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Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa

Dissertation (MEng (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2021.

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Other Authors: Van der Lingen, Elma
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Van der Lingen, Elma
author_browse Van der Lingen, Elma
author_facet Van der Lingen, Elma
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 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 Dissertation (MEng (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:40:12.572Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83142 Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa Van der Lingen, Elma 2207985@gmail.com Von Maltitz, Adrian Technology Management Basic education K-12 Education technology Business model framework Sustainable ventures Entrepreneurship UCTD Dissertation (MEng (Technology Management))--University of Pretoria, 2021. Education technology (EdTech) has been proven to make a positive impact on education outcomes in developed economies. There is a vastly untapped opportunity to introduce more EdTech into the South African basic education ecosystem to help with the education crisis in South Africa. In 2004 the South African Government issued a clear e-Education policy white paper, but not enough progress has been made to improve education. The EdTech entrepreneur is the entity in the education ecosystem with the highest level of agility to take on such an opportunity, if properly positioned and supported. The objective of this study was to develop a framework to identify key considerations for EdTech entrepreneurs to create sustainable ventures, and in so doing make a larger contribution to improving the quality of basic education in South Africa. The research approach was exploratory. A conceptual model was developed from the literature review. Propositions were set based on the conceptual model. A multi-case study approach was chosen for primary data collection. Qualitative analysis compared empirically based results as identified themes with three predicted propositions. The literature review suggests the following possible considerations when developing a business model for EdTech entrepreneurship, i.e. innovation to develop a unique value proposition, delivery to a broad customer base, open models to encourage collaboration with various stakeholders, impact measurement, diverse funding sources, as well as simple and focused revenue streams. Little to no literature exists with empirical findings on these considerations in the EdTech industry. Existing literature builds frameworks, components and specifications for consideration without any empirical testing. Part of the challenge is that companies keep the details of their business models secret, especially small companies with a niche value proposition. No literature could be found for EdTech entrepreneurship in South Africa, or any emerging economy. Four themes emerged from the results: mature product, complex support network, multiple infrastructure considerations, and multiple sources of revenue. The findings confirmed teacher distrust as having the greatest impact on value creation, mobile networks as only one of the key impacts on value delivery, and both private and public sectors providing value capture opportunities. An archetypal business model framework for EdTech was developed, which concludes: EdTech entrepreneurs should develop mature products that teachers can endorse; build a support network, which would include an advisory board and low-cost infrastructure providers; and source multiple revenue streams from the private and public sectors. Incubation support does help, even if just to provide introductions to a wider support network. Better government policy and procurement implementation would also enhance the provision of simpler and predictable revenue streams to EdTech providers. Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) MEng (Technology Management) Unrestricted 2022-01-11T07:29:10Z 2022-01-11T07:29:10Z 2022-05-20 2021 Dissertation * http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83142 DOI: 10.25403/UPresearchdata.18112604.v1 en © 2019 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 Technology Management
Basic education
K-12
Education technology
Business model framework
Sustainable ventures
Entrepreneurship
UCTD
Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_full Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_fullStr Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_short Business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in South Africa
title_sort business model framework for education technology entrepreneurs in south africa
topic Technology Management
Basic education
K-12
Education technology
Business model framework
Sustainable ventures
Entrepreneurship
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83142