The personal traits influencing the success of entrepreneurs in Egypt/
Mohamed Abbas Mohamed Gomaa
The personal traits influencing the success of entrepreneurs in Egypt/ Mohamed Abbas Mohamed Gomaa - 2022 - p. ill. 21 cm.
Supervisor:
Mohamed Mamdouh Awny
Thesis (PH.D)—Nile University, Egypt, 2022 .
"Includes bibliographical references"
Contents:
Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………..…. …….I
Declaration for copying…………………………………………………………..……....II
Abstract …..........................................................................................................................III
Table of content .................................................................................................................IV
List of figures ..................................................................................................................... V
List of tables .......................................................................................................................VI
Chapter 1. Introduction ………….....................................................................................1
1.1. Definitions …….............................................................................................................2
1.2. The general impact of entrepreneurs on societies and economy …………...……........7
1.3. The impact of entrepreneurs on the Egyptian economy ................................................8
Chapter 2. Entrepreneurship and economic growth.......................................................10
2.1. Components of entrepreneurial ecosystem ...................................................................10
2.2. Conceptualizing entrepreneurship...………………………………………………......12
2.3 Contribution of Nile University to entrepreneurship culture.......................................13
2.4. Linking entrepreneurship to economic growth .............................................................14
2.4.1. Entrepreneurship integration with global economy .......................................16
2.4.2 The advantage and other effects for the countries…………………….……...17
2.5. Types of entrepreneurs ..................................................................................................18
2.6 Psychology of entrepreneurs ..........................................................................................19
2.6.1 Entrepreneurial style .......................................................................................19
2.6.2 Psychometric assessment……………………………………………………..21
2.6.3 The Motivational factors influence success of entrepreneurs………………...22
2.6.4 The personality traits…….................................................................................23
2.6.4.1 Entrepreneurial traits………………………………………………..23
2.6.4.2 The big five model…………………………………………………..24
2.7 The role of entrepreneurs in the society and economy with focus on Egypt ...................25
2.7.1 The current situation in Egypt…………………................................................27
2.7.1.1 Entrepreneurial Attitudes (ATT)……… ……………………………29
2.7.1.2 Entrepreneurial Abilities (ABT)…………………… …………….....29
2.7.1.3 Entrepreneurial Aspirations (ASP)…… ………………………….…30
2.8 The risk of failure accompanies entrepreneurship ………………………………………30
2.9 The challenges facing entrepreneurs …………………………….………………………31
2.9.1 Factors affecting the success or failure of startup businesses………………..31
2.10 Personal characteristics and traits of entrepreneurs ………………………………...…32
2.11 Creating and entrepreneurial mindset …………………………………………………33
2.12 The profile of a successful entrepreneur (Kenyan case study)………………….….…..34
2.13 Problem Statement ..........................................................................................................36
Chapter 3. Research method and Objective .......................................................................37
3.1 Research main objectives ................................................................................................. 37
3.2 Research sub-objectives: ...................................................................................................37
3.3. Significance of the research work ....................................................................................38
3.4. Research method ..............................................................................................................39
Chapter 4. Results and discussion .......................................................................................41
4.1. Data collection background ..............................................................................................41
4.2 Results of the entrepreneurs interviews .............................................................................41
4.3 Results of the stakeholders questionnaire……………………………………..………….58
Chapter 5. Conclusion and recommendations .....................................................................61
5.1. Conclusion .........................................................................................................................61
5.2. Recommendations...............................................................................................................65
5.3 Future work………………………………………………………………………………..66
References ...............................................................................................................................67
Appendix 1 : Published paper IAMOT 2021, A profile of successful entrepreneurs in Egypt
Appendix 2 : Proposed educational curriculum for university students
Appendix 3 : Sample of Psychometric Assessment
Appendix 4 : The suggested framework for the relation and interaction between the suggested
actions
Appendix 5 : Chi-square test for the validation group
Appendix 6 : Entrepreneurs questionnaire – Face to Face interviews
Appendix 7 : Entrepreneurs online questionnaire – Validation group
Appendix 8 : Stakeholders online questionnaire
Abstract:
Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth and is considered a catalytic agent for the
expansion and promotion of productive activities in every sphere of economic life all over the
world. It plays a significant role, in increasing employment opportunities, and innovations, and
creates new products with new demand and new markets. However, the failure rate of start-up
entrepreneurs can reach 90%, especially in a developing country such as Egypt. This prevents
many to start their own businesses. Therefore, specific support services are essential to reduce the
percentage of failure and increase the success rate. The government of Egypt is fully aware of the
issue and is trying to provide the necessary support for them. However, the personal characteristics,
features. and traits play a major rule for the success and sustaining of the startup businesses.
