Title: The history of an Islamic entrepreneurship: achieving exporting-network leadership through religious legitimacy

Authors: Julio Araujo Carneiro-da-Cunha; Matheus Graciani Dos Santos; Leandro Januário De Souza; Nawfal Assa Mossa Alssabak; Flavio Romero Macau

Addresses: Department of Management, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), Av. Francisco Matarazzo, 612, Água Branca, São Paulo, Brazil ' Department of Management, University of São Paulo (USP), Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, 908, Butantã, São Paulo, Brazil ' Department of Management, Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), Av. Francisco Matarazzo, 612, Água Branca, São Paulo, Brazil ' Brazil-Iraq Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alameda Santos, 771, cj. 31. Cerqueira César, São Paulo, Brazil ' Department of Management, Paulista University (UNIP), R. Dr. Bacelar, 1212. Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: Brazil is currently one of the top global exporters of Halal poultry to the Middle Eastern Islamic markets. This study focuses on the story of an Islamic certifier, since his initial efforts to his current successful position in the Brazilian export network of Halal poultry. We bring a specific theoretical review considering the separation of the Islamic entrepreneurship conducted by Muslims and the ones oriented to Muslims. A theoretical model with variables that characterise the Islamic entrepreneurship construct was also elaborated. Historical narratives from certifier's founder and his son (his successor) along with organisational institutional documents, the Islamic entrepreneurship construct was empirically validated and complemented by additional variables identified on field research. Afterwards, five great periods of certifier's evolution could be identified: prelude; establishment of guidelines; development; legacy heritage; apex. Each temporal era signs that its respective internationalisation and evolution cycle processes require specific Islamic entrepreneurship variables.

Keywords: Islamic entrepreneurship; Brazil; Halal poultry; Islamic markets; Islamic certification; Islam; Muslims; exports; case study; exporting networks; network leadership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2015.071921

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2015 Vol.15 No.3, pp.272 - 293

Received: 20 Apr 2015
Accepted: 03 Jun 2015
Published online: 23 Sep 2015 *

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