Female Business Research Articles

Conceptualising entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and female business performance in developing economies

There is little understanding of factors that inform entrepreneurial orientation dimensions (EOD) with business performance in the context of developing economies. In an effort to determine how this association is manifested among women entrepreneurs in developing economies (WEDE), the paper examines the existing literature, and provides the current state in how these women create and sustain their businesses. In order to analyse the effectiveness of EODs among WEDEs, a five-EOD model is examined through the findings from the extant literature. The examination of EODs and business performance indicators is done within the context of developing economies. The review of the literature has led to the identification of 'ethics' as an additional EOD associated with business performance. The emergence of a new EOD provides value towards understanding the different cultural settings within which women entrepreneurs operate, and demonstrates the multi-dimensional nature and value of entrepreneurship.

Conceptualising entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and female business performance in developing economies

Conceptualising entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and female business performance in developing economies

Occupational Fields of Business Education Scientists – Evidence from Social Career Network XING

It is not easy to answer the question about occupational fields of business education scientists (Sloane/Twardy/Buschfeld 2004, p. 10). The aim of this article is to examine the structure and level of occupations that business education scientists pursue outside the teaching profession. For this purpose, 2436 publicly available profiles on the social career network XING are utilized. The data were coded with the classification of occupations 2010 of the Federal Employment Agency in Germany. In terms of structure, 15 occupational groups cover more than 90 % of the business education scientists’ occupations. The two most frequent, with a share of over 40 %, are ‚human resource management and services‘ and ‚company organization and strategy‘. With regard to the occupational level, a positive influence of the level of the academic degree was found. The increase in occupational level is particularly pronounced in case of a PhD. There is no evidence that female business education scientists systematically pursue occupations at a lower level than their male counterparts. 16 % of the business education scientists in the sample are self-employed, most frequently as management consultants.

Feminist Theory and its Influence on Female Entrepreneur’s Growth Intentions

Existing results suggest that entrepreneurs vary considerably in their intentions to grow their businesses; that men have more success in pursuing growth than women. Prior investigations on entrepreneurship also suggest female business owners might deliberately choose to keep their business from growing. However, these studies have been conducted in developed countries. Diversity in context and theories could vary by gender, business sectors, and regions of the world. Scholars maintain that feminist perspectives theories are necessary to provide some insights into understanding the phenomena. The goal of this paper is to analyze research findings on the growth aspirations of the female entrepreneurs and offer alternative views of understanding, by employing feminist theories, in explaining why women behave differently in their adaptation of reduced growth intentions. In an attempt to understand the tendencies that might lead to reduced growth intentions in female entrepreneurship, literature was extensively reviewed on female entrepreneurship and growth intentions. The study uses a desk research approach to data collection. An overview of the main issues concerning female entrepreneurs’ growth intentions is presented. The conclusions drawn from the literature provide foundations for policy measures assisting women to overcome their low growth aspirations and measures required to encourage women to grow their businesses. The paper identifies research gaps that continue to exist in female entrepreneurs’ growth intentions research with the aim of encouraging further research in this field.

The influence of gender on the adoption of technology among SMEs

This study explores the influence of gender on adoption of information technology (IT) among owners of small firms. In the small firm context, owner-managers are central to decision-making, including IT adoption. This potentially allows gender-related factors to influence the IT adoption decision. Accordingly, the research literature associated with female business owners is used to comment conceptually on gender-related factors subsumed among accepted antecedents of IT adoption decisions. Empirical findings are based on 21 key informant interviews. The study documents numerous perceived gender-related influences embedded within IT adoption among owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises, such that women are less likely than men to adopt IT. The implications for research, policy and practice are discussed.

The influence of gender on the adoption of technology among SMEs

This study explores the influence of gender on adoption of information technology (IT) among owners of small firms. In the small firm context, owner-managers are central to decision-making, including IT adoption. This potentially allows gender-related factors to influence the IT adoption decision. Accordingly, the research literature associated with female business owners is used to comment conceptually on gender-related factors subsumed among accepted antecedents of IT adoption decisions. Empirical findings are based on 21 key informant interviews. The study documents numerous perceived gender-related influences embedded within IT adoption among owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises, such that women are less likely than men to adopt IT. The implications for research, policy and practice are discussed.

