Profile: professor boris urban - Wits Business School

Profile: Professor Boris Urban
Prof Urban is the Acting Director of the Wits Business School. He is also the incumbent Chair in
Entrepreneurship (Lamberti Foundation) at the WBS. He has more than 20 publications in leading
journals, with ISI and FT listings, including: Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, International
Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, International Journal of
Innovation and Technology Management, International Journal of Human Resource Management. He
has presented papers at several international conferences, and won best paper awards. Prof Urban is
the series editor and author of ‘Perspectives in Entrepreneurship: a Research Companion’ published
by Heinemann and Springer Books internationally, he is also co-author of ‘Entrepreneurship Theory
and Practice’ published by Oxford University Press. Boris serves as reviewer for many local and
international journals, and has participated on several panels as an entrepreneurship expert, including
at the recent MIT GSW conference. He is a member of SAIMS and the International Council of Small
Business (ICSB). He recently applied for an NRF rating, with the support of the University.
Prof Urban’s signature research themes inform the research agenda of the Centre for
Entrepreneurship at the WBS, and serve as a platform for research fellows and Masters/PhD students
undertaking research in entrepreneurship. Boris is also the Programme Director of the Masters in
Management (Entrepreneurship and NVC), for which he conceptualised six new modules, which now
also serve as MBA electives and Executive Education programmes. His supervision and teaching
experience is primarily positioned in entrepreneurial studies, where he has taught and designed a
variety of new entrepreneurship programmes at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels for
various faculties. Prof Urban was one of the first individuals in South Africa to have completed a PhD
specialising in entrepreneurship (University of Pretoria), and was awarded the Sasol prize for best
PhD student.
As the Acting Director of the WBS, he serves on various University committees and engages in
extensive external liaisons. In this capacity and in previous managerial positions he is responsible for
various management functions including finance and human relations.
Apart from his academic background, Boris has extensive entrepreneurial and industry experience.
He has successfully created many new ventures and has operated both as a franchisor and
franchisee. He has worked for several multinational organisations in various capacities and has a
broad exposure to general management in various industries. Through consulting and training he has
delivered successful interventions to blue-chip clients and to the public sector, where he has had the
opportunity to present his research findings to the Office of the South African Presidency.
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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Boris Urban
Academic Qualifications Obtained
• Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D) Specialization in Entrepreneurship.
University of Pretoria - Faculty of Economic Management Sciences -
2001-awarded in 2004.
Thesis Title– Investigating the moderating effect of culture and self-efficacy
on entrepreneurial intentions.
• Masters (Technologia) Business Administration - University of
Johannesburg – Faculty of Management Completed 1997. Dissertation
Title – The relevance of category management for SA retailers – a mixed
methods approach. Subjects: Organisational Behaviour V, Strategic
Management, Quality Management, Research Methodology V,
Entrepreneurship IV. (With distinction).
• Bachelors (Technologia) Business Management - University of
Johannesburg (former TWR) – 4 year Degree - Completed 1989.
Subjects: Management Principles And Practice I,II,III, Economics I, II,
Financial Accounting I, II, Mercantile Law I, Statistical Methods, Marketing
Management, Financial Management I, II, Personnel Management, EDP,
Production Management (3 distinctions). Management Information Systems,
Management Principles And Practice IV, Financial Accounting Aspects IV,
Marketing Management, Operations Management, Cost Accounting, Labour
Law, Industrial Relations, Principles Of Management Economics III, Financial
Management IV, HRM, Financial Accounting Aspects IV. (With distinction).
• High School Matric- Dawnview High School (JHB 1983) - Full University
Exemption Pass: English, Afrikaans, Math, Science, Geography, Accountancy.
Awards: Full academic honorary colours (University of Pretoria -2004)
Top achiever Higher Diploma in Management – JUTA prize 1989 (TWR)
Best PhD student – SASOL prize 2004 (UP)
Research grant received – UJ Dept of International Affairs -2005.
Accredited Trainer assessor/ moderator ETDP 581 PA 110602-f0026
Educational Courses: Programme Development and Learning Guides, Effective
Teaching and Learning, Assessment of Learning, Assessment Workshop (SETA),
Moderation Workshop (SETA), EDLP (Web-Site Curriculum Design), Post-Graduate
Study Skills Workshop, Post-Graduate Supervisor Workshop (UJ).
Short courses: Situational Leadership (HBL-US), Negotiation Skills (UK), Manager
Development (Prtn Grp-US), Information Management (Nielsen’s SA), Motivation for
Senior Managers (MOHR-US), Project Management (PMI), Executive Development
(UP), Strategic Change Management (Prtn Grp -US).
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Research Output
International Publications
1. Urban, B. 2006. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship –
“Entrepreneurship in the rainbow nation: Intentions and Entrepreneurial Self-
Efficacy across cultural groups”, 11 (1): 3-14. (www.worldscientific.org).
2. Urban, B. 2008. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour
and Research “Insights into social entrepreneurship and associated skills”,
14 (5):346-364. (www.emeraldinsight.com).
