on 25 management tools in 2007. The sample consisted of 1,221 managers from all over the world 101 of them located in Brazil and the aim was to identify the management tools employed, and the results obtained from such tools. In order to be included in the global research, management tools have to be considered important by their users; moreover, their use has to be specific, and their results have to be measurable. In this study, based on hierarchy and value, we have monitored which management tools were employed by technology-based companies part of incubation units, under what circumstances and how frequently, in order to compare such tools with the ones used by companies included in the global research, thus identifying critical elements of success for their sustainable growth.

Although early reproduction within a breeding season often leads to higher reproductive success in seasonal environments, it is still not well understood how reproductive success can be influenced by climate both indirectly through the timing of breeding or by directly altering parental behaviour. In this thesis, I investigate the role of ambient temperature in reproductive success through its effects on the timing of reproduction and brooding in a population of gray jays, Perisoreus canadensis. In chapter 2, I test whether (i) female gray jays adjust laying date in response to temperature, (ii) individual or environmental characteristics constrain this plasticity, and (iii) laying date influences reproductive success. Females laid earlier in warmer years than in colder years; females partnered with older males laid earlier than females partnered with younger males at colder temperatures, but not at warmer temperatures. Early layers were more likely to rear at least one nestling and have a dominant juvenile survive the summer. These findings suggest that male experience could advance female laying date at cold temperatures and subsequently increase the probability of a positive nesting outcome. Though cold temperatures appear to limit timing of reproduction in gray jays, previous work in this system suggests that cold temperatures could better preserve perishable winter food stores. Thus, in chapter 3, I test whether temperatures during early offspring development interact with timing of reproduction to influence reproductive performance. Colder ambient temperatures during incubation were associated with larger brood sizes than warmer temperatures among late breeders, but temperature did not influence brood size among early layers, indicating that costs of late breeding may be amplified by temperatures that are unfavourable for food storage. This thesis contributes to our understanding of the environmental factors that determine reproductive performance, both through effects on timing of reproduction and after eggs are laid.

Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da forma física da ração pré-inicial no desempenho e na alometria de órgãos do sistema digestório de frangos de corte, provenientes de ovos de pesos semelhantes ou distintos, produzidos por matrizes Ross de idades diferentes. Foram utilizados 2.340 ovos para os experimentos 1 e 2 e 2.160 ovos para os experimentos 3 e 4. A composição percentual dos ovos foi avaliada. Os experimentos 1 e 2, assim como os experimentos 3 e 4, ocorreram simultaneamente. O experimento 1 contou com 1.380 pintos de um dia, machos e fêmeas sexados, provenientes de ovos com peso médio de 57,8 g ou 68,8 g, de matrizes com, respectivamente, 29 e 55 semanas. O experimento 3 contou com 1.380 aves provenientes de matrizes com 29 e 55 semanas de idade, sendo o peso médio dos ovos padronizado em aproximadamente 62 g. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e cinco repetições, em esquema fatorial 2x3 (idade da matriz x forma física da ração pré-inicial). Na fase pré-inicial, a forma física da ração foi diferenciada em farelada, triturada e micro-peletizada, com fornecimento fixado em 200 g/ave. Do término da fase pré-inicial até os 42 dias de idade, foi fornecida uma ração comum farelada, para todos os tratamentos. Os parâmetros de desempenho avaliados nos experimentos 1 e 3 foram: ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e viabilidade criatória. O tempo utilizado para o consumo total da ração pré-inicial foi monitorado. Para a avaliação da alometria de órgãos (intestinos delgado e grosso, fígado, pâncreas, proventrículo, moela e saco vitelino), foram utilizados em cada experimento (2 e 4), 240 pintos de um dia, machos e fêmeas sexados, nos mesmos tratamentos adotados nos experimentos 1 (pesos distintos) e 3 (pesos semelhantes). Foram sacrificadas seis aves provenientes de cada idade de matriz ao alojamento e quatro aves por tratamento nos dias três, cinco, sete, 14 e 21, sendo cada ave considerada uma unidade experimental. A gema de ovos provenientes de matrizes adultas foi maior mesmo quando estes apresentavam pesos semelhantes aos de matrizes jovens. Em ambos os experimentos de desempenho, melhores resultados foram obtidos pelos frangos provenientes de matrizes de 55 semanas de idade, bem como, por aqueles que consumiram rações pré-iniciais processadas. As aves levaram menos tempo para consumir 200 g de rações processadas do que farelada. Ao alojamento, moela, proventrículo, fígado e intestino delgado foram mais pesados para as aves oriundas de matrizes adultas, quando estas apresentavam pesos iniciais superiores aos das aves de matrizes jovens. O desenvolvimento do pâncreas, intestino delgado, fígado e proventrículo na primeira semana de vida foi superior ao crescimento corpóreo das aves, independente da idade da matriz. Conclui-se que o peso do ovo influencia o peso do pinto à eclosão, porém, é a idade da matriz que atua sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte. Além disso, o consumo de dietas processadas na fase pré-inicial favorece o desempenho dos frangos até os 42 dias de idade. / Four trials were conducted to evaluate the physical form of pre-starter diets on performance and allometric growth of gastrointestinal organs of chickens from eggs having the same or different weights, hatched from Ross breeders of different ages. In trails1 and 2, 2,340 eggs were incubated and in trails 3 and 4, 2,160. The eggs percentage composition was evaluated. Trials 1 and 2, as well as trials 3 and 4, were carried out simultaneously. After hatching, 1,380 day-old chicks, males and females, from young breeders (29 weeks) or adult breeders (55 weeks) were used in performance experiments: in experiment 1 the eggs weighted 57,8 g or 68,8 g, respectively, and in experiment 3, egg weight was standardized at 62 g. The performance trials were conducted in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 5 replicates, and the treatments consisted of a 2 3 factorial arrangement of breeder age (young and adult) and physical form of the pre-starter feed (mash, crumbled or micro-pellets). This feed was provided at a fixed amount of 200 g per chick and, after that, the birds in all treatments were fed a common starter, grower and finisher diet in mash form, to 42 days of age. Live weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and viability were evaluated on a pen basis. The time required for total consumption of the pre-starter feeds was monitored. To evaluate the allometric growth of gastrointestinal organs (small and large intestines, liver, pancreas, proventriculus, gizzard and yolk sac), in experiments 2 and 4, 240 one-day-chicks, males and females, were distributed to six pens with the same treatments as experiments 1 and 3, respectively. Six chicks from each breeder age on the first day and four chicks at ages three, five, seven, 14 and 21 days were sacrificed. The experimental unit was each chick. The yolk from adult breeder eggs was heavier, even when the eggs had similar weight of those from young breeders. In both performance trials, better results were obtained for chickens from adult breeders, as well as, for chickens fed processed pre-starter diets. The chickens consumed 200 g of processed diets faster than the mash diet. On the first day, gizzard, proventriculus, liver and small intestine were heavier in chicks from adult breeders than in chicks from young breeders, when the former presented heavier initial weight. Pancreas, small intestine, liver and proventriculus development was superior to body growth, independent of breeder age. It is concluded that egg weight influences the chick weight at hatching, however, breeder age affects the overall performance of the chickens. Furthermore, processed feeds benefit the chicks in the pre-starter phase and this benefit is maintained in the broilers to market weight.

