PRIVATE SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUCCESS, GROWTH AND CONTINUITY IN ISRAEL: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF WHY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS STARTED A BUSINESS AND HOW THEY DEFINE, MEASURE AND SEEK SUCCESS, GROWTH AND SUCCESSION
Abstract
This phenomenological study explores the subjective lived experiences of Arab and Jerusalemite small business owners operating within a highly volatile and intersectionally marginalized geopolitical ecosystem. While traditional entrepreneurship literature relies heavily on objective financial metrics and exhibits a pronounced "pro-growth bias," this research addresses a significant methodological gap by investigating how systemic barriers shape minority founders' internal meaning-making processes. Utilizing a qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological research design, data were collected through in-depth life story interviews with 30 entrepreneurs across diverse sectors, including high-tech, education, and traditional commerce. The thematic analysis reveals that for these founders, entrepreneurship transcends pure economic necessity. The findings highlight five core themes: (1) entrepreneurial motivation as an "intellectual rebellion" to shatter systemic glass ceilings and restore personal dignity; (2) the redefinition of success from rapid financial scaling to business resilience and community impact; (3) the adoption of qualitative growth, bootstrapping, and "Blue Ocean" strategies to navigate severe credit gaps and institutional neglect; (4) a progressive shift toward a merit-based "succession of vision" over blind family inheritance; and (5) the strategic transformation of geopolitical constraints into community-oriented empowerment. Synthesizing these narratives, the study introduces the "Disruption and Succession of Vision Theory" (DSVT), framing minority entrepreneurship not merely as a commercial pursuit, but as an existential act of Sumoud (steadfastness). The research provides critical insights for policymakers, urging a shift away from generic technical interventions toward culturally aware support systems that address structural credit gaps and foster long-term societal impact.
JEL: L26; M13; D91; O17; Z13; J15; P4
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v10i5.2273
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