<p> There are more self-made, billionaire entrepreneurs than billionaires who simply inherited their fortunes, but the majority of startup ventures fail within five years. A possible factor in business success or failure could be the emotional intelligence (EI) level of the entrepreneur, defined broadly as the ability to perceive, interpret, and manage emotions. Although there is substantial literature on EI applications in established organizations, there are few empirical studies exploring the predictive value of EI in the context of success for startup entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether EI scores can predict how successful an entrepreneur will be using objective success criteria, as defined in this study (Hypothesis 1), and which, if any, EI competencies are particularly relevant for entrepreneurs (Hypothesis 2). Hypotheses were tested using Spearman correlation and Ordinal regression, with sensitivity testing with Pearson correlation and Ordinary Least Squares regression, respectively. Each analysis controlled for the entrepreneur&rsquo;s demographic profile and subjective success measures. Regression analysis (n=31); ordinal analysis and correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant effect of only one of the 15 EI scores (Empathy) on entrepreneurial success, as defined in this study, but the exponentiated coefficients from the ordinal regression indicate that improving Overall EI scores can increase Overall Success. Specifically, six of the 15 EI scores were more than two times more likely to increase Overall Success scores (Empathy, Interpersonal Relationships, Social Responsibility, Flexibility, Stress Tolerance, and Optimism), which is consistent with Hypothesis 2. This study is one of the first to empirically examine the EI construct in the context of entrepreneurial success with a population of entrepreneurs seeking assistance using the EQ-i 2.0 emotional intelligence assessment. A key implication of the results is that teachers, emergency services personnel, legal and financial services personnel, even sports coaches and single parents, can all develop competencies to make them more successful in their chosen endeavor, have a sense of fulfillment, and increase the success rate of industries that go far beyond entrepreneurs. </p>

<p>Employee turnover is high in small retail business, compelling business leaders to implement strategies that successfully reduce employee turnover. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the Herzberg 2-factor theory because the theory identifies factors that influence job satisfaction and employee turnover. The study population was retail owners and managers from small businesses in the retail industry in San Antonio, Texas who had demonstrated successful strategies to reduce employee turnover. A focus group was conducted with 4 retail managers, and semistructured interviews were conducted with 2 small retail owners, all of whom were recruited via purposeful criterion-based sampling. Yin?s 5-step process for data analysis of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding resulted in themes of continuous learning in the workplace, communication, and valuing employees. These leaders provided continuous learning in the workplace, which demonstrated their value of their employees. Communication was a key concept discussed by all participants, as it built credibility with leaders and employees, increased productivity, and reduced turnover. The study has value to the practice of business because results may benefit industry growth by increasing retail leaders? knowledge levels about employee turnover. The findings may affect positive social change as leaders apply strategies useful for reducing employee turnover as lower turnover rates might reduce unemployment, stabilize communities, and improve the human and social conditions outside the workplace.

New entrepreneurial organizations emerge as a result of careful thought and action. Therefore, entrepreneurship may be considered an example of planned behavior. Previous research suggests that intentions are the single best predictor of planned behavior. Given the significance of intentions, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the personal characteristics of the entrepreneur and perceived environmental factors, and entrepreneurial intentions.

<p> Created in 2005, Etsy.com is an e-commerce site where individuals sell handmade goods whose primary users are women. Examining the experiences of ten women selling handmade items on Etsy and how they use Instagram to interact with each other and to promote their online shops, the research intends to contribute to literature of online communities, feminist, and globalization and modernization theories. Using interviews and observations of participants&rsquo; Etsy and social accounts, we gain a deeper understanding of these women&rsquo;s experiences. The women with children spend more time developing relationships with other Etsy moms than those without children. However, all participants felt that through their crafts, they were creating a more ethical and sustainable marketplace in the global economy. More research should examine online relationship building through real-world activities like crafting and the agency that small-scale businesses have to influence ideas about large-scale manufacturing practices.</p>

M.Com. (Business Management) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

