Exploring Entrepreneurial Activity at Cape Town and Stellenbosch Universities, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-128
Author(s):  
Rachel Jafta ◽  
Ramazan Uctu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Transfer Of Technology ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
China Studies ◽  
Interview Survey

Entrepreneurial activity at universities, especially spin-off formation, has emerged as an important mechanism for accelerating the transfer of technology and knowledge to commercial markets. With some exceptions, such as China, studies on university entrepreneurship have tended to concentrate on the experiences of developed countries. Perhaps because of the lack of a comprehensive database of university spin-offs, studies on experience in South Africa have typically included spin-offs only as part of a broad examination of university–industry partnerships, technology transfer mechanisms or academic entrepreneurship. This study is based on a questionnaire and interview survey of spin-offs at Cape Town and Stellenbosch Universities. The results suggest that the most important reasons cited for spin-off formation are market opportunities and a desire for commercial exploitation of knowledge and experience. As with university spin-off founders elsewhere, funding is regarded as the most significant problem, followed by such factors as recruiting skilled people, lack of facilities, product marketing and time pressure. It is argued that this exploratory study provides lessons and insights that will inform similar, future research on a larger scale.

Measuring University Students’ Perceptions About the Role of Self-efficacy on Entrepreneurial Intentions in Cape Town

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-232
Author(s):  
Vivence Kalitanyi ◽  
Edwin Bbenkele
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
University Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Multivariate Tests ◽  
Data Collection Instrument

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy is best perceived as a multidimensional variable built from individuals’ beliefs about their abilities and capabilities for tackling the challenges and nurture entrepreneurial intentions towards the establishment of a new venture. Numerous studies are unanimous about the insufficient level of entrepreneurship in South Africa, as well as its below average total entrepreneurial activity of 7.8per cent compared to all efficiency-driven economies (developed countries) which have 11.4 per cent of activity. This study conducted in Cape Town—South Africa—aims at identifying the factors of self-efficacy and the role self-efficacy plays in rising entrepreneurial intentions among university students. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire survey, where entrepreneurship students were the respondents. SPSS 22 was used to conduct bivariate and multivariate tests of statistical significance. The reliability of the data collection instrument was tested with the use of Cronbach’s Alpha and the variable of self-efficacy scored a reliability level of 0.877. The validity was ensured by the assessment of the instrument by two statisticians and two academics who are experts in their fields. The findings reveal the existence of a positive relationship between entrepreneurship university students’ self-efficacy and their entrepreneurial intentions. Recommendations to enhance self-efficacy among students and other aspiring business people have been formulated.

scholarly journals Patterns of blunt force homicide in the West Metropole of the City of Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (5/6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtnee Clark ◽  
Calvin G. Mole ◽  
Marise Heyns ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The West ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Blunt Force Trauma ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Salt River ◽  
The City ◽  
Ballistic Trauma

There is currently a lack of information regarding the prevalence of and characteristics associated with blunt force trauma related homicides in South Africa. Information relating to the patterns of blunt force trauma could assist in the development and implementation of interventions targeted at specific areas or individuals as well as direct future research towards areas in need of investigation. This study is a 5-year retrospective review of autopsy reports obtained from Salt River Mortuary (Cape Town, South Africa). The prevalence of blunt force trauma was considered for unnatural deaths with a focus on homicide. The patterns of homicidal blunt force trauma are also presented. A total of 15 519 autopsy cases was analysed. In 1198 (7.72%) of these cases, the cause of death was found to be blunt force trauma and 828 (5.32%) of these cases were classified as homicides. Approximately 11% of blunt force homicide cases occurred in combination with sharp and/or ballistic trauma. Men from poor socio-economic areas were shown to be most at risk of blunt force homicide in the City of Cape Town.

scholarly journals The Alignment of Software Testing Skills of IS Students with Industry Practices - A South African Perspective.

10.28945/2681 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsje Scott ◽  
Alexander Zadirov ◽  
Sean Feinberg ◽  
Ruwanga Jayakody
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Software Testing ◽  
South African ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Future Research ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University

Software testing is crucial to ensure that systems of good quality are developed in industry and for this reason it is necessary to investigate the extent to which there is an alignment of software testing skills of Information Systems students at the University of Cape Town and industry practices in South Africa. A number of criteria were identified as the basis for this investigation. These criteria were used to examine the data collected from companies in the software testing industry and students at the University of Cape Town. Significant differences were found between software testing skills required by industry and those claimed by students, particularly with regard to the tests being used and the percentage of time spent on testing. This study should be seen as work in progress to investigate current practice in industry that might inform future research to enhance curricula.

