The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa
Orientation: Expatriate entrepreneurs (EEs) willingly seek to relocate abroad independently and belong to the self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) group. They possess the classic behavioural characteristics of entrepreneurs, have the propensity to embrace risk and uncertainty and have high self-efficac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-02-01
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| Series: | SA Journal of Human Resource Management |
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| Online Access: | https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2804 |
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| author | Sibahle K. Mathe Ashika Maharaj |
| author_facet | Sibahle K. Mathe Ashika Maharaj |
| author_sort | Sibahle K. Mathe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Orientation: Expatriate entrepreneurs (EEs) willingly seek to relocate abroad independently and belong to the self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) group. They possess the classic behavioural characteristics of entrepreneurs, have the propensity to embrace risk and uncertainty and have high self-efficacy and control while seeking opportunities to initiate business development.
Research purpose: This study explores the drivers behind EEs’ decisions to migrate to South Africa.
Motivation for the study: The global demand for talent remains the most crucial issue facing many countries. South Africa must attract EE’s to grow the economy as they will start their businesses and provide employment.
Research approach/design and method: The research philosophy used in the study was interpretivism. A qualitative methodology adopting snowball sampling was used to identify focus groups, as no reliable records existed. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the data collected.
Main findings: Drivers to migrate included infrastructure development, business and trade, education, family problems, political instability and the desire to travel abroad.
Practical/managerial implications: Expatriate entrepreneurs should acquire the knowledge and understanding of the local culture to help them integrate into South African society. Expatriate entrepreneurs and their families should be willing to learn and speak the local dialects, especially isiXhosa and isiZulu. The Department of Home Affairs needs to make the acquisition of permits and visas less problematic.
Contribution/value-add: The study examines EEs who choose to live and start their own businesses abroad by exploring the drivers behind North-South mobility on the African continent. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1dff4976b6a64f11a0294c8e315f3c7d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1683-7584 2071-078X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SA Journal of Human Resource Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-1dff4976b6a64f11a0294c8e315f3c7d2025-08-20T03:15:56ZengAOSISSA Journal of Human Resource Management1683-75842071-078X2025-02-01230e1e1010.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.2804860The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South AfricaSibahle K. Mathe0Ashika Maharaj1Department of Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations, Faculty of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanDepartment of Human Resources Management and Industrial Relations, Faculty of Law and Management Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanOrientation: Expatriate entrepreneurs (EEs) willingly seek to relocate abroad independently and belong to the self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) group. They possess the classic behavioural characteristics of entrepreneurs, have the propensity to embrace risk and uncertainty and have high self-efficacy and control while seeking opportunities to initiate business development. Research purpose: This study explores the drivers behind EEs’ decisions to migrate to South Africa. Motivation for the study: The global demand for talent remains the most crucial issue facing many countries. South Africa must attract EE’s to grow the economy as they will start their businesses and provide employment. Research approach/design and method: The research philosophy used in the study was interpretivism. A qualitative methodology adopting snowball sampling was used to identify focus groups, as no reliable records existed. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the data collected. Main findings: Drivers to migrate included infrastructure development, business and trade, education, family problems, political instability and the desire to travel abroad. Practical/managerial implications: Expatriate entrepreneurs should acquire the knowledge and understanding of the local culture to help them integrate into South African society. Expatriate entrepreneurs and their families should be willing to learn and speak the local dialects, especially isiXhosa and isiZulu. The Department of Home Affairs needs to make the acquisition of permits and visas less problematic. Contribution/value-add: The study examines EEs who choose to live and start their own businesses abroad by exploring the drivers behind North-South mobility on the African continent.https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2804expatriate entrepreneursentrepreneurshipself-initiated expatriationinternational career development. |
| spellingShingle | Sibahle K. Mathe Ashika Maharaj The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa SA Journal of Human Resource Management expatriate entrepreneurs entrepreneurship self-initiated expatriation international career development. |
| title | The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa |
| title_full | The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa |
| title_short | The expatriate entrepreneur: Drivers to migrate to South Africa |
| title_sort | expatriate entrepreneur drivers to migrate to south africa |
| topic | expatriate entrepreneurs entrepreneurship self-initiated expatriation international career development. |
| url | https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/2804 |
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