Contextual factors of entrepreneurship intention in manufacturing SMEs: the case study of Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-657
Author(s):  
Sahar Ahadi ◽  
Sara Kasraie

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the contextual factors that influence entrepreneurial intention to start the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Iran and to investigate why some manufacturing sector entrepreneurs achieve growth objectives while others do not.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth semistructured interviews of 25 participants were used to investigate the contextual factors of entrepreneurship intention. On the basis of the data collected, a thematic content analysis has been carried out.FindingsA set of contextual and cultural factors has been highlighted by the analysis. Data analysis led to the extraction of three main themes: external, internal and personal factors that were found to be significant determinants of entrepreneurship intention. In relation to the effect of these factors on their entrepreneurial behaviors, it emerged that there were the major barriers to entrepreneurial intentions including lack of resources, financial challenges and economic situation, which affected how they made strategic decisions about their plans. Moreover, the findings show that the key dimensions of organizational structure, public policies, social media, education and soft skills development are vital features and being influential in entrepreneurship.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has industry-specific, size-specific and region-specific limitations. The qualitative research approach affects the generalizable character of the results.Practical implicationsThe research findings have important implications for practicing entrepreneurs, start-ups and policymakers. The manuscript suggests a transition to a more collaborative approach from experts and practitioners in the field through policymakers to tackling the underlying determinants of entrepreneurship intention in Iran as a motive to economic growth. This research is significant since its findings should help regulators and investors better understand the opportunities and threats among manufacturing SMEs. This study implies a step forward in research into the entrepreneurship intention and SMEs literature, since the results differ from the evidence found for large companies in developing countries such as Iran. There is also a great contribution toward the debate regarding the need to consider the context and the type of firm in enterprise development studies.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical study conducted in Iran that explores three key elements of entrepreneurship intention interactively in Iran through qualitative research analysis. The research study fills a literature gap on the determinants of manufacturing SMEs’ functions. This manuscript explores the contextual factors that influence on entrepreneurial behavior in a conflict country context, using a thematic analysis for in-depth results. A new approach to evaluating entrepreneurial opportunities was used. The advantage of this empirical strategy is that it takes into account in more detail the content observations and experiences with the industry-specific insights. It also gives more description about the contingent nature of practice. Moreover, this qualitative research acknowledged the areas of conflict and contradiction around entrepreneurship phenomena among SMEs.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gentjan Çera ◽  
Edmond Çera ◽  
Zoltan Rozsa ◽  
Svitlana Bilan

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of university atmosphere, macroeconomic environment and business support on students’ entrepreneurial intention. Moreover, it explores whether country moderates these relationships or not. Design/methodology/approach This research is administered on individual-level data collection through survey distribution. The impact of contextual factors on entrepreneurial intention, along with moderating effect, was examined by using multi-group analysis (MGA) in partial least squares (PLS) in an original data set of 1,352 respondents from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Findings The results indicate that university environment and business support can influence entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, country did not moderate the proposed relationships. Research limitations/implications This study’s contribution enriches literature by providing insights on the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions in the Central Europe context. Limitations may be overcome with further research. Practical implications Identifying factors that influence entrepreneurial intention can inform the design of effective policies to boost entrepreneurship and combat youth unemployment. Originality/value Understanding the contextual factors that motivate students towards entrepreneurship may inform the design of more effective policies. The findings of this study, particularly concerning moderating effects, are useful to scholars as entrepreneurial behaviour is proved similar across all three countries.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-680
Author(s):  
Agu Godswill Agu ◽  
Okwuagwu Okuu Kalu ◽  
Chidadi Obinna Esi-Ubani ◽  
Paul Chinedu Agu

Purpose The purpose of this study is to integrate and extend two models of entrepreneurial intention to investigate the drivers of sustainable entrepreneurial intention among intermediate undergraduate university students in Nigeria. Specifically, this paper aims to introduce education for sustainable entrepreneurship into the integrated model, thereby fitting the model into the context of sustainable entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach Data was gathered with the help of a structured questionnaire from 435 students of a university in Nigeria. The students passed through a special entrepreneurship training in which they were educated on the concept and practice of sustainable entrepreneurship. SmartPLS was used to test the proposed structural model. Findings The findings revealed that education for sustainable entrepreneurship significantly influences all variables of the integrated model, but has nonsignificant direct influence on sustainable entrepreneurial intention. Sustainable entrepreneurial intention is significantly driven by attitude and propensity to act. Therefore, the inclusion of education for sustainable entrepreneurship into the regression equation adds to its explanatory power. Originality/value This study contributes toward understanding of sustainable entrepreneurial intention of intermediate university students in a developing world context – Nigeria. Above all, it is among the few studies that shed light on the strength of education for sustainable entrepreneurship in the formation of sustainable entrepreneurial intention among students. This study proposes integration and extension (by adding education for sustainable entrepreneurship) of the theory of planned behavior and entrepreneurial event model in learning about students’ intentions to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynep Yeşim İlerisoy ◽  
Ali Aycı ◽  
Hilal Aycı ◽  
Esra Betül Kınacı

