PhD (Business Management) / Department of Business Management / The questions of what constitutes entrepreneurship and, in turn, who an entrepreneur is, have dominated entrepreneurship discourse in recent times. Over the years, a multiplicity of definitions of entrepreneurship has been proffered. However, most of these definitions to be either Eurocentric or Western-oriented and largely devoid of (South) African socio-economic imperatives. Naturally, the manner in which entrepreneurship in South Africa is conceptualised derives from the former definitions. Furthermore, the classification of entrepreneurship ventures in the country is also problematic. A Eurocentric classification regime is, on the one hand, too simplistic; and, on the other hand, it fails to fully capture the true essence of entrepreneurial activity within the South African economy. It is, therefore, not surprising that entrepreneurship development policies and interventions are not successful in stimulating entrepreneurship. This problem, this study argues, is a result of the lack of localised research aimed at understanding entrepreneurship classification dynamics in South Africa. This constitutes a research gap, which this study seeks to address. It is against this background that the aim of this study is to develop a taxonomy of entrepreneurial ventures in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. To achieve this purpose, which is pre-paradigmatic, the proposed study was designed along the dictates of a qualitatively grounded theory research. This facilitated the application of multiple methods of data collection. The study sampled 5 entrepreneurs in the Limpopo Province who were interviewed using an in-depth format. The value of this work is among the first in seeking to propose a framework (i.e. taxonomy) for classifying entrepreneurship ventures within the South African context. The implication of the study is that it potentially provides policymakers with valuable tools to understand South African entrepreneurship and the channels of intervention for small business ventures. / NRF

Abstract Space has always pushed humanity further to acknowledge its existence and what was once mere speculation through observation, today we have reached a climax in fully understanding its reach and its potential for society. Through the utilization of technological advancements, people, countries, and organizations are starting to understand the capacity in utilizing our resources to create and develop fundamental applications that can create positive effects in our environment, society, and economy. The space industry is continuously evolving pushing forth a new age in space technology, a revolutionary space race. This transitory phase from old space and new space has furthered global competition and has created a new path for innovative practices that demand progression to remain sustainable and competitive in the present global environment. Which made us interested in exploring the following research question: How do new entrants in the high-technology space industry navigate the transition from old space to new space? Our thesis aims in understanding this transitory phase from old space and new space. To satisfactory answer our research question we selectively focus on Sweden’s space industry and its relative organizations and businesses. Through the evaluation of smalland medium sized organizations that exist in Sweden’s current space ecosystem, we aim to understand this evolutionary shift in innovative practices, collaborative efforts, and which factors contribute to increasing new entrants in what was once deemed a closed system. Therefore, fulfilling a research gap in academic literature by shedding light on new practices from a stakeholder’s perspective in the creation and diffusion of knowledge, networks, and motivational factors that form opportunities within existing platforms in the space industry that are essential and fundamental to the creation of progressive innovation ecosystems.  To conclude, this thesis contributes with an understanding of the historic, current and future possibilities for small and medium sized organisations within the space sector in Sweden. We explore the current ecosystem by interviewing SMEs that have embraced the opportunities that exist and with industry experts who have valuable insights to offer. We hope that with this thesis more individuals gain insight in the current restraints that new entrants are met with and how to effectively reduce those.  Key words: New space, Old space, Innovation, Ecosystem, Motivation, Platforms, Stakeholder, Opportunity forming / Business Administration

Global advances in digital technology are facilitating a corresponding rise in digital entrepreneurship and its startup manifestation. Many uncertainties exist upon the road to digital startup evolution; a number of which may be successfully navigated with the assistance of business incubators. While these organisations provide valuable guidance and support to the startup community, their efforts are, at least in some part, constrained by the lack of a consistent and coherent roadmap to guide both them and their incubatees. This work proposes a solution to that deficiency by addressing the question -  What are the enabling and inhibiting factors in digital startup evolution within an incubator setting? - via a multiple-case study that examined digital startups under the umbrella of three business incubators in the city of Umeå, Sweden. This work builds on the existing literature both through its narrowed focus on incubators as well as through its presentation of the Ideation Dynamics Model as a proposed guide for both incubators and digital startups to follow.

