Determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour in the public sector in Tanzania: a case of water services provision

This paper examines the factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour in the public sector in Tanzania. To obtain data on the antecedents of entrepreneurial behaviour, we surveyed employees of Tabora Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (TUWASA) using a one-shot cross-sectional survey. Data collection involved a self-administered survey questionnaire with the close-ended questions. We used multiple regression analysis to determine the factors determining entrepreneurial behaviour. In our study, we measure entrepreneurial behaviour as a composite index of three entrepreneurial attributes: innovation, risk-taking and pro-activeness. Results have demonstrated that entrepreneurial behaviour is influenced by four factors, of which goal clarity and education level of the employee had the most significant and positive effect. Of the organisation factors included in the study, only one variable turned out to have a significant influence on employees’ entrepreneurial behaviour. These results suggest that management of the studied organisation must adopt a strategic management approach to motivate employees to unleash their entrepreneurial behaviour. Demonstration of entrepreneurial behaviour appeared to be unaffected by marital status, sex, reward system autonomy and public support. This possibility presents a probing avenue for further research into the factors that contribute to the demonstration of entrepreneurial behaviour in the public sector.