Financial Ambidexterity of the Immigrant Family Businesses: A Conceptual Perspective (WITHDRAWN)

Abstract

Based on the multi-contextual nature of immigrant entrepreneurship, this paper theoretically introduces and discusses the ambidextrous ability of the IFBs’ owners overcoming the financing barriers in host countries. Namely, discussing the behavioral ability of the immigrant entrepreneurs in flexibly switching their exploration and exploitation for formal and informal financing between the multiple contexts where they are embedded. The paper build on a synthesis of different theoretical notions in constructing the term of ‘financial ambidexterity of IFBs’, namely, organized proximity, boundary work, and behavioral complexity. This theoretical synthesis is thoroughly discussed within the immigrant entrepreneurship framework. The paper proposes four mechanisms to derive the IFBs’ financial ambidexterity, and argues for boundary work and behavioral complexity as the critical drivers for ambidexterity. The paper provides four detailed models that illustrate each proposed mechanism, in addition to an overall model that gives a comprehensive view of the different phases of accumulating the IFBs’ financial ambidexterity. The paper mainly contributes to the literatures on family business and immigrant entrepreneurship by proposing how IFBs survive the financing barriers they face in host countries. The paper tries to advance the understanding about entrepreneurial financing using social, and behavioral perspectives like organized proximity, behavioral complexity, boundary work, and behavioral complexity. The ultimate theoretical construct of this paper explains a behavioral manifestation, entitled, ‘financial ambidexterity’ of the IFB owners in overcoming financing barriers in host countries.