Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
School of Management Sciences
Department of Business Management
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
It is a well-known fact that education and training are crucial for the development and creation of entrepreneurs in South Africa. However, the lack of entrepreneurial training is seen as entrepreneurs’ most frequently mentioned weakness.
Therefore, research was conducted by the Department of Business Management to find ways in which this weakness can be addressed. The aim of this research project was to introduce and measure the effectiveness of the Women Entrepreneurship Programme (WEP). Furthermore, the research provides a model and foundation for future entrepreneurship training programmes.
WEP was developed by Dr Melodi Botha following a quantitative research project conducted in 2003. The findings of this research project identified a dire need for such a training intervention. The programme is presented by the University’s Department of Continued Education (CE@UP).
WEP focuses on areas that are normally neglected in other entrepreneurship programmes and includes topics such as networking and support, the use of role models, confidence-building, and post-care training in the form of mentors and counsellors. WEP was measured on eight different levels.
To measure the effectiveness and impact of a training programme such as the WEP, four different levels are ordinarily used; namely: Reaction measures (do trainees like the programme?); learning measures (do they understand concepts in the programme?); behaviour measures (can they apply skills gained?); and results/success measures (does it make a difference?).
However, Botha also made use of key performance measures, which include: primary performance measures (growth in number of employees, turnover etc.); Proxy performance measures (Geographical range of markets – national versus international markets); Subjective measures (confidence in running a business); and Entrepreneurial performance measures (The desire to start a business or the desire for growth, the ownership of multiple businesses).
Some of findings with regard to the value of WEP indicate that respondents applied and improved various skills in their businesses, of which improving the management and operations of their businesses and improving motivation and confidence were the most frequently mentioned areas. Five (33.33 %) potential women entrepreneurs started businesses and 36 (33.96 %) start-up and already established women entrepreneurs started multiple businesses.
The findings of this study have helped to highlight the benefits derived by the WEP delegates and that they gained new entrepreneurial, as well as business, skills and knowledge relevant to running a business; increased their confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities, and improved their employability, turnover, productivity and profit.
Furthermore it should be emphasised that it was statistically proven that WEP, as a training intervention, is effective in training potential, start-up and established women entrepreneurs in South Africa.
The results of the study confirmed that these women’s businesses made a significant difference in their communities as the majority of them created jobs and opportunities in their communities
Contact person: Dr M Botha.
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