Entrepreneurial Intention as Impacted by Knowledge and Experience of Failures among East African Businesses.

Abstract

The thesis focuses on post-failure phase entrepreneurial intention and the influence of business failure information accessibility, demonstrated knowledge, and first-hand experience of business failure, insolvency, and personal bankruptcy. It aims to understand how these factors affect entrepreneurs' intentions to start new businesses after experiencing failure. The study is set within the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), a well-established psychological theory that predicts human behaviour, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship. It seeks to provide empirical evidence that business failure awareness positively contributes to the know-how and resilience of individuals currently running a business with aspirations to start a new business. This study finds a positive association between awareness of business failure and the intentions of current business owners. It also shows that this awareness contributes to the knowledge and resilience of individuals running a business and those aspiring to start a new one.