Bakgrund: Inkubatorer är organisationer som syftar till att hjälpa nystartade företag att växa och överleva sina tidiga år. Det finns tydligt beskrivet hur inkubatorernas stödprocesserär utformade, men beskrivningar om hur och varför de utformats på detta sätt lyser med sin frånvaro. Ett fåtal forskare har antagit eller beskrivit kopplingar mellan processutformning och organisationers målsättning, men ingen tydlig koppling verkar ha identifierats. Genom att sammankoppla målsättning och process syftar denna studie till att illustrera hur processer utformas, både inom inkubatorer och hos andra organisationstyper. Syfte: Syftet med denna uppsats är att beskriva hur målsättningen hos icke-vinstdrivande svenska inkubatorer påverkar utformningen av inkubatorernas inkubationsprocesser. Metod: Uppsatsen utgår ifrån ett konstruktionistiskt perspektiv med en abduktiv ansats, som i sin tur inneburit ett iterativt arbetssätt. Studien har en kvalitativ forskningsdesign, och undersöker 11 svenska inkubatorer i en fenomenbaserad små-N-studie. Uppsatsens respondenter valdes ut genom ett i huvudsak målstyrt urval, och data från respondenterna har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. En tematisk analys har utförts baserat på den empiriska data för att finna kopplingar till uppsatsens frågeställningar. Slutsats: Studien drar tydliga kopplingar mellan målsättning hos svenska icke vinstdrivande inkubatorer och deras inkubationsprocesser. Dessa kopplingar kan dras både mellan övergripande mål och specifika mål inom organisationerna. Urvalet till en inkubator påverkas mycket av inkubatorns olika mål. Vissa delar av handledningsprocessen, främst nätverksaktiviteter och rådgivning, påverkas också tydligt av inkubatorns mål. Denna studie har dessutom påvisat att de specifika målen som formulerats hos inkubatorerna ofta baseras på de övergripande målen. / Background: Business incubators are organizations with a purpose to help new ventures grow and survive their early years. There are descriptions of the general incubation process, but clear motivations of their process design are sorely missing. Some researchers suggest links between the goals of organizations and their process design, but a clear connection seems to be missing. By connecting goals and processes, this study aims to illustrate how processes are formed within business incubators as well as other types of organizations. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe how the goals of Swedish non-profit incubators influence the design of business incubators’ incubation processes. Methodology: The study is based on a constructionist perspective with an abductive approach, which in turn has led to an iterative study process. It is based on a qualitative research design and investigates 11 respondents through a small-N-study. Respondents were chosen based on a mostly goal-driven selection process, and empirical data has been collected through semi-structured interviews with each respondent. A thematic analysis was conducted on this data to answer the research questions posed. Conclusion: The study draws clear connections between goals of Swedish non-profit business incubators and their incubation processes. These connections can be made from both organizational goals and specific goals within the organizations. Incubators' selection processes are largely affected by the different goals of the organization. This is also true for networking and guidance activities within the incubator. In addition, the study has shown that specific goals within the incubators are largely influenced by their organizational goals.

No description available.

Microorganisms are considered to be crucial selective factor affecting reproductive success of birds. It is hypothesized that egg-white antimicrobial proteins and incubation behavior are the most important defense mechanisms that eliminates the risk of microbial trans-shell infection. The latest studies supposed that incubation temperatures may significantly affect the antimicrobial activity of egg white proteins. The concentration of egg white antimicrobial proteins as well as incubation patterns differ among altricial and precocial species of birds. However, experimental study testing the effect of incubation temperature on the antimicrobial potential of antimicrobial egg white proteins in altricial and precocial birds is missing. In this study we tested in manipulative experiment the effect of partial and full incubation, the concentration of lysozyme and ovotransferrin and their interactions on the antimicrobial activity of egg whites of two model species - Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and home pigeon (Columba livia). Antimicrobial protein activity was determined by the agar well diffusion method against two Gram-positive bacteria - Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus that have been documented as pathogenic egg-white invaders of several birds. Moreover, we analyzed the effect of...

It was shown almost 50 years ago that hypothermic incubation of chicken embryos results in a reduction in the size of embryos and an increase in the heart weight, presumably by hypertrophy (increase in cell volume). The chicken embryos were incubated in normothermia (37.5 ř C) and hypothermia (33.5 ř C) from the eleventh embryonic day. On the 17th day, the embryos were weighed and then their hearts were weighed. In agreement with the previous results, hypothermic embryos were 29% smaller and their hearts 18% heavier. The heart-to-body weight ratio was 67% higher in the hypothermic group. The measured cell size was very similar in the target areas and it was also between the two groups. The left ventricle width was twofold that the right one and the difference was not significantly higher in the hypothermia model. Purkinje fibers, the terminal part of the conduction system, were smaller than the working cardiomyocytes. Purkinje fibers were slightly enlarged after hypothermic incubation. The proliferation rate was measured by immunohistochemical labeling of anti-phospho histone H3. The experimental group showed much higher proliferation rate; it reached statistical significance in the right ventricle. Thus, hypothermic incubation resulted in increased growth of embryonic heart based on hyperplasia...

