Rose Quan, D.B.A., Northumbria University, Ellison Road, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, the UK, NE1 8ST, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mingyue Fan, Ph.D., Jiangsu University, No. 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China, 212013, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (corresponding author)
Michael Zhang, Ph.D., Nottingham Trent University, 50 Shakespeare St, Nottingham, the UK, NG1 4FQ, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Huan Sun, Northumbria University, Ellison Road, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, the UK, NE1 8ST, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Effective embeddedness in the host country is an important issue for immigrant and transnational entrepreneurs. However, prior research has mainly focused on subsidiaries’ local embeddedness of multinational companies (MNCs). While a limited number of studies have examined transnational enterprises, few have explored how transnational entrepreneurs embed in the host country where they immigrate to. Employing 7 in-depth case studies of Chinese small transnational enterprises operating in the UK, we construct a dynamic dual process model which consists of 3 dimensions: structural embeddedness; institutional embeddedness; and cognitive embeddedness. Our findings make a theoretical contribution by offering insights into how transnational migrant entrepreneurs embed in a dual cross-border business environment.

Keywords: Transnational entrepreneurship, host country, institutional theory, embeddedness