Volume 30, Issue 1, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.2044
ANALYZING THE INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRACTICES ON VOCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL TEACHING PRACTICES
Abstract
Purpose
Studies on understanding entrepreneurial in educatio n in non business field
have recognized the important role of environment factors within entrepreneurial
practices. The purpose of this paper is to examine entrepreneurial orientation as a
mediator on the relationship between environment factors and entrep reneurial practices
among vocational teachers.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey and data were collected from a sample of 340
vocational college teachers. Respondents were clustered by state in Malaysia and finally
six states were randomly selected t o represent a population study. Results were obtained
by adopting a structural equation modelling analysis using SEM AMOS software.
Findings
Results show the influence of environmental factors on entrepreneurship
practices among vocational teachers. These influences are also mediated by
entrepreneurship orientation. Vocational teachers who are innovative, proactive and risk
taking use optimistic practices in teaching entrepreneurship even though they teach
vocational subject. Moreover, the f indings present the connection between teachers’
perception on vocational institution involvement and their implementation of
entrepreneurship education.
Originality/value
The Structural Equation Modeling was observed to be sufficiently solid
and flexible to incorporate and measure the three constructs (environmental factors,
entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurship practices) on teaching practices among
vocational teachers. The results of the analysis indicate that the entrepreneurship
practices co uld be estimated by using exogenous constructs in the model namely
environment factors and entrepreneurship orientation. At the same time, the
entrepreneurship orientation could be measured by environment factors. The research
findings provide some insigh tful implication for the teaching of entrepreneurship. To
achieve greater impact on entrepreneurial orientation teachers are required to
demonstrate sufficient teaching entrepreneur aspect such as proactiveness,
innovativeness and risk taking. As implicati on to policy, the government should ensure
not only enriching teachers with entrepreneurial conducive environment but also equip
with entrepreneurial orientation as it has a direct effect on entrepreneurial teaching
practices.
Keywords
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION, VOCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL TEACHING