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of what factors influence the choice of the selection process in government-funded business incubators. The study was conducted as an abductive multiple case-study of selection processes in Swedish government-funded business incubators. Our findings are summarized in a framework illustrating that owners and financiers stipulate important pre-conditions for the opportunities business incubators have in designing and implementing a certain selection process through their impact on the incubator goal and target group, and subsequently the choice of criteria. The regional context (local economics, level of entrepreneurial activity, collaborations and brand awareness) also stipulate a precondition for the incubator’s choice of the selection process by affecting the inflow of business ideas and therefore the pool of potential candidates available to the incubator. The amount and quality of the inflow mainly reflects in the rigorousness or flexibility in the application criteria. The design of the process, and thus the practices included, is highly influenced by the orientation of managers and operative staff in the incubator, conditioned upon available resources (organizational capabilities and constraints), and influenced by best practices, investor objectives, and macro trends. The study provides implications for research on selection processes in business incubators by highlighting that prior research has had a limited perspective of selection by primarily focusing on criteria and the flexibility and rigorousness in applying these, thus disregarding other practices and prevailing selection as an event rather than a process. Furthermore, we pinpoint several factors affecting the choice of the selection process, not previously discussed in the research literature. The emerging framework may also be used by stakeholders in order to understand how different factors impact the selection process and identify areas that are weak and need to be improved. / Syftet med denna studie är att förbättra förståelsen för vilka faktorer som påverkar valet av urvalsprocess i offentligt finansierade företagsinkubatorer. Studien har en abduktiv ansats och genomfördes som en multipel fallstudie av urvalsprocesser i svenska företagsinkubatorer. Resultaten från studien presenteras i ett teoretiskt ramverk som betonar att ägare och finansiärer utgör viktiga förutsättningar för inkubatorns möjligheter att utforma processen genom deras inverkan på mål och målgrupp. Mål och målgrupp återspeglas främst i valet av kriterier, men kan ha en indirekt påverkan även på det sätt som inkubatorerna arbetar för att uppfylla målen. Den regionala kontexten utgör också en viktig förutsättning för inkubatorers möjligheter genom dess påverkan på inflödet av affärsidéer och därmed poolen av potentiella kandidater som är tillgängliga för inkubatorn. Mängden och kvaliteten på inflödet påverkar i huvudsak huruvida tillämpningen av kriterier är rigorös eller flexibel. Utformningen av processen påverkas i stor utsträckning av den operativa personalens erfarenheter och gemensamma organisatoriska lärande i inkubatorn. Sådant inflytande kan dock till viss del vara begränsat av de resurser i form av medel, tid och personal som finns i inkubatorn. Vi finner även att rådande trender inom jämställdhet och hållbarhet, samt best practices och investerar-objektiv har inflytande på hur inkubatorer väljer att utforma urvalsprocessen. Studien bidrar till forskningen om urvalsprocesser i företagsinkubatorer genom att belysa att tidigare forskning har haft ett begränsat perspektiv på urval genom att enbart fokusera på kriterier samt flexibilitet och rigiditet vid tillämpningen av dessa och därmed bortse från övriga selektionspraxis. För att kunna förstå och förbättra urvalsprocessen bör ett bredare perspektiv på urval inkorporeras i forskningslitteraturen, där urval förstås som en process snarare än ett isolerat skeende. Vidare identifierar vi flera faktorer som påverkar valet av urvalsprocessen, men som inte tidigare diskuterats i forskningslitteraturen. Vårt ramverk kan också stödja olika intressenter att identifiera styrkor och svagheter i det ekosystem de verkar inom såväl som deras egen inverkan på urvalsprocessen.

