Dennis Foley

Networking and culture in entrepreneurship

Case studies on three diverse cultural groups are used to investigate how culture norms and practices moderate the way entrepreneurs utilize social networking. Moving away from a universalist mono-dimensional position, prior research calls for studies on how culture moderates entrepreneurial networking. Understandably, the concept of a national culture inevitably refers to the mainstream culture which fails to address the sub-culture and minority culture. This paper explores entrepreneurial networking across three cultures (one mainstream culture and two minority) allowing the researcher an insight into how culture moderates entrepreneurial networking. The empirical results reveal variform universality of entrepreneurial networking in two ways: (1) seven drivers moderate how entrepreneurial networking is practiced across cultures, and (2) being embedded in a mainstream culture rather than a minority culture moderates how entrepreneurial networking is practiced.

Social Capital and the Networking Practices of Indigenous Entrepreneurs

A comparative case study analysis has been undertaken on ustralian boriginal, native awaiians, and āori entrepreneurs. This work investigates the networking activities by these groups of indigenous entrepreneurs situated within a mixed minority (indigenous) and dominant (settler majority) urban cultural setting. The way in which indigenous entrepreneurs network to achieve their business aspirations suggests that the underlying social capital dimensions are unique to their cultural context. Five comparative characteristics also emerged from the data that assist the analysis. The research reveals how indigenous and potentially other minority ethnic entrepreneurs draw upon internal and external network ties that are related to the historical and cultural influence on social capital.

Indigenous research, differing value systems

The complexity of the issues that Indigenous Australians face when they go beyond the comfort of their Indigenous social framework is discussed. The differences in value structures between the non-Indigenous entrepreneur and the Indigenous entrepreneur in contemporary Australian society are highlighted.

Perspectives on Effective Student Support for Indigenous Students in a Tertiary Institution

In 1994 I was employed as a consultant in the Office of HRM working on a DEET (Department of Employment Education and Training) funded project in the compilation of an Indigenous employment strategy which resulted in the development of the university ‘Recruitment and Career Development Strategy for Indigenous Australians’.

Can We Educate and Train Aboriginal Leaders within Our Tertiary Education Systems

The concept of Aboriginal leadership often results in debate. The fundamental question raised is if Australian Aboriginal people are equal members of a pluralistic society that is based on co-operation and consensuses then how can you have a leader? Consequently who determines leadership or is a leader someone that in effect is more equal than others? Is leadership an attribute gained from within Aboriginal society or is leadership as we currently define it taught within the education structures of settler society? This paper briefly examines leadership from a postcolonial contemporary Aboriginal position, reviewing existing leadership education programs.

Entrepreneurship in Indigenous Australia: the Importance of Education

The relationship that the environment of the Indigenous Australian entrepreneur and the vital role that education plays towards the same is discussed. The key findings of a case study of Indigenous Australian entrepreneurs are highlighted.

Where to Now?: Cultural Liberation or Continued Subjugation

The different initiatives which have had an impact on the direction of education and training, as well as their effectiveness to meet acceptable outcomes for Australian Indigenous students are discussed. Indigenous Australian studies should be a component of the education of all higher education programs to help all Australians gain knowledge about the Indigenous Australian population.

What Determines the Bottom Line for Maori Tourism SMEs

Abstract Ten Māori businesses involved in tourism operations were studied with the aim of determining what they considered were the key factors of business sustainability and what determined their bottom line. A qualitative case study analysis using a grounded theory approach was applied. The conclusions provide an insight into the growing indigenous participation at the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) level within Aotearoa (New Zealand) relating to Māori cultural values. The choice between cultural values verses economic values can result in sacrificing income; the Māori entrepreneur has to make a conscious decision as to which value they adopt in their businesses. This study provides a unique and personal insight into sustainable indigenous entrepreneurship that is a foundation for future research.

From traditional carving to plastic Tiki: Maori struggles to balance commerce and culture within the global tourism marketplace, 1860–2010

Abstract Māori engagement with the tourism industry, from the nineteenth century to the present, has developed on face value into a ‘cultural Disneyland’ at Rotorua, where tourists partake in ‘native’ feasts while gazing at dancers twirling in unison on a timetable governed by bus schedules. Geysers likewise respond to tourist numbers and clicking camera shutters. While some condemn these experiences as inauthentic, others assert that they are based on the traditional concept of Manaakitanga (Māori hospitality). This paper examines Māori struggles to balance the ongoing coherence of their lived culture with exercising their right to benefit from commercial activities in tourism based on cultural resources, while their integrity and strength is constantly under threat from continuing processes of colonialism and globalisation. It uses decolonising methodologies and an Indigenous standpoint encompassing Kaupapa Māori to investigate the transformation of traditional carving by Māori artisans for tourist consumption. I argue that, contrary to the view that Māori have abandoned their traditional cultural values; Manaakitanga and Tikanga have evolved to suit changing circumstances during the past 150 years amid increasingly powerful forces operating within the international tourism marketplace.

Entrepreneurship, enterprise and Irish Travellers

ABSTRACT While Travellers are native to Ireland, they have much in common with European Roma, Sinti and Gypsies. Travellers for centuries have been highly entrepreneurial people, but it is evident that social changes and a national economy which is oriented towards a highly-skilled workforce will ensure that the majority of them will become excluded from active participation in the general labour market. However, a renewed emphasis on self-employment would enable Travellers to engage in economic activity in a flexible manner that would allow them to meet other cultural obligations, while also avoiding potentially discriminatory employee–manager–other employee relationships. Therefore, social change and new business practices are needed from within the Traveller community to maintain the Traveller culture while growing their enterprises. Such change must be supported by government through adequately funded programmes but championed by Travellers for Travellers. To continue on the current economic path and not diversify into skilled trades will see Travellers staying within the ‘welfare benefit trap’ and remaining hampered by poverty and low levels of employment.