Retail entrepreneurial values in a bicultural community: Cultural and economic contentions and negotiation (original) (raw)

Nonagricultural micro-enterprise development among the Pennsylvania Amish: A new phenomenon

Journal of Rural Studies, 1997

The economic character of Amish communities shows signs of considerable change. Amish traditionally have depended on farming, and until recently, nonagricultural work was cause for excommunication from the church. The traditional farming base, however, is increasingly unable to provide the jobs and income necessary for the growing population. Ill response, there has been a rapid growth in nonagricultural micro-enterprises. The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature of this phenomenon in the Lancaster Settlement in Pennsylvania, the largest Amish settlement in Pennsylvania, and the earliest and still second largest in North America. The paper analyzes the characteristics of the Amish entrepreneurs, their businesses and markets, with comparisons with the standard entrepreneurial literature. The Amish entrepreneurs are found to be quite similar in many ways to entrepreneurs in general, but differ considerably in other aspects. Also, they often differ from popular perception, especially the newer Amish entrepreneurs. Results indicate that the newer Amish entrepreneurs are more dynamic and outward looking than the previous generation; perhaps more in the mold of nonAmish entrepreneurs. The success of the Amish entrepreneurs holds potential lessons for general rural business development strategies.

A humility-based enterprising community: the Amish people in Lancaster County

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in The Global Economy, 2007

Purpose -The purpose of this study is to add to the understanding of humility-based economic development and entrepreneurship among the Amish -a religious group -in the USA, whose culture values asceticism, frugality, thrift and work, as well as humility. Design/methodology/approach -The paper presents an ethnographic research study. Findings -Amish adults teach their young that work is pleasurable. In order to maintain their values, the Amish try to avoid close contact with people who do not hold the same traditions. Furthermore, due to religious discrimination in the past, the Amish often exhibit a mistrust of outsiders. The primary motive of self-employment among the Amish is neither profit nor prestige, but rather the maintenance of cultural values, separately from mainstream society such as to emphasise humility over pride. Self-employment is perceived as much a social activity as an economic activity, and very importantly, it is compatible with religious beliefs. Practical implications -Given the choice, the Amish prefer not to work for enterprises in mainstream society. These people prefer to be self-employed or to work amongst themselves, as it is their belief that a community of believers is the context for life. Originality/value -This research paper reports on an ethnographic research study that reveals the reasons why Amish people in Lancaster County choose self-employment as a means of livelihood, the changing nature of their enterprises, and the causal variables explaining why there is a shift from farm-based self-employment on family farms, to non-land-based entrepreneurship.

Does culture endure, or is it malleable? Issues for entrepreneurial economic development

Journal of Business Venturing, 1992

Mainland Chinese, Taiwanese and American entrepreneurs provides a special opportunity to explore this issue. For 50 years severe and unrelenting ideological pressures have been brought to bear on the base Chinese culture in these two countries. Therefore, we can start to uncover where culture predominates and where ideology predominates. Where culture predominates and endures: l Chinese and American entrepreneurs should show dSfSerent patterns of response l Taiwanese responses should be similar to Chinese responses Where culture is eroded rapidly by ideological forces, and is thus relatively malleable: l Taiwanese and American entrepreneurs should show similar patterns of response l Taiwanese responses should be more similar to American responses This study used survey data obtained from entrepreneurs in each of the three countries. Respondents were asked to indicate their degree of agreement to questions relating to 14 dtferent cultural 441 442 R.G. McGRATH ET AL

Ethnic entrepreneurship: Do values matter?

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

While considerable attention has been devoted to the personality traits of entrepreneurs, less attention has been given to their values, especially outside of a Western context. Values are instrumental in the decision to pursue entrepreneurship, and have implications for the entrepreneurʼs approach to creating and managing the venture. The role of values would seem especially relevant in the context of ethnic subcultures. Values traditionally associated with entrepreneurship, such as risk, individualism, competitiveness, wealth generation, and growth, may be more consistent with Western cultures, and may conflict with closely held values within various ethnic subcultures the world over. This article examines the values of entrepreneurs in two ethnic subcultures within South Africa. Findings are reported from interviews with cross-sectional samples of black and colored entrepreneurs. The results indicate entrepreneurs tend to embrace common values regardless of their individual ethni...

