Keeping it in the Family: Overcoming Institutional Voids - A family-based View of entrepreneurial behaviour

Paul Agu Igwe, R Newbery, Gareth White, Nihar Amoncar

    Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

    Abstract

    An emergent theme in the field of entrepreneurship research focuses on understanding how institutions, ethnicity and culture affect entrepreneurial behaviour. Despite the many scholarly works in this field, very little is known about the links between family, institutions and entrepreneurial behaviour in the African context. By interviewing 50 entrepreneurs and community leaders of Igbo tribe in Nigeria, we apply induction method via the lens of effectuation theory (Sarasvathy, 2001) as a process by which entrepreneurs manage resources and stakeholders to create opportunities. We examined the attributes of the Igbos in relation to their entrepreneurial behaviour. In doing so, this paper contributes to bridging the gap on prevailing assumptions on entrepreneurial behaviors that are based on Western values and assumptions. Building on research on effectuation, institutional voids theory, business strategy and business history, we thus shed light on an under-researched tribal and family-based behaviour, in an under-theorized setting and institutional uncertainty (African context).

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages1-22
    Number of pages22
    Publication statusPublished - 25 Sept 2018
    Event Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference 2017: 'Borders', Prosperity and Entrepreneurial Responses - Belfast, United Kingdom
    Duration: 8 Nov 20179 Nov 2017
    Conference number: 40

    Conference

    Conference Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference 2017
    Abbreviated titleISBE 2017
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityBelfast
    Period8/11/179/11/17

    Keywords

    • Ethnic Entrepreneurs
    • Institutional Voids
    • Effectuation
    • Business History
    • Business Strategy and African context

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