Exploring cultural orientation and its influence on business planning in new ventures: urban Indigenous Australian insights

Abstract: The influence of one’s cultural orientation, particularly through Hofstede’s (1980; 2001) Individualism-Collectivism dimension, on entrepreneurs and planning within new ventures is an underexplored field in entrepreneurial research, specifically among cultural minorities. This study aims to understand the Individualism-Collectivism orientation of urban Indigenous Australian entrepreneurs based in Sydney, Australia, and how it can influence business planning in their new venture. Through a mix of both deductive and inductive approaches, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven entrepreneurs. A thematic analysis was used to compare and contrast experiences of the participants. Empirical data indicated that the Individualism-Collectivism orientation should be viewed as a continuous and evolving framework when assessing one’s attributions, relationships, values and goal-orientation; rather than an oppositional force. Findings from this urban sample also challenge the simplified nature of macro-level research suggesting that these entrepreneurs are collectivist-oriented. Moreover, the results indicate that one’s cultural orientation undeniably influences business planning in various ways. Related to this, one’s geographical setting plays a role in shaping cultural orientation and planning behaviour. As a result, this thesis encourages future research on Hofstede’s Individualism-Collectivism dimension amongst Indigenous entrepreneurs to be approached as complex, interchangeable and evolving. With respect to Indigenous entrepreneurs, research should be conducted at a micro-level, rather than using macro-level comparative analyses, to ensure that findings accurately capture individual, Indigenous insights. This will assist research, ancillary policies and programs to remain accurate, representative and encourage inclusive entrepreneurship amongst distinct and diverse cultural groups.