Beyond cultural values? Cultural leadership ideals and entrepreneurship

Journal of Business Venturing, 2016

This paper offers a fresh perspective on national culture and entrepreneurship research. It explores the role of Culturally-endorsed implicit Leadership Theories (CLTs) – i.e., the cultural expectations about outstanding, ideal leadership – on individual entrepreneurship. Developing arguments based on culture-entrepreneurship fit, we predict that charismatic and self-protective CLTs positively affect entrepreneurship. They provide a context that enables entrepreneurs to be cooperative in order to initiate change but also to be self-protective and competitive so as to safeguard their venture and avoid being exploited. We further theorize that CLTs are more proximal drivers of crosscountry differences in entrepreneurship as compared with distal cultural values. We find support for our propositions in a multi-level study of 42 countries. Cultural values (of uncertainty avoidance and col-lectivism) influence entrepreneurship mainly indirectly, via charismatic and self-protective CLTs. We do not find a similar indirect effect for cultural practices. Crosscountry differences in the levels of entrepreneurship are persistent and cannot be explained by economic factors alone. Researchers and politicians alike have turned to national culture as a possible explanation. Past research has focused on cultural values, the shared ideals and long-term goals of societies, which are also the cornerstone of cross-cultural and international business research. Cultures valuing key aspects of entrepreneurship-such as the willingness to bear uncertainty, and individual competitive actions-were thought to drive entrepreneurship. But despite the intuitive appeal of this assumption, the rapidly growing literature on culture and entrepreneurship is characterized by mixed findings. Some studies find the expected relationships of entrepreneurship with cultural uncertainty avoidance and individualism values, but others find the opposite, and still others that there are no significant relationships. We suggest that one reason for these mixed findings is the fact that cultural values are very broad and general concepts. Entrepreneurship, however, is a rather specific behavior. We therefore advocate greater focus on those aspects of culture that are more proximal, i.e., conceptually 'closer' to entrepreneurship.

The Role of Social Capital for Amish Entrepreneurs in Pursuing Informal Economic Opportunities

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies, 2013

This study explores the specific types of social relationships that influence initiation into and involvement in informal businesses. In particular, it examines the social capital possessed by Amish entrepreneurs who establish home-based, off-the-books tourism businesses. This paper theoretically refines social capital by identifying three dimensions of social relations: cognitive, reciprocal, and structural. I explore the relationship between social capital and Amish involvement in tourism businesses by using measures of tie strength, expected roles in one's network, structural equivalence of network position, common culture, and religion. The results suggest that neither tie strength nor diversity alone accounts for one's involvement in informal entrepreneurship. Rather, a combination of both strong and diverse ties is positively related to informal business involvement and success. Therefore, researchers of entrepreneurship should give attention to the multiplicity of both network tie strength and diversity.

Culture as an Obstacle for Entrepreneurship

This research was aimed to identify the main reasons why entrepreneurs in the city of Ibagué, who structure business ideas and participate in contests and/or calls, do not continue the entrepreneurial process until the creation of their companies. After applying the beforehand validated instrument to more than 100 students from the Universidad de Ibagué and expert advisers from the department of Tolima, made up of universities, entrepreneurs, and public-private institutions, with interests in entrepreneurship; it was possible to recognize that the main reason, why entrepreneurs generate ideas, but not companies, is the cultural factor. The foregoing is based on the fact that Tolima has been a quintessential agricultural department and this situation has contributed greatly to the fact that the entrepreneurial spirit has not been developed in people. Within the research results it was detected that in contrast with other cities of Colombia, like Manizales and Medellín, Ibagué has not...

An exploration of ethnic entrepreneurial values and characteristics in MSEs

Bisma (Bisnis dan Manajemen), 2021

Entrepreneurship is one aspect that can encourage economic growth in a country through the creation of goods and services, it can improve the welfare of society. However, the survival of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) is still lower. Even though the number of MSEs in Indonesia has increased, the failure elevates. Variables that can increase the success of MSEs include the values and characteristics of the entrepreneur. This paper explores the entrepreneurial values and characteristics of Chinese, Javanese, and Madurese ethics in MSEs. This study uses a case study approach by using in-depth interviews to explore detailed information. The data source is primary data with six informants from three different ethnicities (Chinese, Javanese, and Madurese). The results demonstrate that Indonesian Chinese entrepreneurs uphold values and dominant perseverance, hard work, guanxi, honesty, personal trust, and confucianism values. Meanwhile, Javanese entrepreneur implements family values, spirituality, innate, paternalism, creativity, deliberation, and harmony. Finally, Madurese entrepreneur emphasizes obedience/surrender to parents, fraternity, and natural behaviour.

Piety and profit; the moral embeddedness of an enterprising community

Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 2020

We are interested in how morality can be sustained in entrepreneurial practice. We examine the interesting case of the Hutterites, a communal society who practice community entrepreneurshipentrepreneuring by the community and for the community. Arguing that culture provides values and that morals are cultural artefacts-we show how ethics determine the entrepreneurial practices of this remarkably successful entrepreneurial society. Our analysis explains how in this close-knit society, cultural morals and ethics of practice are perfectly aligned, embodied in practice and determine how entrepreneurship is practiced. The result is an economically viable society that preserves its ancient way of life and combines piety and profit. We demonstrate how cultural values shape entrepreneurial practice and how enterprising in this community is a change mechanism, yet also maintains social stability.

An understanding of Native American entrepreneurship

Small Enterprise Research, 2017

Native American entrepreneurship is not just about money, it is about history, tradition, culture and language embedded in time and traditional territory. It is the creation, management and development of entrepreneurial ventures by Native American peoples for the benefit of Native American peoples. With increased recognition of rights come increased opportunities for Native American entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ventures that focus on social, economic and environment value creation for and by Native American peoples. Native American ventures are more successful when the rights of Native American peoples are addressed and when these initiatives utilize nation-building approaches led by Native American communities. It is a means by which they can assert their rights to design, develop and maintain Native American-centric political, economic and social systems and institutions.