Questionnaire Attitudes Towards Enterpreneurship

8/11/2019 Questionnaire Attitudes Towards Enterpreneurship

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Contents

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................... 2

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS................................................................... 2

4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 2

4.2 Analysis of findings .............................................................................................................. 2

4.2.1 Age of respondents ........................................................................................................ 2

4.2.2 Gender ............................................................................................................................ 3

4.2.3 Study level ..................................................................................................................... 3

4.2.4 Nationality...................................................................................................................... 4

4.2.5 Activities engaged .......................................................................................................... 5

If yes, what activity do you do? .............................................................................................. 5

4.2.6 Plan for self employment ............................................................................................... 6

4.2.7 Are your parents currently self-employed? .................................................................... 7

4.2.8 Measurements of risk taking potential ........................................................................... 9

4.2.9 Attitudes towards entrepreneurship ............................................................................. 10

4.2.10 Proactive personality .................................................................................................. 11

4.2.11 Perceived behavioural control.................................................................................... 12


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CHAPTER FOUR

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the findings from the data obtained from the survey. The analysis followed

the structure of the questionnaire. Graphs are used frequently to illustrate the results visually.

4.2 Analysis of findings

4.2.1 Age of respondents

Figure 4.1: Age of respondents

Source: Survey data

Results show that quite a diverse age range of respondents. As shown in figure 4.1 above, the

majority were above 23 years while there were also respondents younger than 18. Such diversity

was good for the research in that the opinions were also diverse and therefore rich in data.

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40

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23

Age


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4.2.2 Gender

Figure 4.2: Respondents gender

Source:Survey Data

Results show that 52% of the participants were female and 48% were male. Generally there are

very few female entrepreneurs in Namibia. The composition of the sample was therefore every

significant in determining the responses. Men would tend to be positive and more knowledgeable

about entrepreneurship that their female counterparts.

4.2.3 Study level

Figure 4.3: Study level

Source:Survey Data

48%

52%

Male

Female

44%

56%

Undergraduate

Graduate


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Figure 4.3 show that the majority (56%) of the respondents were from the graduate schools of

UNAM and POLYTECHNIC of NAMIBIA (PoN) 44% while only where undergraduates. It was

good for the study to have such a composition because the most of the graduate students are

already engaged in work or business. With such first-hand experience of the business world, their

opinions on entrepreneurial issues were more practical and experienced based as opposed to

undergraduates who may have been basing their responses on theory read in their studies.

4.2.4 Nationality

Figure 4.4 Nationality of respondents

Source:Survey data

Figure 4.4 shows that 45% of the respondents were Namibians, 12% Zimbabweans, 13%

Batswana and others as indicated. The importance of having such a culturally diverse group of

respondents was that each country creates a certain level risk profile among individuals.

Namibians tend to be risk averse and therefore their opinions on entrepreneurship will reflect as

such. In countries like Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe, there were serious economic challenges

in the past. Such conditions have a big impact on people mindset towards formal employment or

0 10 20 30 40 50

Namibian

Zambian

Zimbabwean

Angolan

Batswana

Other


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entrepreneurship. In these countries there were times where unemploymentwas at its worst

therefore these respondents grew up conditioned that one should fend for themselves. These

experiences helped diversify the opinions found by the survey.

4.2.5 Activities engaged

Figure 4.5: Responses to whether they engage in money making activities

Source:Survey data

If yes, what activity do you do?

The majority of the participants who agreed to engage in money making activities took the roles

of middlemen/broker; this is, linking a supplier to a buyer. The emergence of this trend is

attributed to easy access of the internet. 95% of these respondents which confessed to playing the

role of a broker said that they used electronic social media as a market place, for both sourcing

goods and buyers. The 5% used other methods to source goods, such as working on commission

for various retailers; however they used electronic social media to market these products. A few

students that are good in the field of Information Technology were in the business of computer

hardware and software repairs. They offered this service to students on campus and the broader

69%

31%

Yes

No


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population of the city of Windhoek. Other service providers were Media students who composed

adverts for radio stations or offered services as deejays at events not only on campus but town as

well. Other activities were students offering printing services, baking and cooking to sell. A

group of lady students were offering hair dressing and maintenance to other students.

A few other students were tutoring for a fee and I came across a certain gentleman who traded

financial securities.

4.2.6 Plan for self employment

Figure 6: Responses to willingness to be self employed

Source:Survey data

The bulk of the sample collected showed interest in entrepreneurship. Most of these who were

interested in entrepreneurship expressed the freedom that comes with self-employment as a

desirable characteristic, a few said the mental process involved in entrepreneurship would make

them better people and help them achieve their full potential. With a growing number of easy to

access information, many people are becoming exposed to different lifestyles which were

commonly unseen in past generations. This exposure is stimulating various passions and

70%

30%

Yes

No


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potentials within youth. The entrepreneurship aspirants pointed out that globalization has made

the world more accessible , a single marketplace with countless suppliers and countless buyers,

this they said, if one has a good product or service it can be supported to profitability whereas in

the past businesses were limited to their founding country and its population which is sometimes

not sufficient to keep a business afloat. The participants who did not see themselves as being

self-employed in the future were more than half of the participants that wanted to be self-

employed. The reasons being the aversion to self-employment were mainly twofold. Some

students had a particular company such as the Motor Vehicle Accident Fundthat they wanted to

work for, these students felt they had much value to add to these particular institutions. Other

students disliked the risk inherent in entrepreneurship, they wanted a more secure and certain

path.