3. Urban, B. 2008. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship –
“Entrepreneurship Orientation in a developing country context: Juxtapositions
with South Africa’s innovation index” 13 (4): 425-443.
(www.worldscientific.org).
4. Urban, B. 2009. International Journal of Human Resource
Management – “Cognitions and motivations for new venture creation
decisions: linking expert scripts to self-efficacy, a South African study”
forthcoming issue (www.routledge.com) (ISI).
5. Urban, B. 2009. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and
Innovation – “Competitive strategies for technology entrepreneurs: links to
environmental dynamism and hostility” forthcoming issue
(www.ippublishing.com) (IBSS).
6. Urban, B. Barreira, J. 2009. International Journal of Innovation and
Technology Management – “Empirical investigations into firm
entrepreneurial orientation and technology orientation” forthcoming issue
(www.ijitm.org) (IBSS).
7. Venter, B. Urban, B. Kruger, S. (2009). International Journal of
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management – “Conceptual
modelling of familiness transmission capital: Investigating generational
succession” forthcoming issue (www.ijesbm.com).
8. Urban, B. (2009). Journal of Enterprising Culture – “Serial entrepreneurs:
opportunity recognition and motivators” (accepted with changes 12/7/09).
Accredited DOE Publications
9. Urban, B. 2006. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology – “Entrepreneurial
Self-Efficacy in a multicultural society: measures and differences”, 32 (1): 2-
10.
10. Urban, B. 2006. Education as Change – “Entrepreneurship education and
entrepreneurial intentions: a higher education perspective”, 10 (3): 14-25.
11. Urban, B. 2007. SA Journal of Economic Management Sciences
“Associations between entrepreneurial empowerment and reasons for selfemployment”,
10 (3): 313-329. (ISI).
12. Urban, B. 2007. Acta Commercii “A framework for understanding the role of
culture in entrepreneurship” 7: 82-95.
13. Urban, B., J. Barreira. 2007. SA Journal of Higher Education “Insights into
technopreneurship: self-employment perceptions among engineering
students” 21 (5): 567-583. (IBSS).
14. Urban, B., J van Vuuren. 2008. SA Journal of Human Resource
Management “Antecedents to entrepreneurial intentions: testing for
measurement invariance” 6 (1): 1-9.
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15. Urban, B., J van Vuuren., J Barreira. 2008. Journal of Contemporary
Management “High-growth entrepreneurs: the relevance of business
knowledge and work experience on venture success” 5: 58-71.
16. Urban, B. 2008. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology “Entrepreneurial
cognitions: linking willingness and ability scripts with entrepreneurial
behaviour” 34 (4): 1-9.
17. Urban, B., E. Mangisi. 2008. Journal of Contemporary Management
“Enterprise resource planning system implementation: investigating the
process of change in medium size firms” 5: 223-237.
18. Urban, B & Naidoo, R. (2009). Acta Commercii – “The relevance of
operational skills towards business sustainability” (accepted with changes).
19. Urban, B., Oosthuizen, C. 2009. Journal of Contemporary Management.
“Empirical analysis of corporate entrepreneurship in the South African mining
industry” 6: 170-192. Acta Commercii – “The relevance of operational skills
towards business sustainability”.
20. Urban, B. 2009. SA Journal of Economic and Management Sciences
“Opportunity recognition among serial entrepreneurs: A South African
perspective” forthcoming 2009 last quarter issue (ISI).
Conference Proceedings Published (Refereed research papers)
21. International Conference on Technology and Management – World
Conference for Science and Technology- 23-26 June 2009, Paris. “Serial
Entrepreneurs and Opportunity Recognition” (www.waset.org).
22. Annual ICSB Conference on 22-26 June 2008 at Halifax. Nova Scotia - “Social
entrepreneurship in South Africa: a SME skills perspective”. Full paper
published in proceedings (www.icsb2008.org). Nominated as Best paper in
theme track.
23. Annual ICSB Conference on 13-16 June 2007 at Turku. Finland - “EO in a
developing country context: Juxtapositions with firm success and SA
innovation index”. Full paper published in proceedings (www.icsb2007.org).
24. Annual ICSB Conference on 12-16 June 2006 at Melbourne. Australia -
“Antecedents of high-expectancy entrepreneurs”. Full paper published in
proceedings (www.icsb2006.org).
25. 50 th Annual ICSB Conference on 13-16 June 2005 at Washington D.C. -
“Entrepreneurial motivation: the effects of culture and self-efficacy on
intentions”. Full paper published in proceedings (www.icsb2005.org).
26. International SASCE Conference- 05 & 06 April 2005 at Pretoria “Developing
Entrepreneurial Competencies and Capacity Building in SA Education”.
Published in proceedings
27. International Management Faculty Conference – June 2004 “Entrepreneurship
Education at the New University Of Johannesburg. What Can We Expect?”
Published in proceedings.