Introducing Daughters of Themis: International Network of Female Business Scholars

This paper introduces a special issue of the International and Comparative Corporate Law Journal resulting from the inaugural workshop of Daughters of Themis: International Network of Female Business Scholars in June 2015. The network fosters a strong sense of collegiality motivated by the sincere belief that our research and ultimately the broader academic endeavour is so much richer and enjoyable when we work together to help resolve society’s great challenges. At its heart is its annual workshop where a small number of participants can enjoy sustained discussion of their papers in an inclusive and collegiate atmosphere, genuine collaboration across disciplines is fostered, and informal support and mentoring of junior scholars by more senior participants can take place. This special issue contributes to the understanding of the relationship between women and business and how their contribution and representation is valued. Uniting these contributions, drawn from different disciplinary perspectives and with the articles covering a range of issues, is an appreciation that the current business model and culture is problematic for a sustainable future. Indeed the grand challenge of sustainability lies in securing the social foundation for humanity now and in the future, while staying within the planetary boundaries. Business contribution to meeting this grand challenge is vital, and the questions concerning the role of gender in achieving sustainability are many. This special issue engages with some of these questions and should be perceived as the beginning of a larger discourse to which Daughters of Themis wishes to contribute.

IF THE WORLD WERE RULED BY WOMEN...: EXPLORING THE RISE OF SELF-MADE CHINESE WOMEN CAPITALIZING ON THE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE THAT HAS SO FAR ELUDED THEIR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS

ABSTRACT Chinese female entrepreneurs are proportionately the most successful self-made women in the world today while American women struggle to keep up with their Chinese counterparts. This is astonishing considering that Chinese women inherited generations of societal discrimination against women, and US women are the beneficiaries of feminist revolution. Multi-generational families provide Chinese women with built-in support for child rearing and household responsibilities, while in America, policies supporting work/life balance are slow to pass or be implemented. In this paper we explore the historical, economic and societal reasons for this reality and offer transformational leadership as the path to bridging this gap. Keywords Transformational Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Cultural Differences, Female Business Success

Reassessment of the Entrepreneurial Motivation among Female Business Owners to Enhance SMEs Business Performance in Indonesia

Purpose of the study is to examine how knowledge sharing by women entrepreneurs with business partners, employees or other entrepreneurs improves business performance and antecedent factors influencing them, entrepreneurial motivation and mutual trust. The sample in this study a number of 197 women entrepreneurs. The approach of analysis tools that are used in this research with the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) estimation using Maximum Likelihood. The results showed that significant effect trust on knowledge sharing. Entrepreneurial motivation significantly influential on knowledge sharing and business performance. Knowledge sharing is a significant effect on business performance.

Blurring the Boundaries: The Interplay of Gender and Local Communities in the Commercialization of Social Ventures

This paper examines the critical role of gender in the commercialization of social ventures. We argue that cultural beliefs about what is perceived to be appropriate work for each gender influence how founders of social ventures incorporate commercial activity into their ventures. Specifically, we argue and show that although cultural beliefs that disassociate women from commercial activity may result in female social venture founders being less likely to use commercial activity than their male counterparts, these effects are moderated by cultural beliefs about gender and commercial activity within founders’ local communities. The presence of female business owners in the same community mitigates the role of founders’ gender on the use of commercial activity. We examine these issues through a novel sample of 584 social ventures in the United States. We constructively replicate and extend these findings with a supplemental analysis of a second sample, the full population of new nonprofit organizations founded during a two-year period in the United States (n = 31,160). By highlighting how gendered aspects of both the social and commercial sectors interact to shape the use of commercial activity by social venture founders, our findings contribute to research on hybrid organizations in the social sector, communities as a context for the enactment of gender, and the enactment of gender in entrepreneurship.The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2017.1144 .

Time to share the load: gender differences in household responsibilities and business profitability

This paper uses data from 2408 micro and small businesses in Ecuador to study business profit differentials by gender. The results point to unpaid work—time devoted to household chores, child care, and care for the elderly—as the largest single factor explaining 33% of the difference in profits observed between male- and female-run businesses. When comparing male and female business owners with similar business and personal characteristics, the difference in business profits disappears. The results point to initial endowments, rather than returns on those endowments, as the reason why female-run businesses are less profitable. Also, they indicate that male and female entrepreneurs are equally effective as managers provided they have access to the same resources, including time.

