The export performance of indigenous enterprises : a case study of Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

This study investigates the export performance of indigenous firms in Aotearoa/New Zealand by analysing the contribution of five strategic resources, namely Maori culture, organisational structure, human capital, access to finance and the role of the government. The Resource-Based View of the Finn (RBV) provides the principal theoretical base for this study. A conceptual model was constructed, testing a total of six research propositions related to Maori firms and their export performance. The explicit incorporation of cultural resources within this study provides a major departure from conventional export performance models, which focus largely on firm- and industry-level dynamics. Data was obtained via a self-completion questionnaire mailed to prospective participants. Information from 46 firms actively exporting serves as the basis for hypothesis testing. Due in large part to the nature of the industries Maori participate in, the results of this study indicate culture has a negative association with export performance. In addition, the factors affecting performance vary significantly depending on the performance measure under examination, with both positive and negative findings characterising the relationships between export performance and the five strategic resources tested. Access to finance and the role of the government, although displaying positive associations with the dependent variables, carried little overall impact on the performance of Maori export firms. The results of Organisational structure and human capital were mixed, indicating further research is needed to uncover the true nature of their influence. Lastly, firm size and involvement in the primary sector played significant roles as determinants of export performance. This study provides timely insight into the nature and workings of Maori firms, and has important implications for practitioners, policy makers and researchers alike.