Indigenous women as entrepreneurs in global front line innovation systems
Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy
ISSN: 1750-6204
Article publication date: 15 August 2008
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate an entrepreneurial process with unusual characteristics, focusing on Sámi micro and mezo level entrepreneurial logics and terms.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study is a Sámi community in Sweden, where a gender equality project developed into involvement with global innovations systems, in advanced networking development. The paper builds on ethnological methodology and an interactive approach. Market signalling theory is applied, uniquely for this paper, to public funding decisions.
Findings
The paper found anticipation among Sámi of mobile ICT to take over the key role in herding, from the present mechanized and motorized era. The many‐faceted entrepreneurial process contradicts a fundamental split between survival and self expression mode for economic strategy taken for granted in, e.g. Richard Florida's theory on the creative class. Regarding public funding for research and entrepreneurial initiatives, the paper finds that the national level has made itself accessible, while the regional level administrator has pushed the initiative to “other” markets.
Research limitations/implications
Conclusions cannot be but provisional based on one case. As very few cases of this type are known the findings are yet of value for the design of further research and policy.
Originality/value
Indigenous peoples' and women's roles in the information society are not self‐evident. The case shows fruitful possibilities. Turning to market signaling theory prepares for further development of quantitative evaluation, e.g. equal opportunity and inclusion policy implementation, and has not previously been done in relation to this case.
Keywords
Citation
Ude´n, M. (2008), "Indigenous women as entrepreneurs in global front line innovation systems", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506200810897213
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited