In this study, successor‐related factors that can influence the succession process in small and medium‐sized family businesses are empirically investigated. This study was undertaken in South Africa among 2,458 owner‐managers and successors in 1,038 family businesses. These respondents were identified via a snowball‐sampling technique. A total of 332 usable questionnaires were returned. The dependent variable in this study, namely, the perceived success of the succession process, is measured by two underlying dimensions: satisfaction with the process and continued profitability of the business. The empirical results indicate that the successor‐related factors that influence satisfaction with the process are, on the one hand, the willingness of the successor to take over and the relationship between the owner‐manager and successor, on the other hand. The continued profitability of the business is influenced by the willingness of the successor to take over the business, the preparation level of the successor, and the relationship between the successor and owner‐manager. The relationship between the owner‐manager and successor is in turn influenced by the extent to which interpersonal relationships in the family can be described as harmonious. Based on these findings recommendations for successful succession are offered.

A need exists for renewed thinking to stimulate entrepreneurship to support socio-economic growth. Within this context, 'transformational entrepreneurship' refers to a holistic and heuristic orientation in terms of entrepreneurship promotion and combines the individual and other sub-systems (such as society and institutions) interacting and collaborating to create a positive framework in which opportunities can be exploited beyond the local level.

PurposeThis study contributes towards increased understanding of the perceived value of extracurricular enterprise activities from an entrepreneurial learning perspective. Past decades have witnessed a global increase in the provision of enterprise and entrepreneurship education alongside a growing suite of extracurricular enterprise activities. However, there is a paucity of research examining how entrepreneurial learning might be understood in the context of these activities.Design/methodology/approachThe study draws on an empirical study of student and educator participants across 24 United Kingdom (UK) universities using semi-structured surveys and in-depth interviews. Three main learning theories drawn from the entrepreneurial learning literature: experiential, social and self-directed learning provided a conceptual framework to frame the research phenomenon.FindingsFindings posit that extracurricular enterprise activities provide perceived value in the experiential and social learning opportunities afforded for students. However, these activities are restricted in enabling the experiential learning cycle to be completed due to limited reflection opportunities. Positioning these extracurricular activities outside the main curriculum also empowers participants to self-direct aspects of their learning and develop their autonomous learning capabilities.Originality/valueThe existing literature focusses upon the entrepreneurial learning processes of established entrepreneurs rather than latent and nascent entrepreneurs within a higher education (HE) setting. The limited literature examining HE entrepreneurial learning does so by concentrating upon entrepreneurial learning resulting from in-curricular activities. This study offers novel insights into students’ entrepreneurial learning processes, highlighting the importance of experiential, social and self-directed learning opportunities to the entrepreneurial learning process and the perceived value of extracurricular activities as a platform for these types of learning.

Entrepreneurship in Africa, part 1: entrepreneurial dynamics in Africa This special issue was motivated by the desire to offer fresh and current insights into African entrepreneurship and provide a voice for African scholars doing research in entrepreneurship and small business development. The phenomenon of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial behaviour in the developed world is well represented in the academic literature. Interestingly, however, research focussing on entrepreneurial behaviour and small business practice on the African continent is less prominent, especially within the leading international journals (see George et al., 2016). The entrepreneurial dynamic in Africa is rapidly evolving in the face of continual socio-economic, political, technological and cultural changes sweeping the continent (Fine, 1997).There is widespread recognition regarding the urgent need for effective entrepreneurial behaviour to alleviate a myriad of systemic problems, including high graduate unemployment, endemic poverty, economic growth inequality, corruption, excessive bureaucracy, ineffective infrastructure and a lack of enterprise support mechanisms (Le Pere and Ikome, 2009). Moreover, research into entrepreneurial behaviours remains limited in the complex and heterogeneous African cultural context (George et al., 2016). Thus, this set of three interrelated special issues set out to provide novel and empirically rigorous insights into a range of under-reported and emerging topics in an African context, including: reporting aspects of entrepreneurial behaviour described in Issue 1 as entrepreneurial dynamics, the development of entrepreneurial education and eco-systems to support entrepreneurial activity in Issue 2 and entrepreneurial growth and diversity, in Issue 3.It was rewarding to note the range of entrepreneurial behaviour being reported, including social enterprise, the emergence and deployment of information and communication technology and the use of microfinance to enable business start-up. In addition, we note the significant investment in entrepreneurial education and eco-systems to encourage starts-ups and effective entrepreneurial learning, despite ongoing resources challenges and issues appertaining to business sustainability and failure.The current issue of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development sees the publication of Part 1 of the special issue on entrepreneurship in Africa. The special issue proved to be a considerable undertaking with over 60 papers received during the call promotion. This statistic reflects the popularity of entrepreneurship in an African context. After a rigorous and lengthy review process, a total of 25 papers were accepted for publication. It was noteworthy to see that papers were submitting from all across the African continent, confirming the increased interest in entrepreneurial activity research. As a result, the special issue was split between three separate issues of the journal, for publication during 2018.This first issue, presented here, entitled "En...

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