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There has been a proliferation of scholarly and practitioner interest in improving the competitiveness of small and medium agribusinesses involved in value-added processing activities in Africa. However, despite such interest, there is a paucity of entrepreneurship-focused research on the competitiveness of small and medium agribusinesses. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to test the relationship between the influence of entrepreneurial orientation and the compliance with standards of value-added processing facilities on the competitiveness of small and medium agribusinesses. Moreover, the moderating effects of entrepreneurial capital on this relationship were tested since entrepreneurial resources are firmspecific, potentially heterogeneous, and may be converted into tangible resources and effective market power. A survey was administered to a sample of 243 small and medium agribusinesses involved in value-added processing activities in South Africa. The study used hierarchical and sequential regression analysis to test the study models, which included testing for moderation effects. The results highlight that agribusiness competitiveness was enabled by higher levels of entrepreneurial capital, which is used by enterprises to integrate and leverage entrepreneurial orientation. It is recommended that policy makers prioritise and promote entrepreneurial orientation and develop entrepreneurial capital by offering programmes and incubation facilities targeting agribusinesses involved in value-added processing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A considerable literature points to entrepreneurial orientation (eo) as an essential component in fostering organizational performance. In order to advance theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of eo, this article undertakes an empirical inquiry into the extent to which entrepreneurial self-efficacymediates the relationship between organizational antecedents and eo at public hospitals in South Africa. Results support the study hypotheses insofar as organizational structure and performance rewards explain a significant amount of variation in eo, while entrepreneurial selfefficacy partially mediates this relationship. The study makes a novel contribution by highlighting the significance of the connection between different organizational antecedents and eo, while additionally interpreting the mediating effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, in an under-researched industry and country context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) has been defined as the ability to psychologically understand the reasons why individuals choose to engage in entrepreneurial activities. However, for individuals to start these much-needed business ventures, they must be oriented to do so upon completion of their studies. Entrepreneurial education (EE) might directly influence whether students decide to pursue an entrepreneurial venture based on the knowledge and skills, which they feel they have accumulated through their studies. A Delphi study was performed to determine how the EE, being received by university students, in the context of Scotland and South Africa, may influence them to choose an entrepreneurial career. The data were obtained from 16 academic experts, eight from South African universities and eight from Scottish universities. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis. IEO has been studied using the five original dimensions, namely, innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness. However, the results reveal that only three of the five IEO dimensions are prevalent when aligning to a student's entrepreneurial behaviour. The results also reveal that EE should ensure that practical teachings receive more attention than theoretical teachings. This study may assist universities to better prepare their curriculums to include teachings that will improve the IEO of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A considerable literature points to entrepreneurial orientation (eo) as an essential component in fostering organizational performance. In order to advance theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of eo, this article undertakes an empirical inquiry into the extent to which entrepreneurial self-efficacymediates the relationship between organizational antecedents and eo at public hospitals in South Africa. Results support the study hypotheses insofar as organizational structure and performance rewards explain a significant amount of variation in eo, while entrepreneurial selfefficacy partially mediates this relationship. The study makes a novel contribution by highlighting the significance of the connection between different organizational antecedents and eo, while additionally interpreting the mediating effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, in an under-researched industry and country context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate to what extent an Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) exists within social enterprises in South Africa. Research Design & Methods: The study was quantitative in nature and used a descriptive research design, utilising an adapted measuring instrument to measure five dimensions of EO. A simple random sampling approach was followed, with resulting data analysed in SPSS by means of descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and ANOVA. Findings: We found that four dimensions of EO exist within social enterprises to a moderate extent, namely risk-taking, innovation, proactiveness, and autonomy. Findings indicated low levels of competitive aggressiveness. Implications & Recommendations: The article intends to fill the gap in literature that exists regarding EO within social enterprises in South Africa. The study provides insights into the existence of EO in South African social enterprises, allowing for policy and managerial interventions to be made to improve EO levels. Contribution & Value Added: The main contribution of the study provides an indication of the existence of an EO in South African social enterprises, thereby establishing the basis for further research in this under-researched area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the role of national culture on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) rhetoric contained within franchisee recruitment promotional materials, where EO rhetoric is defined as the strategic use of words in organizational narratives to convey the risk taking, innovativeness, proactiveness, autonomy, and competitive aggressiveness of the firm. The sample comprised 378 franchise organizations, in five different countries (Australia, France, India, South Africa, and the UK). The results indicate that franchise systems operating in high uncertainty avoidance and feminine cultures use less entrepreneurially oriented rhetoric, suggesting that EO rhetoric in franchise organizations varies according to different national cultural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovation management investigative framework (IMIF) is built, establishing links between the drivers of technological change, which include [A] effectuation, [B] entrepreneurial orientation, [C] strategy and leadership, and [D] firm performance. These drivers are considered means of overcoming barriers to technological change and as a result, improvements in a firm's competitive position and performance are realized. This study contributes to the debate on linking internal factors (effectuation and strategy and leadership) to entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. Structural equation modelling was used to test the IMIF. Six hypotheses were tested and all six were supported. A total of 216 firms participated in this research. Limitations of the model are indicated, and further research opportunities are proposed. • Exposing the barriers to technological changes. • Empirical proof effectuation and entrepreneurial orientation are different. • Significant differences in strategy between management and non-management roles. • Significant differences in strategy between national and multinational firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]