Entrepreneurial Competences and Entrepreneurial Performance: Empirical Insights of Female Entrepreneurs in Kenya.

Kimeu Muindi,Enno Masurel,Kees Van Montfort,Bernard Kibeti Nassiuma

doi:10.29358/sceco.v0i32.455

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine entrepreneurial competences among female entrepreneurs within the context of developed countries which have been greatly neglected in the same context of emerging economies. This empirical research is based on a survey of 301 micro and small enterprises located in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, run by female entrepreneurs. Its focus is on the following entrepreneurial competences: the need for achievement, locus of control, tolerance of ambiguity, innovativeness, risk-taking propensity, self-efficacy, egoistic passion; goal setting; resilience; trustworthiness; emotional stability; and patience. In measuring entrepreneurial performance, the constructs of firm performance, development of personal wealth, and social performance were used. The findings show that a proper measurement instrument has been applied to check on the constructs of entrepreneurial competences and entrepreneurial performance. The paper makes a finding that entrepreneurial competences do exist among female entrepreneurs in emerging economies. However, it was established that there is hardly any correlation between entrepreneurial competences and entrepreneurial performance. This finding, presents a stimulating area for further research within the contextual framework of emerging economies. The study contributes to the advancement of the literature on entrepreneurial competences and how they relate to the entrepreneurial performance of female entrepreneurs in an emerging economy context.

Highlights

Entrepreneurial competences have been identified as capabilities necessary for the exercise of successful entrepreneurship, and, as such, entrepreneurial competences are often related to the development of small and new businesses (Colombo & Grilli, 2005)
The research question we aim to answer in this paper is: To what extent do entrepreneurial competences contribute to the entrepreneurial performance of female entrepreneurs in Kenya? Notably, the paper is arranged as follows
In this paper, we have attempted to answer the study question: To what extent do entrepreneurial competences contribute to the entrepreneurial performance of female entrepreneurs in Kenya

Summary

Introduction

Entrepreneurial competences have been identified as capabilities necessary for the exercise of successful entrepreneurship, and, as such, entrepreneurial competences are often related to the development of small and new businesses (Colombo & Grilli, 2005). We undertake an empirical study to determine whether there is an identifiable link between the entrepreneurial competences of the entrepreneur and the entrepreneurial performance of the firm. This paper presents our approach to determine whether such entrepreneurial competences could be a positive predictor of entrepreneurial performance. The latter is described in terms of firm performance, development of personal wealth, and social performance. The research question we aim to answer in this paper is: To what extent do entrepreneurial competences contribute to the entrepreneurial performance of female entrepreneurs in Kenya?

Objectives

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion