An investigation into UK-based Asian entrepreneurs’ perceived competitiveness in overseas markets

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to investigate perceptions of UK-based Asian entrepreneurs’ competitiveness in overseas markets. Findings from a postal survey and subsequent interviews establish that a number of differences exist between two identified groups of entrepreneurs. First, internationally oriented Asian entrepreneurs were those of an Asian origin whose primary manufacturing operations were based in the UK but who were involved in overseas sales. Transnational entrepreneurs in comparison were of an Asian origin but leveraged resources in their country of origin in order to serve overseas markets. A contribution is offered to the existing literature by offering insights into the ways that different entrepreneurs from a specific minority community undertake international business activities. Specifically, findings indicate that transnational entrepreneurs are able to utilize the advantages of operating in two socially embedded environments to aid competitiveness in a way that their counterparts who are based in one country are unable to.