Exploratory analysis of entrepreneurial perspectives of tribal leaders in Papua New Guinea

Purpose This paper aims to explore how tribal leaders in Papua New Guinea (PNG) facilitate entrepreneurial initiatives amid institutional instability. It focuses on how traditional, culture-based authority influences entrepreneurial practices when formal institutions are absent or ineffective. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative approach, the research is based on insights from tribal leaders in Morobe Province, PNG. The analysis uses Indigenous entrepreneurship theory to build a nuanced, context-specific understanding of how entrepreneurship unfolds in this setting. Findings The study reveals that entrepreneurial activity is structured through culturally recognized forms of collective governance. Tribal leaders leverage their personal cultural authority, derived from legitimacy, social standing and kinship networks, to secure access to customary land, organize labor via communal obligations and oversee economic ventures. These processes highlight that entrepreneurship in this context is shaped by cultural frameworks rather than formal institutional support. Research limitations/implications While the findings stem from a specific regional context and may not be broadly generalizable globally, they enrich theoretical understanding by identifying cultural authority as a key enabler of entrepreneurship in environments with weak formal institutions, thereby advancing Indigenous entrepreneurship theory. Practical implications The results indicate that development efforts should work with, rather than replace, existing cultural systems of governance. Policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurship would be more effective if they reinforce local authority structures instead of introducing external institutional models. Originality/value This research adds to the field by offering a mechanism-driven perspective on how culturally rooted authority shapes entrepreneurial action in Indigenous communities, providing a more contextually informed view of entrepreneurship under institutional uncertainty.