"The Impact of Acculturation on Management Dynamics within UK SMEs”- A Study of West Midlands Based African and Caribbean Migrant Owned or Managed SMEs”

Abstract

The UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector has experienced tremendous growth since the mid-1990s. It has also increasingly become evident that the number of SMEs in the UK owned and managed by people from different cultural backgrounds has grown. Based on Berry et al. (2007) acculturation literature, GLOBE culture-management insights, and SME acculturation studies with empirical findings (Khirsariya 2015 and DeVries 2012), this research sought to establish the impact of acculturation on the management dynamics and practices of migrant SME AC business owners and managers in the West Midlands region of the UK. The research was conducted to address the current management integration challenges encountered by African and Caribbean migrant business owners and managers in the UK. Adopting a mixed method approach that included quantitative analysis of online survey responses and qualitative analysis of online, face-to-face and focus group interviews, 102 online survey responses, 26 face-to-face, online and 3 focus group interviews were analysed. The online survey responses were analysed using descriptive statistics (Alpha Cronbach test) to establish the correlation between the dependent and independent variables to test the hypotheses for the study. To triangulate the results from the analysis, further qualitative data were analysed (using manual coding and thematic analysis) to provide in-depth insights from the data set.The research findings established a significant impact of acculturation on crucialmanagement strategies such as managing & leading and adhering policies of the migrant AC SME owners and managers in the West Midlands area. Another finding established a significant level of agreeability between the level of adaptation of the management strategies by the AC SMEs owners and managers due to the acculturation of the host UK culture. In line with GLOBE studies, Berry’s acculturation model and social theory of acculturation, the key causal factors driving the adoption of the host culture in the UK were identified as a sense of belonging, survival, tenacity to succeed, personal achievement, quest to integrate, need to leverage host country opportunities and need to improve on standard of living. The managerial competencies and skills required to deal with and adopt the host culture by the AC SME managers or owners were identified as language skills, cultural knowledge, communication skills, open-mindedness, trust and empathy. There was no significant difference in the change in management dynamics and strategies of the two-sub ethnic minority migrant SMEOMs due to the acculturation of UK host culture however, the research identified an interplay of antecedents (proximate) and relational factors enhancing the acculturation process with the migrant groups. Finally, the growth of ethnic minority SMEs in the UK could be attributed partly to the ease of acculturation based on the ‘culture bricks’ for some migrant groups. Some of the findings corroborate with empirical findings and the acculturation theory. A publication by the Department for Work and Pensions on the annual labour market on ethnic minorities has been a critical data source for the UK Government on diversity policies. For example, past and current UK governments have attempted to develop policies for small businesses to encourage diversity among the workforce from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Some of the key research findings and recommendations would have relevant implications to inform government policies on this area and as such, grants and funding can be sought from the UK government for further business research on this increasingly interesting topic of changes in SME management practices due to successful UK culture integration trends. In addition, in the areas of consultancy and bespoke business research for SMEs, the findings would provide comprehensive guidance on areas of SME management strategies, competencies and skills for dealing with host culture adoption and cultural diversity and finally, contribute to the body of knowledge on SME management practices and acculturation studies. The key contribution has been the redevelopment of the acculturation framework and the identification of a new concept of metacculturation.

Date of Award	Jul 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Coventry University
Supervisor	Zulf Khan (Supervisor) & Nigel Berkeley (Supervisor)