28. University of Johannesburg - International management conference –
opportunities and initiatives for the 21 st century, 29-31 Oct 2006 –“A
framework for enhancing entrepreneurship”.
29. Wits Business School and Centre for entrepreneurship. Conference on
Entrepreneurship as a driver for firm growth, economic development and
poverty reduction–presented 2 papers, Nov 2008.
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30. Wits Business School and Centre for entrepreneurship. Conference on
entrepreneurship capital. Building capacity in SA. Presented 3 papers, Oct
2009.
Papers under review (Refereed Journals)
31. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology “Empirical explorations into the nature of
networking activities of SA entrepreneurs”.
32. International Journal of Intercultural Relations “An ethnic analysis of
networking activities”.
33. Journal of World Business “Necessity driven vs. Opportunity driven
entrepreneurial networking”.
34. Development Southern Africa Journal - “Gender based career preferences:
understanding women entrepreneurs”.
35. Journal of Small Business Development – “Empirical evidence on business
sustainability in South Africa”.
36. SA Journal of HRM- “Evidence of technology and entrepreneurial orientations
at south African firms”.
37. Journal of SA Studies – “Community influences on entrepreneurial behaviour:
a multi-ethnic in-group, out-group analysis”.
38. International Journal of Small Business Management – “Metacognition’s and
entrepreneurial intentions; a multicultural emerging country study”.
Scholarly Textbooks and Chapters
• H. Rwigema, B. Urban, R. Venter. 2008. Entrepreneurship Theory in
Practice, 2 nd edition, Oxford University Press, South Africa: (8 x chapters,
245 pages). ISBN: 978 0 19 598354 8
• B.Urban (Ed). Perspectives in Entrepreneurship: A research companion -
Heinemann Publishers, South Africa – Advanced Entrepreneurship HE
Series. Series editor and lead author. : ISBN: 10: 0796225915
• B.Urban (Ed). Book 1: Frontiers of Entrepreneurship. 2008. (3 x chapters,
75 pages).
• B.Urban (Ed). Book 2: The Entrepreneurial mindset. 2009. (2 x chapters,
60 pgs).
Referred non-accredited Publications
1. Urban, B., J van Vuuren. R. Owen. 2008. SA Journal of Entrepreneurship
and Small Business Management “Entrepreneurial intentions:
measurement testing across ethnic groups”. Vol 1: 1.
2. Urban, B. 2009. Cfe WBS Working Paper Series: Opportunity recognition
among serial entrepreneurs. May Issue.
Research Based Consulting Publications
1. Research report with Nielsen’s SA and Sobotka Consulting (US):
Strategic category analysis for Pick n Pay– BCG, SPACE matrix, etc, piloted at
@12 sites in 1997.
2. Research report with Nielsen’s SA and Bain International (US): FMCG
category analysis for Pick n Pay– BCG, SPACE matrix, etc, piloted at @ 23
sites in 1996.
3. Research report on competitive industry structure – SA Retailers-
supply-chain partnering – 1997.
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4. Research report - ECR category management best practices- relevance
to SA retailers-policy- manual and guide for practitioners-1998.
5. Research report- Franchise Entrepreneurial Partnering - intervention design
and presentation to Pick n Pay franchise division -1999.
6. Feasibility and viability study for Wilropark shopping centre- Roodepoort
JHB store opening 1992
7. Feasibility and viability study for shopping centre- Randfontein JHB store
opening 1993
8. Feasibility and viability study for Kelvin shopping centre- Sandton JHB store
opening 1993
9. Feasibility and viability study for Honeydew shopping centre- JHB store
opening 1990
10. Feasibility and viability study for Centurion shopping centre- PTA store
opening 1994
11. Viability impact study for Family Franchise Centurion shopping centre-1998
12. NVC Learnership – Manual for Training excellence – Module content design
and critical analysis-2002
13. Eskom quality management implementation proposal- MegaWatt Park
2002
14. Project Management of Learnership implementation – Postnet 2002
15. SMME Learnership readiness program-study skills – Achieve-Global 2001
16. Study skills and learning skills for Learnership candidates -module design ITE
2001
17. SMME readiness – train the trainer --BEE foundation 2002
18. Angloplats Learnership readiness program module design – 2003
19. Centre for Small Business@ University of Johannesburg: SOWETO
Campus-commissioned research projects – GEP. Financial and non-financial
needs for SMMEs; Effect of Shopping Malls on SMMEs.
20. Entrepreneurial assessment instrument– Educon – with Cfe Aug 2009.
Subject Expert: Popular Press & Invited Media Interviews
• Guest speaker on – Tim Modise show – 702 radio- SMME
development (2006)
• Guest speaker on – 702 radio- Entrepreneurship in SA (2007)
• Guest speaker on - Alec Hogg show- Moneyweb – Entrepreneurial
opportunities in SA (2007)
• SUMMIT TV -DSTV - SMME youth development (2007)
• Category Management a Strategic Perspective – Specialist Trade Retail
Publication, Supermarket News, 2000, 34 (6), Times Media
Publication.
