Entrepreneurship: the phenomenological study of the lived experiences of intrapreneurs ‘now turned’ entrepreneurs in South Africa

Abstract

This study examined the lived experiences of the intrapreneurs ‘now turned’ entrepreneurs in South Africa with emphasis on Gauteng province. It investigated the reasons for the selected intrapreneur’s transition into entrepreneurships within the existing firms in South Africa. It also examined how the selected cognitive factors shaped the decision-making and entrepreneurial processes as well as the impacts of their behaviour on their business performance. Using a mixed-methods approach for data collection and analysis, questionnaires and in-depth interviews were administered, and primary data were collected from the selected participants who operate in the finance and business services sector. The quantitative analysis was in three stages and these include descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). In this study: vision, independence and need for achievement represented entrepreneurship and they were the dependent variables while the independent variables were the selected traits and cognitive factors. The finding in this study via the frequency-based descriptive statistics showed that organisational culture, bureaucracy, educational, career, and business mindset to a great extent influenced transition. The findings, via Chi square tests, also revealed the relevant trait and cognitive factors such as career mindset, knowledge, value, heuristic, and metacognition which are dependent on entrepreneurship with a p value < 0.05. The qualitative findings via thematic analysis revealed the cognitive factors (knowledge, experience, belief system, value, optimism) that spurred transition into entrepreneurship. These cognitive factors are more critical in each stage of the entrepreneurial process. This thesis contributed to the field of knowledge by developing a transitional framework that offers the entrepreneurial stakeholders relevant and updated information on the factors responsible for the transition. The framework viewpoints are valuable in teaching, research, and managerial practice. Finally, this study recommends that a three-month government patronage for the best-performing entrepreneurs should be allowed to further motivate others for better performance as well as a specific intervention strategy for entrepreneur’s specific needs.