The role of push and pull motivation factors on total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) in the Built Environment sector

Abstract

The study investigates the prevalence of Push motivation factors and Pull motivation factors on Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) in the Built Environment sector. The study also seeks to establish if AjzenÕs Theory of Planned Behaviour is a suitable model for predicting Entrepreneurial Intentions (EI) within the Built Environment sector as well as measures Entrepreneurial Intentions amongst the respondents. The research design employed for this study was quantitative, exploratory and deductive. Structured and validated questionnaires were created and distributed from the survey monkey e-platform, to entrepreneurs providing professional services within the Built Environment sector. The study targeted a total of 130 responses. Feedback was received from a total of 80 respondents, with a total of 63 usable responses. Existing research argues that push motivation factors are significant drivers of TEA in developing countries. The study has determined the following in regard to the Built Environment sector. AjzenÕs Theory of Planned Behaviour (TBP) can be utilised to predict Entrepreneurial Intention (EI); Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) can be considered a precursor for choosing selfemployment for Built Environment professionals; and Pull motivation factors, measured in the form of job-satisfaction, are more prevalent than Push motivation factors, measured in the form of pre-entrepreneurial jobdissatisfaction. Outcomes from this study are fundamental in addressing the challenge of limited TEA within the professional services sector. The limitations of the study presented in section 7.4, in particular, not being able to generalize the findings into the greater population, present an opportunity for future research. This study presents an opportunity to reconstitute the research to focus on Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) and its antecedents.