South Africa has abandoned apartheid and re-entered the global economy where factors like the lack of global competitiveness and global recession, amoung other factors, are contributing to poor performance of South African firms. This poor performance has resulted in many firms restructuring, shrinking, closing down and losing hundreds of thousands of jobs. The South African government is promoting SMEs as alternative employment source. The problem is the high rate of SMEs closure. To sustain jobs, SMEs must survive and grow. Critical to aiding SME growth is the understanding of various internal and external factors which determine success or failure. This study investigates “skills” as one of the significant internal factors. The literature reviews eight models by authors Glancey (1998), van Vuuren&Nieman (1999), Erikson (2002), Wickham (1998), Man et al (2002), Ucbasaran et al (2004), Darroch&Clover (2005) and Perks&Struwig (2005) to present the integrated model for entrepreneurial performance as “integrated ↑E/P = f(key skills) x [1 + h.(supporting skills)] ”. The key skills are represented as multiplicative, symbolising the fact that the absence of any one key skill will lead to zero performance. Based on this model, several propositions are put forward. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the key set of competencies identified by the eight models reviewed (as presented in the detailed model) can be applied to a specific industry (the textile and clothing industry) at a specific geographic location (Johannesburg). The cross-sectional, ex post facto, formal empirical study involved interviewed 570 manufacturing SMEs (197 successful and 373 less successful SMEs). The study ascertained which skills the SME owner/managers perceived as important for success; how they rated their competencies in the said skills; and whether they had been trained in those skills. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, frequencies, factor analysis, Cronbach alpha coefficient, Chi-square; t-test and one-way ANOVA tests. The analysis was concluded with a Scheffe’s multiple comparison procedure. The main findings of the study are: 1. Key skills that enhance SME success include the ability to gather resources, marketing, motivation, legal, financial and operational management skills. 2. Successful SMEs considered key skills to be more important and rated themselves more competent in most of the key skills than did less successful SMEs. 3. Successful SMEs had been trained in more skills categories than less successful SMEs, with most of the successful SMEs having received training in all the key skills identified. This study recommends that the training of SMEs should focus on developing those skills identified as key internal factors influencing SME success by following the training model “Training for ↑E/P = training in key skills x [1 + training in supporting skills] ”. The study concludes by listing limitations and suggesting further research. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Business Management / unrestricted

Soft skills in the engineering profession have been a well-known topic for many years because of the idea that engineers lack these skills. Working engineers and hiring managers are looking for engineers who differ from this idea of engineers who lack soft skills to engineers with great "soft skills" on top of their hard, or technical, skills. However, some engineers are reluctant to give up their technical world for a more social way of doing things. While there have been numerous studies to remedy this problem, simply identifying the need for engineers to gain more soft skills has mot been effective thus far. This paper reviews the current literature behind the terms and use of "soft skills" and "entrepreneurial skills" as well as attributes of engineers' success. In this research, "soft skills" and "entrepreneurial skills" are applied to an assessment of adults through a survey, and analytical conclusions are drawn to understand peoples' opinions on the two terms.

