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Level of development of entrepreneurial attributes of NMMU business students
In order to report the level of development of the entrepreneurial attributes investigated in this study among business students at NMMU, descriptive statistics were calculated. A summary of these descriptive statistics is tabled below (Table 4). The respondents were required to evaluate themselves in terms of possessing the various entrepreneurial attributes investigated in the study. Their attribute ratings were categorised as Low (0.0-<2.6), Average (2.6-<3.4) and High scores (3.4-5.0). Attribute ratings that were in the Low category (options 1 and 2 on the 5-point Likert scale) were considered as underdeveloped, those that scored in the Average (Option 3 on the 5-point Likert scale) and High (option 4 and 5 on the 5-point Likert scale) category were considered as developed and well-developed, respectively.
From Table 4 it can be seen that business students from NMMU reported the attribute Commitment (D) as being most developed. A mean score of 4.17 was reported for Commitment, with the great majority (87.9%) agreeing that they possessed this attribute. High energy level (I) and Planning and perseverance (A) reported mean scores of 4.07 and 4.05 respectively. The majority of NMMU respondents also perceived High energy level (I) (92.5%) and Planning and perseverance (A) (88.4%) as well developed. Overcoming failure (E) was the fourth most developed attribute with a mean score of 3.97. The majority of respondents (88.9%) also regarded this attribute as being well developed.
NMMU business students regarded the attribute Continuous learning (M) as being the least developed attribute. A mean score off 3.45 was returned for this factor. For Continuous learning only 61.3% of respondents reported this attribute as being developed. Knowledge seeking (L) returned a mean score of 3.47 while Initiate and responsibility (H) returned a mean score of 3.57. For Knowledge seeking 61.8% of respondents reported this attribute as developed, while for Initiative and responsibility 62.3% of respondents indicated this attribute as developed. Communication ability (C) was the fourth least developed attribute among NMMU business students, returning a mean score of 3.60. Most (72.9%) respondents regarded this attribute as being developed. Taking cognisance of the mean scores reported for the various attributes in Table 4, it can be seen that on average NMMU business students considered all the attributes investigated in this study to be well developed. Mean scores of greater than 3.4 were reported for all attributes.
Table 4: DESCRIPTIVE RESULTS: NMMU BUSINESS STUDENTS Attribute D: Commitment I: High energy level
A: Planning and perseverance E: Overcoming failure
Mean 4.17 4.07 4.05 3.97
SD
0.83 0.55 0.65 0.61
Low 5.0% 2.5% 3.5% 2.5%
Frequency Distribution Average 7.0% 5.0% 8.0% 8.5%
ASSESSING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ATTRIBUTES OF UNDERGRADUATE BUSINESS STUDENTS AT THE NMMU 127 High