• Passion and profits, Social Entrepreneurs. Financial Mail- 2007, 23
Apr.
• A word from the new chair at WBS. HR Strategy, Apr 2009.
• SSETA---SGB for small business.
• MIT Global Start-up participant 2009 – March 25-28. Cape Town.
• MIT Global Start-up – Panel member, Cultural influences on startups.
• Cfe Entrepreneurship Symposium panel participant July 2009
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Lecturing Experience
University of Witwatersrand, WBS Associate Prof. Jan 2009
University of Johannesburg Associate Prof. Aug 2007/8
University of Johannesburg Senior Lecturer Jan 2004/7
Technikon Witwatersrand Lecturer Jan 2001/3
Oxford Brookes University PT Lecturer Jan 1999/01
University of Warwick PT Lect/Supervisor 2000-2003
Milpark Business School PT Lect/Supervisor 2001-2006
Modules Lectured and Curriculum Development
Undergraduate Diplomas/Degrees: For BComm. (Intrapreneurship), National
Diploma Entrepreneurship, BComm. Business and Marketing Management,
National Diploma Art and Design (interior, multimedia), BTech Biotechnology,
BTech Engineering (chemical and mechanical), BTech Optometry, BTech
Emergency Medical Care, MTech Homeopathy and Chiropractic.
Subjects: Intrapreneurship, Growth Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial
Strategy, Small Business Management, Management Practice, Business Studies,
NVC, Organisational Behaviour, Strategic Management, Strategic Marketing,
Research Methodology, Research Project.
Postgraduate Degrees: For MComm. MBA. MM in Entrepreneurship and NVC.
Subjects: Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Corporate Entrepreneurship,
Social Entrepreneurship, Developmental Entrepreneurship, Global
Entrepreneurship, Technopreneurship, Management Practice, Entrepreneurial
Skills, Strategic Management, Organisational Behaviour, Research Methodology.
Experiential module designs: Entrepreneurial diagnostics and selfevaluations,
business plan competitions, ‘elevator pitch’ competition, collaborated
on designing several case studies with WBS case centre.
Extra-Curriculum modules: Entrepreneurship, NVC, Management
Development, HRM, Marketing Strategy, Strategy Management, Marketing
Practice, Organizational Development, Research Project, Corporate
Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Technopreneurship, CDLP (WBS).
Administrative duties
Departmental Timetable Scheduling, Student Registration, Workload Distribution,
budgeting, compiling accreditation reports, strategy reporting.
Facilitation Evaluations
Above average score (UJ reference 2006114 FARMAN URBAN)
WBS (Executive programme – average score 89.1%) see attached.
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Dissertation and Thesis Supervision: Completed Supervision of higher degrees
University of Warwick (UK) MBA
“Managing Capacity through Human
Resource Interventions”. Glenda
Molope - Completed: 2002 (3 yrs).
Hertfordshire University (UK) MSc (T)
“Competitive advantage in a service
industry environment” Gordon Shaw -
Completed: 2001 (2 yrs).
Hertfordshire University (UK) MSc (T)
“Maintenance Management as a
Strategic Competitive Advantage”
Alan Berry-Completed: 2002 (3 yrs).
University of Johannesburg MTech B.A
“System Implementation at SAAB:
Investigating Change Management
Process” Edwin Mashini -Completed:
2006 (3 yrs).
University of Johannesburg MTech Operations Management
“SMME Capacity Development”
Reggie Naidoo-Completed: June
2007 (3 yrs).
Current supervision
WBS PhD x 1
MBA x 3
Selected Professional Accomplishments
Consulting/training
Designed and delivered “World Class” category management interventions to
various companies including, Cadburys, Nestle SA, National Brands, ABI.
Delivered training for BEE Foundation, Venture Creation Learnership, Dept of
Education, Achieve Global, ITE, Masters Research (SAMDI), Angloplats.
Prepared business plans for Mugg & Bean, Pizza Perfect, Steers, BP, Caltex, Pick n
Pay Franchisees.
Presentations to Office of Presidency, DOE, SEDA. Member of task team of PP
SMMEs.
Owner of Franchise Supermarket (1999-2001)
• Owner and manager
• Conducted site selection and feasibility study
• Turnover of R50million p/a.
• Full service departments and approx 25000 SKU management
• Operated with 65 staff – full financial and HR function
• Complete housekeeping activities i.e. Accounts, Logistics, Marketing, etc.
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Strategic Business Manager Pick n’ Pay Head Office (1997-1999)
• Developed Strategic Business Plans, in conjunction with Bain
International/Nielsen’s
• Analyze Categories/Brands, i.r.o market share, growth, generic strategies
• Implemented tactical plans at 37 sites
• Managed categories as SBU’s with Bottom Line ROI (approx R6 bn).
• Designed enabling mechanisms for empowering buyers and support staff to drive
business process.
