A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Johannesburg, 2015 / The global market is a dynamic, competitive environment offering business growth and development, and as such a pull towards international activities exists for firms. Despite this globalisation of markets, international entrepreneurship research has not focussed on the opportunity recognition process in an international context. In addition, the cross-national differences that may exist, and the validation of perspectives to emerging economies, is poorly understood. This research was conducted in South Africa, a country considered to be an emerging economy, with the purpose of ascertaining how local entrepreneurial firms recognise international opportunities, and the main factors influencing this process. This was done using a quantitative statistical research methodology, in the form of a cross-sectional study. An online self-administered survey was utilised for data collection, which was then subjected to the research selection criteria. Prior experiential knowledge and the levels of entrepreneurial orientation, in terms of proactiveness, risk-taking and innovativeness, did not seem to have a significant effect on the international recognition process by South African firms. The effect of organisational learning could not be conclusively drawn. However, international social networks, in relation to the amount of time invested in interacting with contacts, and developing and maintaining contacts, seemed to have a significant effect on this process. This research provides the initial insights into an under-researched area, and contributes to international entrepreneurship research with empirical testing of a sample from South Africa.

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2016. / Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess corporate entrepreneurship behaviour and identify elements that influence and promote corporate entrepreneurship in a South African financial services organisation. The study also defines corporate entrepreneurship and assists in gaining an understanding of corporate entrepreneurship behaviour in a context of a financial services organisation in the South African financial services sector. Data collection Online questionnaires were used to collect data. The online questionnaire was sent out to via email to employees at different hierarchal levels of a financial services organisation. The email contained a link which directed the participants to the online survey. Completed responses were sent back to a centralised system for collation with only one response per computer possible. Key findings The key findings of the study elucidate corporate entrepreneurship in a financial services organisation as not perceived as demonstrated and or used. There is a neutral sentiment towards CE which is widespread across the organisation regardless of hierarchal levels. Management support for corporate entrepreneurial activities was significantly low which goes to show that there by-in-large a low acceptance for CE. Key contribution This research contributes to the further improves the understanding of corporate entrepreneurship in financial services organisations in South Africa, and benefits. The study will additionally provide an improved understanding of the financial services industry. The outcome of this study will challenge executives in the insurance sector to consider the benefits of executing on corporate entrepreneurship intentions. To this end, the study adds value to the financial iii services sector and may potentially change how the players in this sector operate. / DH2016

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2013. / This research study analyses a conceptual model investigating the effect of firms’ choice of effectuation or causation processes in strategy formation and firm performance, the effect of firms’ technology orientation in firm performance, and the relationship between effectuation and technology orientation. The study employed a quantitative approach, surveying data from 73 firms in the renewable energy sector of South Africa, using measurement instruments extracted from prior research. By means of multiple regression analysis, the study found that of the effectuation processes, the use of pre-commitments is significantly and positively associated with firm performance. Furthermore, it was found that a pioneering technology orientation is significantly and positively associated with firm performance. The study also found evidence to support the hypothesis that effectuation is closely linked with pioneering. The study contributes to the field of effectuation research by continuing to move the field towards an intermediate phase, by providing valuable insight into the practicalities of the quantitative analysis of effectuation and the problems that arise therein, in particular, issues surrounding measurement aspects. Moreover, by examining performance differentials, this study seeks to increase the relevance of effectuation theory and expand it from a theory of mere description of entrepreneurial behaviour to a theory that identifies performance-enhancing measures. For practitioners and policy makers, this research provides valuable insight into the drivers of entrepreneurial success and the fostering of entrepreneurial activity both in start-ups and existing corporations to spur innovation, productivity, and growth in the economy.

Understanding the triggers of the intention was, is and will be at the heart of scholars’ preoccupations when dealing with the universe of entrepreneurship. This unique pioneering research aimed at comparing the Malagasy main ethnic groups in terms of measures of cultural dimensions and perceived desirability and examining the effects of this perceived desirability on the relations between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention. A non-experimental cross-sectional survey, based on a cluster sampling with quota approach comprising three sub-samples of ethnic groups and a structured questionnaire directly administrated by trained interviewers, was the source of data of the research. The use of relevant robust statistical tests characterised the data processing of the research, which revealed that there is no important difference in the measures of cultural dimensions among main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. The level of perceived desirability and the relationships between cultural dimensions and entrepreneurial intention are not importantly moderated by perceived desirability among the main ethnic groups in Madagascar’s rural areas. Furthermore, it has been discovered that to some extent, Madagascar would not be a country of ethnic diversity and beginning to understand the Malagasy entrepreneurial profile based on cultural dimension, perceived desirability and entrepreneurial intention is possible. Within the context of an unprecedented level of poverty of the population of Madagascar, which strangles the way to a harmonious and sustainable development, the findings of the research would make an invaluable contribution to the setting up or the refining of policies and strategies targeting the promotion of entrepreneurship in general and self-employment in particular. It is broadly acknowledged that the key to alleviating poverty is based on the encouragement of self-employment of all individuals.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation March 2015 / Guth and Ginsberg (1990) stressed that Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE) encompasses two major phenomena: new venture creation within existing organisations and the transformation of on-going organisations through strategic renewal. Zahra (1991, p. 262) observed that Corporate Entrepreneurship may be formal or informal activities aimed at creating new business in established companies through product and process innovations and market developments. The research study was quantitative and data was collected through an online questionnaire, which used closed-ended questionnaires. The questionnaires entail assessing the degree of CE within the telecommunications industry in South Africa. The analysis involved 172 samples of responses to the online questionnaire. The research indicated that that there is a correlation between the dependent variable (entrepreneurial orientation) and the independent variables (innovation, performance, risk taking, and pro-activeness). The findings of the research contribute to the South African telecommunications industry in terms of innovation, regulation, external collaboration and entrepreneurial orientation literature and studies. / MT2017

