Journal of Enterprising Culture

Entrepreneurial growth is predicted to be related to micro variables (motivations) and macro variables (infrastructure elements) but in a differential way. Infrastructure variables are tested as moderators in the motivation-growth relationship. Motivations are further categorized into intrinsic pull and extrinsic push factors. A rich sample of 405 recently-minted entrepreneurs in a privatizing economy (Romania) was surveyed. Results essentially confirmed the predictions, with motivations playing a larger role than anticipated. Implications were discussed for policymakers charged with the responsibilities of economic development through entrepreneurship.

Despite the growing acceptance that entrepreneurship facilitates national economic growth there has been a lack of research in diverse international contexts. This paper assesses relationships between contextual work setting properties and three personality characteristics that have been identified in the Western literature as being associated with entrepreneurial motivation. Responses from 410 Australian and Singaporean entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs demonstrate on the one hand there was systematic entrepreneurial variation between the two countries, but on the other hand, the influence of personal attributes on entrepreneurship were not hampered by geographic boundaries. The findings are discussed in terms of challenges for international entrepreneurship.

A firm's performance in the host country to a great extent depends on its mode of market entry. Most research in the area of foreign market entry mode choice has concentrated on large firms or multi-national enterprises. This paper examines the effects of different foreign market entry modes on the performance of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Australia and Singapore. The data from a sample of 104 SMEs suggests that four market entry modes - licensing, manufacturing/wholly-owned subsidiary, franchising, and acquisition significantly impact performance. It was found that Singaporean firms were more likely to use these market entry modes than their Australia counterparts. This study also reveals that good performers tend to be relatively internationalised, in better control over their export channels, less dependent on industry information sources, and more concerned over loss of proprietary rights to knowledge. Implications of the findings for research and practice are also discussed.

This study utilises interviews to investigate issues within a joint venture (JV) in China. The findings demonstrate that the organisational culture of this JV was dominated by its former state-owned enterprise (SOE) culture. The culture was influenced by Chinese culture, particularly by Maoist ideology. This organisational culture appeared not to be compatible with the liberalist ideology of the capitalist market economy. This incompatibility had contributed to management difficulties and financial losses for the JV. Discontent existed between the Chinese staff/workers and Western expatriates. Changing the organisational culture by changing staff may assist the JV to survive in the market economy.

Much of the internationalisation literature deals with how firms have grown by extending their technologies, brands or organisational structures internationally. These literatures are about firms extending operational territories and gaining access to larger markets. However, in contemporary economies territorial extension is not the only form of internationalisation. Some individuals travel to new countries and see entrepreneurial opportunities. Their contribution to a new or existing venture is "intellect" as part of an internationalisation culture. Somehow, the global environment has changed from a place to be conquered by large corporations to and opportunity-rich environment for sensitive, entrepreneurial participants. The purpose of this exploratory study is to stimulate future research that examines what has changed, in business contexts, structures and markets, and to place intellectual entrepreneurship at the core of the internationalisation discussion.