<p><strong>Background & Problem discussion: </strong>Recently, there has been an increased interest in topics such as immigrant entrepreneurship. Considering that most of the research until now is done in America with American examples, it would be beneficial if such results are verified or refuted in other countries as well, such as Sweden (Brundin, Bögenhold and Sundin, 2001). Overall, businesses ran by immigrant entrepreneurs are creating job opportunities and encouraging Europe’s economy, even though exposed to limited immigration policies and unpleasant public opinion (Halkias et al., 2007). Immigrant entrepreneurs are not a new phenomenon in Sweden and according to Hammarstedt (2004) immigrant self-employment compared to native small-businesses has increased throughout the years, and therefore an important role in the integration of immigrants was made possible by the self-employment sector as a source of employment.</p><p>Rather than that, most of the research done in this topic by many researchers has been focused in factors triggering immigrant entrepreneurs to start a business, but less researchers were focused in understanding the challenges they face and strategies they adopt in order to survive.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this thesis is to <em>identify</em> challenges that immigrant entrepreneurs face while starting and running their businesses and <em>analyze</em> how they are interrelated and how do immigrant entrepreneurs <em>cope</em> with them in the setting of a medium-sized town in Sweden. Jönköping as a medium sized town in Sweden is our context.</p><p><strong>Theoretical framework: </strong>The literature used in this study covers studies conducted in different context such as: American, European and Swedish. The conducted studies involve case studies in different context done with immigrant entrepreneurs are mainly about the challenges they face and the strategies they adopt as solutions to those challenges. Such theory helped us identify common challenges among immigrant entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, considering that the existing literature does not explicitly discuss the role of the context (metropolitan, large city, medium-sized town, small (rural town), local community etc), we have to inquire especially into that and use our own data to build a supplementary theory.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The method used in this study is a qualitative approach but also with some minor elements of a quantitative approach (the use of the questionnaire during the interviews asked from the respondents to rank the challenges and therefore helped to find out the most significant challenge among them). Considering that generally our study followed a qualitative approach, we have conducted ‘face-to-face’ interviews. There were eight semi-structured interviews. All of the interviews were tape recorded.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings of this study showed that challenges faced by our respondents were: start-up finance, finance for growth, access to markets, lack of language skills, lack of marketing/sales skills, lack of management skills, access to technology, lack of education, lack of visitors to Jönköping, maintaining customers, Swede’s negative views on immigrant businesses, awareness of food among customers, and competition. However, the four most significant challenges among them were: access to markets, start-up finance, lack of language skills and finance for growth.</p><p>Besides that the findings show that the strategies that are adopted by immigrant entrepreneurs that we interviewed include the following: use of personal savings, use of personal networks, bank loan, enter low market barriers, scanning the market beforehand, asking help from their customers about language barriers or taking a language course before starting, among others.</p><p>The findings showed that the context is important to a great extent but besides context, in order for the immigrant venture to occur it matters to a great extent, who the individual entrepreneur is and what business idea he/she develops. In addition, they are key factors contributing not only to the immigrant venture occurrence, but also to the success of the business.</p>

