Owner-manager human capital and business coping ability in African immigrant small businesses in Southern Africa

Abstract

African immigrant-entrepreneurs arrive in foreign countries with just their human capital that helps them birth small businesses. Like other small businesses, these have the potential to contribute to the economic development of host nations, often by creating jobs; an important role given the high levels of unemployment in the Southern African region. Unfortunately, the potential is deflated by the inability of the African-immigrant entrepreneurs to cope with running the businesses. This empirical study utilised a non-probability sampling technique to identify and collect data from African immigrant entrepreneurs in Southern Africa. Descriptive statistical analysis show that managerial skills and level of education are perceived to play the highest and lowest roles, respectively, as it concerns coping ability. Interestingly, despite the perception, multiple regression analysis conducted reveal that both level of education and managerial skills demonstrate significant relationships with the business coping ability of African immigrant small business owner/managers.

Business Survival of Small and Medium-Sized Restaurants through a Crisis: The Role of Government Support and Innovation

“…In terms of income, the majority is below 30 million IDR/month (65%), with the most experience in business being under ten years (74.2%). Experience is important in business, and because of their experience, they can solve business problems in uncertain conditions [64]. In addition, most of the respondents had graduated from senior high school (47.5%), followed by undergraduate (30%).…”

“…In addition, most of the respondents had graduated from senior high school (47.5%), followed by undergraduate (30%). Based on the educational background, we can consider that the majority of respondents are from a well-educated group and have the ability to learn new methods and technology to survive [64]. The majority of respondents come from small enterprises (have 10-20 workers) based on the SMEs category in Indonesia [14].…”