Owing to their gigantic participation in global economic growth, the phenomenon of SMEs internationalization has become the centre of attention for numerous researchers. Starting from Uppsala model (1977) to born-global approaches today, scholars have been coming up with several theories and models time to time. An in-depth study of literature concerning SMEs internationalization, however, reveals that extant literature has primarily focused on firms that are operating from metropolitan or core regions of the world. It has largely ignored the vast peripheral and non-metropolitan regions of the world from where a great number of SMEs are operating in foreign markets. Particularly increasing number of small high-tech firms with ‘low to no demand’ in domestic market coupled with higher returns available in global markets are induced to internationalize despite intimidating challenges of periphery. Consequently, internationalization phenomenon from said locations, even in face of daunting challenges that hinder SMEs growth, turns out to be an attention-grabbing area – hence worth-investigating! The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomenon of internationalization that is being pursued by SMEs located in non-metropolitan regions that offer unique constraints and challenges. More specifically, the objective is to explore the kind of entrepreneurial skills and talent that is required to develop networking relations with key players and to eventually internationalize from a peripheral location. To carry out this research, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted informally with key individuals from five small high-tech international firms located in North region of Sweden – a non-metropolitan region. Based on the findings, a conceptual model is developed which underlines that an entrepreneur in non-metropolitan regions should: possess global mind-set, social and team formation skills, and, industry experience; develop social, business and incessant snowball networks by efficiently utilizing his social skills; understand the peripheral challenges like: lack of financial resources, scarcity of non-tech professionals, being far away from core markets, absence of agglomeration advantage and travelling time and cost; and on the same time exploit the peripheral advantages which include loyal, hardworking, less salaried and easily retained employees, and, easy life and exotic climate that exclusively prevail in non-metropolitan regions. Having possessed skills, developed networks, and exploited the opportunities, the entrepreneur is now able to build a pool of potential and strength which minimizes the effect of constraints that he has already understood . As a result he can successfully pursue internationalization from a non-metropolitan region. We believe that this study has contributed both theoretically and practically and will inspire future empirical or conceptual research regarding this important topic. / CiiR(Centre for Interorganizational Innovation Research)

The disproportionately high unemployment figures for the youth highlight the importance of finding alternative ways of increasing youth participation in the economy. According to the Western Cape Youth Report there are four major factors that have been identified as having a significant influence on the entrepreneurial environment in South Africa, especially as this relates to the youth, namely education and training; social and cultural norms; access to finance and the regulatory environment. Recent data compilations show that many poor and non–poor people in many developing countries face a high degree of financial exclusion and high barrier in access to finance. Although access to finance is a perennial problem for all small businesses, the youth are particularly vulnerable to this limitation. Many extremely poor households operate their own businesses, but do so without ample means. A particularly pernicious problem is that the school system is not producing functionally literate students. For many years financial literacy has been neglected. There was also general agreement that people should be equipped with social skills, but financial literacy was not necessarily included as one of these skills. Many school–leavers do not have sufficient literacy, numeracy and livelihood skills to be able to participate actively in the economy. Pilot initiatives revealed that students often enter university with little knowledge of how to work out a weekly budget or manage money. Many of them in receipt of bursaries and other financial support soon run out of money and lead a hand–to–mouth existence. A comprehensive and well co–ordinated approach to youth entrepreneurship is needed to increase the chances of success for start–ups as well as the chances of existing businesses to progressing from “micro” to fully–fledged small and medium–sized entities. The main objective was to research the entrepreneurship competencies, skills and knowledge of the EMS teacher who will be instrumental in promoting entrepreneurship under the youth of the country. To meet the research objectives a qualitative approach was selected and a questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. A new questionnaire was developed to assess respondents’ perceptions of the importance of entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and training in teaching EMS. The responses received were analysed and assessed and the findings are embodied in the recommendations and proposals of this dissertation. This study is of interest to policy makers, educational institutions and schools as well as to the Department of Education. The results of the study are intended to encourage the Department of Education to make a serious effort to promote entrepreneurship competence, knowledge and skills of primary school teachers. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The disproportionately high unemployment figures for the youth highlight the importance of finding alternative ways of increasing youth participation in the economy. According to the Western Cape Youth Report there are four major factors that have been identified as having a significant influence on the entrepreneurial environment in South Africa, especially as this relates to the youth, namely education and training; social and cultural norms; access to finance and the regulatory environment. Recent data compilations show that many poor and non–poor people in many developing countries face a high degree of financial exclusion and high barrier in access to finance. Although access to finance is a perennial problem for all small businesses, the youth are particularly vulnerable to this limitation. Many extremely poor households operate their own businesses, but do so without ample means. A particularly pernicious problem is that the school system is not producing functionally literate students. For many years financial literacy has been neglected. There was also general agreement that people should be equipped with social skills, but financial literacy was not necessarily included as one of these skills. Many school–leavers do not have sufficient literacy, numeracy and livelihood skills to be able to participate actively in the economy. Pilot initiatives revealed that students often enter university with little knowledge of how to work out a weekly budget or manage money. Many of them in receipt of bursaries and other financial support soon run out of money and lead a hand–to–mouth existence. A comprehensive and well co–ordinated approach to youth entrepreneurship is needed to increase the chances of success for start–ups as well as the chances of existing businesses to progressing from “micro” to fully–fledged small and medium–sized entities. The main objective was to research the entrepreneurship competencies, skills and knowledge of the EMS teacher who will be instrumental in promoting entrepreneurship under the youth of the country. To meet the research objectives a qualitative approach was selected and a questionnaire was used as the survey instrument. A new questionnaire was developed to assess respondents’ perceptions of the importance of entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and training in teaching EMS. The responses received were analysed and assessed and the findings are embodied in the recommendations and proposals of this dissertation. This study is of interest to policy makers, educational institutions and schools as well as to the Department of Education. The results of the study are intended to encourage the Department of Education to make a serious effort to promote entrepreneurship competence, knowledge and skills of primary school teachers. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (School of Business and Finance) / Entrepreneurial firms, entrepreneurial capital, entrepreneurial ecosystem and entrepreneurial economy are a few terminologies that have emerged since the resurgence of entrepreneurship, arising from the 1990's entrepreneurial revolution in the United States of America. Entrepreneurship education, a paradigm shift from the conventional, has been identifies as being critical to fostering entrepreneurship, building entrepreneurial capital, growing entrepreneurial economy and ultimately delivering sustainable economic growth and developmend for any nation - emerging or developed. From America to Africa, entrepreneurship modules with varies objectives and designs have multiplied in the last decade.

Submitted by (edna.saturno@ufrpe.br) on 2016-05-20T15:21:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudio Jorge Gomes da Rocha Junior.pdf: 953747 bytes, checksum: a710d3cc170cd222a466be3b1a04c50e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-20T15:21:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Claudio Jorge Gomes da Rocha Junior.pdf: 953747 bytes, checksum: a710d3cc170cd222a466be3b1a04c50e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This paper seeks to identify the difficulties and potential farmers studied to build the entrepreneurial skills called attributes, which are described in the literature as essential to business success. What is missing for the success of family farms that once dealt exclusively with the routine of the field and now manage small rural factories? The theoretical framework is based on rural entrepreneurship with emphasis on entrepreneurial skills. It was produced in which a qualitative research which content analysis seeks to examine the compatibility of the strategies adopted by companies to support family farming, with the real farmers who engaged in entrepreneurship through the industrialization of production. Nine farmers were interviewed three leading agroindustries associatives from regions Agrestic and Wilderness of Pernambuco State and, twelve technical memberships of nine institutions to support family farming. Although the rural entrepreneurship presents a real opportunity to improve the income of the farmer can go further by helping to reorganize the division of tasks in the field. In one of the three agricultural industries surveyed farmers have major shortcomings in entrepreneurial skills that resulted in negative impacts to the factories. In the study suggestions are contained for farmer entrepreneurs to overcome adversity, as well as assisting field technicians to translate their shortcomings. Finally, we hope to contribute to solving some of the challenges of our country in professionalization of the family farmer. / O presente trabalho procura identificar as dificuldades e potencialidades dos agricultores estudados para se construir os atributos denominados competências empreendedoras, que são descritos na literatura como essenciais para negócios de sucesso. O que falta para o êxito dos produtores familiares que antes lidavam com a rotina exclusiva do campo e agora administram pequenas fábricas rurais? A fundamentação teórica está baseada no empreendedorismo rural com destaque para competências empreendedoras. Foi produzida uma pesquisa qualitativa com análise de conteúdo na qual busca examinar a compatibilidade das estratégias adotadas pelas empresas de apoio à agricultura familiar, com a realidade dos agricultores que ingressaram no empreendedorismo por meio da agroindustrialização da produção. Foram entrevistados nove agricultores líderes de três agroindústrias associativas das regiões Agreste e Sertão de Pernambuco e doze técnicos de nove instituições de apoio à agricultura familiar. Embora o empreendedorismo rural apresente uma real possibilidade de melhorar a renda do agricultor, pode ir mais além, pois contribui para reorganizar a divisão de tarefas no campo. Em uma das três agroindústrias pesquisadas os agricultores possuem grandes deficiências nas competências empreendedoras que resultaram em impactos negativos para as fábricas. No estudo estão contidas sugestões para os agricultores empreendedores superarem as adversidades, bem como auxiliar os técnicos de campo a transporem suas deficiências. Por fim, esperamos contribuir para a solução de alguns dos desafios de nosso país em profissionalização do agricultor familiar.