The purpose of this study is to collect data on the current practices of coaching as applied in an incubated environment to report on the influence of coaching on entrepreneurial goal-setting behaviour. Previous research has indicated that much criticism has been lobbied at government programmes aimed at providing entrepreneurship development and support, some recognition has been given to some of these government initiatives as well as the progress achieved by some. It is further stated in the Global Entrepreneurship Report (2012) that a number of national experts commend the existence of business support agencies (such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency). A number of significant findings materialized from the current study where it was found that coaching influences entrepreneurial behaviour and that a need exists for more in-depth coaching sessions specifically focused on entrepreneurship in the South African context. Further to this it was found that a need exists for entrepreneurs to be coached by other entrepreneurs and that the role of a coach should be clarified to set realistic expectations from the onset of the intervention. These findings are in agreement with some of the key recommendations from South African national experts as cited in the GEMS 2012 report. The current research adds to the body of research on coaching in general. It also contributes specifically entrepreneurial development programmes in the South African context. The outcome from this research has implications for business coaches, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial development/support agencies as well as those who provide training and incubation programmes for entrepreneurs. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Esta tese analisa os limites intrínsecos do processo de construção de conhecimentos por meio da ação educativa entre orientadores (educadores) e trabalhadores cooperados (educandos) na prática de incubação dos empreendimentos econômicos solidários. Trata-se de uma pesquisa empírica realizada com educadores de uma Incubadora Universitária de empreendimentos econômicos solidários e trabalhadores de duas cooperativas autogeridas. A maior parte do material analisado foi coletado por meio de pesquisa de campo nas cooperativas e na incubadora. No estudo, concebemos o conhecimento adquirido no processo prático de incubação de empreendimentos econômicos solidários dos trabalhadores como práxis que implica um conjunto complexo de atividades de caráter técnico e social, interagindo com conhecimento teórico e conceitual, orientados por objetivos. Trata-se por isso, de um processo pedagógico educativo que deve ser criativo, de ação coletiva e modificador da realidade. Adotamos a concepção de que os conhecimentos são produzidos neste mundo pelos próprios seres humanos e que a relação de conhecimento é uma relação entre sujeito e objeto e também que a relação com o mundo não é individual e imutável, mas coletiva e social. Como referência teórica nos apoiamos nos escritos de Freire, Cortella, Vázquez entre outros. As respostas às questões construídas ao longo do estudo evidenciam pontos positivos que representam avanços na direção da ação educativa e outros ainda de tensão e conflitos que indicam caminhos para a releitura do processo educativo, tanto para os educandos como para os educadores. Ficou evidente a importância e a necessidade da Universidade atuar por meio de incubadoras interagindo com a comunidade, levando o conhecimento de que dispõe para os trabalhadores cooperados que dificilmente teriam acesso de outra forma, bem como os efeitos positivos que advém dessa ação no meio acadêmico e para os trabalhadores. Ficou indicado também que no processo de incubação dos empreendimentos econômicos solidários dos trabalhadores há uma complexidade que demanda esforços significativos por parte dos educadores e educandos para atingir os objetivos propostos no processo de incubação, que passa necessariamente, por uma relação interativa e dialógica. Entretanto, é um processo educativo que modifica as circunstâncias, os homens e as mulheres na sua maneira de ser e agir. Há dificuldades de ambas partes, muitas barreiras que são rompidas e outras ainda não, mas é inegável a construção e reconstrução de conhecimentos para os atores envolvidos em vários aspectos. Os educadores despertam para outra forma de ver o mundo, estimula a autocrítica como educador e pessoa, enriquece e modifica a forma de ensinar e a prática da interdisciplinariedade. Estimula a associação entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão na universidade. Os educandos também mudam a forma de pensar e agir. Sentem-se mais seguros, respeitados e empoderados para interagir na sociedade. Passam a dispor de cidadania, autonomia para exercer a autogestão e melhor qualidade de vida. / This thesis analyzes the intrinsic limits of the process of construction of knowledge through the educational action among advisors (educators) and cooperated workers (scholars) in practice of incubation of the solidary economical enterprises. It is an empiric research accomplished with educators of an Academical Incubator of solidary economical enterprises and workers of two cooperatives auto managed. Most of the analyzed material was collected through field research in the cooperatives and in the incubator. In the study, we conceived the acquired knowledge in the practical process of incubation of the workers\' solidary economical enterprises as praxis that implicates a group compound of activities of technical and social