The link between entrepreneurship and economic growth is well-established. Incubators aim to stimulate entrepreneurship, and one of the factors which contributes to effective incubation is networking. Previous research on the role of networking in entrepreneurship has not focused on how incubatees experience the incubator managers’ networking skills and how these skills contribute to the performance of the incubatees’ ventures while in incubation. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the contribution of the networking skills of government-funded incubator managers, as perceived by incubatees, to effective incubation. Networking skills were defined as the provision of access by incubator managers to their networks, to incubatees, as well as the facilitation of collaboration by incubator managers between their networks and incubatees. A quantitative study was performed, using a questionnaire to determine incubatees’ perceptions of the various networking skills of the relevant incubator managers, as well as the incubatees’ growth in sales. The population of the study consisted of 565 incubatees currently in incubation at government-funded incubators in South Africa who had access to the questionnaire, and a response rate of 18.4% was realised. The results indicated highly significant correlations, at the 1% level of significance between the networking skills of government-funded incubator managers, as perceived by incubatees, and effective incubation. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The field of entrepreneurship research offers differing theories regarding the underlying behaviours of entrepreneurs. These theoretical frameworks describe the behaviours and principal thought processes that entrepreneurs use to create new businesses. The unique attributes of the South African context, characterised by high unemployment and low entrepreneurial activity, together with new business formation make this field of research particularly important. Some of the major theoretical frameworks were reviewed in the study, and a qualitative study was employed using the Grounded Theory approach. Ten successful entrepreneurs were interviewed for the study and the data collected was used to provide insight into their behaviour and particularly sought to determine whether principles from Effectual Theory were present. The findings of the research supported some aspects of the important theoretical frameworks, emphasising the need for a multitude of perspectives rather than a single best framework. Particularly strong evidence of effectual entrepreneurial behaviours were found in the data, supporting the Theory of Effectuation as a construct for new business formation in South Africa. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of providing stationary and nonstationary visual stimuli to preterm infants by designing a device that met basic hospital safety requirements and fit within the incubator. A sample of 20 preterm infants were observed. Differences in responses between baseline, stationary, and nonstationary conditions were recorded using state, focal point, time attending, heart and respiratory rates. Each infant was observed on two separate days. Each observation period was divided into three 2-minute segments. On the intervention day, data were collected in a baseline, stimulus, stimulus sequence. On the nonintervention day, only baseline data were collected in the three 2-minute time· segments. Parametric and nonparametric analyses revealed significant differences in state, focal point, and heart rate between observation days. Results of state, focal point, and heart rate indicate a response to the stimulus during the first stimulus exposure period. Significant effects in state, focal point, time, period, and heart rate during the second exposure period indicate an orienting response. It is suggested that after a period of response and reorganization, the infants were able to orient to the device during the second exposure period. These results also suggest that this visual stimulation device may be helpful in long-term visual stimulation studies and interventions. / M.S.

<p>The purpose of this research is to analyze business incubators and the relevant factors that take place inside these organizations.</p><p>The methodology used was a case study approach, which investigates a real environment, in this case: NeoEmpresa, a business incubator located in La Paz, Bolivia. The explanatory approach is also considered in this research since the purpose is to explain the business incubation characteristics as well as understand the importance of knowledge transfer and network creation inside business incubators.</p><p>The findings propose that the most adequate incubation model strongly depends on the incubator’s main purpose and that the learning practices that take place inside an incubator involve knowledge transfer, more considered experience transfer, and networking as relevant factors.</p>

The purpose of this research is to analyze business incubators and the relevant factors that take place inside these organizations. The methodology used was a case study approach, which investigates a real environment, in this case: NeoEmpresa, a business incubator located in La Paz, Bolivia. The explanatory approach is also considered in this research since the purpose is to explain the business incubation characteristics as well as understand the importance of knowledge transfer and network creation inside business incubators. The findings propose that the most adequate incubation model strongly depends on the incubator’s main purpose and that the learning practices that take place inside an incubator involve knowledge transfer, more considered experience transfer, and networking as relevant factors.

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.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Entrepreneurship)-Dept. of Entrepreneurial Studies, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 90 leaves / The South African economy is unable to support the employment needs of the growing number of graduates. In an attempt to address these needs, the proposed study focuses on the development of an incubator system to nurture young entrepreneurs (graduates), until they are able to survive independently – usually in two to three years.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Entrepreneurship)-Dept. of Entrepreneurial Studies, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003 ix, 90 leaves / The South African economy is unable to support the employment needs of the growing number of graduates. In an attempt to address these needs, the proposed study focuses on the development of an incubator system to nurture young entrepreneurs (graduates), until they are able to survive independently – usually in two to three years.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / In both developed and developing countries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) create employment opportunities and can therefore improve the standard of living. The South African Government have embarked on a number of initiatives in support of SMEs. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the SEDA Technology Programme (STP) have a number of assistance programmes that are being implemented in support of SMEs. Although there have been many varied studies on business incubators, there is still a need for research to determine the importance of entrepreneurial skills for the development of successful incubators.Business incubators are essentially organisations that assist to increase survival rates of innovative start-up companies and support the entrepreneurial process. Incubators provide resources and services to entrepreneurs, including working space or physical offices, technical expertise, management mentoring, assistance in compiling an effective business plan, shared administrative services, technical support, business networking, advice on intellectual property and sources of financing, markets as well as strict admission and exit rules, which are designed to ensure that the incubator concentrates its efforts in helping innovative and fast-growth business start-ups that are likely to have a significant impact on the local economy. This therefore reduces the start-up capital and overhead costs, and allows the entrepreneur to focus on his/her core business whilst receiving operational support and hand-held coaching. The incubator concept supports the clients’ development journey to ensure business sustainability and growth.The main objective of the study is to determine the role that business incubators play in filling entrepreneurial-skills requirements for SMEs in the Cape metropolitan District. The population of this study comprised all the business incubators on the data base of one of the organisations that promotes SME development strategies and programmes in the Cape Metropolitan Area (CAM). All of the five business incubators that were registered on the database of a local organisation, known as Traction, during the course of the investigation, were deemed suitable for the study and therefore comprised the sample, which promotes SMEs’ development. The study utilises a mixed approach of quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data. From a quantitative point of view, questionnaires are utilised, while face-to-face interviews is used as a qualitative method. A maximum of seventy questionnaires is administered to incubated SMEs, 28 questionnaires were returned and all qualified for data analysis. This amounts to a 40% response rate. To complement the survey questionnaire, five face-to-face interviews were conducted with business incubators. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was utilised to analyse the quantitative data, whereas qualitative data was analysed by means of content analysis and the results for both methods were presented in the format of figures, tables and charts.

