Tongan Business Obligation: Across a sea of enterprise

Abstract

Dubbed as the only remaining monarchy in the South Pacific. The Kingdom of Tonga seeks to provide a unique history, tradition and culture. Economically though, Tonga comes in as one of the ‘least developed countries’ in the world. This research seeks to provide small to medium size businesses as the solution to reforming Tonga’s economic disposition. Prior literature has identified cultural obligation as what impedes business success. However, employing the Talanoa methodological approach, within grounded theory, secondary literature and interpretive paradigm, this research disproves cultural obligation as the only cause to business failure. Tongan business is ingrained within the Tongan way (anga-fakaTonga) of being, therefore, cultural obligation is a way of life. Furthermore, other challenges such as book keeping, management, and government assistance seeks to also contribute to the failure of Tongan business; to which business owners have provided various solutions in this study. A total of thirty-eight research samples participated in updating and conceptualizing the understanding of Tongan business especially in regards to its cultural diversity. Future research into Tongan business is need especially in comparison to western businesses.