Translation in Action: Global and Local Templates in Kenyan Technology Entrepreneurship

• In Event: 323 - Regular Session. Globalization

Abstract

We explore the process and outcomes of importing global institutional templates about entrepreneurship into a society. Data comes from an in depth study of the nascent entrepreneurial Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Nairobi, Kenya, and includes 156 interviews and 4 months of observation at various sites. We find remarkable differences between a global template anchored on the archetype of Silicon Valley, and local understanding of the idea entrepreneurship, and the role of failure, community and capital providers. We propose a process model of several practices through which differences are resolved, decoupled or ignored.

Authors

• Tim Weiss, Zeppelin University

• Klaus Weber, Northwestern University