The relationship between an entrepreneur's culture and the entrepreneurial behaviour of the firm

Abstract

Purpose This paper seeks to evaluate the relationship between Turkish entrepreneurs' cultural attributes and the entrepreneurial behaviour of their firms. Design/methodology/approach The paper reports and analyses the findings of 227 face‐to‐face structured interviews with Turkish entrepreneurs. Findings This study illustrates that there is a strong relationship between the religion of an entrepreneur and the firm's recruitment, market segmentation and advice‐seeking practices. The English fluency of the entrepreneurs also influences their choice of using formal channels for advice. Research limitations/implications Data collection was limited to London, and non‐Turkish entrepreneurs were excluded. Therefore, care should be taken in making generalisations from the sample. Practical implications This paper identifies those cultural attributes of the ethnic entrepreneurs that need to be aligned with the wider economic environment of the host country. Originality/value This study focuses on the most critical player in an ethnic firm – the owner. It evaluates the linkage between the cultural attributes of the owner and the entrepreneurial behaviour of the firm.