character, interacting with theoretical and conceptual knowledge, guided by objectives. It is treated by that, of an educational pedagogic process that it should be creative, of collective action and modifier of the reality. We adopted the conception that the knowledge are produced in this world by the own human beings and that the knowledge relation is a relationship between subject and object and also that the relationship with the world is not individual and unalterable, but collective and social. As theoretical reference we got support on the writings of Freire, Cortella, and Vázquez among others. The answers to the subjects built along the study evidence positive points that still represent progresses in the direction of the educational and other action of tension and conflicts that indicate ways for the rereading of the educational process, so much for the students as for the educators. It was evident the importance and the need of the university to act through incubators interacting with the community, taking the knowledge that disposes for the workers cooperated that difficultly they would have access in another way, as well as the positive effects that occurs of that action in the academic midst and for the workers. It was also denoted that in the process of incubation of the workers\' solidary economical enterprises there is a complexity that demands significant efforts on the part of the educators and students to reach the objectives proposed in the incubation process, that necessarily passes, for an interactive relationship and dialogic. However, it is an educational process that modifies the circumstances, the men and the women in their way of being and acting. There are difficulties of both parts, a lot of barriers that are broken and other not yet, but it is undeniable the construction and reconstruction of knowledge for the actors involved in several aspects. The educators wake up for another form of seeing the world, it stimulates the self-criticism as educator and person, enriches and modifies the form of teaching and the practice of the interdisciplinarity. It stimulates the association among teaching, researches and extension in the university. The students also change the form of thinking and acting. They feel safer, respected and empowered to interact in the society. They start to dispose of citizenship, autonomy to exercise the automanagement and better quality of life.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:08:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2000-11-06T00:00:00Z / Este trabalho de doutoramento em Administração de Empresas pela EAESP/FGV de São Paulo apresenta estudo sobre a localização de 27 Incubadoras nacionais, abrangendo 9 Estados da Federação. A partir de dados coletados por meio de questionários, são avaliados os fatores de localização de pequenas empresas de base tecnológica e de incubadoras. Apresenta-se uma revisão dos principais aspectos clássicos e contemporâneos da Teoria Locacional.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 71070100694.pdf: 3087524 bytes, checksum: 28f7797fdc05a8da457608ae7810dcff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-10 / This thesis aims at analysing the influence of incubator’s marketing support and entrepreneurial orientation of the firms on the new product development process of incubated technologically-based firms. In order to analyse this process, a model of product development for technologically-based firms was developed from a base model, which was improved regarding the definition and measurement of some of its constructs and to which the influence of the two factors above were included. The developed model was operationalized by a structural equation model. The research methodology is a survey where pretested scales were applied to measure the constructs. The target population is technologically-based firms developed in technological incubators in Brazil, the response rate was 63%, respondents represent incubators in all regions of Brazil and 22 high-tech sectors. This research presents academic and managerial contributions. Among the academic contributions, it was found empirical evidence about the relationship between incubators’ marketing support and firms’ marketing synergy, however, this support does not change accordingly to the uncertainty of the business environment of the firms, which should happen because the entrepreneurs need more support to make decisions in a high uncertainty environment. Another contribution was the empirical evidence that the way entrepreneurs align their business according to the turbulence of environment contradicts to some previous studies, specifically in relation to the degree of product innovation and marketing synergy. In relation to the degree of product innovation, the results show that in a low uncertainty environment there is a higher correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and the degree of product innovation, according to previous studies this should happen in high uncertainty environment where the clients are not able to specify precisely product’s requirements, so there are more opportunities for the firms to develop innovative products. In relation to the marketing synergy, the results show that in a high uncertainty environment there is a higher correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and marketing synergy, according to previous studies this should happen in low uncertainty environment where the clients are able to define clearly product’s requirements, which are often incremental innovations. Among the