Resilience through adversity: a case of informal artisan entrepreneurs in Kenya

Purpose The study aims to understand how informal artisan entrepreneurs demonstrate resilience while experiencing adversity. To achieve this, it explores how artisans handle adversities and how this differs from other informal entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach The study engaged with entrepreneurial theories of resilience. It incorporated 46 qualitative telephone interviews with 32 artisans in the informal tourism industry of Kenya, conducted over two phases and analysed using thematic analysis. Notably, it draws key methodological considerations for conducting remote qualitative data collection and engaging with participants operating in an informal setting. Findings The findings suggest that informal artisans exhibit individual attributes and behaviours that are associated with resilience in entrepreneurship. Beyond these, their resilience is also influenced by cultural norms related to resourcing their business and culturally derived tacit knowledge. Originality/value The paper extends the understanding of resilience among informal artisan entrepreneurs, who display different characteristics due to the nature of their entrepreneurial activities. It shows that beyond the individualistic view of resilience, culture also influences resilience through social norms and values that govern behaviours. Furthermore, culture reinforces resilience as it is rooted in tacit knowledge held by artisan entrepreneurs. The paper thus contributes to resilience theory in entrepreneurship and to the unique context of artisanry.