In Egypt, job creation expectations and the actual growth rate of the population are not well
synchronized. In addition, the number of opportunities generated is less than expected. Thus,
launching and running a start-up company by an entrepreneur is a challenging and difficult job.
Many of the previous studies discussed the educational, and training needs, and required funding
for entrepreneurs to be able to succeed. However, there are insufficient studies in the published
literature on the importance of identifying the persona of the entrepreneurs and the factors, traits,
and motivations that structure the profile of a potentially successful entrepreneur.
The entrepreneur that starts the business normally has a dream and believes in himself and has the
passion to achieve it. The lifestyle of this entrepreneur is totally different than other “normal”
people. This life might be stressful, unsecured, and risky.
This dissertation identifies the significant role of entrepreneurship, which contributes heavily to
the economic growth of Egypt. It has been shown that culture is one of the main motivational
factors that drive entrepreneurs to success. In addition, the culture, which affects the behavior of
the entrepreneurs, is considered.
To achieve this objective an exhaustive literature review came out by the researcher followed by
face-to-face interviews conducted with a sample of business startup working in different sectors
and exerted a considerable impact on the society through employment opportunities and the
economy positively or negatively. Also, online questionnaire with a validation group of startups
then online questionnaire with stakeholders representatives.
Structured interviews were conducted with a well-chosen 50 Egyptian entrepreneur who started
their own enterprises. They were well selected to reflect the effect of their personal characteristics
and traits on their achievements. They covered different sectors of the Egyptian economy such as
engineering, health care, agriculture, education, and waste management products. Then, online
questionnaire with a validation group of startups of 51 entrepreneur. Also, 32 stakeholders
representatives for the Egyptian entrepreneurship ecosystem have answer the questionnaire with
different questions to support the objective of the research.
As a result of this research, a list of personal traits needs to be considered to identify the potential
successful entrepreneur in Egypt.
A psychometric assessment can be structured by psychometric professionals, which scratch the
traits of the entrepreneurs. The assessment should reveal the degree of coherent of the traits with
the results of this research.
Text in English, abstracts in English.
MOT
Dissertation, Academic
658.4
The personal traits influencing the success of entrepreneurs in Egypt/ Mohamed Abbas Mohamed Gomaa - 2022 - p. ill. 21 cm.
Supervisor:
Mohamed Mamdouh Awny
Thesis (PH.D)—Nile University, Egypt, 2022 .
"Includes bibliographical references"
Contents:
Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………..…. …….I
Declaration for copying…………………………………………………………..……....II
Abstract …..........................................................................................................................III
Table of content .................................................................................................................IV
List of figures ..................................................................................................................... V
List of tables .......................................................................................................................VI
Chapter 1. Introduction ………….....................................................................................1
1.1. Definitions …….............................................................................................................2
1.2. The general impact of entrepreneurs on societies and economy …………...……........7
1.3. The impact of entrepreneurs on the Egyptian economy ................................................8
Chapter 2. Entrepreneurship and economic growth.......................................................10
2.1. Components of entrepreneurial ecosystem ...................................................................10
2.2. Conceptualizing entrepreneurship...………………………………………………......12
2.3 Contribution of Nile University to entrepreneurship culture.......................................13
2.4. Linking entrepreneurship to economic growth .............................................................14
2.4.1. Entrepreneurship integration with global economy .......................................16
2.4.2 The advantage and other effects for the countries…………………….……...17
2.5. Types of entrepreneurs ..................................................................................................18
2.6 Psychology of entrepreneurs ..........................................................................................19
2.6.1 Entrepreneurial style .......................................................................................19
2.6.2 Psychometric assessment……………………………………………………..21
2.6.3 The Motivational factors influence success of entrepreneurs………………...22
2.6.4 The personality traits…….................................................................................23
2.6.4.1 Entrepreneurial traits………………………………………………..23
2.6.4.2 The big five model…………………………………………………..24
2.7 The role of entrepreneurs in the society and economy with focus on Egypt ...................25
2.7.1 The current situation in Egypt…………………................................................27
2.7.1.1 Entrepreneurial Attitudes (ATT)……… ……………………………29
2.7.1.2 Entrepreneurial Abilities (ABT)…………………… …………….....29
2.7.1.3 Entrepreneurial Aspirations (ASP)…… ………………………….…30
2.8 The risk of failure accompanies entrepreneurship ………………………………………30
2.9 The challenges facing entrepreneurs …………………………….………………………31
2.9.1 Factors affecting the success or failure of startup businesses………………..31
2.10 Personal characteristics and traits of entrepreneurs ………………………………...…32
