Socio and ethno-cultural embeddedness of transnational Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in Ghana

Transnational Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs have been in Ghana for a long time, operating by utilizing a wide range of resources available to them. Key among these resources are their own socio and ethno-cultural norms which have yet to be explored in the existing scholarship. We explore these patterns and norms in the articulation of transnational entrepreneurship among these immigrants in Ghana. We do this by relying on qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews, observations and market conversations—with 41 Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in Accra, Kumasi, and Ashaiman. We argue that these transnational Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in Ghana are embedded in their own ‘socio and ethno-cultural heritage’. This argument is anchored in multiple logics. First is the notion of transnational entrepreneurial activity that is ethnically and culturally inspired. Secondly, these entrepreneurship activities are inextricably embedded in informality and intensely rely on informal power brokerage system. Thirdly, there is an embeddedness in the entrepreneurs’ own traditional apprenticeship system. These lines of socio and ethno-cultural embeddedness provide useful pathways for understanding not only the operations and future prospects but also the patterns of transnational (mixed) embeddedness of the Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in Ghana.

Transnational Entrepreneurship: A New Perspective on a Cooperative Approach towards Cross-border Entrepreneurship

Cross-border cooperation in the early stages of a start-up might be one way of developing a sustainable and scalable business model for young enterprises. Thus, this paper is anchored at the intersection of the research areas of international Entrepreneurship and business model innovation. Its intention is to open up diverse perspectives for researchers in the field of cross-border Entrepreneurship. For this complex approach of cross-national cooperation, a theoretical framework with helpful knowledge has been developed. This work is considered relevant in view of the possible future developments in the fields of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Global developments, such as the rapid growth of digitization, have a strong impact on the global economic situation as well as the field of Entrepreneurship (Kollmann et al. 2017). While on the one hand many people in Europe fear falling behind China and the USA when it comes to innovation, the associated potential for new, globally applicable business models is often neglected even though start-ups might have the courage to address them. However, they usually lack the resources and market access they need to implement their objectives. Therefore, this paper offers a new perspective on Transnational Entrepreneurship (TE) and demonstrates an approach for a cooperative possibility, how young companies can successfully discover cross-border market opportunities together with other start-ups and implement new business models successfully, providing a new perspective and first practical implications from action research-based pilot projects for Transnational Entrepreneurship. Furthermore, first practical implications were implemented through a university project in the challenging environment of resource constraints and cross-border communication. Keywords: transnational, entrepreneurship, cooperation, business model,

Externally-imposed Institutional Barriers on Transnational Entrepreneurs: Lessons for the Iranian-Canadian Case

Scholars of transnational entrepreneurship have largely focused on the issue of institutional barriers within the country of origin (COO) context, asserting that transnational entrepreneurs (TEs) can overcome these barriers in a way that constitutes a competitive advantage. What has not been analyzed in the literature is the way in which institutional barriers that are imposed from outside of TE networks can affect TE behaviour and success. In this study, I will introduce the concept of externally imposed institutional barriers, using the example of Iranian TEs as a case study in which to understand this concept. By looking at three cases of Iranian TEs functioning within the context of Iran’s exclusion from the global financial system, this study will draw conclusions on the state of Iranian-Canadian TE activity and its implications for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Externally-imposed Institutional Barriers on Transnational Entrepreneurs: Lessons for the Iranian-Canadian Case

Scholars of transnational entrepreneurship have largely focused on the issue of institutional barriers within the country of origin (COO) context, asserting that transnational entrepreneurs (TEs) can overcome these barriers in a way that constitutes a competitive advantage. What has not been analyzed in the literature is the way in which institutional barriers that are imposed from outside of TE networks can affect TE behaviour and success. In this study, I will introduce the concept of externally imposed institutional barriers, using the example of Iranian TEs as a case study in which to understand this concept. By looking at three cases of Iranian TEs functioning within the context of Iran’s exclusion from the global financial system, this study will draw conclusions on the state of Iranian-Canadian TE activity and its implications for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.

Localizing informal practices in transnational entrepreneurship

Transnational entrepreneurs are often represented as active agents capable of mobilizing resources situated in different countries to develop new businesses. However, restrictive migration regimes limit the possibilities of individuals to become entrepreneurs. Based on ethnographic research in Barcelona, Spain, this article argues that, in a context of unequal access to formal resources, resorting to informality is crucial for many entrepreneurs as it enables them to expand their options for social mobility and achieve personal goals that would otherwise remain unreachable. The article proposes a critical perspective on the notions of informality and entrepreneurship. It highlights that these concepts rely on context-dependent norms set by certain social groups and challenged by others, which influence who can become an entrepreneur in specific environments. While certain categories of migrants are favorably positioned with regard to these norms, others are hindered by them and therefore are forced to engage in alternative entrepreneurial activities. How this is achieved, and the costs involved depend on the entrepreneur’s capacity to mobilize economic, cultural, social, and moral resources as well as on the perception of their practices as more or less legitimate or socially acceptable.

Ecosystem Strategies for Transnational Digital Entrepreneurship

This chapter proposes a three-ecosystems framework in the context of transnational digital entrepreneurship (TDE). It argues that the embeddedness and engagement within digital, host, and home-country entrepreneurial ecosystems holistically affect TDE process, adoption of strategic activities, and entrepreneurs. The research indicates that there is an increasing faith amongst researchers and policymakers in the vital position of TDE for socioeconomic development in transnational entrepreneurs' host and home countries, which has manifested as a result of the contribution to innovation, job creation, and income generation. This chapter aims to contribute to the rapidly growing literature on transnational entrepreneurship (TE) and digital entrepreneurship (DE) by theoretically exploring the key-impacting components in the process of TDE. The chapter offers an integrated theoretical framework/model supported by three ecosystems and a set of testable propositions for future empirical TDE research. This research will theoretically contribute to TE and DE literature.