PurposeThe aim of the study is to investigate whether architectural education has a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship and it encourages to have management skills. The hypothesis is based on the fact that core courses in architectural education have an impact on individuals' entrepreneurial intentions.Design/methodology/approachThe correlation of design, construction and technology courses with entrepreneurship intentions, namely, learning motivation, a motivation on innovation, a progressive attitude and self-efficacy as an outcome, was investigated in senior-year students of architecture enrolled in six universities of Turkey. The data collected were analyzed through the structural equation model, which mainly focuses on the causal relationships between chosen variables.FindingsThe initial outcome is that learning motivation, attitude and self-efficacy through design courses have an effect on entrepreneurship. However, contrary to expectations, it was found that innovation does not have an effect on entrepreneurial intention. Furthermore, while innovation, attitude and self-efficacy through construction courses have an impact on entrepreneurial intent, learning motivation does not. Finally, it was revealed that attitude, self-efficacy, innovation and learning motivation affect entrepreneurial intention through technology courses.Originality/valueEntrepreneurship skills are generally considered within the field of interest by business schools. Even though there exist some studies into entrepreneurial architecture education, they are few in numbers, and they usually evaluate the problem mainly through a qualitative research. This study could be regarded as a different research in terms of its traditional perspective, and it investigates the role of entrepreneurial intent in a “technical” discipline such as architecture.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gentrit Berisha ◽  
Besnik Krasniqi ◽  
Justina Shiroka-Pula ◽  
Enver Kutllovci

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between conflict handling styles (CHS) of business managers in their entrepreneurial intentions (EI). The business manager’s propensity to become entrepreneurs is a relatively unexplored area of research. The relationship between conflict handling style and entrepreneurial intention is under-researched, particularly in a developing country like Kosovo. Design/methodology/approach A self-report questionnaire containing measures of conflict handing style, entrepreneurial intention and demographics was delivered to business managers in Kosovo. Findings Forcing style has a positive and statistically significant relationship with entrepreneurial intention. Yielding, compromising, problem solving and avoiding have weak and insignificant effects on EI. Research limitations/implications The relationship between conflict handling styles of managers and their entrepreneurial intention is investigated. No situational, organizational or environmental factor was considered influencing this relationship. Practical implications Conflict management is important in predicting the entrepreneurial intention of managers. Organizations should design human resource interventions aimed at effective team composition and employee retention to ensure performance. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate the relationship between conflict handling style and entrepreneurial intention using a manager sample. Furthermore, it is the first study of conflict handling styles and entrepreneurial intention of managers in Kosovo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 497-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Miao ◽  
Ronald H. Humphrey ◽  
Shanshan Qian ◽  
Jeffrey M. Pollack

Purpose The topic of entrepreneurial intention, which refers to a person’s degree of interest in creating a new business venture, has received close scrutiny in the entrepreneurship literature. The empirical results regarding the relation between emotional intelligence (EI) and entrepreneurial intention were nevertheless mixed across studies. Based on fit theory and trait activation theory, the purpose of this paper is to explain the fundamental reason for the mixed findings in the extant literature thus far. Design/methodology/approach Random-effects meta-analyses, based on 12 studies (along with 12 effect sizes), were performed to not only investigate the overall relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention but also to examine the moderators (i.e. individualism (vs collectivism), masculinity (vs femininity), power distance, long-term orientation (vs short-term orientation), uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence (vs restraint)) that influence this relation. Findings The results of this meta-analysis demonstrated that EI is positively related to entrepreneurial intention; the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention is stronger in long-term-oriented cultures; and the positive relationship between EI and entrepreneurial intention does not significantly differ based on a culture’s level of collectivism, masculinity, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence. Originality/value This meta-analysis advances the current understanding of the relation between EI and entrepreneurial intention from cross-cultural perspectives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-105
Author(s):  
Mary Zacharia Charwi

Abstract Naming can sometimes be associated with particular situations or someone’s birth. This study intends to find out the association between Datooga names and socio-cultural backgrounds. The study employs a qualitative research approach, in which case the collected data was subjected to descriptive analysis. Data have been collected from Datooga speaking students studying at the Dar es Salaam University College of Education, through Interviews and Questionnaire. The analysis is based on the Kripke’s three arguments in naming as described by Speaks (2007). The theory explains how naming is achieved with reference to the modal argument, the semantic argument and the epistemic argument. The findings of the study have revealed that in the Datooga society, naming is associated with different phenomena particularly time of birth and prevailing situations, traditions, norms and customs.