Networks and the idea-fruition process of female social entrepreneurs in South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jantje Halberstadt ◽  
Anna B. Spiegler
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Entrepreneurship ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Media Analysis ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the lack of research on female social entrepreneurs and their social and contextual embeddedness, promoting women’s social entrepreneurial activity as promising, specifically in the South African context. Design/methodology/approach By analyzing the founding process and networks of 11 female social entrepreneurs in South Africa using a mixed-method approach consisting of semi-structured interviews, media analysis and egocentric network analysis, this paper seeks to discover the idea-fruition process of female social entrepreneurs. This approach enables us to analyze contextual factors with a focus on personal networks and their influence on the processes of idea-generation and development. Findings The results indicate that social networks are an important part of the personal context which influences the idea-fruition process of female social entrepreneurs. The paper identifies specific actors as well as group outcomes as particular relevant within this context. Research limitations/implications While the results enable the generation of a structure based on the authors’ first insights into how social relational networks influence female social entrepreneurship, it remains unclear if these results can be specifically traced to women or social entrepreneurial aspects, which suggests that further attention is needed in future studies. Practical implications Practical implications can be derived from the results concerning the support of female social entrepreneurs by, for example, optimizing or using their (social entrepreneurial) environment. Contrary to studies on business idea-generation, the results stress that women can make use of certain network constructions that are often considered to be obstructive. Originality/value This study introduces an innovative gender perspective on social entrepreneurship in South Africa and offers new directions for future research on the opportunity recognition process of female social entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Female International Entrepreneurship: Financing Factors of Business Venturing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepideh Khavarinezhad ◽  
Paolo Pietro Biancone ◽  
Vahid Jafari-Sadeghi
Keyword(s):  
International Entrepreneurship ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The study explores the influence of financing drivers on female entrepreneurial activity. We study the interaction of financing elements on domestic entrepreneurial activities and the role of financing on female-oriented international entrepreneurship in the United States, Italy and France. We analyse entrepreneurship at the two levels of total entrepreneurial activities (TEA) and export function by applying a logistic regression model and, we hypothesise that financing factors are affected by the motivation of starting business and export activities. The findings reveal that there is a significant and positive relationship between women entrepreneurship and financial institution-fund supporting at the domestic level. They confirm a positive and strong impact of access to finance on women’s entrepreneurial activities in three selected countries. In addition, the positive effect of the perception of entrepreneurship capability (as an indicator for human capital) on access to finance is identified. The research highlights how the different effects of economic freedom led to differences in the management of a company and the associated decision-making of female entrepreneurs. Future research could contribute by comparing financing for women’s entrepreneurship in developing countries compared to developed countries. The study mitigates the large research gap in the female entrepreneurial literature by examining the impact of the relationship between access to finance and women's performance in the international arena. It sheds new light on the concept of female entrepreneurship and the foresight needed for starting an activity.

scholarly journals Framing a Vision for Physiotherapy Research: Synthesizing Educators' Viewpoints in Cape Town

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinette louw ◽  
Karen Grimmer-Somers ◽  
Lynette Crous ◽  
Margaret Marais ◽  
Seyi Amosum
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
South African ◽  
Clinical Teaching ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Research Education

Purpose: The Cape Town region is the largest training locality for physiotherapy training in South Africa. The socio-political changes since the first democratic election in South Africa have impacted on physiotherapy training and clinical practice, although there currently is no evidence-based vision statement for physiotherapy practice in South Africa. This paper reports key findings from interviews held with three prominent physiotherapy educators / administrators in the three Cape Town universities' physiotherapy schools regarding their perspectives on research, clinical teaching and evidence-based practice in physiotherapy. The purpose of this research was to frame a vision for South African physiotherapy, which could underpin profession-wide discussions on equity, accessibility, safety, evidence-base and appropriate-resourced physiotherapy care for all South Africans. Method: A qualitative research design was employed and semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with 3 key participants who each have more than 10 years experience in education at the three physiotherapy tertiary training institutions in Cape Town. The questions sought perspectives on where physiotherapy research education had come from over recent times in South Africa, what contributed to its successes and failures, and what future there was for research and clinical practice in South Africa into the future. Results: The positive points about South African research were that research interest is perceived to be growing for academics and clinicians, postgraduate degrees have been introduced in all Cape Town universities. Negative points were reported included a lack of focus and direction for research and the overwhelming volume of research to be undertaken relative to the changing South African health care scene. Conclusion: The research findings highlight the need for the development of a vision that rises above individual organizations and institutions, and which takes a nation-wide view of future research and its relationship with clinical practice and community need.

scholarly journals Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets

2018 ◽  
pp. 456-494
Author(s):  
Saul Estrin ◽  
Tomasz Mickiewicz ◽  
Ute Stephan ◽  
Mike Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Entrepreneurship In Emerging Markets