Franchise Developer (1994-1997)
• Founder of Franchise System--100% Equity Owned in 6 x stores
• Initiated franchise system and full design of manuals, training, etc.
• Extensive feasibility site studies and training of franchisees
• Responsible for recruiting franchisees and marketing at HO level
Marketing Manager for Pharmaceuticals SA Druggists (1992-1994)
Trainee Manager OK Bazaars/SAB (1987-1989)
Community Service
• Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) - UJ- Faculty advisory officer 2004-6.
• Franchise developer - Profit sharing schemes with employees & accumulated
job creation through enterprises (approx: 120 new jobs)
• Delegate to HIV/AIDS HESA conference – Grant application proposal-2008-
JHB.
Academic Citizenship
• Reviewer –SA Business Review, SA Journal of Economic Management
Sciences, SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, SA Journal of Human Resource
Management, Acta Commercii, Journal of Small Business Management,
Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, International Journal of
Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, ICSB conference paper reviewer
• External examiner/moderator/critical reader for PhD/ M Phil Thesis
and Dissertations, entrepreneurship modules (University of Pretoria), MBA
(UK), dissertations/exams – Milpark Business School (MBA), Oxford Brookes
University - Strategic management, Change management, Business ethics,
Research Methodology (University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria,
UNISA).
• WBS panel chair and member – research proposals panels x 8 (2009)
• Conceptualised the 2009 WBS Cfe 2 nd Annual Conference
Academic Leadership
Institutional level:
• Member of the Senate Academic Ethics Committee 2007/8: University of
Johannesburg.
• Member of the Strategic Task Team during the RAU and TWR merger
2004. Entrepreneurship Centre Development at SOWETO campus.
• SAIMS 2007 conference organising committee member
• WBS Centre for Entrepreneurship Board Member 2009.
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Faculty level:
• Member of the Faculty Board in the Management Faculty University of
Johannesburg 2004-2008.
• Faculty Chairperson for Ethics committee University of Johannesburg
2007/8
• Faculty representative for ethics and research committee University of
Johannesburg 2007/8
• Status committee– applications for further study, University of
Johannesburg 2006/8
• Member of the Faculty Research Committee University of Johannesburg
2006/8
• Member of the Faculty Higher Degrees Committee University of
Johannesburg 2006/8
• Member of the Faculty Board in the Commerce, Law and Management
Faculty University of Witwatersrand 2009
• Member of the Academic Planning Committee in the Commerce, Law and
Management Faculty University of Witwatersrand 2009
• Member of the Staffing and Promotion Committee in the Commerce, Law
and Management Faculty University of Witwatersrand 2009
School/Departmental level:
• Departmental representative, Library committee Department of
Entrepreneurship University of Johannesburg 2006/8
• Open day speaker, Department of Entrepreneurship, University of
Johannesburg 2006/8.
• Benchmark study on entrepreneurship: Department of Entrepreneurship,
University of Johannesburg 2008.
• Acting Head Department of Entrepreneurship, University of Johannesburg
2007/8
• Subject Head for Entrepreneurship Department of Entrepreneurship,
University of Johannesburg 2006/8
• WBS BEE Barloworld awards 2009- Working committee member and
Research consultant.
• Chair of the WBS/Barlowworld programme committee 2009
• Deputy Director WBS 2009 July
International Visits
• NYU-Stern Business School (US)
• Columbia University (US)
• Sydney University (Australia)
• Australian Catholic University(Australia)
• Turku University (Finland)
Biographic Details
• Age 43 – Male
• Born - 1965 in Subotica (Eastern Europe) Full SA citizen since 1983.
• Reside in Lonehill, Sandton for past 12 years
• One dependant- son (15 years)
• Languages – English (excellent), Afrikaans (fair), Slavic (good),
Yiddish (basic).
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Referees
1. Dr J. Barreira (PhD, Entrepreneurship -UP)
Investment entrepreneur; CEO of General Manufacturers Alberton; part-time lecturer at University
Johannesburg and MPBS in Entrepreneurship and Research Methodology.
genhinge5@global.co.za
Long-term colleague
Part of academic community
Researcher and practioner in entrepreneurship in organisations, technopreneurship, and
entrepreneurship orientation.
2. Prof M. Pretorius
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria
marius.pretorius@up.ac.za
Part of academic community
Researcher in entrepreneurial motivation and culture, entrepreneurial failure and learning.
3. Prof J Luiz
WITS Business School, Parktown, Jhb
International Programmes Director, University of the Witwatersrand
John.Luiz@wits.ac.za
Co-worker
Research in entrepreneurial economics and development entrepreneurship
4. Dr G. Shaw (PhD)
Chair in Entrepreneurship at University of Fort Hare
gshaw@uj.ac.za
Ex-business partner
Co-worker
Practioner and researcher in entrepreneurship finance and entrepreneurial tourism
5. Prof M. Ncube
Prof. Mthuli Ncube, PhD (Cambridge, UK)
Director and Head of School
& Professor of Finance
Wits Business School
University of the Witwatersrand
E-mail: Mthuli.Ncube@wits.ac.za
Promoter of Chair in Entrepreneurship at WBS
6. Prof. Jurie van Vuuren
Coordinator: Chair in Entrepreneurship
Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
University of Pretoria
Jurie.VanVuuren@up.ac.za
My supervisor for PhD studies
Many publications in entrepreneurship training, entrepreneurial culture, entrepreneurship education
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Other University Contributions:
Research capacity development.
