A study of differences between entrepreneurial competency levels and business performance of established entrepreneurs small and medium enterprise

Entrepreneurial competencies are largely recognised as the critical factors contributing to business performance. In turn, increased business performance is a positive indicator of a thriving SME sector. It is reported that the success, performance, survival, and growth of SMEs are strongly influenced by the entrepreneur’s competencies. Therefore, the instrumentality of entrepreneurial competencies has remained an important topic to economic development. Previous studies show that entrepreneurial competencies can be influenced by certain variables and vary between these variables, for example age, education level, region, and industry. The aim of this study is to prove there are statistically significant differences in entrepreneurial competency levels and business performance between the different age groups, qualification levels, and industry sector, and per region of existing SMEs in Gauteng, South Africa. This study followed a quantitative method, in which a perception questionnaire and related scales were administered to 520 established entrepreneurs in five regions of the Gauteng Province, South Africa, who are between the ages of 18 and 65, have been operating for over a year in various industries, are in possession of an educational qualification, and are currently undergoing entrepreneurial training. For the purposes of this study, businesses operating for over one year or more are considered as established. Statistical analysis techniques that were used in this study included descriptive and inferential statistics. This study will assist entrepreneurs, policymakers, trainees, and trainers. It will assist entrepreneurs in identifying their own entrepreneurial strengths and diagnostic ability in discerning innate obstacles that might hinder their disposition to thrive. Policymakers and trainers will be able to use the data in considering when formulating and delivering training content, the intricate, complex but factual differences in their audience and careful attention whether training objectives are met based on these differences.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Pretoria

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Van Vuuren, Jurie Jansen

• UCTD
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Entrepreneurial competencies
• Business performance
• Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurial education and training

Statement dc:rights

• © 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.25403/UPresearchdata.31332790

Dc Identifier Other

A2026

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108266