Original Research
Positive deviant unemployed individuals: Survivalist entrepreneurs in marginalised communities
Submitted: 29 May 2019 | Published: 29 September 2020
About the author(s)
Melinda du Toit, The Center for Social Development in Africa (CSDA), University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South AfricaHans de Witte, Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and Department of Research Group Work Organisational and Personnel Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Sebastiaan Rothmann, Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
Anja van den Broeck, Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa; and Work and Organization Studies, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Abstract
Purpose: This exploratory study aimed to provide a description of the experiences and perceptions of survivalist entrepreneurs in under-resourced communities. These survivalist entrepreneurs perceived themselves as ‘temporary’ entrepreneurs. They engaged in entrepreneurial ventures, whilst actively searching for secure formal employment.
Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative interviews were conducted with four informal survivalist microenterprise entrepreneurs (ISM-E entrepreneurs). Narratives relating to their experiences and perceptions of their environment, community and government support and their experience of owning a microenterprise in an impoverished community were analysed inductively.
Findings/results: Fourteen themes were identified and were grouped under two broad topics, namely the characterisation of the entrepreneur and the surrounding setting of the ISM-E entrepreneur. The discussion of the findings was presented in a positive deviance framework.
Practical implications: It was proposed that the ingenuity and strengths of these ISM-E entrepreneurs be acknowledged and that their positive discourses be cultivated and encouraged in order to inspire unemployed people around them. These ISM-E entrepreneurs could, ideally, point social scientists to possible context-appropriate solutions to the huge unemployment challenge experienced in disadvantaged communities.
Originality/value: This study addresses a knowledge gap pertaining to the exploration of micro-entrepreneurship in under-resourced communities within a positive deviance framework.
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Crossref Citations
1. Policy roadmap for a sustainable informal business sector
Florah S. Modiba, Stephen Mago
Development in Practice vol: 32 issue: 8 first page: 1078 year: 2022
doi: 10.1080/09614524.2022.2083079