Women’s entrepreneurship is a much touted topic of research with researchers competing to contribute to the growing body of knowledge. Although literature is replete with articles and opinions on the various aspects concerning women’s entrepreneurship, still more needs to be done. Much of the research produced until now has focused on specific contexts like western countries and results obtained are either not conclusive or generalizable and in many cases incomplete. Research on women’s entrepreneurship conducted in the contexts of developing nations appears to be grossly inadequate, bordering almost on a neglected category. Specifically, research on women’s entrepreneurship conducted in the context of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries is almost nil except for a few sporadic articles here and there. How women entrepreneurs have fared in the GCC countries is not clear and there is a need to know what their current status is, how they have performed and what challenges contribute to their lack of progress. There is a huge gap in the literature in this area and this research has made some modest contributions to remove this gap partially. The literature review shows that a number of challenges affect women entrepreneurs’ success. Although the research output used in this research was derived from studies conducted largely in a western context, some of the factors grounded in theories like institutional theory were found to be applicable to the context of women entrepreneurs in the GCC. Five of these challenges, namely lack of adequate training and education; legal constraints; cultural constraints and a lack of social support; lack of access to financial resources; and work–family interface have been investigated in this research using a conceptual model and survey questionnaire. Women entrepreneurs in three GCC countries, namely Kingdom of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were chosen for studying the phenomenon of women’s entrepreneurial involvement in business activities. A random sampling method was used. Hypotheses were developed and verified and the five challenges were found through rigorous statistical tests to significantly affect the involvement of women entrepreneurs in business activity in GCC countries. The challenges selected were part of a larger set of challenges, not all of which could be investigated due to paucity of time, resources and the large territory comprising three nations in the GCC region. In addition, an exploratory study using interviews was conducted to identify specific challenges that affect women entrepreneurs in the GCC countries. Three additional challenges, namely intellectual property; patronage and connections; and lengthy regulatory procedures were revealed through this. Mixed method research was used which led to triangulation of the results obtained from analysing data gathered through questionnaire survey and interview. The challenges that emerged from the analysis of the questionnaire survey and interviews resulted in the development of a new and comprehensive model that combined the challenges tested through the empirical model and those derived from interviews. The findings from the analysis indicated that much needs to be done to enable women entrepreneurs involved in business activities in the GCC region to succeed. Many challenges need to be tackled. The findings clearly point out that the challenges are responsible for the low percentage (around 2%) of business activities attributable to women-owned enterprises in the GCC countries. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the area of women’s entrepreneurship in the specific context of the GCC region. The research outcomes clearly indicate that specific challenges can be tackled to improve the involvement of business activities of women entrepreneurs in the GCC region. Since the topic of involvement of women entrepreneurs in business activities in the context of GCC countries is not well investigated, the research outcomes of this research add to the current knowledge from a contextual point of view. In addition, the research has expanded the application of institutional theory to understand about the various challenges that affect involvement of women entrepreneurs in business activities in the context of GCC and contributed theoretically in terms of developing a new framework that could be used to examine how the challenges could be tackled. Methodologically, the research has shown how a mixed method research can be used to combine the outcome of survey research with interviews. Practical implications of the research outcomes show that the framework developed in this research could be adopted in practice by women entrepreneurs themselves, as well as various institutions and organizations that are concerned with women entrepreneurs, for improving the involvement of women entrepreneurs in business activities in the context of the GCC. Although the limitations of this research have been highlighted, how to overcome those limitations through future research has been explained. Thus, overall, this research effort is expected to stimulate further discussion and debate with regard to the involvement of women in business activities in the GCC and act as some kind of a basis for initiating steps to improve the position of women entrepreneurs involved in business activities in the GCC and perhaps in other regions surrounding the GCC countries.

In the start-up entrepreneurs face the Liability of Newness when problems and challenges often threaten business survival. Business advisory service, provided by public and private supplier contacts, can offer important knowledge and information, accompanied by various forms of assistance, and thereby decrease the entrepreneurs’ risk of failure and reduce their Liability of Newness. However, it is difficult to match the entrepreneurs’ need for such advice with the available advice. The support must meet the need. Most nations in the European Union have programs and projects that provide such support for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Special programs often support female entrepreneurs and/or immigrant entrepreneurs. This thesis examines the level and handling of the Liability of Newness with special focus on female entrepreneurs and immigrant entrepreneurs in Sweden. The four papers of this thesis take the perspective of these entrepreneurs. The research is based on a sample of 2 832 entrepreneurs who were interviewed (in a telephone survey) on their impressions and recollections on their need for and use of business advisory service in the start-up processes of their companies. Fulfilment of need is achieved when the need for business advisory service is matched with the right use of business advisory service. Heterogeneities as far as the level and handling of the Liability of Newness exist related to female entrepreneurs (vs. male entrepreneurs) and immigrant entrepreneurs (vs. non-immigrant entrepreneurs). Female entrepreneurs have a higher need for business advisory service than male entrepreneurs and also use more business advisory service than male entrepreneurs. As a result, female entrepreneurs can decrease the hazard rate for their companies and also reduce the Liability of Newness as their companies move toward the standard risk in their industry. Immigrant entrepreneurs also have a higher need for business advisory service than non-immigrant entrepreneurs. However, because immigrant entrepreneurs use business advisory service to the same extent that non-immigrant entrepreneurs do, immigrant entrepreneurs are unable to decrease the hazard rate for their companies or to reduce the Liability of Newness.The thesis makes both theoretical, methodological and practical contributions. The thesis may be of interest to government policy makers with its attention to the need and use of business advisory service by female entrepreneurs and immigrant entrepreneurs.