managerial contributions, the research provides a comprehensive view of the number of technology-based firms per geographical region and per sector, which enables the identification of high-tech sectors where there are not so many firms, so such sectors can be good opportunities to develop new firms. Besides, the research allows entrepreneurs to assess their positioning in relation to other firms in the same sector about the product development time and sales growth rate. The research will also provide to incubator managers an assessment of their marketing support in relation to that of other incubators in Brazil. / Esta tese visa analisar a influência do suporte de marketing da incubadora e da orientação empreendedora das empresas no processo de desenvolvimento de novos produtos de empresas de base tecnológica incubadas. A fim de se analisar tal processo, elaborou-se um modelo de desenvolvimento de produtos de empresas de base tecnológica a partir de um modelo base, que foi melhorado quanto à definição e mensuração de alguns construtos e ao qual foram acrescentadas as influências dos dois fatores acima mencionados. O modelo elaborado foi operacionalizado por intermédio de um modelo de equações estruturais. A metodologia de pesquisa é um survey em que se utilizou de escalas pré-testadas a fim de se mensurar os construtos. A população-alvo é composta por empresas de base tecnológica desenvolvidas em incubadoras do tipo tecnológica situadas no Brasil, a taxa de resposta foi de 63% e os respondentes representam incubadoras em todas as regiões do Brasil e 22 setores de alta tecnologia. Esta pesquisa apresenta contribuições acadêmicas e gerenciais. Dentre as contribuições acadêmicas, encontrou-se evidências empíricas da relação entre o suporte de marketing da incubadora e a sinergia de marketing das empresas, no entanto, tal suporte não se altera em função da incerteza do ambiente de negócios da empresa, o que deveria ocorrer pois os empreendedores necessitam de maior suporte para tomar decisões em ambientes com alta incerteza. Outra contribuição acadêmica foi a evidência empírica de que a forma como os empreendedores orientam seu negócio em função da turbulência do ambiente contradiz alguns estudos anteriores, especificamente em relação ao grau de inovação do produto e a sinergia de marketing. A respeito do grau de inovação do produto, os resultados indicam que em um ambiente de baixa incerteza há uma maior correlação entre a orientação empreendedora e o grau de inovação do produto, segundo estudos anteriores tal fato deveria ocorrer em ambiente de alta incerteza em que os clientes não conseguem especificar precisamente os requisitos do produto, assim, haveria maior oportunidade para as empresas desenvolverem produtos inovadores. A respeito da sinergia de marketing, os resultados indicam que em um ambiente de alta incerteza há uma maior correlação entre a orientação empreendedora e a sinergia de marketing, segundo estudos anteriores tal fato deveria ocorrer em ambiente de baixa incerteza em que os clientes conseguem definir claramente os requisitos de produto, que em geral são inovações incrementais. Dentre as contribuições gerenciais, a pesquisa fornece um panorama do número de empresas de base tecnológica por estado e por setor, o que favorece a identificação de setores de alta tecnologia onde não existem muitas empresas, e portanto, tais setores podem se constituir em boas oportunidades para desenvolver novas empresas. Além disso, a pesquisa possibilita aos empreendedores avaliar seu posicionamento em relação a outras empresas do mesmo setor em função do tempo de desenvolvimento de produtos e da taxa de crescimento de vendas. A pesquisa também fornecerá aos gerentes de incubadoras uma avaliação do seu suporte de marketing em relação ao de outras incubadoras no Brasil.

The purpose of this study is to collect data on the current practices of coaching as applied in an incubated environment to report on the influence of coaching on entrepreneurial goal-setting behaviour. Previous research has indicated that much criticism has been lobbied at government programmes aimed at providing entrepreneurship development and support, some recognition has been given to some of these government initiatives as well as the progress achieved by some. It is further stated in the Global Entrepreneurship Report (2012) that a number of national experts commend the existence of business support agencies (such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency). A number of significant findings materialized from the current study where it was found that coaching influences entrepreneurial behaviour and that a need exists for more in-depth coaching sessions specifically focused on entrepreneurship in the South African context. Further to this it was found that a need exists for entrepreneurs to be coached by other entrepreneurs and that the role of a coach should be clarified to set realistic expectations from the onset of the intervention. These findings are in agreement with some of the key recommendations from South African national experts as cited in the GEMS 2012 report. The current research adds to the body of research on coaching in general. It also contributes specifically entrepreneurial development programmes in the South African context. The outcome from this research has implications for business coaches, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial development/support agencies as well as those who provide training and incubation programmes for entrepreneurs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)