Influence of Cultural Difference on Self Employment: Chinese people living in Gävle, Sweden

Abstract: Abstract Title: Influence of Cultural Difference on Self Employment: Chinese people living in Gävle, Sweden. Level: Final assignment for Master Degree in Business Administration Author: Ruihan Lei, Xi Chen Supervisor: Ehsanul Huda Chowdhury Examiner: Maria Fregidou-Malama Date: 2014－09 Aim: This study aims to analyse the influences of cultural differences on self-employment for Chinese people in Gävle, Sweden. The study further discusses the opportunities for Chinese entrepreneurs to do business in Gävle, Sweden. Method: We used qualitative approach as our research method. We focused on one to one interview as the tool for data collection. Eight respondents were selected as there are only eight Chinese entrepreneurs running 10 businesses in Gävle, Sweden at present. Result & conclusions: The individual factors influence more on the decision making of being self-employed, especially the family, age, and education background factor. Furthermore, the risk taking attitude and the ability of information collecting can also impact the self-employment success. Cultural differences are not exactly a hinder for the entrepreneurship of self-employment, but rather are perceived as an opportunity by the respondents. Suggestions for future research: This study was restricted to geographical limitation. It will be better if future research can concentrate on the relationship between problems and opportunities for studies in the field of cultural differences in other locations and other countries. Contribution of the thesis: This study shows how cultural difference impact self-employment from individual perspective and environmental perspective. It fills the gaps of related literatures; it is a detailed study of cultural influences on Chinese self-employed people living in Gävle, Sweden. It is helpful for Chinese who want to do self-employment in other countries, by understanding which specific factors to take into consideration in the process of conducting self-employment to succeed. Keyword: Self-employment, China, Sweden, Cultural differences.