Author(s):  
Nur Indah Dwi Susanti ◽  
Rima Vien Permata Hartanto ◽  
Mohammad Muchtarom

<p><em>The objectives of research were (1) to find out the forms of modelling in Personality Competency of Civic Education teacher in SMP Negeri 1 Mojolaban, and (2) to find out the implication of Civic Education teacher’s modelling to creating the students’ discipline character in SMP Negeri 1 Mojolaban. This research employed a qualitative research approach, with descriptive qualitative research type. Data source derived from informant, place, event, and document. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling one. Techniques of collecting data used were interview, observation, and document analysis. Data validation was carried out using data and method triangulations. Data analysis was conducted using an interactive model of analysis.  Considering the result of research, the following conclusions could be drawn. (1) The forms of role model in personality competency of Civic Education teacher were as follows: The personality of a disciplined teacher, democratic, patient, tolerant, broad-insight teacher personalities. (2) The implication of Civic Education teachers to the creation of students’ discipline character was as follows: the students could receive and imitate one of Civic Education teachers’  modelling, indicated with their coming early to classroom when the lesson began, students completing school attribute and uniform, students attending the lesson in the classroom and no truancy, students always attending flag ceremony, and maintaining the cleanliness at school. However, role model is the most decisive factor in creating the students’ discipline; it could be seen from the students showing the discipline character only in the classroom Civic Education teachers class VII while the other teacher’s class had not shown the discipline character yet.   </em></p><p><em> </em></p><strong><em>Keywords:</em></strong><em> Personality Competency, Civic Education, Modelling, Discipline                                      Chara</em>


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khalid Alammari ◽  
Robert Newbery ◽  
Mohamed Yacine Haddoud ◽  
Emily Beaumont

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate how cultural values influence the entrepreneurial process. It conceptualises the relationship between post-materialistic values and entrepreneurial intention to explain low entrepreneurial activity.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in Saudi Arabia with non-entrepreneurs. An online survey returned 405 valid questionnaires, representing a 27 per cent response rate. The data were analysed using partial least structural equation modelling.FindingsThe paper identifies key factors that explain the influence of changing cultural values on entrepreneurial activity. The results show that post-materialistic values influence entrepreneurial intention by decreasing desirability and entrepreneurial self-efficacy.Research limitations/implicationsThe study conceptualises the interplay between cultural values and entrepreneurial intention in Saudi Arabia. Further insights can be developed by comparing Saudi Arabia with other countries. The study was conducted as a “snapshot” of the current situation of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia with a cross-sectional survey design.Practical implicationsThe paper holds important implications for entrepreneurship educators when addressing unsupportive cultures for entrepreneurial activity. Cultural and motivational approaches are suggested. While the former focuses on aspects that encourage the desire and confidence to start a business, the latter involves encouraging setting venture creation as a goal.Originality/valuePrevious studies indicated that post-materialistic values negatively influence entrepreneurship; this paper contributes further by exploring how this relationship manifests by exploring the intervening factors between post-materialistic values and entrepreneurial intention. It advances entrepreneurship research by investigating deep assumptions underlying the formulation of entrepreneurial intentions. It also responds to the need to understand the difference in the levels of entrepreneurial activity across countries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliyu Yelwa Haruna ◽  
Govindan Marthandan

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of foundational competencies on work engagement in the context of the Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) service sector. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Malaysia, and data were gathered via a survey on 312 employees representing SMEs service sectors. Partial least squares techniques were used in testing the hypothesized linkages. Findings The findings indicated that foundational competencies have a significant positive effect on work engagement. Research limitations/implications Considering the research approach, generalizing the findings of this study must be done with caution. Longitudinal data are recommended, as these could provide additional support to the results. Further studies can as well extend the framework by testing whether job resources play a positive role in enhancing the relationship between foundational competencies and work engagement in Malaysia. Practical implications The findings suggest that foundational competencies positively relate to work engagement. Therefore, training and coaching sessions could be organized by managers/policy makers to enhance these competencies, which will strengthen work engagement and career development of the employee; it may specifically be very helpful for fresh graduates whose careers would have just started. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the effect of American Society of Training and Development foundational competencies on work engagement in SMEs in Malaysia.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhairab Chandra Patra ◽  
Usha Lenka

Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze the entrepreneurial intentions (EI) of women to better understand the cognition process of women which will help to identify the reason for their inadequate participation in the field of entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach This study follows the method of a traditional literature survey followed by scientometric analysis to identify the primary factors to the EI of women. The factors obtained from the literature review were provided to the nominal group, and the process of nominal group technique (NGT) was carried out to frame a research framework. The factors were then ranked based on their significance using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), taking into consideration the review of experts. Findings Among the primary factors, personal factors were found to be the most influential factors and weighted 54%. Self-efficacy was found to be the most prominent secondary variable and had a global weight of 22.14%. Research limitations/implications The research outcome has implications for policymaking bodies, investors, academicians and potential women entrepreneurs. Future researchers can apply exploratory research methods and confirmatory research methods to test the research framework. Originality/value Very few researchers have used the technique of scientometric analysis for the review of literature on EI of women, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no earlier researcher has attempted to use the technique of NGT or AHP after scientometric analysis.


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