2.11 Creating and entrepreneurial mindset …………………………………………………33
2.12 The profile of a successful entrepreneur (Kenyan case study)………………….….…..34
2.13 Problem Statement ..........................................................................................................36
Chapter 3. Research method and Objective .......................................................................37
3.1 Research main objectives ................................................................................................. 37
3.2 Research sub-objectives: ...................................................................................................37
3.3. Significance of the research work ....................................................................................38
3.4. Research method ..............................................................................................................39
Chapter 4. Results and discussion .......................................................................................41
4.1. Data collection background ..............................................................................................41
4.2 Results of the entrepreneurs interviews .............................................................................41
4.3 Results of the stakeholders questionnaire……………………………………..………….58
Chapter 5. Conclusion and recommendations .....................................................................61
5.1. Conclusion .........................................................................................................................61
5.2. Recommendations...............................................................................................................65
5.3 Future work………………………………………………………………………………..66
References ...............................................................................................................................67
Appendix 1 : Published paper IAMOT 2021, A profile of successful entrepreneurs in Egypt
Appendix 2 : Proposed educational curriculum for university students
Appendix 3 : Sample of Psychometric Assessment
Appendix 4 : The suggested framework for the relation and interaction between the suggested
actions
Appendix 5 : Chi-square test for the validation group
Appendix 6 : Entrepreneurs questionnaire – Face to Face interviews
Appendix 7 : Entrepreneurs online questionnaire – Validation group
Appendix 8 : Stakeholders online questionnaire
Abstract:
Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic growth and is considered a catalytic agent for the
expansion and promotion of productive activities in every sphere of economic life all over the
world. It plays a significant role, in increasing employment opportunities, and innovations, and
creates new products with new demand and new markets. However, the failure rate of start-up
entrepreneurs can reach 90%, especially in a developing country such as Egypt. This prevents
many to start their own businesses. Therefore, specific support services are essential to reduce the
percentage of failure and increase the success rate. The government of Egypt is fully aware of the
issue and is trying to provide the necessary support for them. However, the personal characteristics,
features. and traits play a major rule for the success and sustaining of the startup businesses.
In Egypt, job creation expectations and the actual growth rate of the population are not well
synchronized. In addition, the number of opportunities generated is less than expected. Thus,
launching and running a start-up company by an entrepreneur is a challenging and difficult job.
Many of the previous studies discussed the educational, and training needs, and required funding
for entrepreneurs to be able to succeed. However, there are insufficient studies in the published
literature on the importance of identifying the persona of the entrepreneurs and the factors, traits,
and motivations that structure the profile of a potentially successful entrepreneur.
The entrepreneur that starts the business normally has a dream and believes in himself and has the
passion to achieve it. The lifestyle of this entrepreneur is totally different than other “normal”
people. This life might be stressful, unsecured, and risky.
This dissertation identifies the significant role of entrepreneurship, which contributes heavily to
the economic growth of Egypt. It has been shown that culture is one of the main motivational
factors that drive entrepreneurs to success. In addition, the culture, which affects the behavior of
the entrepreneurs, is considered.
To achieve this objective an exhaustive literature review came out by the researcher followed by
face-to-face interviews conducted with a sample of business startup working in different sectors
and exerted a considerable impact on the society through employment opportunities and the
economy positively or negatively. Also, online questionnaire with a validation group of startups
then online questionnaire with stakeholders representatives.
Structured interviews were conducted with a well-chosen 50 Egyptian entrepreneur who started
their own enterprises. They were well selected to reflect the effect of their personal characteristics
and traits on their achievements. They covered different sectors of the Egyptian economy such as
engineering, health care, agriculture, education, and waste management products. Then, online
questionnaire with a validation group of startups of 51 entrepreneur. Also, 32 stakeholders
representatives for the Egyptian entrepreneurship ecosystem have answer the questionnaire with
different questions to support the objective of the research.
As a result of this research, a list of personal traits needs to be considered to identify the potential
successful entrepreneur in Egypt.
A psychometric assessment can be structured by psychometric professionals, which scratch the
traits of the entrepreneurs. The assessment should reveal the degree of coherent of the traits with
the results of this research.
Text in English, abstracts in English.
MOT
Dissertation, Academic
658.4