Small Aboriginal enterprise in Australia: re-thinking the silent dichotomy of their uncomfortable two-world situation.
Date
2011
Authors
Moylan, Louise
Editors
Advisors
Finegan, Andrew Daniel
Elsey, Barry
Elsey, Barry
Journal Title
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Thesis
Citation
Statement of Responsibility
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Abstract
This qualitative study explores the nature of small Aboriginal enterprises (SAE) in Australia when they are misunderstood by non-Aboriginal organisations (NAO). More specifically, the work focuses upon Aboriginal enterprises in remote and regional areas and takes a fresh look across all parts of the SAE and their relationships with NAO and others. New ideas emerge which show the importance of interconnected relationships for SAE, and that misunderstood SAE exist within a silent dichotomy. This situation is reinforced by NAOs use of macro level ideas to understand the local level. This information is used to build a descriptive theory of SAE relationships which pictures the SAE as an interconnected whole process that operates under an instinctive ‘tri-lectic’. The misunderstood nature of SAE is developed through an exploration of a two-world situation in order to show the fraught dialectic that operates with NAO. This problem situation is built up by a contrast to both academic literature and government practices. This background analysis shows the difficulty that small organisations experience when relating to much larger ones. In order to explore the nature of misunderstood SAE when they are caught between two-worlds; their internal and external world is used to frame the analysis. This is developed by a combination of grounded theory and narrative methods under a grounded methodology. Data was collected from 71 research participants through 87 semi-structured interviews across vast distances of central and regional Australia. Of these, 47 were Aboriginal enterprise owners and/or managers and 24 were other participants. Their interviews were analysed interpretively to emerge early theories about the SAE internal and external worlds. Contrasting data and information was gathered from a range of fields, with a primary focus on Aboriginal socio-economic literature, government papers and mainstream small business research. This literature is used to inform the research problem, develop the research interpretations, and then to answer the research questions. Lastly, a descriptive theory of SAE relationships is presented. The main ideas emerging from this research centre upon misunderstood relationships. It was found that SAE are highly instinctive whilst NAO operate differently through instructions. This difference creates problems, ranging from enterprise definitions and types, through to policy design and implementation. As such, this two-world dialectic reinforces SAEs silent dichotomy. It is posited that a ‘tri-lectic’ situation (in response to Hegel’s dialectic) through SAEs middle ground may relieve their silent dichotomy. A contribution to knowledge is based upon a new interpretation of SAE through four areas. First, this research offers a new interpretation of SAE based upon wholeness. Next, the study defines the effect of NAO on SAE when they are misunderstood from a macro position over the local level. Third, an alternative way for SAE and NAO to
relate to each other is proposed through interchange places under a SAE ‘tri-lectic’. Lastly, a descriptive theory building activity is used to connect the day-to-day practices of SAE with government policies. These contributions are all designed to increase the number of SAE operating in Australia.
School/Discipline
Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Innovation Centre, 2011
Provenance
Copyright material removed from digital thesis. See print copy in University of Adelaide Library for full text.