Abstract:
This thesis presents the findings of a research project which explored the recognition, evaluation, and exploitation of opportunity in the entrepreneurial experiences of Tongan entrepreneurs living and working in New Zealand. Pacific businesses are an increasingly important part of New Zealand’s economy yet little is known about the entrepreneurial processes that drive these businesses. Further, studies of cultural and ethnic entrepreneurship have largely ignored theoretical developments in mainstream scholarship, which suggest that the opportunity construct is central to the entrepreneurial processes. Acknowledging these factors, the aims of this research include contributing to understandings of both the context and theoretical frameworks utilised in this study. Little work has been done in this particular research area; therefore an exploratory approach is necessary. A discussion of methodological considerations identifies interpretive methodologies as useful to achieving the goals of this research. Consequently methods of data collection and analysis reflect the interpretive stance of this study. The research findings are presented as narrative accounts of entrepreneurs' perceptions and experiences. Analysis of these narratives identified several themes which were common to each. Discussion of the findings suggests that this study has both confirmed and extended existing entrepreneurial theories in several ways; not the least of which is the suggestion that the entrepreneur's culture may affect their recognition, evaluation, and exploitation of opportunity. However, it is noted that because of the exploratory nature of this study further investigation, which was beyond the scope of this project, is needed to strengthen these suggestions.
