The Entrepreneurial Process Revisited : Immigrant entrepreneurship and cultural perceptions.

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to explore how culture influences the perception of entrepreneurship, in the context of immigrant entrepreneurs in a non-core region in Sweden. Our theoretical framework consists of previous research about the entrepreneurial process, and cultural differences on national, local and business level. A conceptualization of the entrepreneurial process is combined with a three-layer theoretical framework of culture. Namely a national, a local and a business culture. The source for this empirical research are Balkan immigrants that came to Sweden during the 1990s because of the Balkan war, and are now entrepreneurs in Karlskrona, Sweden. The research method used in this thesis is interpretivistic with an abductive research approach. The empirical data was gathered through in-depth interviews. The empirical results have helped us understand that the perception of the entrepreneurial process distinguishes itself depending on culture. The main findings in our research imply that the Balkan entrepreneurs in Karlskrona, Sweden, feel that they became entrepreneurs because of non-satisfaction within social conditions. And that the Balkan entrepreneurs have adapted more to the Swedish culture in their way of working as entrepreneurs. They believe that adaption is the key to entrepreneurial success when creating value and developing a firm. However, the Balkan entrepreneurs feel that they are still under influence by the Balkan culture as well. This thesis contributes with an insight on how the entrepreneurial process is influenced by culture.