Table of Contents

Cover Page ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Declaration ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
Acknowledgements: ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
Abstract: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Table of Contents: ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-9
List of Figures: …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
List of Tables: ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
Glossary of Terms: ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Chapter 1: Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
1.0 Background ………………………………………………………………………………………. 13-15
1.1 Aim of the Research……………………………………………………………………………….. 15
1.2 Research questions and hypothesis …………………………………………………………… 16
1.3 Rationale for the Research ………………………………………………………………………. 17
1.4 Contribution of the Study……………………………………………………………………. 17-18
1.5 Suitability of the Researcher ……………………………………………………………………. 18
1.6 Organisation of the dissertation ……………………………………………………………….. 19
Chapter 2: Literature Review …………………………………………………………… ………….20
2.1 Introduction……..……………………………………………………………….20
2.2 Identifying an entrepreneur……………………………………………………….21
2.3 Identifying a micro/small enterprise…………………………………………….22
2.4Motivating factors of entrepreneurs to start-up an enterprise……………….23
2.4.1 Intention……..………………………………………………………………23-24
2.4.2 Exposure to mentors………………………………………………………….24-25
2.4.3 Push and Pull factors…………………………………………………………25-27
2.4.4 Need for Achievement………………………………………………………27-28
2.4.5 Self-efficacy………………………………………………………………….28-29
2.5 Government policies towards micro/small enterprise owners in Ireland……….30
2.5.1 Government support and access to finance for entrepreneurs……………….30-31
2.5.2 Entrepreneurial education policies……….……………………………………31-32
2.6 Entrepreneurs perception of Government policy……………………………32-34
2.7 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………34-35
Chapter 3: Research Methodology ………………………………………………………. ………..36
3.0 Introduction………………………………………………………………………36
3.1 Research questions/hypothesis/objectives………………………………………36
3.2 Research Philosophy- Interpretivism and Subjectivism…………………………37
3.3 Research Approach- Inductive and Deductive………………..…………..…37-38
3.4 Research Strategy…………………………………………………………………………….. ..38-40
3.5 Time Horizon ………………………………………………………………………………………… 40
3.6 Population and Sample ………………………………………………………………………. 40-42
3.7 Data Collection, Editing, Coding and Analysis ………………………………………….. 42
3.7.1 Data Collection-Primary and Secondary data collection……………………….42
3.7.2 Qualitative Data Collection………………………………………………….42-43
3.7.3 Quantitative Data Collection…………………………………………………43-45
3.7.4 Secondary Data Collection…………………………………………………..45-46
3.7.5 Editing …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 46
3.7.6 Coding and Analysis ………………………………………………………………………….. 46-48
3.8 Ethical Issues and Procedures ………………………………………………………………….. 48
Chapter 4: Data Analysis/Findings ………………………………………………………………. …49
4.1: Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………. …49
4.2: The Respondents (Qualitative) …………………………………………………………………. …50
4.3:The findings (Qualitative) …………………………………………………………………………. …50
4.3.1: Intention theme ……………………………………………………………………………….. …50-51
4.3.2: Exposure to mentors theme……………………………………………………………….. …51-52
4.3.3: Push and Pull factor theme ……………………………………………………………………. …52
4.3.4: Need for Achievement theme ……………………………………………………………. …52-53
4.3.5: Self-efficacy theme ………………………………………………………………………….. …53-54
4.3.6: Government support and access to finance theme ………………………………… …54-56
4.4: The Respondents (Quantitative) ……………………………………………………………….. …57
4.5: The Findings (Quantitative) ……………………………………………………………………… …57
4.5.1: Respondents profile …………………………………………………………………………. …58-60
4.5.2: Intention theme ……………………………………………………………………………….. …61-62
4.5.3: Exposure to mentors theme……………………………………………………………………. …63
4.5.4: Push and Pull factor theme ……………………………………………………………….. …64-65
4.5.5: Need for Achievement theme ………………………………………………………………… …66
4.5.6: Self-efficacy theme ………………………………………………………………………….. …67-69
4.5.7: Government support and access to finance theme ………………………………… …70-71
4.6: Follow-up Interviews (Qualitative) …………………………………………………………… …72
4.6.1: The Findings (Qualitative) …………………………………………………………………….. …72
4.6.2: Intention theme ……………………………………………………………………………….. …72-73
4.6.3: Exposure to mentors theme……………………………………………………………………. …73
4.6.4: Push and Pull factor theme ……………………………………………………………….. …73-74
4.6.5: Need for Achievement theme ………………………………………………………………… …74
4.6.6: Self-efficacy theme ………………………………………………………………………………. …75
4.6.7: Government support and access to finance theme ………………………………… …75-77
Chapter 5: Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………….. …78
5.1: Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………. …78
5.2: Intention ……………………………………………………………………………………………. …78-79
5.3: Exposure to mentors ……………………………………………………………………………….. …80
5.4: Push and Pull factors…………………………………………………………………………… …80-82
5.5: Need for Acheivement ………………………………………………………………………… …82-83
5.6: Self-efficacy ………………………………………………………………………………………. …83-84
5.7: Government support and access to finance…………………………………………….. …84-86
5.8: Limitations ………………………………………………………………………………………… …86-87
Chapter 6: Conclusion/Recommendations ……………………………………………………. …88
6.1: Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………….. …88-93
6.2: Recommendations ………………………………………………………………………………. …93-95
Chapter 7: Reflection …………………………………………………………………………………… …96
7.1: Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………. …96
7.2: Self-reflection on learning style ……………………………………………………………. …96-97
7.3: Skills Development …………………………………………………………………………………. …97
7.3.1: Research skills …………………………………………………………………………………….. …97
7.3.2: Problem solving skills ………………………………………………………………………. …97-98
7.3.3: Time management skills ……………………………………………………………………….. …98
7.3.4: Team working skills…………………………………………………………………………. …98-99
7.4: Future application of learning and skills development………………………………99
8.0 Bibliography………………………………………………………………….100-117
9.0 Appendices……………………………………………………………………118-142
Appendix 1 Learning style of the researcher……………………………………………118
Appendix 2 Details of the qualitative interview participants……………………….119-122
Appendix 3 Questions for the qualitative interviews………………………………123-125
Appendix 4 Consent forms for the qualitative participants…………………………126-134
Appendix 5 Questionnaire…………………………………………………………135-137
Appendix 6 Honey and Mumford learning style questionnaire……………………138-142