In the start-up entrepreneurs face the Liability of Newness when problems and challenges often threaten business survival. Business advisory service, provided by public and private supplier contacts, can offer important knowledge and information, accompanied by various forms of assistance, and thereby decrease the entrepreneurs’ risk of failure and reduce their Liability of Newness. However, it is difficult to match the entrepreneurs’ need for such advice with the available advice. The support must meet the need. Most nations in the European Union have programs and projects that provide such support for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Special programs often support female entrepreneurs and/or immigrant entrepreneurs. This thesis examines the level and handling of the Liability of Newness with special focus on female entrepreneurs and immigrant entrepreneurs in Sweden. The four papers of this thesis take the perspective of these entrepreneurs. The research is based on a sample of 2 832 entrepreneurs who were interviewed (in a telephone survey) on their impressions and recollections on their need for and use of business advisory service in the start-up processes of their companies. Fulfilment of need is achieved when the need for business advisory service is matched with the right use of business advisory service. Heterogeneities as far as the level and handling of the Liability of Newness exist related to female entrepreneurs (vs. male entrepreneurs) and immigrant entrepreneurs (vs. non-immigrant entrepreneurs). Female entrepreneurs have a higher need for business advisory service than male entrepreneurs and also use more business advisory service than male entrepreneurs. As a result, female entrepreneurs can decrease the hazard rate for their companies and also reduce the Liability of Newness as their companies move toward the standard risk in their industry. Immigrant entrepreneurs also have a higher need for business advisory service than non-immigrant entrepreneurs. However, because immigrant entrepreneurs use business advisory service to the same extent that non-immigrant entrepreneurs do, immigrant entrepreneurs are unable to decrease the hazard rate for their companies or to reduce the Liability of Newness.The thesis makes both theoretical, methodological and practical contributions. The thesis may be of interest to government policy makers with its attention to the need and use of business advisory service by female entrepreneurs and immigrant entrepreneurs.

There are several motivational factors for why entrepreneurs start a venture, continue to run the venture and also exit the venture. A prevalent theme in previous literature regarding entrepreneurial motivation, is the dichotomy of push and pull theory. This suggests that an entrepreneur can either be a necessity entrepreneur or an opportunity entrepreneur, meaning their motivation comes from either push or pull factors. Newer research argues that push and pull factors can co-exist and also change over time, highlighting that this dichotomy is ambiguous. However, this is still an under-researched area and many researchers call for more empirical findings concerning this topic. To gather more information regarding this disagreement, a qualitative study was executed, through semi-structured interviews with Swedish entrepreneurs from different entrepreneurial phases. The findings in this study indicate that motivational push and pull factors can be present simultaneously in an individual, and also change over time, depending on dynamic internal and external factors regarding the entrepreneur themselves and/or the venture.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the situation of female entrepreneurs in Sweden by exploring the Swedish governments adopted, targeted entrepreneurship policy on women entrepreneurs and evaluate the program "Support Women Entrepreneurs 2007-2009" implemented by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. In the program evaluation process qualitative data analyses methods are used. The aim of the evaluation is to measure how planned program/component parts were implemented in practice and whether set goals were accomplished. Overall results from the program evaluation should be considered as positive. The original program plan consisted of six parts, 20 goals, and 34 component parts. Out of the 34 component parts, 18 were acknowledged to have been accomplished, information was not available for 14 component parts and 2 component parts were found not to be accomplished. Due to the program’s complexity in execution, involving different executive layers on national, regional and municipal levels, evaluation process was quite demanding and still it could not represent the highest level of preciseness in evaluating component parts. The most actively executed and successfully implemented part of the program could be considered part four: Attitudes and role-models.

This research sought to examine the lived experiences and minds of entrepreneurs who had influenced society in ways beyond the domain of the private sector. An entrepreneur was defined as an individual who pursues opportunity or is driven by the perception of opportunity. It was proffered that a divide exists in our understanding of an entrepreneur—as person—and an entrepreneur—as business starter. To a great extent, this divide has limited exploration of the connections and benefits that entrepreneurial thinking might bring to education. This was a qualitative and interpretivist study based on interviews with a purposive sample of entrepreneurs who have had a major influence in private, public, and more generally in the plural sectors in and around Canada. Nine entrepreneurs were invited to tell their life stories, to provide their perceptions of how entrepreneurs think and to relate how they believed they had developed their skills. Using in-depth interviews, the researcher was able to discover, in part, the essence of how these entrepreneurs thought, how they made decisions, and how they viewed themselves and their world. The findings and insights add to the growing body of literature on entrepreneurship. The researcher argued that the dissertation had given light to the lived experience of entrepreneurs. Understanding how these persons had become entrepreneurial and how they had recognized opportunities for their own mentorship were addressed by the research. How these entrepreneurs thought, their motivations, and interests, as well as how they perceived their role in the world provided valuable insights, especially as one seeks to understand how to cultivate or develop, nurture and encourage entrepreneurs, and to foster entrepreneurial behaviour throughout the education sector. The exploratory insights from these rich interviews serve to further foster fruitful conversations on potential alignments between the ways and thinking of entrepreneurs and educational systems.

