Abstract
This study aims to explore how risk and uncertainty, and capitals affected SME
entrepreneurs' entrepreneurial orientation and performance, taking account of the
impact of the entrepreneurs' migration experiences. By using a sequential mixed-methods design, this thesis consists of three elements of data collection and analysis
based on the fieldwork in Zhangjiajie, China from December, 2019 to November, 2020.
Firstly, key informant interviews with government elites, representative entrepreneurs
and association bodies provided information on the region and understanding to the
proposed concepts. Secondly, a questionnaire survey with 210 B&B entrepreneurs
including 119 return migrants and 91 non-migrants in Zhangjiajie. The partial least
squares structural equation modelling approach is applied to examine the relationships
between the key factors and the role of migration is explained by the Multi-group
Analysis. The findings indicate risk and uncertainty, and capitals matter in relation to
the entrepreneurial orientation and performance, and the moderating roles of return
migration experience on the path of risk tolerance to subjective performance, and the
path of human capital to the entrepreneurial orientation are also demonstrated. Thirdly,
34 in-depth interviews were undertaken with entrepreneurs (18 return migrants, 16 non-migrants), and the results provided deeper insights into the second phase results and the
conceptual framework of the thesis.
The research contributes to building the conjunction framework, including risk,
uncertainty, capitals, entrepreneurial orientation and performance, with moderating
effects of the migration experience. It provides useful implications for both
entrepreneurs and the local government in relation to entrepreneurs’ capital
accumulation especially skills and knowledge development, risk and uncertainty
tolerance, and the role of domestic migration experience in entrepreneurship.