<b>Causal attribution, resource munificence, severity indicators, turnaround strategies, managerial forces of action and distress signals</b>

This is dataset for a study that was conducted to have an understanding of venture distress causal attribution in South Africa. The data presents answers to seven major research questions. Specifically, the dataset answer questions related to the application of the critical incident technique (CIT) method in venture distress decision making, how the CIT method can be used to inform distress origin, resource munificence, potential severity at turnaround situation, responding strategies, managerial forces of action, and critical signals. The researcher employed an interpretivist research paradigm using a qualitative method to collect data from 25 participants who included owner managers, C-suite, business rescue practitioners and creditors via the purposive sampling method. The research was carried out in South Africa.