‘We don’t deal with courts’: cooperation and alternative institutions shaping exporting relationships of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana
Article
Amoako, I. and Lyon, F. 2014. ‘We don’t deal with courts’: cooperation and alternative institutions shaping exporting relationships of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana. International Small Business Journal. 32 (2), pp. 117-139. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242613484778
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | ‘We don’t deal with courts’: cooperation and alternative institutions shaping exporting relationships of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana |
Authors | Amoako, I. and Lyon, F. |
Abstract | Through an investigation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) exporting in contexts which lack a formalised institutional environment in a less developed country, this article shows how entrepreneurs cope with institutional deficiency. By drawing on an analysis of 12 SMEs exporting from Ghana to other West African countries, the findings reveal how entrepreneurs and their organisations avoid recourse to the courts and instead, use culturally specific relationships to settle disputes when exporting. Institutional forms operating in parallel to the formal legal system are examined. These are shown to be hybrid forms drawing on traditional cultural institutions such as chieftaincy and religion, combined with forms of corporations and cooperatives. Assumptions around the different roles of family and kinship also are explored. The study contributes to the ongoing development of a theoretical understanding on trust and relationship building in international entrepreneurship, and the importance of understanding cultural context. |
Keywords | SMEs; culture; institutions; trust |
Research Group | Centre for Enterprise, Environment and Development Research (CEEDR) |
Publisher | SAGE Publications |
Journal | International Small Business Journal |
ISSN | 0266-2426 |
Electronic | 1741-2870 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 30 Dec 2013 |
01 Mar 2014 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 05 Dec 2014 |
Accepted | 30 Nov 2013 |
Output status | Published |
Publisher's version | License |
Copyright Statement | This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 License (http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242613484778 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-84894255199 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:000331549000002 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/84y41
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