<p> New firm births, and their associated job creation, are widely considered an underpinning to a healthy and growing economy. U.S. state legislatures have taken notice of this phenomenon, as well as the importance of accredited Angel investors who invest in new enterprises. As such, about half the states have passed Supply-side oriented Angel tax credit legislation to address a supposed new venture funding gap, ominously referred to as the Valley of Death, in hopes allocating financial resources more efficiently than the free market. This legislations&rsquo; principal intent is most often to stimulate incrementally new technology job growth. Targeted tax credits authorized by Acts over the last 20 years, incentivizes individuals with over $1 million in net worth, known as Accredited Angels, to increase funding to early stage firms by lowering their risk and cost of investing. However, there is ostensibly no empirical program evaluation in the academic literature to determine if the billions of dollars in credits often redirected from other state programs, created incrementally new jobs. Designating OES technology jobs data at the state level as the outcome variable, dual subject repeated measures pretest-posttest with control group quasi-experimental analyses were conducted to determine if the Angel tax credit legislation passed by Wisconsin and Kansas in 2004 affected technology job growth. Multiple between subject LMM results find, and then verify, that angel tax credits have no long-term impact on incremental technology job growth (p?.80). Within subject MANOVA results appear to support a notion sig.10 that targeted Angel tax credits of about 50% could be additive to states&rsquo; fiscal auto-stabilizers arsenal designed to: (1) address liquidity and credit constraints, and (2) mitigate increased unemployment levels, both intrinsic to a recession. Conclusively, the economic development policy that ineffectually applies the visible hand of Angel credits to address a likely non-existent Valley of Death funding gap needs to meet its own demise. </p>

A research report submitted to the faculty of commerce, law and management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of management (ENVC) Johannesburg, June 2017 / Entrepreneurship has come to be an essential subject in recent years.The primary objective of this research paper was to assess the entrepreneurial intent and perseverance for secondary school learners in Ka-Nymazane township [Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / MT 2017

In this dissertation, strategic management and corporate entrepreneurship are combined in a single empirical research investigating the influence of business strategic management practices on organisational entrepreneurial orientation. Understanding this relationship has progressively become crucial in today’s hypercompetitive global environment where businesses, regardless of national location, size, age and industry, are facing incessant and dynamic change. Specifically, the influence of strategic management practices on corporate entrepreneurship in medium to large corporations in the financial and business services sector in South Africa is analysed by testing hypotheses that predict the relationship between strategic management dimensions of locus of planning, scanning intensity, planning flexibility, planning horizon, and strategy control attributes, and entrepreneurial orientation. By applying factor, cluster and multiple regression statistical analyses, the study made four key findings. First, the results confirm that selected dimensions of strategic management practices influence the entrepreneurial orientation of firms. This in turn effect the position a firm occupies along a conceptual conservative-entrepreneurial continuum. Second, the study indicates that firms with perceived higher entrepreneurial orientation exhibit better performance measures. This finding supports the thesis that entrepreneurial orientation is an integral component for business performance in attaining sustainable competitive advantage, achieving above-average earnings and wealth creation. Third, a methodology that combined strategic management and corporate entrepreneurship in a single research generated new knowledge confirming that entrepreneurial orientation is a key construct in both subdisciplines. Fourth, the results show that divergent organisational entrepreneurial orientation profiles help in classifying firms along the entrepreneurial continuum. Furthermore, the research made a provisional finding that there are four possible distinct and excusive clusters of business groups along the conservative-entrepreneurial continuum in determining corporate entrepreneurial orientation in organisations

This paper investigates the prevailing financing models that are used to finance microbusinesses in developing economies with the objective of adapting one of these models for use within the South African context. Using India, Brazil, Ghana and Kenya as case studies the current successful microfinancing models and their advantages and disadvantages in these countries are assessed. The results indicate that microleasing is a possible effective financing model that can be used to finance microbusinesses in South Africa. Furthermore, possible ways of addressing microleasing shortfalls are explored in the paper, by drawing on the suitable features of financing innovations developed in the other developing economies. Most importantly, it was also found that the government, donors and the private sector have a significant role to play in order to encourage further development of the nascent microfinance industry in South Africa.

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2013. / The following study seeks to find out the importance of opportunity recognition and look at three factors which affect opportunity recognition. These factors lead to opportunity recognition. The three factors are alertness, prior knowledge and active search of opportunities. The study is conducted in the South African context and will focus on entrepreneurs operating in this environment. The study overall sets to address the problem of entrepreneur orientation in South Africa (GEM Report, 2009) by looking at an increase in opportunity recognition as a means of increasing entrepreneurial activity in the economy. The review of literature of various articles on all the four variables was conducted and showed the importance and of studies of this kind. The literature also reviewed studies which were done which are like this study and the results of that study where be compared to the results of this study. The study is a purely quantitative study and made use of an online survey questionnaire to collect the data. The responses of the data where then run through various tests including regression, reliability and validity test. The study found that opportunity recognition is essential for the individual and business to lead to growth and new opportunities. The alertness, knowledge and search variables where measured and analysed against opportunity recognition. The results revealed that these variables are connected to opportunity recognition, with weak support in some tests. The descriptive statistics showed high agreement with the questions. The responses of the questions also revealed the demographic information of the entrepreneurs and their ventures on the South African environment. The dependent and independent variables are interconnected with a causal relationship which is to be expected.