A framework for entrepreneurship education training and support for South African architects

Abstract

Many South African architects’ firms are finding it difficult to prosper in the changing economic and business environment. While all the contributing factors are not obvious, it is suggested that the lack of entrepreneurship education, training and support is possibly a contributing factor. This thesis reports the findings and recommendations of a study undertaken to propose an integrated education, training and support framework that can improve the entrepreneurial performance of South African Architects’ firms while contributing to the current discourse on entrepreneurial education and training. The proposed entrepreneurship education, training and support framework should fit into the existing education and training system for South African architects. The research design comprised a mixed methods empirical process which followed ‘convergent parallel mixed methods design’ (Creswell 2014:220). The results, amongst other findings, indicated that the entrepreneurial education and training available is inadequate and that the entrepreneurial orientation of architects is low, hence that entrepreneurial education and training could alleviate this situation. The study recommends a phased approach. The first phase should aim at changing perceptions, attitudes and mindsets about entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship while the second phase should develop in participants the required socio-emotional skills and cover the entrepreneurial process. The third phase should focus on becoming an entrepreneur. All of the foregoing should be framed by the specific needs of architects. The final phase should comprise learning by doing but with support such as mentoring, administrative support and technical assistance.