ArticlePublisher preview available

Navigating motivations and obstacles: exploring the dynamics of foreign entrepreneurs in China’s business landscape

Authors:
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the author.

Abstract and Figures

This study explores foreign entrepreneurs’ motivations and obstacles in China’s business landscape. The research question is: What prominent factors drive foreign entrepreneurs to seek business opportunities in China, and what challenges do they encounter? A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a questionnaire survey of 240 foreign entrepreneurs in China, cross-tabulation analysis, chi-square tests, and thematic analysis. The findings reveal that financial gain, market opportunities, access to resources or networks, personal aspirations, and cultural factors motivate foreign entrepreneurs to venture into China. Language and communication barriers, cultural differences, administrative procedures, market competitiveness, logistics, remittances and international transfer issues, financial instability, discrimination, and racism pose significant challenges. The study highlights substantial similarities and dissimilarities in motivations and challenges based on gender and ethnicity. The study’s novelty lies in its comprehensive exploration of the dynamics of foreign entrepreneurship in China, incorporating gender and ethnicity considerations and shedding light on logistics and shipping issues as obstacles. The study’s practical implications could help policymakers and aspiring entrepreneurs formulate strategies to improve China’s business landscape for foreign entrepreneurs.
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal (2025) 21:12
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-024-01040-x
Abstract
This study explores foreign entrepreneurs’ motivations and obstacles in China’s
business landscape. The research question is: What prominent factors drive foreign
entrepreneurs to seek business opportunities in China, and what challenges do they
encounter? A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a questionnaire
survey of 240 foreign entrepreneurs in China, cross-tabulation analysis, chi-square
tests, and thematic analysis. The ndings reveal that nancial gain, market oppor-
tunities, access to resources or networks, personal aspirations, and cultural factors
motivate foreign entrepreneurs to venture into China. Language and communication
barriers, cultural dierences, administrative procedures, market competitiveness, lo-
gistics, remittances and international transfer issues, nancial instability, discrim-
ination, and racism pose signicant challenges. The study highlights substantial
similarities and dissimilarities in motivations and challenges based on gender and
ethnicity. The study’s novelty lies in its comprehensive exploration of the dynamics
of foreign entrepreneurship in China, incorporating gender and ethnicity consider-
ations and shedding light on logistics and shipping issues as obstacles. The study’s
practical implications could help policymakers and aspiring entrepreneurs formulate
strategies to improve China’s business landscape for foreign entrepreneurs.
Keywords International Entrepreneurship · China · Motivation · Obstacle ·
Gender · Ethnicity
Accepted: 4 October 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
2024
Navigating motivations and obstacles: exploring the
dynamics of foreign entrepreneurs in Chinas business
landscape
Arthur William FodouopKouam1
Arthur William Fodouop Kouam
willyfodouop@163.com
1 School of Management, Hebei University, Baoding City, Hebei Province 071000, China
1 3
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
Article
Full-text available
This qualitative study among 591 business students from four European countries investigated crosscountry differences in the kind of barriers people perceive to business start-up. In line with institutional theory, the most important perceived barriers in all countries related to regulative structures (lack of money) and cognitive conditions (lack of skills). Normative structures, defined as national culture, did not explain crosscountry differences in perceived risk as start-up barrier. In Norway and The Netherlands, students reported risk perceptions more often than in Romania and Russia, whereas the latter countries are known to be more uncertainty avoidant. These results aid in developing a theory of entrepreneurial barriers, which could be used to extend current entrepreneurial intentions theories in order to predict actual start-up behaviour better. Concerning practical implications, results indicate that business start-up can be stimulated through improving regulative and cognitive institutional structures, but national differences need to be taken into account. 116 T.A. Iakovleva et al.
Article
Full-text available
This paper offers a practical guide for researchers to effectively analyze their data in social science research, addressing the challenges and pitfalls commonly encountered in data analysis. By exploring various data analysis techniques, highlighting key challenges such as data quality issues and statistical assumptions violations, and providing practical tips and guidelines, this study fills a gap in the existing literature by offering a comprehensive approach to navigating data analysis in social science research. The significance of this study lies in its potential to improve the quality and reliability of research findings in the social sciences, equipping researchers with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct robust data analysis. This study is a valuable resource for researchers seeking to enhance their analytical skills, avoid common pitfalls, and advance knowledge in their field of study.
