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Examining Adaptation Strategies Of Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Entrepreneurs In China: The Case Of Guangdong

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  • ABDOULKADRE ADO

    (Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada)

  • ELIE CHRYSOSTOME

    (State University of New York, Plattsburgh, NY, USA)

  • ZHAN SU

    (Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada)

Abstract

This paper examines how sub-Saharan Africans do business in China, particularly in the province of Guangdong. Through a qualitative approach, the paper analyzes data obtained from twenty interviews with sub-Saharan Africans. It’s a descriptive study that explores the strategies, tactics and attitudes adopted by those sub-Saharan Africans to cope with a particularly difficult Chinese business environment. Using the concepts of foreignness and adaptation, the study identified four categories of immigrant entrepreneurs: the assimilators, the conservatives, the adventurers and the cautious. Concomitantly, this research identified factors and skills that contributed significantly to immigrants’ success in China. The paper also underlines challenges sub-Saharan Africans still face in China and the unconventional tactics they use. The study represents an insightful exploration of an increasingly important subject but still under-studied. It calls for a thorough research toward the understanding of African businesses in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdoulkadre Ado & Elie Chrysostome & Zhan Su, 2016. "Examining Adaptation Strategies Of Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Entrepreneurs In China: The Case Of Guangdong," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(04), pages 1-25, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:21:y:2016:i:04:n:s1084946716500278
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946716500278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sinkovics, Noemi & Reuber, A. Rebecca, 2021. "Beyond disciplinary silos: A systematic analysis of the migrant entrepreneurship literature," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(4).

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