Social capital and co‐leadership in ethnic enterprises in Canada

Abstract

PurposeTo identify the influence of ethnicity and ethnic social capital on entrepreneurial practices such as the co‐direction of a firm, and more particularly on aspects of venture creation, management, and business development.Design/methodology/approachThe research was based on a field survey carried out in the cities of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The authors study the entrepreneurs who had partners in their firms. The sampling technique, known as “snowball sampling,” did not concentrate specifically on firms with co‐leadership structures, but targeted all entrepreneurs in the ethnic groups concerned; the interviewers asked respondents to identify other potential candidates in the same ethnic group. The participation rate was not measured systematically.FindingsCo‐leadership, while fairly common and having a clear impact among Italian entrepreneurs, is not necessarily as popular in the other groups. Cultural features may have an influence here, and the structuring effects of the entrepreneur's social capital are certainly a factor. The findings helped build an emergent conceptual model to show the place of co‐leadership in the creation and development of social capital used in the management of ethnic firms.Research limitations/implicationsPublic policy makers must take into account that trust and reciprocity will have an impact on the style of partnership selected. Other qualitative and quantitative data are needed to help understand the various factors and impacts of co‐leadership. Also, examination of the individual and joint inputs and outputs of the partners is an important and timely area of study.Practical implicationsThis may have implications in designing public programs to help ethnic entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to examine co‐leadership in the context of ethnic entrepreneurship. With the importance of immigration, this is crucial to understand how to help the success of ethnic businesses and therefore the integration of immigrants in our societies.

Immigrants Doing Business in a Mid‐sized Canadian City: Challenges, Opportunities, and Local Strategies in Kelowna, British Columbia

“…This study shows little difference between immigrant and non-immigrant entrepreneurs in terms of where they seek information and advice, or whether they consider coethnic employees as important. These findings contradict earlier research on immigrant entrepreneurship in major gateway cities which identified networks of coethnic ties as instrumental in successfully establishing and running their businesses (e.g., Brenner et al 2010;Lin 2007;Paré et al 2008;van Delft, Gorter, and Nijkamp 2000;Zhou and Cho 2010). So, unlike large cities with diverse and numerous immigrants, the "ethnic factor" plays only a minor role in Kelowna's small-and medium-sized immigrant businesses.…”

“…Business owners obtain information and advice from various sources, including their families and relatives, and their network of contacts from inside or outside their ethnic circle. The literature on immigrant entrepreneurship asserts the importance of coethnic friends and organizations as information sources (Brenner et al 2010;Chan and Cheung 1985;Deakens et al 2007;Galbraith, Rodriguez, and Stiles 2007;Lin 2007;Marger 1989;Paré et al 2008;Teixeira 2001;Teixeira, Lo, and Truelove 2007;van Delft, Gorter, and Nijkamp 2000;Waldinger 1986;Zhou and Cho 2010). Our study reveals little difference between immigrant and non-immigrant entrepreneurs in terms of where they seek information and advice.…”

“…; Lin ; Paré et al. ; van Delft, Gorter, and Nijkamp ; Zhou and Cho ). So, unlike large cities with diverse and numerous immigrants, the “ethnic factor” plays only a minor role in Kelowna's small‐ and medium‐sized immigrant businesses.…”

“…; Galbraith, Rodriguez, and Stiles ; Lin ; Marger ; Paré et al. ; Teixeira ; Teixeira, Lo, and Truelove ; van Delft, Gorter, and Nijkamp ; Waldinger ; Zhou and Cho ). Our study reveals little difference between immigrant and non‐immigrant entrepreneurs in terms of where they seek information and advice.…”

Entrepreneuriat féminin et développement international : étude de trois cas

“…Des études plus spécifiques ont été menées par Paré et al . (2008) sur cet aspect de co-leadership qui implique un système de collaboration et de complémentarité où les responsabilités managériales sont partagées .…”