<p> </p><p><strong>Introduction </strong></p><p>Some researchers believe that Business plans are critical to the development of a new business idea and thus a new venture. However, others are of the view that these documents are completely useless to the business planning process. With these conflicting views existing, and the occurrence of various factors, the process of deciding to write a business plan and actually writing one can be quite challenging for First – Time entrepreneurs (FTEs) without any influence from background, education and training. This can increase the levels of complexity experienced by many new entrepreneurs.</p><p><strong>Purpose</strong></p><p>The aim of this research study is to first investigate the task of writing a business plan experienced by FTEs, then compare the personal experiences and observations of the author to those of others who have participated in this process, and finally compare the collective results to relevant theories and the views and beliefs of experts in writing business plans or creating new ventures. Furthermore, the main aim is to identify exactly if the writing process can be considered less challenging for FTEs, given the inclusion of certain factors, and what is actually meant by the term “easy”.</p><p><strong>Method</strong></p><p>To do this, experiences and personal opinions and observations have been collected from the author and former FTEs through the use of self – observation and narrative research techniques coupled with a series of open and probing questions. These were then compared to a collection of relevant literature, and views and opinions of the experts working with the industry.</p><p><strong>Conclusions </strong></p><p><strong> </strong>With the inclusion of knowledge, literature and expert advice, the process <strong> </strong>of writing a business plan becomes easier for FTEs. What this means is that FTEs are more prepared to undertake the writing process due to the absence of uncertainties and increased insight, and as a result, they execute the process more efficiently and better informed as to what tends to occur. In this perspective, the writing process itself becomes “easy”</p>

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship have been the focus of economic development for the past 22 years. The aim is to spark economic growth that will be sustainable for the years to come. The current state of entrepreneurship will be better understood when the economic, educational and political past of black entrepreneurship is unpacked. Blacks constitute the majority of the South African population and South Africa requires entrepreneurs to reach its goals stipulated in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. Entrepreneurial education is vital to the development of entrepreneurs to enter the economy, which would alleviate unemployment and ensure economic growth, as many other countries have done in the past. Commerce faculties that offer entrepreneurship education are the focus of this study to determine the effect of four cognitive factors on the entrepreneurial intention of students. These four factors are attitude towards entrepreneurship, role models, entrepreneurial leaders, and resources and opportunities within commerce faculties. This study uses the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a model to determine entrepreneurial intention. This theory has been proven to be a sound instrument to use when determining intention and behaviour. The study took place at the University of the Western Cape’s Economic and Management Science Faculty (School of Business and Finance), the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Commerce, Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and Cape Peninsula’s University of Technology’s Business and Management Faculty. The data was collected by using a self-administered questionnaire which was designed for the purpose of this study which was tested for reliability and validity. The population size was 240 from the various institutions mentioned previously. SPSS 24 was used for the statistical data analysis. There findings were that attitude towards entrepreneurship and resources and opportunities were statistically significant in affecting or influencing entrepreneurial intention. The model explained 57.6% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurship education should be seriously considered as a tool to influence entrepreneurial intention as the study showed that entrepreneurship education can and will influence entrepreneurial intention. This implies that the higher education institutions are the custodians for future entrepreneurs in the education they provide and the manner in which the entrepreneurship education is presented.

Thesis advisor: Christopher Baum / Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and Reunification in 1990, Germany experienced many economic and labor market shifts. This empirical analysis evaluates the determinants of entrepreneurship in post-Reunification Germany from 1986 to 2014 using self-employment dependent variables as entrepreneurial proxies and measures of social capital as independent variables. Age, gender, nationality, education, income, risk attitudes, and social factors are all shown to be statistically significant predictors of entrepreneurial activity in Germany. The subsequent sociological analysis examines popular media’s portrayal of contemporary technological entrepreneurship in modern Berlin. The investigation highlights the differences between Berlin’s countercultural image and the need for sustainable funding and business plans for new technology ventures. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics Honors Program. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Economics.