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Indigenous entrepreneurship, culture and micro-enterprise in the Pacific Islands: case studies from Samoa

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  • Miranda Cahn

Abstract

In indigenous societies throughout the world ‘business’ and economic activities are embedded in cultural and social aspects, creating unique styles of entrepreneurship, which are often community-orientated, and with diverse livelihood outcomes. In the Pacific Island country of Samoa, the Samoan way of life and culture (fa’aSamoa) is intricately interwoven with rural entrepreneurial activity. This paper explores the relationships between micro-enterprises and fa’aSamoa in rural communities of Samoa, and questions whether an ‘indigenous’ style of entrepreneurship enhances the success and sustainability of micro-enterprises. The qualitative research investigated two separate clusters of micro-entrepreneurs. In each of the case studies fa’aSamoa was interwoven with, and strongly influenced, the livelihood outcomes that the micro-entrepreneurs sought, the characteristics of the micro-enterprise, the risks and vulnerability the micro-entrepreneurs faced, the way in which the micro-entrepreneurs in each of the clusters worked together, and the success and sustainability of the micro-enterprises. The research demonstrated that where fa’aSamoa blended successfully with the micro-entrepreneurial activity, an ‘indigenous’ form of enterprise had developed, and the success and sustainability of the micro-enterprise was enhanced. On the other hand, the research showed that tensions between fa’aSamoa and introduced business systems of the micro-enterprise could jeopardize micro-enterprise success and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Miranda Cahn, 2008. "Indigenous entrepreneurship, culture and micro-enterprise in the Pacific Islands: case studies from Samoa," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:20:y:2008:i:1:p:1-18
    DOI: 10.1080/08985620701552413
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    Cited by:

    1. Julian Gorman & Diane Pearson & Penelope Wurm, 2020. "Old Ways, New Ways—Scaling Up from Customary Use of Plant Products to Commercial Harvest Taking a Multifunctional, Landscape Approach," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Ericka Molina-Ramírez & Virginia Barba-Sánchez, 2021. "Embeddedness as a Differentiating Element of Indigenous Entrepreneurship: Insights from Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    3. Horn, Christine & Gifford, Sandra M. & Ting, Christina Y.P., 2021. "Informal, essential and embedded: Transport strategies in remote Sarawak," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    4. Ajito Fernandes & Titi Susilowati Prabawa & Wilson M. A. Therik, 2022. "The Livelihood of Chinese Migrants in Timor-Leste," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    5. Julian Gorman & Gretchen Ennis & Penelope Wurm & Melissa Bentivoglio & Chris Brady, 2023. "Aboriginal Community Views about a Native Plant-Based Enterprise Development in Northern Australia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Murphy, Matthew & Danis, Wade M. & Mack, Johnny & Sayers, (Kekinusuqs) Judith, 2020. "From principles to action: Community-based entrepreneurship in the Toquaht Nation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(6).
    7. Hall, Jeremy K. & Daneke, Gregory A. & Lenox, Michael J., 2010. "Sustainable development and entrepreneurship: Past contributions and future directions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 439-448, September.
    8. Bacq, Sophie & Hertel, Christina & Lumpkin, G.T., 2022. "Communities at the nexus of entrepreneurship and societal impact: A cross-disciplinary literature review," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(5).
    9. Carlos Poblete & Vesna Mandakovic, 2021. "Innovative outcomes from migrant entrepreneurship: a matter of whether you think you can, or think you can’t," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 571-592, June.
    10. Scheyvens, Regina & Carr, Anna & Movono, Apisalome & Hughes, Emma & Higgins-Desbiolles, Freya & Mika, Jason Paul, 2021. "Indigenous tourism and the sustainable development goals," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    11. Umesh Shrivastava & Amit Kumar Dwivedi, 2021. "Manifestations of rural entrepreneurship: the journey so far and future pathways," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(4), pages 753-781, October.
    12. Maegan Baker & Leanne Cutcher & Jarrod Ormiston, 2023. "The Bundian Way: An Indigenous-Led Cross-Sector Partnership in Place Through Time," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(4), pages 877-894, May.
    13. Sonali Hedditch & Clare Manuel, 2010. "Samoa Gender and Investment Climate Reform Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 25924, The World Bank Group.
    14. Stumpf, T.S. & Swanger, Nancy, 2017. "Institutions and transaction costs in foreign-local hotel ventures: A grounded investigation in the developing Pacific," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 368-379.
    15. Koehne, Florian & Woodward, Richard & Honig, Benson, 2022. "The potentials and perils of prosocial power: Transnational social entrepreneurship dynamics in vulnerable places," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4).

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