Approaches for improving participation of administrative staff in corporate entrepreneurship at Vaal University of Technology

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the approaches for improving participation of administrative staff in Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE) at Vaal University of Technology (VUT). The study was guided by four specific objectives: to investigate the CE challenges facing VUT, to examine the role currently played by administrative employees in CE at VUT, to determine factors affecting the participation of administrative staff in CE at VUT, and to propose approaches that can be used at VUT to improve administrative staff’s participation in CE. The Corporate Entrepreneurship Assessment Instrument (CEAI) model was used to assess these constructs. A quantitative research approach was adopted and an online survey questionnaire was used to obtain data from respondents. The target population for this study was 110 administrative employees within VUT. In selecting the respondents, the census sampling method was used to select all 110 administrative employees. Survey questionnaires were emailed to all 110 respondents. A response rate of 54.5% was achieved and 60 usable questionnaires were received. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 28.0 for Windows. The key findings indicated that most administrative employees had no role in an entrepreneurial environment. It was discovered that the majority of administrative staff members were not participating in the process of CE, notably during the idea formulation or start stages. Furthermore, it appeared that there was no employee participation with relation to CE among administrative employees. According to the recommendations, management should concentrate on the factors that influence CE, such as management support, rewards, work discretion/autonomy, resources, organisational structure, and organisational culture. Future research recommendations were also made in the conclusion of this study. Because this was the university's first formal study, it can be used as a guide for other South African universities to examine their entrepreneurial intensity and corporate entrepreneurial climate.