Dear Respondent, We Are Conducting Research On Impact Of Soc ✓ Solved
Dear Respondentwe Are Conducting Research On Impact Of Social
We are conducting research on the impact of social, personal, economical, and structural barriers on business start-up intentions of university students. This questionnaire is designed to elicit your response. The information collected through this questionnaire will only be used for research purposes. Your assistance is highly appreciated.
Part-1 (Entrepreneurial Barriers) Use the following scale to record your response (1= Strongly Disagree) (2= Disagree) (3= Neutral) (4=Agree) (5=Strongly Agree).
Behavioral Factors
- I am confident that I can start and run a business successfully.
- I have the ability to lead others towards a goal.
- I can and I will take risks for a better future.
- I have the ability to secure the needs and moral values of my peers/colleagues.
- If my family supports me with financial assistance, I can take my financial decisions independently.
- Uncertainties do not affect my professional aptitude substantially.
Structural & Financial Factors
- Loans and financial assistance from financial institutions are available to students to start their business.
- Government is ambitious in providing young entrepreneurs with the latest equipment.
- Government has proper legislation for young entrepreneurs.
- There are continuous training programs arranged by the government for newcomers.
Economic Factors
- Under the current scenario, students are encouraged to start their own business.
- Existing industrial giants leave no room for emerging entrepreneurs to penetrate the corporate sector.
- The behavior of existing businessmen is positive towards young entrepreneurs.
Social/Cultural Factors
- My family supports me to take a step towards business start-up.
- My family allows me to give substantial time to business.
- Our socio-cultural norms are in favor of business-oriented people.
- Society appreciates and encourages new ventures irrespective of gender.
Entrepreneurial Intentions
- I would like to choose a career as an entrepreneur.
- I prefer to be an entrepreneur rather than to be an employee in a company.
- I’ll leave no stone unturned to start and run my own business.
- I’m determined enough to start a business in the near future.
Self-Efficacy
- When I make plans, I am certain I can materialize them by the grace of ALLAH.
- I am a self-reliant person.
- If I can’t do a job the first time, I keep trying until I get it done.
- One of my problems is that I cannot get down to work when I should.
- I avoid trying to learn new things when they look too difficult for me.
- Failure just makes me try harder.
- When I decide to do something, I go right to work on it.
- When I face something unpleasant to do, I stick to it until I finish it.
Locus of Control
- When I get what I waited for, it is usually because I worked hard for it.
- I prefer games involving some luck over games requiring pure skills.
- I can learn almost anything if I set my mind to it.
- My major accomplishments are entirely due to my diligence and ability.
- On any sort of exam or competition, I like to know how well I perform relative to everyone else.
Risk Taking
- My friends and family are always with me whenever I take some initiative.
- I feel secure about my ability to bear risk in business.
- I have a strong belief that greater risk results in greater reward.
- I have the ability to minimize the consequences of risk-taking by planning ahead and preparing for each outcome.
Demographical Information
- Age
- Gender: Male/Female
- Degree: Bachelors/Masters
- Semester
- Specialization
- Any entrepreneurs in family: Yes/No
- Personal entrepreneurial experience: Yes/No
- Entrepreneurial course: Yes/No
Paper For Above Instructions
The research conducted on the impact of social, personal, economic, and structural barriers on business start-up intentions among university students sheds light on several critical factors influencing entrepreneurship. Understanding these barriers is paramount, especially as universities produce increasingly capable graduates. Entrepreneurship offers not just a means of generating income but also a pathway for creative and innovative ideas to flourish.
Understanding Entrepreneurial Barriers
Entrepreneurial barriers can broadly be categorized into behavioral, structural & financial, economic, and social/cultural factors. Behavioral barriers include individual beliefs and confidence in one's entrepreneurial capability. Self-efficacy greatly influences a person's readiness to engage in entrepreneurship, as those who believe in their capacity to succeed are more likely to undertake the risks associated with starting a business (Bandura, 1997).
Structural and Financial Considerations
Structural and financial barriers refer to the availability of resources and governmental support for nascent entrepreneurs. The lack of access to finance or inadequate government support can deter many prospective entrepreneurs from pursuing their business ideas. Research shows that financial assistance from institutions can significantly enhance students' entrepreneurial intentions (Franke & Luthje, 2004). Government legislation and support programs are crucial in fostering an environment conducive to business start-up activities (Amoros, 2009).
Economic Influences
The economic context within which entrepreneurship is pursued also plays a significant role in shaping students' intentions. In challenging economic climates, students may be less inclined to start their enterprises due to the perceived risks involved. Existing market dynamics can make it difficult for new entrants to compete effectively against established firms; thus, creating a positive perception among established business owners towards newcomers is essential for fostering entrepreneurial cultures (Gupta et al., 2008).
Social and Cultural Impact
Social factors encompass the support from family and community, which can be a major influence on entrepreneurial intentions. Students from families that encourage entrepreneurial activities are more likely to pursue business start-ups (Raijman, 2001). Cultural norms regarding entrepreneurship significantly affect individuals' willingness to take initiatives in business settings; societies that celebrate entrepreneurship tend to yield a higher volume of entrepreneurial activities (Boden & Nucci, 2000).
Research Methodology
This research utilized questionnaires targeted at final semester students of engineering universities across Pakistan. The questionnaire included segments assessing behavioral factors, structural and financial support, economic influences, and social/cultural factors. The methodology adopted ensures that qualitative insights can be inferred, providing a robust understanding of the barriers faced by aspiring entrepreneurs.
Results and Discussions
The findings of the study show that while students exhibit high intentions to become entrepreneurs, they are often deterred by economic and structural barriers. The absence of family entrepreneurial experience emerges as a critical factor that negatively influences students' entrepreneurial inclinations. Conversely, governmental support and a robust support system from peers and family can significantly enhance students' aspirations towards entrepreneurship (Marlow & Patton, 2005).
Conclusion
In conclusion, while aspirations to pursue entrepreneurship are strong among university students, tangible barriers must be addressed to foster successful business start-ups. Comprehensive governmental policies combined with supportive family and community networks can propel students towards their entrepreneurial goals. Future research should look into longitudinal studies that track the entrepreneurial success of these students post-graduation, assessing the long-term effectiveness of the identified supportive structures.
References
- Alam, G. M. (2009). The role of science and technology education at network age population for sustainable development of Bangladesh through human resource advancement. Scientific Research & Essays, 4(11).
- Aldrich, H. E., & Cliff, J. E. (2003). The pervasive effects of family on entrepreneurship: towards a family embeddedness perspective. Journal of Business Venturing, 18.
- Bandura, A. (1989). Human agency in social-cognitive theory. American Psychologist, 44, 1175–1184.
- Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: Freeman.
- Boden, R. J., Jr., & Nucci, A. R. (2000). On the survival prospects of men’s and women’s new business ventures. Journal of Business Venturing, 15, 347–362.
- Brush, C. G. (1992). Research on women business owners: Past trends, a new perspective and future directions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 16(4), 5–30.
- Marlow, S., & Patton, D. (2005). All credit to men? Entrepreneurship, finance, and gender. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 29, 717–735.
- Raijman, R. (2001). Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions: Mexican immigrants in Chicago. Journal of Socio-Economics, 30.
- Franke, N., & Luthje, C. (2004). Entrepreneurial intentions of business students: a benchmark study. International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, 1(3).
- Gupta, V. K., Turban, D. B., & Bhawe, N. M. (2008). The effect of gender stereotype activation on entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93, 1053–1061.