Moments in Time: A Systematic Review of Indigenous Business Research 1999–2019

Industry based studies show that Indigenous participation in business is increasing worldwide and academic research shows that Indigenous businesses successfully operate in both local and national markets, making significant economic and social contributions to their economies. However, Indigenous businesses are differentiated from mainstream businesses by many attributes, including close connection to community and inclusion of cultural heritage and values within business practices. These cultural values may at times conflict with mainstream perceptions of business. This paper adds to the discourse arguing that Indigenous business research is taking place in business schools, therefore there is a need for Indigenous business researchers within business schools to provide Indigenous business stakeholders with alternatives to western-based perspectives that currently dominate the field. This systematic review, undertaken in 2020, examines the field of Indigenous business research for the period 1999–2019 to identify what progress the field has made towards providing these alternatives, and what business schools need to do in the future to enable Indigenous business owners and business people worldwide to use research included within this review to make evidence-based arguments and decisions about their businesses. This review uses quality indicators perpetuated by business schools to guide which papers are included in the analysis. It identifies key trends in research to date and related gaps in the field, presents a conceptual framework for consideration by business schools of future directions in Indigenous business research, and proposes recommendations for future research.