The purpose of this study was to explore how previously developed traditional entrepreneurialskills is connected with the recently established entrepreneurial activity, called sustainableentrepreneurship as well as to help sustainable entrepreneurs to build the necessary skills thatincrease the development of projects aiming to balance social, environmental, and economicalproblems. Therefore, the research question to answer in this study is ‘’Which entrepreneurialskills (or set of skills) must be acquired and nurtured by entrepreneurs to successfully flourisha sustainable business?’’. The procedure is based on interviews with eight individuals withrelevant experience within sustainable entrepreneurship and whom operate in businesses thatoffer sustainable products and/or services, operate in a sustainable way regarding social,environmental or economic were chosen. The results indicate that there are other skills that donot fit the traditional entrepreneurial skills presented by Lichtenstein and Lyons (2001) andthat a fifth category could be imprinted into the entrepreneurial skills necessary to flourish asuccessful business.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:31:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nelson Destro Fragososprot.pdf: 3280511 bytes, checksum: c640016e378397e1b2729fce42796ab1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-23 / Studying entrepreneurship, business incubator and entrepreneurial skills individually or with the combination of two of these constructs has occurred with some frequency in recent years, however, studies that seek to associate these three constructs were not found in searches made in national and international databases. Studies that seek to understand the entrepreneur training process and even to check the development of techniques of these individuals are appropriate, are of considerable importance, since it avoids the financial investment in fruitless actions. For an analysis in this sense in this study were interviewed managers of incubators for qualitative research technique, entrepreneurs were incubated by quantitative technique and researchers in entrepreneurship by the focus group method. What enabled the comparison of which the entrepreneurial skills to be developed in incubators and what skills perceived by entrepreneurs that have been developed. This research took place in the four improtantes Latin American countries: Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia and with these results it was possible to understand the realities lived on this continent and the most appropriate practices and better possibilities to develop an entrepreneurial properly. It was also possible to see that the entrepreneurial skills indicated by research Man and Lau (2005) are in harmony with what they think the researchers in the area of entrepreneurship, managers of incubators and what they perceive entrepreneurs for their development. Only one of the skills, "personal life" is not taken into account by any of the three groups surveyed. In this research, it was possible to establish a new definition for incubator, showing that this space is not only support for projects and businesses becoming a personal development space entrepreneur. / Estudar empreendedorismo, incubadora de empresas e competências empreendedoras individualmente ou com a associação de dois destes construtos tem ocorrido com certa frequência nos últimos anos, porém, estudos que procuram associar estes três construtos não foram encontrados nas buscas efetuadas em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Estudos que procuram entender o processo de formação do empreendedor e até mesmo para verificar se as técnicas de desenvolvimento destes indivíduos são realmente as adequadas, são de uma importância significativa, pois evita o investimento financeiro em ações infrutíferas. Para uma analise neste sentido nesta pesquisa foram entrevistados gestores de incubadoras pela técnica de pesquisa qualitativa, empreendedores que foram incubados, pela técnica quantitativa e pesquisadores em empreendedorismo pelo método do grupo de foco. O que permitiu a comparação de quais as competências empreendedoras que se pretende desenvolver nas incubadoras e quais as competências percebidas pelos empreendedores que foram desenvolvidas. Esta pesquisa ocorreu nos quatro países mais improtantes da América Latina: Brasil, Argentina, Chile e Colômbia e com estes resultados foi possível entender as realidades vividas neste continente e as praticas mais adequadas e com melhores possibilidades de desenvolver um empreendedor adequadamente. Também foi possível perceber que as competências empreendedoras indicadas pelas pesquisas de Man e Lau (2005) estão em harmonia com o que pensam os pesquisadores na área de empreendedorismo, os gestores das incubadoras e o que percebem os empreendedores quanto ao seu desenvolvimento. Apenas uma das competências, vida pessoal , não é levada em consideração por nenhum dos três grupos pesquisados. Nesta pesquisa foi possível estabelecer uma nova definição para incubadora, demonstrando que este espaço não é apenas de suporte para projetos e negócios passando a ser um espaço de desenvolvimento pessoal de empreendedores.