The level of entrepreneurial activity is higher in emerging markets than in developed economies, driven by high levels of necessity entry and less daunting entry barriers, especially in the informal sector. However, a gap remains in our understanding of its extent and of the drivers of its change. This chapter addresses this gap by conceptualizing and providing evidence about the scale and nature of entrepreneurship in emerging markets. The chapter begins with an empirical analysis of entrepreneurship in emerging economies. In particular, it contrasts the way in which human capital is utilized by entrepreneurs in emerging market economies and in developed countries. The chapter goes on to the theme of human capital, bringing in theory, and considering entrepreneurship in emerging economies at the individual level as well as the role of entrepreneurs’ social capital in the emerging economy context. Furthermore, it considers the scale and impact of the repatriation of human and social capital from abroad, which is found to play an important role in entrepreneurship in many emerging economies, especially when considering innovation. The survey goes on to provide a macro-level analysis, with cross-country comparisons of the effects of institutions and finance on entrepreneurial activity in emerging markets. It concludes by suggesting avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Entrepreneurship Factors Among Developed Countries and Emerging Regions

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-100
Author(s):  
Mark D Potts ◽  
Joseph A Affholter ◽  
Sydney Harless
Keyword(s):  
Property Rights ◽  
Investor Protection ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rights Protection ◽  
Property Rights Protection ◽  
Entrepreneurial Readiness

Abstract The paper contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurial activity by assessing the relative importance of eight entrepreneurial readiness factors across countries in different regions and stages of economic development. Drawing on the literature, this paper identifies eight principle national entrepreneurial readiness factors (NERFs) as (1) business freedom; (2) investment freedom; (3) investor protection; (4) property rights protection; (5) technological readiness; (6) innovation; (7) freedom from corruption; and (8) access to risk capital. NERF country data is subjected to a linear regression analysis for each factor’s influence on the sum of all eight factors which is called a country’s National Entrepreneurial Readiness Value (NERV). Six South East European countries, eight South American countries, ten South East Asian countries, and six West African countries are compared against one another and the benchmark of the four largest G7 economies. Results of this analysis are presented and show that investor protection, property rights protection, and freedom from corruption are the most impactful entrepreneurial readiness factors. These findings present future research implications of how these results link to endowments and relate to improving entrepreneurial readiness.

scholarly journals Peritoneal Dialysis in Cape Town, South Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikechi G. Okpechi ◽  
Brian L. Rayner ◽  
Charles R. Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Peritoneal Dialysis ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Workers

BackgroundChronic kidney disease is a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which encompasses 70% of the least-developed countries in the world. Most people in SSA have no access to any form of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Given its ease of performance and patient independence, peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be an ideal form of RRT in SSA, but several complex and interdependent factors make PD a difficult option in SSA. The present review describes the practice of PD in SSA, with emphasis on Cape Town, South Africa.Methods and ResultsAfter a review of the recent PubMed literature on RRT in SSA and an appraisal of nephrology practice in South Africa, factors that make the provision of RRT (especially PD) a challenge in SSA include the low number of qualified health care workers, socio-demographic issues (poor housing, electricity, and water supplies), and the cost of PD fluids in the region. Although South Africa has the largest PD population in all of SSA, the growth of PD in South Africa is specifically impeded by the system of RRT rationing, which favors HD; the methods of funding for dialysis and for remuneration of doctors in private practice; and many other socio-economic factors. The peritonitis rate remains relatively high, and it is a significant contributor to morbidity in PD patients in Cape Town.ConclusionsIn many parts of SSA, PD could be the main dialysis modality. However, African governments must start taking responsibility for their people by providing adequate funds for renal replacement programs. Attempts to produce PD fluids locally and to train and educate health care workers will greatly improve the use of PD as a RRT option in SSA.

Time and Latitude in South Africa

1972 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
J. Hers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Astronomical Observations ◽  
Royal Observatory ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Astronomical Determination ◽  
Limited Accuracy ◽  
Better Than

In South Africa the modern outlook towards time may be said to have started in 1948. Both the two major observatories, The Royal Observatory in Cape Town and the Union Observatory (now known as the Republic Observatory) in Johannesburg had, of course, been involved in the astronomical determination of time almost from their inception, and the Johannesburg Observatory has been responsible for the official time of South Africa since 1908. However the pendulum clocks then in use could not be relied on to provide an accuracy better than about 1/10 second, which was of the same order as that of the astronomical observations. It is doubtful if much use was made of even this limited accuracy outside the two observatories, and although there may – occasionally have been a demand for more accurate time, it was certainly not voiced.

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