Ethnic entrepreneurship has experienced significant development during the last decade. Today 8.7% of all immigrants in Germany run their own businesses (Plahuta, 2004, p.1). In the year 2003, 286.000 self-employed migrants were counted in Germany. Out of this number the Turks represent the biggest group with 60.000 entrepreneurships (Leicht, 2005, p.6). Of 10.000 Turkish workers 197 launched their own business as opposed to 122 business foundations among the German population (ibid, p.7).
Even though the Turks outnumber the German business foundations, they also experience a higher rate in closedowns (ibid). In some German cities, four out of five Turkish business foundations fail, according to Dr. René Leicht (2005, ‘Die Rheinpfalz’). He opens the thesis that this high number is at least partly due to the fact that Turks rather prefer to open their businesses in branches and areas dominated by their own people. As a result of this concentration, Turkish businesses solely depend on the purchasing power of their fellow immigrants. Besides, they unnecessarily create a highly competitive market.
Since the preference to live and work in an area inhabited primarily by one’s own nationality indicates a rather limited integration, we are going to examine whether integration in general is a driver for financial business success.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction SvP & DH
2. History of Turkish Immigrants in Germany DH
3. Methodology SvP
3.1. Procedure of Data Collection
3.1.1. Our Samples
3.1.2. Our Research Method
3.2. Experiences on Making Interviews SvP & DH
3.2.1. Pilot Test
3.2.2. Main Research Interviews
4. The Analysis of the Interdependencies between Integration and Business Success
4.1. Definition and Scope of Integration and its Realization
4.1.1. Cultural integration SvP & DH
4.1.2. Structural integration SvP
4.1.3. Interactive integration SvP
4.1.4. Identificative integration DH
4.2. Definition and scope of success and its achievement SvP & DH
5. Conclusion SvP & DH
Research Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this research project is to examine the correlation between the degree of integration into German society and the economic success of Turkish-owned kebab shops, specifically comparing urban environments like Hamburg-Veddel with rural districts like Dithmarschen.
- Analysis of cultural, structural, interactive, and identificative integration dimensions.
- Comparison of business practices between metropolitan and provincial entrepreneurs.
- Evaluation of ethnic enclave economies versus broader market integration.
- Impact of language, social environment, and customer base on business performance.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Experiences on Making Interviews
In order to make our interviews comparable, we have prepared a master questionnaire. Before starting off with our actual research we tested our first draft questionnaire on two individuals. We decided to conduct our test-run during the morning hours when costomer numbers are low.
Our first contact with a kebab shop owner at a quarter past ten was a deception because he sent us away. Even though there was no single costomer around, he suggested that we should have come at 8.15 a.m. when he was not busy. Assuming that the shop owner was not willing to answer our questionnaire in general, we moved on.
Eventually, we got two guinea pig interviews in very distinctive kebab shops. One of them was a typical fast food place with a counter and a couple of bar stools. The other was a fancy restaurant that was part of a big franchising company. Here they only offered kebabs as a supplement to their regular menu.
While conducting the interviews we realized that some of our formulations were not suitable for our interviewees to understand. As a simple example our question number three initially read: „Did the opening of the kebab shop assisted you in your integration?“ (“Hat Sie die Eröffnung des Dönerladens bei Ihrer Integration unterstützt”) and was substituted by „Did the opening of the kebab shop helped you in your integration?“ (“Hat die Eröffnung des Dönerladens bei Ihrer Integration geholfen”).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction SvP & DH: This chapter highlights the development of ethnic entrepreneurship among Turkish immigrants in Germany and introduces the central research question regarding the link between integration and business success.
2. History of Turkish Immigrants in Germany DH: This section provides the necessary historical background of Turkish migration to Germany, starting with the guest worker programs of the 1950s and 1960s.
3. Methodology SvP: This chapter details the research design, including the selection of samples from Hamburg-Veddel and Dithmarschen, and the reasoning behind using personal structured interviews for data collection.
4. The Analysis of the Interdependencies between Integration and Business Success: This core chapter evaluates the empirical findings across four sociological dimensions of integration and assesses their impact on the economic outcomes of the surveyed businesses.
5. Conclusion SvP & DH: The final chapter summarizes the research results, refuting the hypothesis that business success is strictly correlated with low-density competition areas, and discusses the role of business management practices.
Keywords
Turkish entrepreneurship, integration, kebab shops, Hamburg-Veddel, Dithmarschen, ethnic enclave economy, structural integration, cultural integration, business success, migration, transnationalism, labor market, immigrant businesses, questionnaire, fieldwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research project?
The project investigates the relationship between the level of integration into German society and the economic performance of Turkish-owned kebab shops in both urban and rural settings.
What are the central thematic areas?
The research focuses on the four dimensions of integration—cultural, structural, interactive, and identificative—and how these intersect with the business models and survival of ethnic enterprises.
What is the primary research question?
The central question asks: "How does the degree of integration into the German society affect the economic success of Turkish Kebab-Shops?"
Which scientific methods were applied?
The authors utilized personal structured interviews with 30 Turkish entrepreneurs, supplemented by pre-testing via a pilot study to refine their questionnaire.
What topics are discussed in the main section of the paper?
The main part covers the historical context of Turkish migration, a detailed methodology, and an analysis of integration indicators such as language proficiency, social connections, and business strategies.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Turkish entrepreneurship, integration, ethnic enclave economy, and comparative analysis of metropolitan and rural business environments.
How does the business performance differ between rural and urban areas?
The findings indicate that while Hamburg-based shops often show higher turnover and employee numbers, they tend to operate as ethnic enclaves, whereas rural shops show higher levels of social and cultural integration.
Why did the authors choose personal interviews over questionnaires?
They found that personal interviews allowed for better clarification of complex questions, accounted for language barriers, and helped establish the trust necessary to obtain sensitive business information.
- Quote paper
- Dirk Hollank (Author), Sabine von Possel (Author), 2007, Turkish Entrepreneurship and Integration in Metropolises and Smaller Towns, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120288
