Exploring the contribution of an integrated coaching and mentoring framework to develop entrepreneurial self-efficacy in survival-driven entrepreneurs
| dc.contributor.advisor | Terblanche, Nicky | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Theron-Wepener, Marietjie | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.author | Cronjé, Jean Pierre | en_ZA |
| dc.contributor.other | Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Business Management. | en_ZA |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-30T09:31:55Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-01-30T09:31:55Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-12 | |
| dc.description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.abstract | Entrepreneurship is the dynamic interaction between an individual and the entrepreneurial environment, leading to a business venture. Consequently, the individual plays a central role in the entrepreneurial process, requiring motivation, behavioural competencies, and business management skills to transition from early entrepreneurship to established business ownership. Entrepreneurs are generally categorised as either opportunity-driven or survival-driven. Survival-driven entrepreneurs, the focus of this study, often turn to entrepreneurship in the absence of formal employment. They often lack the necessary skills to engage confidently in the entrepreneurial process. Additionally, the challenges they face in developing their skills and confidence are often exacerbated by a scarcity of entrepreneurial education and development opportunities. Understanding the specific development needs of survival-driven entrepreneurs can inform the development of interventions that enhance their behavioural and functional skills, enabling them to engage more confidently in entrepreneurial activities. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy, a multi-dimensional construct, encompasses an entrepreneur's self-confidence to execute tasks and develop the necessary business and behavioural competencies. It is a learned competence that can be developed and enhanced, with coaching and mentoring recognised as individual-level antecedents. Coaching adopts a reflective and facilitative approach, while mentoring is more directive. However, no comprehensive theoretical framework exists that integrates these approaches to support the development of survival-driven entrepreneurs. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the properties an integrated coaching and mentoring framework should possess to contribute to the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of survival-driven entrepreneurs during the early stages of entrepreneurship, focusing on both general self-efficacy and domain-specific entrepreneurial skills development. The research approach employed to develop the Integrated Coaching and Mentoring Entrepreneurial Development Framework (ICMED Framework) was exploratory, qualitative, and followed an inductive methodology. Data collection and analysis occurred in three distinct phases. In Phase 1, a conceptual version of the framework was developed by conducting a thematic content analysis of data gathered from semi-structured interviews (n=21). During Phase 2, the conceptual framework evolved and was refined through Canonical Action Research (n=10) resulting in the generation of a draft version of the framework. Phase 3 involved the use of focus groups (n= 21) to arrive at the final version of the ICMED Framework. The findings from this research enrich practical implementation, scholarly knowledge and methodological refinement. The ICMED Framework provides practical guidelines for coaches and mentors seeking to contribute towards enhancing the entrepreneurial self-efficacy of survival-driven entrepreneurs. Moreover, it has the potential to complement existing entrepreneurial training and development programmes. Additionally, the framework contributes to the development of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on a theoretical level by adopting an integrated and holistic approach informed by the current reality of the survival-driven entrepreneur. The framework is underpinned by Integral Theory and Experiential Learning Theory, which complement Social Cognitive Theory as a behavioural theory. Methodologically, this study enhances the rigour of the Coaching Model Derivation Process by integrating focus groups as a new step in the process, thereby including user feedback in coaching model development. This study makes numerous practical recommendations, including suggestions for future research. | en_ZA |
| dc.description.version | Doctoral | en_ZA |
| dc.format.extent | 428 pages : ill. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131627 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_ZA |
| dc.publisher | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.rights.holder | Stellenbosch University | en_ZA |
| dc.title | Exploring the contribution of an integrated coaching and mentoring framework to develop entrepreneurial self-efficacy in survival-driven entrepreneurs | en_ZA |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_ZA |