Mentoring is a crucial aspect of entrepreneurial training and education (Sullivan, 2000; Regis, Falk, & Dias, 2007) and it is entrepreneurial education that is perceived as the solution that will turn South Africans from job-seekers into job creators (North, 2002). It is also hoped that entrepreneurship education will contribute to the ideal of empowering as many people as possible in order to unleash the previously stifled human potential of all South Africans (Hanekom,1995). Unfortunately, South Africans suffer from a ‘dearth of entrepreneurial acumen’, and this has resulted in the frequent lack of growth and high failure rates of businesses (Nieman, 2006; van Aardt & van Aardt, 1997). In order to measure the relationship between mentoring and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, an online questionnaire was sent out to Jewish entrepreneurs who are clients of ORT JET, a non-profit organisation that offers mentoring to entrepreneurs of the South African Jewish community. This study found that while mentoring does not have a positive perceived effect on the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of entrepreneurs, other factors-such as GSE and a supportive community-may have more of a positive impact on entrepreneurial self-efficacy.

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2014. / Could not copy Abstract

Thesis (M.M. (Finance & Investment)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits Business School, 2016. / The primary aim of the microfinance initiative is to eradicate poverty especially in developing countries. This is possible through the provision of micro-loans, microsavings and insurance to previously disadvantaged communities. Entrepreneurship is the role that individuals undertake to create, an organization, product from an idea to implementation. With high unemployment and poverty levels, Swaziland is engaging the Microfinance Institutions and entrepreneurship to help drive employment, and poverty alleviation. The study assessed several issues: Does microfinance contribute to Improvements in the economic welfare of borrowers’ households, enterprise growth, diversification or stability? Do entrepreneur development programs; like training workshops have an impact on participant’s attitude and behavior in conducting entrepreneurship activities. Is there a relationship between microfinance institution growth and entrepreneurship development? Results indicated that microfinance institutions were still sorely focusing on providing credit and credit facilities, which meant that it had positive effects on capital assets but not the overall welfare of entrepreneurs. The behaviors that programs influenced were also in relation to credit, and not other aspects of entrepreneurship like innovation and technology. This meant that there’s a gap in the effect of microfinance institutions on entrepreneurship growth as indicated chisquare was significant at 9.43 indicating no effect on the sampled population. Therefore it is important that Microfinance institutions focus on the primary objective of developmental finance. They need to prioritize training programs that will cultivate a culture of building sound businesses, with proper risk management, and are willing to adapt to change. As currently the key focus seems to be on credit facilitation which could be profit driven? / GR2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Johannesburg, 2016 / Although corporate entrepreneurship has been examined extensively and alike the antecedents of corporate entrepreneurship, have become a key interest to researchers. The examination of organisational and cognitive factors that drive corporate entrepreneurship is an area of study still in its infancy. This research report, aimed to bridge this knowledge gap, by evaluating the effect of transformational leadership and entrepreneurial mindset in enhancing levels of corporate entrepreneurship. This cross-sectional, empirical study is composed of 173 independent samples of management employees, taken from within a major African bank, headquartered in South Africa. The research, based on structural equation modelling, demonstrated that an entrepreneurial mindset and transformational leadership is positively related to higher levels of corporate entrepreneurship. Equally, empirical evidence was discovered, using structural equation modelling and regression analytics, that transformational leadership positively influences the behavioural relationship between the entrepreneurial mindset and corporate entrepreneurship. This occurs through the mediation causal relationship of transformational leadership, between both latent variables, and the bidirectional causal effect between transformational leadership and an entrepreneurial mindset. / MT2016

Thesis (M.M. (Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration, 2013. / Purpose Volatility in the external environment increases the level of risk for organisations. Therefore organizations have to adapt to the environment by being entrepreneurial through adoption of entrepreneurship strategies. It is therefore the purpose of this study to determine the perceived value of entrepreneurial orientation and the type of corporate entrepreneurship strategies that are used in the mining industry when firms operate in volatile environments. Data collection For the purpose of this study online questionnaires were utilised. The questionnaires were emailed to the participants through the CEO of the company, the CEO then distributed via email to the targeted managers within the organisation. Response was minimal with only sixteen responses by mid February. The questionnaire was then sent to members of the Chamber of mines, to which there was no response. Questionnaires were then printed out and handed to respondents physically in order for them to fill out. In total 50 responses were obtained, of which three were incomplete. Key findings Key findings of the study are that junior mining firms are entrepreneurial and have a positive perception towards entrepreneurial orientation. Because these firms are entrepreneurial they differ from firms that are not entrepreneurially orientated by manifesting characteristics such as innovation, risk taking and proactiveness. Entrepreneurial orientation is used as a cushion against uncertainty in a volatile environment. Furthermore, entrepreneurially oriented firms also engage and utilize corporate entrepreneurship strategies such as corporate venturing and strategic entrepreneurship.