Development of a food-based social entrepreneur mindset scale

Social entrepreneurs create change by providing value to the community in order to build a sustainable community. There is a growing trend of social entrepreneurship in Malaysia, but research on social entrepreneurship, especially related to food-based and mindset, is limited. Since food security is not only an issue in Malaysia but also globally, it is crucial to study social entrepreneurs in the food sector. Food security is one of the concerns under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The business environment is volatile and requires a strong mindset to succeed. Evidence shows that mindset matters when it comes to persevering in difficult times. The purpose of this study was to develop a mindset instrument based on the experiences of food-based social entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The instrument was named as ‘Foodbased Social Entrepreneurs Mindset Instrument’ (FBSEMI). An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was employed, corresponding to DeVellis’ (2012) scale development guidelines. The results of the qualitative phase, in which the interviews of 11 participants (n=11) were analyzed using thematic analysis, yielded 43 codes. Based on the qualitative results, a preliminary instrument was constructed and after validation with the content expert, the FBSEMI consisted of 49 items. The questionnaire was administered to undergraduate students at public universities in Malaysia. 274 usable questionnaires (n=274) were collected and analyzed. The psychometric properties of FBSEMI were examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA yielded a four-factor solution and the final model fit of the measurement model (χ2/df=2.43, CFI =.90, IFI=.90, TLI=.89, RMSEA=.07) was found to be acceptable, confirming convergent and discriminant validity. In relation to criterion-related validity, mindset was found to have a strong, significant, and positive relationship (r=.88) with intention to become a food-based social entrepreneur, indicating that the psychometric properties were validated. Based on the results, the instrument was proven to be valid and reliable. The Food-based Social Entrepreneurs Mindset Instrument (FBSEMI) can be used extensively. A clearer conceptualization of the food-based social entrepreneurs established contributed to the body of knowledge. Practically, the FBSEMI Scale can be used to access potential food-based social entrepreneurs’ mindset, which can help universities, agency, and organizations to identify areas where additional training and experience can help foster an entrepreneurial mindset. As food is in constant demand and has a lot of room to grow, the findings of this study will have implications for society and policy makers and will later help in formulating strategies to promote and effectively enhance food-based social entrepreneurs in Malaysia. This will improve the food security and social welfare of the nation.

Text 122724.pdf Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: http://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18638

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