Esta dissertação se dedica à análise estratégica da contribuição das Incubadoras de Empresas de Base Tecnológica (IEBTs) localizadas no Estado de São Paulo para as suas empresas incubadas. Para isso foi realizada um revisão teórica sobre tipos de incubadoras de empresas no Brasil e no exterior. Esta revisão teórica foi complementada com a abordagem da VBR - Visão Baseada em Recursos, que entende que organizações são conjuntos de ativos que podem ser tangíveis e intangíveis e que é fundamental entender quais ativos são mais relevantes para a consecução dos objetivos estratégicos das organizações, no caso desta dissertação, das IEBTs localizadas no Estado de São Paulo, sendo os recursos estratégicos estudados conhecimento científico das universidades e centros de pesquisa e recursos financeiros. As hipóteses elaboradas a partir da revisão teórica partiram da premissa que ativos intangíveis como o conhecimento científico e a rede de relacionamentos estabelecida com universidades e centros de pesquisa constituem ativos estratégicos mais relevantes para fomentar a inovação em empresas incubadas em IEBTs do que os ativos tangíveis. Foram testadas as seguintes hipóteses: H1a- Empresas incubadas em IEBTs que possuem relacionamento com universidades e centros de pesquisa realizam um maior número de lançamento de novos produtos que empresas incubadas em IEBTs que não possuem relacionamento com universidades e centros de pesquisa. H1b - Quanto maior o número de acordos formais das IEBTs com universidades e centros de pesquisa, maior o número de lançamento de novos produtos pelas empresas incubadas; H2 - Quanto maior o financiamento de agências de fomento e órgãos externos a empresas incubadas em IEBTs, maior o número de lançamento de novos produtos. A metodologia envolveu um questionário estruturado enviado para 44 incubadoras, que, depois de classificadas com IEBTs ou não, foram reduzidas para 34 IEBTs, das quais 31 IEBTs participaram das etapas seguintes da pesquisa, que incluiu entrevistas pessoais com gestores e visitas a todas as 31 IEBTs. Foi aplicado também um survey ao universo de 461 empresas incubadas em IEBTs no Estado de São Paulo, que gerou uma amostra de 108 respondentes, que após a análise de missing data e outros foi reduzida para uma amostra de 100 empresas respondentes. Os testes estatísticos realizados apresentaram como principais resultados: IEBTs no Estado de São Paulo possuem maior relacionamento com universidades que com centros de pesquisa; o número de acordos formais em IEBTs é maior com centros de pesquisa que com universidades; empresas em IEBTs que se relacionam com centros de pesquisa lançam mais produtos que empresas em IEBTs que se relacionam com universidades; empresas incubadas financiadas pelo BNDES lançam mais produtos que empresas financiadas pelo CNPq e outras agências de fomento à pesquisa. Estes resultados são analisados à luz da teoria. / This dissertation is dedicated to the strategic analysis of the contribution of Technology Based Incubators (TBIs) in the State of São Paulo for their incubated companies. For this was held a theoretical review of types of business incubators in Brazil and abroad. This literature review was complemented with the approach of RBV - Resource-Based View, which proposes that organizations are sets of resources that can be tangible and intangible and it is essential to understand which resources are most relevant to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the organizations, in the case of this dissertation, the TBIs in the State of São Paulo, and strategic resources studied scientific knowledge from universities and research centers and financial resources. The hypotheses drawn from the literature review from the premise that intangible assets such as scientific knowledge and the network of relationships established with universities and research centers are the most important strategic assets to foster innovation in incubated companies in TBIs, in comparison with tangible assets. The following hypotheses were tested: H1 - In TBIs that have a relationship with universities and research centers incubated companies are launching more new products that incubated companies in TBIs that do not have a relationship with universities and research centers; H1b - The greater the number of formal agreements of TBIs with universities and research centers, the greater the number of new products released by the incubated companies; H2 - The higher the financing from funding agencies and others to the incubated companies in TBIs, the greater the number of new product launches. The methodology involved a structured questionnaire sent to 44 incubators, that after a first analysis were reduced to 34 TBIs, of which 31 TBIs participated in the following stages of the research, which included personal interviews with managers and visits to all 31 TBIs. It was also applied a survey to the universe of 461 companies incubated in TBIs in São Paulo, which generated a sample of 108 respondents, that after the missing data analysis was reduced to a sample of 100 respondents companies. Statistical tests showed as main results that: TBIs in São Paulo have more relationships with universities than with research centers; on the other side the number of formal agreements of TBIs is greater with research centers than with universities; incubated firms in TBIs relating with research centers launch more products that incubated firms in TBIs relating with universities; incubated companies financed by BNDES launch more products that incubated companies financed by CNPq and other agencies that support research. These results are analyzed in the light of the theory.