Research Assumptions
We acknowledge that there are complex historical, geographic, political, social and cultural factors involved. These contribute to the shaping of an individual's character and may predispose them to entrepreneurship. The same factors also create environmental conditions in an economy that influence business generation one way or another. For example, preliminary investigations cast up notions such as "Kiwi Ingenuity", a Japanese dislike for standing out from the crowd ("The nail that stands up is hammered down") and so on.
Though we do not disregard the elements mentioned above, this research focusses on those factors over which policy and government support can have an influence or effect.
To that end, the questionnaire is based on the following assumptions, gleaned from prior research:
Main Assumptions
- Lower risk aversion: Japanese tend to be more wary of risk than New Zealanders.
- One of the main reasons for lower risk aversion is the presence of a "social safety net".
- For entrepreneurs, "failure experience" is regarded as potentially advantageous (as a learning experience) to their career path, rather than an absolute disadvantage.
- Among the potential career paths available after graduation from school, starting up a venture company is felt by students to be a relatively not so risky selection.
- Many preceding examples of successful start-ups results in less reluctance in starting up a venture company.
- Stronger desire for start-up.
- Strong motivation for starting a new business comes from respect for entrepreneurship and creating new things within New Zealand society (Kiwi Ingenuity).
- Having an international network of family, friends and acquaintances influences, supports or triggers start-up.
- Lower mental hurdle to building relationships with foreign companies and foreign people.
- Aggressively creating an international human network helps to start and grow the business.
- New Zealand venture companies start to sell in foreign markets rapidly after start-up.