While at the University of Johannesburg I initiated to have a department for entrepreneurship
established at the University. To support my proposal I conducted a benchmark study at Dean’s
request to position Department of Entrepreneurship in the broader higher education research
landscape.
Based on these proposals the establishment of department was approved by the University Senate
(2004). The Department of Entrepreneurship was set up to collaborate and co-exist with the Centre
for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (CSMED) at the SOWETO campus of University of
Johannesburg. Since the establishment of these departments, extensive research and training has
taken place in line with the CSMED mandate to assist SMMEs to grow in the SOWETO area. Various
research projects have been commissioned for clients such as GEP. Collaborative links have also
secured nation wide training of entrepreneurs for TECHNO-SERVE.
I was the University of Johannesburg delegate to HIV/AIDS HESA 2007 conference – to assist with a
grant application proposal.
In 2004 I was appointed as University faculty advisor for Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) global
initiative. Several projects to assist micro enterprises were co-supervised with students who have
since competed annual in the SIFE awards.
I serve on the task team in the Office of the President in terms of integrated SMME support for public
procurement policy.
I have collaborated in my capacity as series book editor with project director at the World Institute for
Development Economics Research (WIDER) of the United Nations University.
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Brief description of completed research:
I first present a brief quantitative analysis of my research outputs which have been calculated in
accordance with Department of Education criteria for reporting completed research. I focus here on
the period 2006 to 2008, where the bulk of my research has taken place. For 2006 a total of 3, 5 units
were allocated to the University of Johannesburg on the strength of my submissions. For 2007 a total
of 3 units were allocated – as one of my papers was co-authored. For 2008 I have calculated 4.5 units
which exclude the co-authors allocations.
In summary, total research output was 11 units (12 articles and 3 conference publications) for this
2006 -2008 period.
My research has focussed exclusively on entrepreneurship, where entrepreneurship is at the core
of the investigation and is not a peripheral topic. Although a wide range of topics have been
investigated, the nature of my research reflects the fragmentary nature of this new field of
entrepreneurship. Based on the relative dearth of research on entrepreneurship available in South
Africa (no accredited journal currently exists dedicated to entrepreneurship, whereas internationally
there are more than 40 peer reviewed journals specialising in entrepreneurship) my work has tried to
capture some of the rigorous research evident in this growing field of entrepreneurship. The
overarching goal with all my research is that the content and methodologies are based on sound
scientific research and not popular management theory literature.
Each of my papers reflects specialised knowledge in entrepreneurship, where systematic theory and
an established body of literature are accessed to contextualise the research in the prevailing South
African socio-economic milieu.
My approach is to provide a knowledge based narrative at the outset of each paper, thereby adding
relevance and providing clarity with a structured overview on the particular entrepreneurship theme
under investigation. The majority of my research is based on a positivistic epistemological stance with
a quantitative methodological approach where I use scientific methods to collect data and formally
test hypotheses. Due to the lack consistent, comprehensive and detailed data on entrepreneurs in
South Africa, my research provides a systematic approach in developing theory and testing
assumptions about the entrepreneurial activity in South Africa. The descriptive nature of these studies
allows for data on different facets of entrepreneurship to start accumulating. The blend of theoretical
and empirical evidence emanating from the papers, demonstrates the convergence of thinking on a
particular topic.
Over the years my research has not focused on the macro-perspective of entrepreneurship, but rather
because of the diversity of entrepreneurship evident in South Africa, i.e. opportunity vs. necessity,
informal vs. formal, my studies using relatively small samples (80-300), focus instead on these
differentials. I consider large data sets and national surveys far too mechanistic, and rely instead on a
thematic and focused approach more suited to capture the complexity of entrepreneurial involvement
by diverse individuals in wide range of sectors, industries and contexts.
My paper on entrepreneurial education, as a prospect for higher education investigates
entrepreneurship as an academic discipline and participation in entrepreneurial studies is examined
by comparing different countries and institutions, which is interpreted in terms of various pedagogical
perspectives. Consolidations illustrating the current state of affairs in terms of entrepreneurship
offerings at local higher education institutions are supported with a survey. Because the field is still
evolving in terms of ontology, a multi-disciplinary approach towards studying entrepreneurship is
recommended, where a shift in paradigm from traditional management to entrepreneurial thinking is
emphasized. One of the implications of this study is that entrepreneurial education is an emerging
field that must create its own ontological and epistemological base.
