Transnational Entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Absorptive Capacity Theory of Knowledge Spillover Entrepreneurship Perspective
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies
Abstract
The study seeks to explain how migrants’ access, understand and recognise the value of new knowledge
in enhancing transnational entrepreneurship. This is important as it provides insights into how knowledge
is accessed and employed in different contexts to recognise entrepreneurial opportunities. Using
the absorptive capacity theory of knowledge spillover entrepreneurship, this study contributes to
previous research which has focussed on the scope and boundaries of this phenomenon at a firm or
institutional level, but not at the level of the transnational entrepreneur (TE). Furthermore, this study
contributes by examining the role of human capital and the prior knowledge and experience that
migrants use and acquire in transnational entrepreneurship.
A qualitative approach based on phenomenology was adopted in this research. A purposive sample of
four TEs living in South Africa and running businesses in Zimbabwe were investigated. The results show
that the possession of requisite human capital along with concern for the home country facilitates
the acquisition of new knowledge. This new knowledge, when integrated with prior knowledge and
cultural compatibility between home and host countries, influences the immigrant’s intention to
form new ventures and return to the home country. This study explains the role of human capital
and the mechanisms that are implemented in acquiring knowledge resources and their subsequent
transformation into a business entity.
Description
Keywords
Transnational entrepreneurship, Absorptive capacity theory of knowledge spillover entrepreneurship, Sub-Saharan Africa
Citation
Marks, J., Dawa, S., & Kanyemba, S. (2020). Transnational entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan africa: an absorptive capacity theory of knowledge spillover entrepreneurship perspective. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 6(1), 114-139. DOI: 10.1177/2393957519895851