Article
Full-text available
This study provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts of validity and reliability in academic research and explores methods and strategies to enhance these factors in research studies. By delving into the significance of validity and reliability in various research contexts, including experimental, survey, qualitative, clinical, and social science research, the study offers valuable insights for researchers seeking to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of their findings. The study highlights the importance of careful research design, the use of valid and reliable measurement tools, establishing clear operational definitions, minimizing bias and error, conducting reliability analyses, validating findings with multiple methods, and peer review processes in enhancing the validity and reliability of research studies. The findings of this research contribute to the existing literature by providing practical guidance on mastering validity and reliability in academic research and emphasizing the need for researchers to prioritize assessing these factors throughout the research process. Additionally, the study suggests future research directions to explore novel strategies for enhancing validity and reliability in different research contexts.
Article
Full-text available
This study provides a comprehensive guide for researchers aiming to formulate a robust research design in academic writing. By addressing the definition, significance, and components of research design, this study aims to bridge the knowledge gap and equip researchers with the necessary tools to enhance the quality and reliability of their research. The originality of this study lies in its holistic approach, offering a step-by-step journey that covers various research methods and their suitability for different contexts, as well as crucial components of research design such as sampling strategies, data collection instruments, and data analysis techniques. By enhancing researchers' understanding of research design, this study aims to empower them to produce high-quality research and make meaningful contributions to their fields of study.
Article
Full-text available
This study delves into the nuances of interpretivism and constructivism as research paradigms in social science research, exploring their fundamental principles, characteristics, and influences on research methodologies. By clarifying the distinctions between these paradigms and their implications for knowledge construction, the study offers a comprehensive overview that guides researchers in navigating these paradigms effectively. The originality of this study lies in its nuanced understanding of interpretivism and constructivism, providing valuable insights for researchers to make informed decisions in selecting suitable research approaches aligned with their philosophical stance and research objectives. This study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the subjective nature of knowledge, the socially constructed reality, and the significance of these paradigms in advancing knowledge construction processes in social science research. Further research is warranted to explore the application of interpretivism and constructivism in various research contexts and disciplines, enhancing our understanding of human behavior and societal phenomena.
Article
Full-text available
In the context of climate change, it is important to examine the correlation between farmers’ disaster shock experience and their entrepreneurial inclination, as well as its adaptive mechanisms for rural development. We define farmers’ entrepreneurship as farmers engaging in self-employment or business operation, then analyze the positive and negative correlations between disaster shock experience and farmers’ entrepreneurship and propose that there is a U-shaped relationship between them. We develop a mechanism based on the mediating role of farmers’ risk appetite and the moderating role of government support. Based on a survey of 39,113 households from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey, we test our hypotheses using a probit model and structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that disaster shock experience strongly correlates with farmers’ entrepreneurship. Over time, a U-shaped trend emerges between them, in which disaster shock experience can deter farmers’ entrepreneurship through risk appetite, while government support can alleviate this inhibitory effect. Moreover, different types of disasters show the same U-shaped trend, but the relationship differs based on farmers’ gender and income levels. These findings suggest that rural areas should enhance their development capacity and disaster resilience, and the government should establish long-term support mechanisms for entrepreneurship. Additionally, farmers need to accurately understand and cope with disaster shock experience, so they can uncover the potential value and opportunities it presents.
Article
Full-text available
Entrepreneurs are either pushed (compelled) or pulled (motivated) to start their ventures. In the Ghanaian setting, there exist two groups of entrepreneurs; the formal and the informal. The formal entrepreneurs are those who are highly educated and either employed elsewhere or not and are engaged in entrepreneurial activities. The informal are those who are not educated but are also entrepreneurs. This study, conducted on 200 (100 from each sector) women from Fiapre, did a comparison through cross-tabulation in SPSS to find out if the same factors pulled or pushed these women into entrepreneurship. There was consensus in factors such as desire for independence, power or social status and exploiting opportunities. However formal sector women were exposed to more opportunities than their counterparts. Informal sector women wanted a flexible lifestyle as against the formal sector entrepreneurs. Differences existed in the choices of the entrepreneurs in the push category. The need for flexible working time was the major influencer for the formal entrepreneurs whiles a moderate factor for the informal entrepreneurs. Whereas job dissatisfaction, relocation, job insecurity, boredom and layoff were moderate influencers for the formal entrepreneurs and minor or negligible for the informal sector. Divorced or loss of a husband was considered a minor influencer for both sectors. In all women are majorly pulled into entrepreneurship and not pushed with their major challenge being access to finance.
