برنامه ریزی فضایی (Nov 2023)
Competitive Advantages of Indigenous Rural Entrepreneurship in Iran (Case Study: South of Lorestan Province)
Abstract
AbstractBackground: Rural indigenous entrepreneurship is one of the recent research areas to show that is incompatible with some of the main assumptions of classic (Western) entrepreneurship. In Iran- including in the southern province of Lorestan- which has a rich cultural heritage and indigenous people, so far the issue of native rural entrepreneurship and its advantages have not been addressed.Objective: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the benefits of native rural entrepreneurship.Research Method: The present study is applied in terms of the purpose. Based on the nature and method, it is a descriptive study. The methods of collecting the data were through using library sources and questionnaires. The Johanson test was used to examine the most important areas, advantages, and competitive opportunities for native rural entrepreneurship.Findings: The results of field studies showed that according to the concept of indigenous entrepreneurship, 20 indigenous rural entrepreneurs were identified in Lorestan province, which were different from classical entrepreneurship. This type of entrepreneurship was created in connection with native culture, rural and local resources, and the native knowledge of the region. Investigating the benefits of native rural entrepreneurship led to the identification of 5 general categories: 1) the benefits of launching and implementing native rural entrepreneurship, 2) economic benefits, 3) cultural benefits, 4) social benefits, and 5) environmental benefits.Keywords: Indigenous Rural Entrepreneurship, Classical Rural Entrepreneurship, Competitive Advantages, Southern Lorestan Province. IntroductionThere are various types of native rural activities, native agriculture, aquaculture, native tourism, artistic and cultural industries (rugs, carpets, basket production and home decorations), and eco-tourism camps, etc. in the rural areas of Lorestan province as the study area of this research. They are all related to local and environmental resources, the culture and values of Lor people, and the native/local knowledge of villagers. Meanwhile, the Lorestan province has a long history (the discovery of the world's first intelligent human in this province), it has an ancient cultural and traditional background, and various native tribes of Lor (Lor, Lak, Bakhtiari, Lor Minjaei and Talasi) have natural reserves and pristine and untouched cultural and artistic resources, which can be a model and a tool for the economic progress of indigenous rural communities in this province. One way to develop indigenous entrepreneurship in rural areas is to introduce this type of entrepreneurship and provide its benefits. Therefore, in this study, the advantages of indigenous rural entrepreneurship in Lorestan province are presented. Materials and MethodsThe present applied study is descriptive in nature. The methods of collecting the data were using library sources and questionnaires. Internet was also used to collect the data on approaches, theoretical foundations, various research variables, competitive advantages of native rural entrepreneurship, and research background. Research FindingsThe results of field studies showed that according to the concept of indigenous entrepreneurship, 20 indigenous rural entrepreneurs were identified in Lorestan province, which were different from classical entrepreneurship. This type of entrepreneurship was created in connection with native culture, rural and local resources, and the native knowledge of the region. In terms of capital, indigenous entrepreneurship was created with personal capital, individual ownership, and based on the family workforce. The results of the research on the advantages of native rural entrepreneurship led to the identification of 5 general categories and 38 micro advantages. On this basis, the most important advantages are: 1) the advantages of launching and implementation, including small-scale and easy-to-set aspects, 2) Economic advantages including the need for low capital and the usability of local raw materials, low risk but profitable and providing a hybrid economy (agriculture, tourism, and handicrafts) for the villagers, 3) Cultural advantages including the use of traditional knowledge and transfer to the next generation, cultural values as a product (art and crafts) and the use of indigenous culture (ceremonies and dances, music and songs) and kinship relationships, 4) Social advantages including increasing social participation as an essential element in creating entrepreneurship, considering the benefit of the society and the family, and 5) Environmental advantages including preserving the environment by maintaining native business foundations (land, forest, pasture, etc.), using native land and via sustainable methods as a business (aquaculture, handicrafts, and tourism). Discussion of Results and ConclusionsIndigenous rural entrepreneurship is the creation, management, and development of new investments by native people for the benefit of the natives themselves. This type of entrepreneurship is created by local entrepreneurs under the influence of local culture and natural environment resources. In Lorestan province, indigenous rural entrepreneurship emphasizes elements such as the use of indigenous resources, cultural values, collective benefit, personal capital, and kinship/family ties. This type of entrepreneurship, due to its small scale and easy start-up aspects, low capital requirements, dependence on native and local culture with its economic and non-economic goals, can be used as an emerging economic driver through the creation of employment, profit and income, preserving livelihood, native culture, and the environment, and contributing to the growth and development of rural areas and sustainable rural development. On the other hand, given that rural native entrepreneurship differs from classical Western entrepreneurship, their goals were different. The competitive advantages of rural native entrepreneurship over classical entrepreneurship are also different. Understanding these advantages can be a stimulus to encourage rural natives to create native rural entrepreneurship.
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