Based on classical and contemporary readings, I investigated social entrepreneurship to elucidate just
how pervasive entrepreneurship is in different fields and can create value for profit and non-profit
organisations. In this study, empirical findings were interrogated in the context of existing research
and comparisons with UK Social Entrepreneurship Activity (SEA) rates were made. This was a first
where SEA and skills were empirically derived and measured. This initial South African interrogation
advances the topic where it has much relevance, in terms of the nation’s huge social deficit.
Reflecting on global competitiveness scores and indices, South Africa’s innovation index was
interpreted in the paper on corporate intrapreneurship. The findings of this study suggest that
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entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is positively associated with overall firm performance and the
significance of the study emerges when links with South Africa’s innovation levels are made. This
study is relevant when considering that for businesses based in Africa, the challenge to participate in
the global economy of the 21 st century will be to compete as world-class businesses where the focus
is on high-value added human capital based on creativity and innovation.
Infusing an enterprising spirit into student endeavours and the promotion of entrepreneurial skills has
been implemented worldwide as an impetus to promote “technopreneurship”. My study on insights
into technopreneurship empirically investigates entrepreneurial perceptions among non-business
students before and after exposure to an entrepreneurship intervention. Results emerge which
generally indicate a significant increase in self-employment intentions. The study is significant in
response to South Africa’s insidious skills shortages, where embedding entrepreneurship education
within non-business studies is highly recommended and requires flexible and collaborative
implementation.
The focus of my article on entrepreneurial empowerment is based on the individuals’ perception of
business start-ups. This investigation is relevant in South Africa, where empowerment is not only
widely advocated, but where there is a need to empower individuals to have the potential to be
entrepreneurs and to do this entail fostering empowerment amongst individuals (especially for sectors
of population such as women and previously disadvantaged groups who could be perceived as
lacking entrepreneurial traditions) by increasing perceptions of self-efficacy. The significance of this
investigation reveals that the psychological component of empowerment is pivotal. Building on the
conceptual foundations of understanding the role of individuals in venture creation, it is imperative that
policymakers recognise how individual intentions make things happen through ones own actions. The
entire entrepreneurial process unfolds because individual entrepreneurs act and are motivated to
pursue opportunities.
Building on the theme of self-efficacy I bring the concept of cognitive expert scripts to bear upon the
venture creation decision and following a script-scenario construction model the existence and degree
of mastery of scripts is inferred from a selection of items consisting of paired script recognition and
distracter cues. With advances in social psychology and specifically in the area of social cognition,
this now allows for entrepreneurship investigators to address the think-doing connection of
entrepreneurs more directly. Examining entrepreneurial cognition in a multicultural society is pivotal to
understanding entrepreneurial behavior, as little evidence exists that cognitive patterns and behaviors
are salient to entrepreneurs from non-Western cultures. By devoting attention to how expert
entrepreneurs think in an emerging market context the article makes a contribution in understanding
and assisting in the development of entrepreneurs as expert professionals. This interrogation of the
entrepreneurial mindset, within an emerging economy, has both theoretical and practical relevance
where the article sheds light on the content and structure of entrepreneurial expert scripts in a country
where entrepreneurship holds much promise.
The discourse between opportunity versus necessity entrepreneurs is interrogated in my study
focusing on networking. By identifying dominant categories of entrepreneurs, and linking them with
research variables previously not addressed, helps elucidate how these two types of entrepreneurs
react differently or similarly to different specified phenomena. By exploring the largely unarticulated
set of networking principles and practices, the study provides descriptive data on networking
characteristics and activities, and helps evaluate how these two types of entrepreneurs draw on social
networks and what may distinguish their networking activities in a multi-ethnic business setting.
By synthesising research findings on business regulations, culture, self, and entrepreneurial outputs,
the article on developing a framework for enhancing entrepreneurship provides a broad overview of
the potential patterns of relationships between these variables. Implications for policymakers,
encouraging entrepreneurship in South Africa, are that the complexity of factors involved in promoting
entrepreneurship should be given due consideration, without any one set of variables overshadowing
the other factors. Entrepreneurs, educators, and consultants all benefit from better understanding of
how various factors merge into the intent to start and run a sustainable business.
My paper on Social Entrepreneurship in the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour
and Research “Insights into social entrepreneurship and associated skills”, 14 (5):346-364, was
recently used at the ILO and ASEN as part of a dialogue circle involving local stakeholders.
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Self-assessment of research outputs
Noting that the body of entrepreneurship research is eclectic, stratified and divergent, my research,
which has a multi-disciplinary basis, reflects a strong theoretical contribution to the field. This is
particularly important when establishing the academic legitimacy of a new field. By applying a
theoretical lens to central issues ‘about entrepreneurship’ rather than focus on practical issues of ‘how
to’, my papers in essence have a theoretical outlook providing rich conceptualisations. This has been
noted where in my interrogation of how entrepreneurs and opportunities are matched, new debate
has emerged on how opportunities may be created, identified, recognised and indeed exploited.