Article
Purpose The two major entrepreneurial motivations of being “pushed” or “pulled” to start a business have been frequently explored in the entrepreneurship literature. In the global wine industry, thousands of small entrepreneurial wine businesses are flourishing, but few have been started by Black entrepreneurs. What is missing from the research is an exploration of the motivations of these entrepreneurs and what the industry can do to encourage the entrance of more minority entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study is to apply push–pull theory to better understand the motivations and challenges of what prompts Black entrepreneurs to start and succeed in the wine industry. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory study uses a qualitative methodology of 42 in-depth interviews with US Black winemakers, retailers, and other wine business owners conducted over Zoom. The data were analyzed using Otter software and a thematic coding process for 2,120 pages of rich text. Findings Findings included 12 motivation themes and 12 challenges for Black wine entrepreneurs, with more emphasis on “push” versus “pull” motivation factors. Many of these entrepreneurs were “pushed” to participate in the industry to create a more inclusive space for Black wine consumers and to create opportunities for other Black professionals and minorities in the industry. Managerial implications include solutions for more inclusive marketing and workplace culture. Originality/value This study contributes to push–pull theory by offering a unique perspective on the motivations of Black wine entrepreneurs, as well as being the first study, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to focus on this issue.
Article
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the insights of founding entrepreneurs to understand what they consider as motivating factors in their decision to act upon entrepreneurial intentions. Using this information, the entrepreneurial trigger event influence was conceptualized, and a scale developed for use in subsequent testable models. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to construct an instrument that measures the presence and influence of entrepreneurial behavior triggers. The concept of triggering events was explored with 14 founding entrepreneurs. Themes emerged from this enquiry process which informed the development of four primary entrepreneurial triggering events. Over 600 entrepreneurs participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify dimensions of entrepreneurial triggers and was tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Findings Entrepreneurs perceive that personal fulfillment and job dissatisfaction serve as two significant trigger events which will lead individuals to engage in entrepreneurial behaviors. This research supports theorizing that suggests entrepreneurial trigger events have influence in motivating individuals to act upon entrepreneurial intentions and some trigger events may have more influence toward behavior than others. Research limitations/implications This research is subject to multiple limitations. Trigger events were limited to those identified in literature and the interviews. Most entrepreneurs participating in this study were from a limited geographic region. The entrepreneurs in this study reported their triggering event based on their memory which could have been affected by inaccurate recall or memory bias. No attempt has been made to model the comparative effects of the different variables on entrepreneurial outcomes. Finally, the entrepreneurial trigger event instrument did not measure the participant's demographics or psychographics which could have played a role in the influence of reported trigger event. Practical implications This study extends previous research that trigger events serve as catalysts for entrepreneurial behavior. Findings support the premise that different types of triggers have different levels of influence as antecedents of entrepreneurial behavior. Specifically, positive, negative, internal and external entrepreneurial triggering events were explicated. The Entrepreneurial Trigger Event Scale created to facilitate this study enables researchers to explore the effects of types and perceived influences of precipitating trigger events on the intentions of the individual that result in entrepreneurial behavior. The optimized instrument further expanded Shapero's (1975) proposed theory of the origins of entrepreneurial behavior. Social implications The development of a scale provides researchers with the opportunity to include the influence of entrepreneurial trigger events, as perceived by entrepreneurs, in future testable models. Entrepreneurial development organizations can use the knowledge to assist in understanding when potential entrepreneurs may act upon entrepreneurial intentions. Information gained can have significant implications for understanding the initiation of entrepreneurial behavior, entity establishment and business growth. Originality/value This research responds to a call for investigation into the influence of entrepreneurial trigger events on a person's decision to act upon entrepreneurial intentions. It is an early attempt to conceptualize a relevant construct of entrepreneurial trigger event influence and to develop a scale for use in empirical testing. It is distinguished by using planned behaviors, push and pull, motivation and drive reduction theories. These theories are applied to the perceptions of successful entrepreneurs to develop a construct and validate it.