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The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class

Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025.

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Other Authors: Mathibe, Tshidi
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2026
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Mathibe, Tshidi
author_browse Mathibe, Tshidi
author_facet Mathibe, Tshidi
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108993
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:53.400Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2026
publishDateRange 2026
publishDateSort 2026
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/108993 The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class Mathibe, Tshidi ichelp@gibs.co.za Duda, Sandisiwe UCTD Entrepreneurship Prospect theory Mini Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2025. Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in economic growth and is a driver for empowerment and social mobility. However, the black population in South Africa has the lowest entrepreneurship participation rate and high number of unemployed graduates. This study investigates the dynamic impact of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the educated black working class in South Africa, a population for whom employment and entrepreneurial outcomes are heavily influenced by structural factors, race and socio-economic factors. The study adopted a qualitative research design using narrative inquiry and grounded theory and utilised in-depth interviews with black employed individuals and black entrepreneurs who were previously employed but quit to pursue entrepreneurship full time. The study was based in the Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal (KZN) provinces. The study framed by Prospect Theory (PT), analysed entrepreneurial decision-making relative to the reference point of formal full-time employment. The findings revealed numerous barriers to entrepreneurship for the black working class and that education has a dual role as an inhibitor and enabler of entrepreneurship. The study revealed that the impact is also dependent on the type of education such as technical education or business education. Business education enhances entrepreneurship due to financial literacy, skilled-based module and client management modules and technical/profession education increases risk-aversion due to analysis paralysis effect. The results highlight the need for practical entrepreneurship education and policy intervention that address the barriers to entrepreneurship for the black working class. Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) MBA Unrestricted Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth 2026-03-16T09:30:17Z 2026-03-16T09:30:17Z 2026-05-05 2025 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108993 en © 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Entrepreneurship
Prospect theory
The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title_full The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title_fullStr The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title_full_unstemmed The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title_short The influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk-taking propensity of the black working class
title_sort influence of higher education attainment in shaping the entrepreneurial risk taking propensity of the black working class
topic UCTD
Entrepreneurship
Prospect theory
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/108993