Over the years my research has evolved by using more sophisticated research methods, where
multivariate techniques are used to test formal hypotheses. The study on testing for measurement
invariance for cultural values, attitudes and self- efficacy beliefs across ethnic groups, used LISREL
and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), where a factor model was derived at a priori and then
evaluated for its goodness of fit to data regarding the number of latent variables and how they relate
to the observed variables.
Having established a foundation within the management faculty, my research on entrepreneurship
education and technopreneurship has opened new frontiers in terms of entrepreneurial offerings
campus-wide. At the moment cross-disciplinary efforts are underway between entrepreneurship and
engineering, art and design, chemistry, tourism and biotechnology; entrepreneurship is now a
compulsory module in various programmes. Part of building bridges with other disciplines as opposed
to creating entrepreneurship as a silo in academe, was achieved by actively working with innovation
hubs (UP) and SMME centres (CSMED).
Through focused research efforts the increased facilitation of entrepreneurial discovery is directly
associated to knowledge being augmented by empirical scholarship, demonstrating that the
procurement of knowledge is pivotal to entrepreneurship theory and practice. This has been noted by
the entrepreneurship academic community where I have been encouraged to pursue the line of
research currently being conducted to provide ‘substantive and solid research’.
By not ignoring conceptual and contextual difficulties when researching entrepreneurship, my studies
are generalizable and comparable in their results with international studies. Since these results have
emerged from empirically based research much can be used as a knowledge base for further
investigation and development. For instance two doctoral students are pursuing research on
entrepreneurial orientation based on my initial study on this aspect of corporate intrapreneurship.
My research on entrepreneurial intentions, attitudes, culture and motivations, investigated in the paper
on entrepreneurship in the rainbow nation, uses cultural dimensions to understand different ethnic
group’s cultural tendencies. These results have relevance for government and policy makers who are
encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset among South Africans. Social interventions designed to
encourage entrepreneurship need to take into account the culture values of the target population,
since motivational differences across cultures can be salient. These findings were picked up by policy
makers at the ICSB conference in Washington D.C. where I subsequently was requested to make a
presentation to the office of the SA presidency.
My work on high-growth entrepreneurs illustrates the congruence required between national
framework conditions and high-expectancy entrepreneurs, especially since positive correlations have
been found between high-expectancy entrepreneurs and employment. The point the study makes is
that interventions designed to curb unemployment, through entrepreneurship, in developing nations
need to take into account the target population, since significant differences across different types of
potential entrepreneurs can be salient.
Overall my research has contributed to the improved quality of entrepreneurship courses,
entrepreneurial start-ups, as well as societal and intellectual attitudes to entrepreneurship.
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Ongoing and planned research
The following outputs have been submitted for review:
1. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology “Empirical explorations into the nature of networking
activities of SA entrepreneurs”.
2. SA Journal of Higher education - “Gender based career preferences: understanding women
entrepreneurs”.
3. Acta Commercii – “The relevance of operational skills towards business sustainability”.
4. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business - “Conceptual modelling of
familiness transmission of capital: Investigational generational succession”.
5. SA Journal of Economic and Management Sciences “Opportunity recognition among serial
entrepreneurs: A SA perspective”.
6. Journal of Enterprising Culture – “Empirical testing of entrepreneurial orientation, marketing
orientation and technological orientation links”.
7. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation “Competitive strategies for
technology entrepreneurs: links to environmental dynamism and hostility”.
8. International Journal of Small Business Management – “Dynamics of entrepreneurial
networking for necessity vs. opportunity entrepreneurs”.
9. Urban, B. 2009. International Journal of Intercultural Relations – “Ethnicity based networking”
These above outputs reflect the core themes I have focused on previously and have been extended
to incorporate additionally variables and/or links with other pertinent aspects not covered in previous
studies, e.g. gender entrepreneurship, differences in conceptualisation and intention with respect to
women entrepreneurs are investigated.
Future research will also integrate some of the earlier themes which were explored separately, for
instance entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is now combined with technopreneurship to juxtapose EO
with technology strategy as determinants of firm performance.
Books 2, 3 and 4 of the series ‘Perspectives in Entrepreneurship’ will require focused research in
terms of the proposed specialised topics for each forthcoming book. I have stared work on topics such
as social capital, opportunity recognition, entrepreneurial learning, etc. These chapters will be
supplemented with case studies obtained from ’Endeavour’ a NGO initiative which networks with
venture capitalists to sponsor entrepreneurs in South Africa.
Ongoing research for policy makers and institutional support agencies will entail identifying
institutional support mechanisms for SMMEs and designing measures for such interventions. Further
research is envisaged on productive versus unproductive entrepreneurship where indices will be
designed to be able to measure and monitor these developments.
The circumference of collaboration will be enlarged for future research as more academics and
support agencies are now researching entrepreneurship and soon a critical mass will be reached
where increasing empirical research and subsequent proliferating knowledge on entrepreneurship will
promote economic growth and create employment.
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