A study on the importance of work experience in developing entrepreneurial vision, confidence, decision-Making skills, passion, and motivation among final year students taking entrepreneurship course
List of Authors
  • Aw Yang Huey , Mohd. Safwan Ghazali

Keyword
  • entrepreneurship course, work experience, self-confidence

Abstract
  • This study was conducted to determine whether work experience can develop entrepreneurial vision, confidence, decision-making skills, passion, and motivation among final year students taking entrepreneurship course. The respondents were divided into two groups; one group with work experience, and another group with no work experience. This is a descriptive study that used a quantitative approach, whereby the questionnaire was chosen as the research instrument utilising the Likert scale. The collected data were analysed using the SPSS software, version 21. This study involved 134 respondents, who were selected using the simple random sampling approach, from the Faculty of Accounting and Faculty of Applied Sciences. The findings showed that there were differences between students with work experience and those without work experience, in terms of self-confidence [t = -3.512, p = 0.001], and p < 0.01 based on the groups of respondents. Students with work experience showed greater self-confidence in developing entrepreneurial confidence (mean = 4.11, SD = 0.414) compared to students without work experience (mean = 3.82, SD = 0.518). In terms of entrepreneurial decision-making based on the t-test results [t = -11.597, p = 0.000], p < 0.01 of the groups of respondents, it was found that students with work experience were able to make the right decisions related to business issues (mean = 4.69, SD = 0.467) compared to those without work experience (mean = 3.53, SD = 0.612). The results of the t-test [t = -3.681, p = 0.000], p < 0.01 based on the groups of respondents also showed that students with work experience were more capable of developing entrepreneurial motivation (mean = 4.06, SD = 0.326) compared to students without work experience (mean = 3.76, SD = 0.513). Therefore, based on these results, work experience is important in building self-confidence, in helping an individual make the right decisions, as well as developing entrepreneurial motivation to minimise the risks that exist in a business.

Reference
  • 1. Fitri, Nur Syahadah (2018). Galus SPM Perniagaan Tingkatan 4, KSSM. Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd.

    2. Fitri, Nur Syahadah (2018). Galus SPM Perniagaan Tingkatan 5, KSSM. Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd.

    3. Marcin W. Staniewski (2016). The contribution of business experience and knowledge to successful entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Research, 69(11), 5147-5152. doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.04.095

    4. Ng, David S. H. (2001). Economics Made Easy. Kuala Lumpur: Kumpulan Budiman Sdn. Bhd.

    5. Nor Hafiza Othman, Afifah Hanim Md Pazil, Siti Aishah Attaullah, Siti Zamanira Mat Zaib, Chuk Wei Jin & Nur Fatin Diyana Mahadi (2016). Influence of Work Experience and Education towards Business Performance among Entrepreneurs. International Business Education Journal, 9 (1), 78-87.

    6. Robinson, B. (2009). The Art of Confident Living: 10 practices for taking charge of your life. Health Communications, Inc. Deerfield Beach, FL.

    7. Salvatore, Dominick, Jamaliah Mohd. Khalili, Arlinah Abdul Rashid, Ismadi Ismail, Rosilawati Amiruddin, Suresh Narayananet (2012). Essentials of Managerial Economics. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd.

    8. Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R. (2013). Research Methods for Business: A skill building approach. UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

    9. Shafqat Mehmood Khan, Muqaddas Rehman, Chaudhary Abdul Rehman (2016). Work Experience and Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Various Industries of (Lahore) Pakistan. Sci. Int.(Lahore), 28(1), 571-583.

    10. Stella Morrison (2021, Aug. 12). Entrepreneurship: Business Ideas, Financing and more. Business.com. Retrieved from https://www.business.com/entrepreneurship/

    11. Tey Hwei Choo, Nabila Ahmad, Zulkhairi Nisa, Irlisuhayu Mohd. Ramli and Rosmaiza Abd. Ghani (2017). Fundamentals of Economics. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.

    12. Vengedasalam, D. & Madhavan, K. (2013). Principles of Economics. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd.

    13. Yeop Yunus, Nek Kamal (2013). Customer Retention Strategies. Penerbit Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

    14. https://core.ac.uk/reader/11786110

    15. www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/kpt-gariskan-tiga-teras-strategi-utama-dalam-pelan-tindakan-keusahawanan-ipt-283685

    16. https://nusorita.blogspot.com/2016/05/bakal-graduan-mengapa-pengalaman-kerja.html

    17. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/1484-starting-a-business.html

    18. https://www.wisdomtimes.com/blog/improve-your-business-with-previous-work-experience/

    19. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/industry-placements

    20. https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/work-experience-programs/

    21. https://www.talentcorp.com.my/initiatives/myasean-internship