An assessment of corporate entrepreneurship in the primary production units in a steel manufacturer

Abstract

The primary objective of the study was to examine corporate entrepreneurship with specific reference to the primary production units of ArcelorMittal South Africa, Vanderbijlpark Works. A historic overview of ArcelorMittal South Africa, Vanderbijlpark Works was given in chapter 2. Factors which highlight the need for and the benefits for an entrepreneurial climate were discussed; these factors included the evolution of the organisation, fierce competition and the global economic crisis. A comprehensive literature review was conducted. In the literature review entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial climate were defined. The dimensions of corporate entrepreneurship, being new business venturing, innovativeness, self-renewal, pro-activeness, risk-taking and competitive aggressiveness were also discussed in the literature review. After the 13 constructs measuring the entrepreneurial climate were discussed, the constructs measuring the perceived success of the organisation were discussed. Chapter 3 concluded by examining practical manners in which an entrepreneurial climate can be established in an organisation. After the literature review, empirical research was conducted. The empirical research focused on discussing the results obtained from the corporate entrepreneurship questionnaire. Basic demographic information of the respondents were dealt with first, after which the perceptions of the respondents with regard to the 13 constructs measuring the entrepreneurial climate and the constructs measuring the perceived success of the organisation were discussed. Furthermore, relationships were determined between demographic variables and the constructs measured in the questionnaire. Following the detailed analysis of chapter 4, it was concluded that managers participating in the survey regarded the entrepreneurial climate in the primary production units of ArcelorMittal South Africa, Vanderbijlpark Works as being average. During the study no practical significant difference could be found between the mean values of any of the demographical categories and the constructs measured in the questionnaire. Based on the findings of the empirical research and the insight gained in the literature review, recommendations were made on how to foster an entrepreneurial climate within the primary production units of ArcelorMittal South Africa, Vanderbijlpark Works.