The development of a multi-dimensional conceptual framework as an aid to assist in entrepreneurship development

• Main Author: Jordaan, Johan
• Other Authors: De Coning, T. J.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Competitiveness; Dissertations > Business management; Theses > Business management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52510

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Entrepreneurship development is recognized worldwide as an important contributor to competitiveness. After many years of economic and political isolation from the world, South Africa dearly needs to develop her competitiveness. A concerted effort towards widespread entrepreneurship development, across the entire economy, may assist in developing competitiveness. Such an effort however demands a multi-institutional approach by government, the private sector and nongovernmental organisations. A crucial requirement for success is the proper coordination of efforts, including a common premise or paradigm from which to operate. This study attempts to assist in this regard by providing a common framework from which to operate. A multi-dimensional conceptual framework is developed to assist in determining what issues are to be addressed in any situation-specific entrepreneurship development intervention. The framework is intended to be a generic framework, facilitating application across industries, enterprises and on different levels of enterprise development. The study, based on an extensive literature study, firstly reviews important literature, with the intention to isolate the dimensions that explain entrepreneurship. Three such dimensions are isolated: the individual, the process, and the context. Within each of these entrepreneurial dimensions, a dominant element is identified. The elements identified are creativity, the venture life cycle and managerial competencies respectively for each dimension. These elements are conceptually integrated into a three-dimensional construct to form a generic multi-dimensional framework. By applying the framework to any enterprise, individual or situation, the crucial attributes needed to be developed can be identified and assessed. This can then aid in constructing an appropriate entrepreneurship development intervention relevant to the situation, and so contribute to a focused development approach to entrepreneurship. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Entrepreneurskap ontwikkeling word wereldwyd erken as 'n bydraende faktor tot kompeterendheid. Na verskeie jare van ekonomiese en politiese isolasie, is dit noodsaaklik vir Suid Afrika om kompeterendheid te verhoog. 'n Doelgerigte poging om entrepreneurskap regoor die totale ekonomie te ontwikkel mag 'n bydrae lewer tot kompeterendheid. So 'n poging sal uiteraard 'n multi-institusionele benadering verg, insluitende die regering, die private sektor, sowel as nie-regerings organisasies. 'n Kritiese vereiste vir sukses is egter die behoorlike koordinering van pogings, insluitende die aanvaarding van 'n gemeenskaplike vertrekpunt of paradigma as basis vir entrepreneurskap ontwikkeling. Hierdie studie poog om 'n bydrae te lewer in hierdie verband deur die ontwikkeling van 'n gemeenskaplike raamwerk. 'n Multi-dimensionele konseptuele raamwerk word ontwikkel om by te dra tot die identifisering van aspekte wat aangespreek behoort te word in situasie-spesifieke entrepreneurskap ontwikkeling intervensies. Hierdie raamwerk is bedoel om 'n generiese raamwerk te wees wat die toepassing daarvan sal vergemaklik oor verskeie industrie heen, asook binne verskeie ondernemings en op verskillende vlakke van ondernemingsontwikkeling. Die studie, wat gebaseer is op 'n omvattende literatuurstudie, verskaf eerstens 'n oorsig oor belangrike literatuur, met die doel om daardie dimensies wat entrepreneurskap verklaar, te isoleer. Drie sulke dimensies word identifiseer: die individu, die proses en die konteks. Binne elk van hierdie entrepreneuriese dimensies word 'n dominante element geidentifiseer. Hierdie elemente is onderskeidelik kreatiwiteit, die lewenssiklus van die onderneming en bestuursbevoegdhede. Hierdie elemente word dan konseptueel geintegreer in 'n driedimensionele konstruk om 'n generiese multi-dimensionele raamwerk te kry. Die toepassing van hierdie raamwerk op 'n onderneming, situasie of persoon het tot gevolg dat daardie spesifieke attribute wat nodig is om entrepreneurskap te bevorder identifiseer kan word. Dit kan 'n bydrae lewer in die ontwikkeling van gepaste entrepreneurskap ontwikkeling intervensies wat relevant is tot die spesifieke situasie onder beskouing. Die resultaat behoort 'n meer gefokusde benadering tot entrepreneurskap te wees.