DOING BUSINESS IN THE TORRES STRAITS: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE AND THE NATURE OF INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURS

Darren Lee-Ross () and Benjamin Mitchell
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Darren Lee-Ross: School of Business, James Cook University PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia
Benjamin Mitchell: School of Business, James Cook University PO Box 6811, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia

Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), 2007, vol. 12, issue 02, 199-216

Abstract: This qualitative study focuses on the relationship between culture and entrepreneurship in the Torres Strait Islands. Similar to other countries with a low per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), aggregate evidence suggests that entrepreneurial activity is commonplace among the indigenous community. Closer investigation revealed this is particularly so for a form known as "marginal" entrepreneurship. Using Hofstede's (1994) model of cultural dimensions linked to key western entrepreneurial traits, a sample of 61 Torres Strait entrepreneurs showed sizable perceptual trait differences compared with western theory. This has implications on the received current wisdom regarding typical values and characteristics of entrepreneurs. It would appear that cultural differences exist between the entrepreneurs of the Torres Straits and others. The implications of this finding have a potentially significant impact on policy and the level and types of investment funds made available for enabling entrepreneurship in the Torres Straits.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Torres Straits; culture; entrepreneurial traits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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DOI: 10.1142/S1084946707000630

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