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Convergence in the priorities of entrepreneurial values: Empirical evidence from Malaysia

Convergencia en las prioridades de valores emprendedores: Evidencia Empírica de Malasia

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Abstract

This study aims to contribute to the field of international entrepreneurship by investigating entrepreneurial values priorities of Malaysian entrepreneurs compared to Western entrepreneurs and whether the magnitude of each entrepreneurial value is the same across ethnicity and gender within Malaysia. This cross-disciplinary post-positivist study used the survey method which involved 243 Malaysian small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs from the country’s two largest ethnic groups—the Malays and Chinese. The results provide evidence of convergence in entrepreneurial value priorities for Malaysian and Western entrepreneurs, thus contributing to existing literature on the entrepreneurial values system. Malaysian Malay and Chinese entrepreneurs differ in the magnitude of self-direction and stimulation but there is no difference across gender. The theoretical implications are firstly, that the definition of international entrepreneurship may be expanded to reflect entrepreneurs’ primary motivation of self-direction. Secondly, knowing the similarities in values priorities and differences in magnitude of values increases the cultural intelligence of international entrepreneurs. The practical implications are academicians and trainers should avoid gender stereotyping and foster salient entrepreneurial values when designing academic curriculum and training programs. Finally, the policy implications are that policy makers should attract or target those who possessed these salient entrepreneurial values when constructing entrepreneurship policies.

Resumen

Este estudio pretende contribuir al campo del emprendimiento internacional mediante la investigación de las prioridades de valores emprendedores de los empresarios malasios en comparación a los empresarios occidentales, y si la magnitud de cada valor emprendedor es la misma independientemente de la etnicidad y el género en Malasia. Este estudio interdisciplinario y post-positivista utiliza el método de encuesta a 243 pequeños y medianos empresarios malasios pertenecientes a los dos grupos étnicos más grandes del país - malayos y chinos. Los resultados proporcionan evidencia sobre la convergencia en las prioridades de valores emprendedores, contribuyendo así a la literatura existente sobre el sistema de valores emprendedores. Los empresarios malayos y chinos difieren en la magnitud de la auto-dirección y la estimulación, pero no hay diferencias según el género. Las implicaciones teóricas son, en primer lugar, que la definición de emprendimiento internacional puede necesitar un examen más detallado. En segundo lugar, conocer las similitudes en las prioridades de valores y las diferencias en la magnitud de ciertos valores aumenta la inteligencia cultural de los empresarios internacionales. Las implicaciones prácticas son que académicos y formadores deben evitar los estereotipos de género y fomentar los valores emprendedores salientes en el diseño de planes de estudio académicos y de programas de formación. Las implicaciones de política son que los responsables políticos deberían dirigirse o atraer a los que tienen estos valores emprendedores en la construcción de políticas pro-emprendedoras.

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Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to University of Malaya for supporting this research throughout.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Kim Hoe Looi & Yusniza Kamarulzaman

Authors
  1. Kim Hoe Looi
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  2. Yusniza Kamarulzaman
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Correspondence to Kim Hoe Looi.

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Summary highlights

1. Contributions:

This study adopts and adapts Values Theory to study entrepreneurial motivations, which is an important aspect of the entrepreneurial process but under-researched. In addition, samples drawn from a collectivistic society extends the empirical scope of entrepreneurial value priorities.

2. Research questions/purposes:

The first purpose of this study is to identify ranking of entrepreneurial values by Malaysian entrepreneurs vis-a-vis Western entrepreneurs. The second purpose is to test the differences in the magnitude of entrepreneurial values across ethnicity and gender within Malaysia.

3. Results/findings:

This study found convergence in entrepreneurial value priorities between Malaysian and Western entrepreneurs. In addition, the magnitudes of entrepreneurial values differ across ethnicity but not gender within Malaysia.

4. Limitations:

Due to the still-limited empirical evidence from around the world, these findings should be considered suggestive rather than conclusive. Therefore, it is proposed that further scholarly inquiry is needed, preferably using the same instrument in more countries located in different continents in order to empirically confirm the value priorities of entrepreneurs.

5. Theoretical implications and recommendations:

The theoretical implications are firstly, that the definition of international entrepreneurship may be expanded to reflect entrepreneurs’ primary motivation of self-direction. Secondly, knowing the similarities in values priorities and differences in magnitude of certain values increases the cultural intelligence of international entrepreneurs when dealing with their peers from other countries.

6. Practical implications and recommendations:

The practical implications are that academicians and trainers should avoid gender stereotyping and foster salient entrepreneurial values when designing academic curriculum and training programs. The policy implications are that policy makers should attract or target those who possessed these salient entrepreneurial values when constructing entrepreneurship policies.

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Looi, K.H., Kamarulzaman, Y. Convergence in the priorities of entrepreneurial values: Empirical evidence from Malaysia. J Int Entrep 13, 67–88 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-014-0136-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-014-0136-2

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