Modelling an intrapreneurship landscape towards entrepreneurship : Gauteng Province, South Africa

Abstract

This article examines some selected cognitive factors influencing intrapreneur's decisions to start their own businesses. Limited knowledge exists about the cognitive reasoning used by individuals with intrapreneurial backgrounds in pursuit of entrepreneurship in South Africa. A mixed-method approach, focusing on intrapreneurs 'now turned' entrepreneurs within the finance and business services sector of economy in Gauteng province, was adopted. This consisted of a survey using a total of 31 questionnaires and from which 11 participants were interviewed. The qualitative findings revealed that social networks, heuristics and metacognition were pronounced influencers modelling intrapreneurs into entrepreneurship but varied at different stages of the entrepreneurship process. The quantitative findings using the chi square test show that the p values of the selected transitioned variables were significant, while the relationship between entrepreneurship as represented by vision, independency, need for achievement and other cognitive factors such as social network, heuristics, and metacognition was strong and positive. This was supported by the loading factors of the principal component analysis. Through the proposed conceptual model, this research contributes to a better understanding of the nexus between cognitive factors and entrepreneurship as represented by vision, independence and the need for achievement within the Small Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMMEs) business owners. Finally, this article recommends that entrepreneurs must be challenged, not just to be active but to innovate, with corresponding rewards for motivation.