Is entrepreneurial orientation a predictor of entrepreneurial activity? Gender comparisons among generation y students in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa is faced with the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality, and it is through entrepreneurship that these social ills can be resolved. Young people represent the future of South Africa and future entrepreneurs will emerge from this cohort. The purpose of this study was to investigate the entrepreneurial orientation of Generation Y students in terms of gender. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed amongst Generation Y students at two universities in South Africa. Data were analysed from 347 Generation Y students who had fully completed the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the underlying dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation. Correlation analysis was used to establish the relationship amongst the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation. T-tests were used to compare male and female Generation Y students in terms of entrepreneurial orientation dimensions. The results show that there is a statistically positive relationship amongst autonomy, innovation and risk-taking (dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation). Further, significant differences were found between male and female Generation Y students on autonomy. No statistically significant difference were found on the other two dimensions. It is recommended that all stakeholders, including government, need to take urgent steps to create a favourable environment that will enhance entrepreneurial engagement of citizens, particularly the young women to tackle the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurial orientation; Generation Y students; Gender