4.2.7 Are your parents currently self-employed?

Figure 7: Responses to parents being self employed

Source:Survey data

20%

80%

Yes

No


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It has been noticed that most of the participants who had interests in self-employment come from

homes where both or either one of the parents was an entrepreneur, however this not ultimate,

some who come from such homes have had bad experiences coming from homes where parents

are self-employed. This is especially true because we are only a few years from the global

recession that hit businesses hard. Homes where entrepreneurship is prevalent tended to be

afforded more knowledge on business, this gave more exposure on this subject, again living in

these homes they saw first-hand the benefits of self-employment, not only monetary rewards but

time flexibility too. Parents who are self-employed usually create risk tolerant environments, so

naturally the children will be risk taking as compared to those who grow up in homes where both

parents are full employed.

As mentioned above other children had traumatic experiences to their parents status of self-

employment, this is the case during periods of low economic activity where many businesses

fail. This can create a culture of extreme risk aversion, children who grew up in these homes will

tend to shun self-employment and seek extremely solid and secure paths such as employment in

key industries such hospitals, police departments, schools. It is essential to keep in mind that risk

levels are not universal and risk is purely subjective.

Most of those participants who had parents that are not self-employed generally had less

exposure of the lifestyle and aspired rather to be employed in a bigger firm than their parents.

The few in this category saw self-employment as a remedy to the problems that their fully

employed parents faced.


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4.2.8 Measurements of risk taking potential

Figure 8: Risk taking propensity

Source:Survey data

Figure 8 above shows the risk taking propensity of respondents. This was evaluated on five

themes namely ease of taking risks with money, trying new routes when travelling, generally

trying new things, prospect of opening own business after graduation and tendency to read

environmental articles. When it comes to taking risks, 30% of the respondents strongly agree,

with a similar amount of 30% who agree too but with lessor conviction. 10% were undecided,

10% held strong convictions that they would not take risk. 20% said they disagreed to risk

taking. 20% strongly agreed to taking new routes with 10% with a mild agree. 10% we

indifferent,10% disagreed to taking new routes and 50% strongly disagreed. 60% were very

willing to trying new things,10% agreed and 10% were undecided. 10% disagreed and 10%

strongly disagreed too. 10% strongly agreed to the idea of owning a business after graduation,

20% agreed mildly, 60% were undecided and 30% strongly disagreed to the idea. 10% were

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105

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Easily take

risk

Take new

routes

Try new things Own business

after

graduation

Read articles

Strongly Agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly disagree


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undecided towards reading articles. 5% strongly agreed to the activity, 35% gave agreement to

this activity. 10% disagreed and 40% strongly disagreed to reading articles.

4.2.9 Attitudes towards entrepreneurship

Figure 9: Attitudes towards entrepreneurship

Source: Survey Data

20% strongly agreed to become an entrepreneur, with 10% agreeing too. 30% were undecided,

30% disagreed with the same amount 30% disagreeing strongly. 20% were undecided on

whether it was beneficial to have large firms. 50%strongly disagreed, 10% disagreed, 10%

agreed and 20% strongly agreed. 50% strongly disagreed to become a company founder, 10%

disagreed, 10% were undecided. Those who strongly agreed were 20% of the sample taken,10%

agreed.

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80

100

120

Prefer being

entrepreneur

Beneficial to have

large firms

want to be a

company founder

Own business

after graduation

Strongly Agree

Agree

Undecided

DisagreeStrongly disagree


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4.2.10 Proactive personality

Figure 10: personality tests

Source:Survey data

20% of participants said they strongly agreed to their enjoyment of facing obstacles, 10% were

undecided and the rest of the sample< 80% strongly disagreed All of the respondents were

excited about turning ideas into reality, 100% strongly agreed. 60% strongly agreed to be able

to identify opportunities. 40% agreed 40% were undecided with regards to challenging the

status, 40% agreed and 20% strongly agreed.

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Enjoy facing

obstacles

Excited about

turning ideas into

reality

Identify

opportunities

Love challenge

status quo

Strongly Agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly disagree


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4.2.11 Perceived behavioural control

Figure 11: responses to behavioural control

Source:Survey data

20% of the sample taken strongly disagreed to being confident about business success. 15%

just disagreed, 30% were undecided, 25% agreed and 10% strongly agreed Of those who were

questioned on whether it was easy to start a business5% strongly agreed, 10% agreed, 40%

were undecided and 20% disagreed to the ease of starting a business with 25% strongly

disagreeing to its ease. 60% strongly agree to the thought that owning a business will utilize

their education, with 40% mildly agreeing. 20% of the sample strongly agreed to having skills

to be an entrepreneur, 40% mildly agreed and 40% were undecided.

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Confident about

business success

Easy to start

business

Own business will

utilize my

education

Have skills to be

an entrepreneur

Strongly Agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly disagree


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CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introdcution

Documents

Questionnaire Attitudes Towards Enterpreneurship