Abstract
The study examines a case of how the South African construction industry nurtured an entrepreneur and a large successful entrepreneurial construction company, even though the founder had no formal education and the company was founded during the Apartheid era. The question of whether entrepreneurs are born or are made is based on the age-old question of nurture or nature. The paper presents the narratives of the successful entrepreneur Mr. Sam Lubbe and the business strategy he used in growing a sustainable business. The information presented is collected through a case study research approach. The data collected suggests that although Sam does not have any formal education, he succeeded based on the nurturing given to him when he had the opportunity to work for a large South African construction company, his innate characteristics of self-confidence, task–result orientation, and originality, as well as his planning for the future and the use of a unique business model which helped him access international construction work opportunities. The study of this particular individual and his unique company is significant because it further validates previous research undertaken in other contexts and sectors on the traits of entrepreneurs and the success of companies.
Highlights
This paper examines a case where the South African construction environment was able to nurture an entrepreneur and his large entrepreneurial construction company, even though the founder had no formal education
This study argues that the growth of Lubbe Construction Company is attributable to both the character and traits of the founder, and the informal unstructured tutelage received by the founder in the South African construction industry during the Apartheid era
The study assessed how the individual validates the findings of previous research on the traits of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial activities, and how this impacts on sustainable growth and success in the South African construction industry
Summary
This paper examines a case where the South African construction environment was able to nurture an entrepreneur and his large entrepreneurial construction company, even though the founder had no formal education. The construction industry plays a major role in the economy of any nation. This industry is very vital because of its characteristics. Innovation; Akintoye, A., Goulding, J., Zawdie, G., Eds.; John Wiley: London, to Construction Innovation; Akintoye, A., Goulding, J., Zawdie, G., Eds.; John Wiley: London, UK, 2012; p.
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