Critical drivers of entrepreneurship: a study of the Nigerian community owned and managed independent retail businesses in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.

Abstract

Purpose: This study explores the motivations of an entrepreneur’s business entry decision within the context of the Nigerian community owned and managed independent retail businesses in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, a minority ethnic group with independent retail micro-businesses. Approach: A research methodology that is most appropriate to the qualitative research aim and highlights the research respondents’ ideas with some details is advised. The research sought access to respondents’ ideas using a qualitative methodological approach, including 20 in-depth interviews. Result: This research found evidence of pull, push and mixed motives as the critical drivers of entrepreneurship. The findings indicate that immigrant enclaves, their economic and social embeddedness into the mainstream group, family business background, informal and formal economic activities, and cultural influences are the core drivers of entrepreneurship. Moreover, the perceived discrimination faced in the host country, interestingly generated intergroup solidarity and strengthened the influence of the group network. Implication: The core conclusion for policy makers from these limited research findings is that a variety of critical drivers of entrepreneurial motivations as identified in this study, seems to be driven by: ‘push’ factors, ‘pull’ factors and ‘mixed’ factors. This limited study offers a framework, which can assist to understand the factors driving these entrepreneurs business entry decision. Currently official liaison with this community is minimal, there are clear opportunities for policy makers to better engage the community, to manage the potential expectations of minority migrant entrepreneurs and channel much needed support to them through formal and informal networks. Limitation: The invisibility of the Nigerian Community in Germany is a key limitation on these research findings. Furthermore, this is a small exploratory study, limited to NRW, Germany and the findings cannot be generalised. However, it can be the basis for future repeated qualitative studies and for a large quantitative study.