Sebenzile Khuzwayo

This study was deemed relevant in the current epoch given the need for rebuilding enterprises that were devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic. To ensure economic restoration, particular interest in small business start-ups and incubators has become especially important. In addition, measurements for effectiveness are critical since, without them, progress cannot be ascertained. The aim of this study was to assess the balanced scorecard and its applicability to business incubators in the context of the present technological explosion. Specifically, the study assessed the technological dimension of the balanced scorecard with the particular intention of establishing how technological tools affect the balanced scorecard. The study was based on phenomenological interviews to provide data that were relevant to the study objectives. A thematic analysis of the data collected supported literature perspectives that technological tools and platforms such as social media, robotics, expert systems, online as well as web platforms strengthen and improve the measurement of both financial and non-financial criteria for measurement on the balanced scorecard. Technological tools were found to improve data collection, management, and analytics thereby improving the quality and credibility of balanced scorecard measurement. The study recommends the accelerated adoption of technological tools for use within the balanced scorecard among incubators. It also recommends that the government should support incubators in their technological adoption measures as this has the potential of increasing economic development.

This study aimed to explore the attitudes of students of a higher education institution towards infopreneurship. The study emanated from observations that the widespread use of information technologies has created a new sector in the labor market – infopreneurship. The study adopted the case study research design based on focus group discussions to establish the students’ attitudes towards infopreneurship. The participants for the focus groups were students of the Information Science department at the University of Technology, Cape Town. Data collection during the focus group discussions was based on unstructured interviews. Quantitative data analysis was applied based on data reduction from codes to categories. An enterprising attitude (26.4% code frequency) dominated the positive responses while negative attitudes were mainly reflected by a critical attitude (20.8% code frequency) towards infopreneurship. While it appeared that positive attitudes were more prevalent than negative attitudes, there were notable observations that the respondents were critical or neutral towards the essence of infopreneurship in the South African context. It was found that the belief that infopreneurship is not a viable form of employment was still prevalent. Some respondents believed that employment means working for someone. They felt that there is greater respect in being employed than engaging in infopreneurship. Some respondents, however, appear to have stronger entrepreneurial orientations and felt that infopreneurship offers the best employment opportunities. The study recommends changes in higher education curricula and the creation of a stimulating environment for infopreneurship.