The effect of incubation temperature on different morphological, physiological, cognitive and behavioral characteristics in reptiles is a well-studied topic, although the underlying mechanism leading to the differences between individuals incubated at different temperatures remains largely unknown. In this thesis I studied the effect of incubation temperature on cognitive abilities and the number of neurons and non-neuronal cells in the gecko Paroedura picta incubated at two different temperatures, 24řC and 30řC. The geckos were tested in two cognitive tasks with simulated predatory attack. 14-day-old hatchlings were tested in a Y-maze, while 6-months-old geckos were tested in an arena with shelters of different colors. After testing, the number of neurons and non- neuronal cells in several parts of the brain were estimated using the isotropic fractionator in selected individuals. Although incubation temperature did not affect the success in the cognitive task in hatchlings, it did affect the total time needed to find the shelter. This difference remained significant also in adult geckos. The number of neurons, which was used as a proxy for the information processing capacity of the brain, did not affect success in the cognitive tasks. However, absolute brain size correlated with success in the...

D. Tech. (Department Logistics, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / The majority of business incubators in South Africa are supported by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA). However, a notable proportion of business incubators face a number of challenges to growth and development. Despite a number of studies conducted on business incubators generally, little information exists on the framework for the creation of business incubators. The concept of business incubation has gained prominence in academia in recent years as a vehicle for small business development. In view of the growing importance of business incubators, the objective of this study is to develop a framework for the creation of business incubators in South Africa. Business incubator managers, coaches, project specialists, and enterprise development practitioners were selected, being considered the ideal target population for this study. The study adopted a sequential mixed-methods methodology that commenced with a qualitative study and was followed by a quantitative study. For the qualitative study, data were collected from a purposively selected business incubator sample comprising nine participants. The principle of technical saturation was applied to ascertain the adequacy of the sample size. The trustworthiness and credibility of the qualitative study were achieved through pre-testing of the interview guide, bracketing, prolonged engagement with participants, peer debriefing, and researcher reflexivity. The analysis of the qualitative data was conducted using content and thematic analyses. The qualitative element of the study identified incubator prerequisites, situational analyses, operational processes/incubation strategies, and operational outputs as the main determinants of the framework for business incubators. In line with the methodology of the study, the determinants of the framework for business incubators that emerged from the qualitative study were further examined through a quantitative study. The data for the quantitative study were generated from a conveniently selected incubator practitioner sample of 121 respondents, using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Furthermore, the historical evidence method guided the determination of the sample size for the quantitative study. Prior to questionnaire administration of this study a pilot study was conducted to improve the accuracy of the survey instrument. The quantitative section utilised statistical data analysis procedures, descriptive statistics, reliability and validity analysis, correlation analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was utilised to analyse the quantitative data. The results of the quantitative data analysis revealed that the framework for incubation presents incubator prerequisites (incubation entry of incubatees) as the predictor construct. This construct has eight sub-components, which are situational analysis (incubatees’ characteristics), key requirements, operational process, factor components, intellective capabilities, administrative capabilities, market force engineering, and strategic resourcing (impact) with KPIs. The mediating construct is business incubator performance (incubation process—industry coaches, governance structure, and entrepreneurial focus), which in turn leads to monitoring and evaluation (incubation output—graduation phase, impact, and follow-ups). The relationships between these constructs were tested. In order to verify the reliability of the measurement items of the current study, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, the item-to-total values and composite reliability were computed. The validity of the survey instrument was enhanced through content, convergent, discriminant and predictive validities. In addition, the reliability and validity measures employed in the present study showed that the survey instrument utilised in the quantitative study was both reliable and valid. The study is significant in terms of its theoretical and business incubation policy implications. Theoretically, the study provides a comparative impression of the South African business incubation perspective and current trends in the ecosystem. Thus, future researchers, particularly in developing countries, may use the results of this study as a reference benchmark in terms of literature and research methodology. The various organs of the state, government agencies, as well as non-governmental organisations that are responsible for entrepreneurship development and the creation of additional business incubators, may use the study as a reference point in the generation of different initiatives aimed at improving the small business environment in South Africa.