A descriptive study which examines the contextual environment of the indigenous entrepreneur in Botswana, the formal small-scale business community and the training and non-training needs of this subgroup of adults needing assistance in business promotion. Data was collected on a sample of 158 businesses situated in six towns and villages throughout Botswana. Several kinds of data were used including information from questionnaires, interviews, government statistics and published secondary sources.
The study is divided into four parts. Part I includes a review of literature pertaining to the concept of the "entrepreneur," theories of entrepreneurial supply and demand, and the relevance of these theories to entrepreneurial development in Botswana. Part II includes a description of the changing social, political and economic context in which the study takes place, and a discussion of the development of trade and entrepreneurial activity in Botswana. Part III consists of a discussion of the theoretical context of the study, methodology, characteristics of the sample population, and the findings of the study at the group and individual levels. Part IV includes the conclusions and policy recommendations of the study.
The findings of the study indicate that indigenous entrepreneurs have higher than average educational levels and have had previous work experiences which have facilitated their business activity. Indigenous entrepreneurs have underutilized business management training and technical assistance opportunities made available by government and are generally hampered in the development and promotion of their business activities due to variables unrelated to training.