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-06-14T11:10:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelogaiomancio.pdf: 1026731 bytes, checksum: 951a2443601d88b158c4c6ca71ee8292 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-06-14T11:32:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelogaiomancio.pdf: 1026731 bytes, checksum: 951a2443601d88b158c4c6ca71ee8292 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-14T11:32:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 marcelogaiomancio.pdf: 1026731 bytes, checksum: 951a2443601d88b158c4c6ca71ee8292 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-27 / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Diferentes estudos têm apontado a correlação entre o empreendedorismo por oportunidade e o crescimento econômico de um país. Os estudantes universitários são um público mais propenso ao empreendedorismo por oportunidade, pois têm mais acesso a conhecimentos que a maioria da população. A educação empreendedora tem evoluído enquanto campo de pesquisa, trazendo evidências de que é possível desenvolver a intenção e as competências para empreender por meio do ensino formal. Diante desse contexto, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo a elaboração de uma proposta de programa de educação empreendedora adequado ao contexto universitário brasileiro. Para tanto, utilizou-se a UFJF como um piloto para a aplicação dos questionários de diagnóstico e para a elaboração da proposta de programa. Foram aplicados 545 questionários junto a estudantes das áreas de (i) Engenharias, Tecnologias, Ciências Exatas e da Terra, (ii) Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, (iii) Ciências Humanas e Sociais e (iv) Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde. A análise dos dados coletados resultou na identificação de 4 fatores subjacentes ao construto da intenção empreendedora e 8 fatores subjacentes ao construto das competências empreendedoras. Verificou-se que a intenção de empreender e as competências empreendedoras estão mais presentes áreas (i) e (ii), tradicionalmente mais próximas ao mundo dos negócios. Além disso, observou-se uma predileção e uma maior crença na capacidade de empreender entre os homens do que nas mulheres. Com base na pesquisa primária realizada e na revisão da literatura, elaborou-se uma proposta de programa de educação empreendedora no contexto universitário, composto por 3 disciplinas que, oferecidas de maneira integrada, acredita-se que possam desenvolver a intenção e as competências empreendedoras dos estudantes. Entendendo que tanto as áreas de humanas e biológicas quanto as mulheres têm a contribuir para o desenvolvimento do empreendedorismo na UFJF e no Brasil, o programa proposto buscou incluir ações que contemplem esses públicos. / Different studies have pointed to the correlation between entrepreneurship by opportunity and the economic growth of a country. University students are a public more prone to entrepreneurship for opportunity, as they have more access to knowledge than most of the population. Entrepreneurial education has evolved as a field of research, bringing evidence that it is possible to develop the intention and skills to undertake through formal education. In this context, this research aimed to prepare a proposal for an entrepreneurial education program suitable for the Brazilian university context. For this purpose, UFJF was used as a pilot for the application of diagnostic questionnaires and for the elaboration of the program proposal. 545 questionnaires were applied to students in the areas of (i) Engineering, Technologies, and Exact Sciences, (ii) Applied Social Sciences, (iii) Humanities and Social Sciences and (iv) Biological and Health Sciences. The analysis of the data collected resulted in the identification of 4 factors underlying the construct of entrepreneurial intent and 8 factors underlying the construct of entrepreneurial skills. It was found that the intention to undertake and entrepreneurial skills are more present areas (i) and (ii), traditionally closest to the business world. Moreover, there was a predilection and a greater belief in the ability to undertake among men than in women. Based on the primary research carried out and the revision of the literature, a proposal for an entrepreneurial education program in the university context was elaborated, consisting of 3 disciplines that, offered in an integrated way, are believed to develop the student’s intention and entrepreneurial skills. Understanding that both human and biological areas and women can contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in UFJF and Brazil, the proposed program sought to include actions that contemplate these audiences.