Entrepreneurial intentions of young women in the Arab world

PurposeFemale entrepreneurship is a growing segment in the context of developing countries and has the potential to become a driving force for economic development. However, research suggests that females are less inclined toward entrepreneurship when compared to their male counterparts. This fact is related to a complex mix of causes such as the belief that entrepreneurship is a male domain, certain conditions within the economic and social environment and a general lack of confidence with regards to succeeding in such activities. Barriers to female entrepreneurship are prevalent in the patriarchal Arab world. The purpose of this paper is to measure the perceptions of female Jordanian business students with regards to the socio-cultural barriers to entrepreneurship. It also looks at the conduciveness of the education they are receiving in terms of new venture creation.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 254 female business students from two universities in Jordan was asked to evaluate various factors within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, including the business education they are currently receiving. A factor analysis has been performed to show which relevant elements may prevent young women from engaging with entrepreneurial activities. A comparison of perceptions about the educational system has also been presented to understand how a supportive educational environment may affect the previous analysis.FindingsThe results indicated that a strong supportive education system to some extent may reduce the perception of potential barriers for entrepreneurship but the overall impact can be limited. Conversely, an educational system lacking a supportive environment and concrete initiatives can deeply affect and worsen the fears of engaging in entrepreneurship amongst female students.Originality/valueThe role of women in the Arab world is quite marked and the reluctance of women to take a more decisive engagement in entrepreneurship may be reinforced by conservative, societal traditions. A supportive education system has the potential to act as a catalyst to encourage active female participation in the entrepreneurial domain, thus helping to spur economic development in the region.

Women in Leadership Positions, Road to Success, A Case Study, Bahrain

Bahrain is a Muslim Arab tribal society, where women play a significant role in the countries’ development, and the number of female business leaders is increasing rapidly. Understanding the circumstances that brought these women to the forefront of business in their country will lead to constructing a better business environment for women in the future. The aim of this study is to explore these women in terms of: the secret behind their successes, their beliefs, and motivation towards leadership. The study tries to identify the “gap” in the scholarly literature on Bahraini women in business, and to provide in-depth data on female leaders in the region.The study employs the inductive approach, using an in-depth qualitative open-ended interview, developed and based on the contingency leadership theory. And the Weber framework of authority.The results indicate that the main factors contributing to the success of women leaders are social status, cultural, gender, struggle, and difficulties from women leaders’ point of view. This is a pilot study for further in-depth quantitative research in Bahrain and the GCC countries. This study is made up of eight samples. It is anticipated that future comparative research will be extended to a further quantitative study to cover a wider sample of Bahrain and GCC countries.The paper is considered as one of the first to discuss the factors affecting the success of businesswomen in Bahrain, rather than the factors that empower them.

Benefiting from the ‘comforts of ease & afluence’: The experience of female business retirement in the diary of Sarah Florry

ABSTRACTThis article examines the unpublished autobiography/diary of a late-eighteenth-century Birmingham-based businesswoman to explore the phenomenon of female retirement in this period. Despite plentiful recent research on the regularity of female business ownership in the eighteenth century there have been little to no examinations of how such businesses ended, other than where they went bankrupt. Such a vacuum of scholarship has reinforced a despondent image of elderly women in this period. Without denying that old age for many could be arduous, this research shows that, where independent women were able to successfully manage finances and commercial enterprise, retirement could be enacted on their own terms. Subsequently, the enjoyment of retirement could be largely dependent upon continued socialisation to avoid boredom and loneliness, particularly in the case of unmarried women.

Attitudes and anxieties of business and education students towards English: some data from the Basque Country

ABSTRACTThe aim of this article is to focus on university students’ attitudes towards English and their anxieties concerning the use of English in the Basque Country, a multilingual context where exposure to English is limited but internationalisation is an important aim. Participants were 360 undergraduate university students of business (N = 180) and education (N = 180) at the University of the Basque Country. The results of the questionnaires indicate that business students had a more positive attitude(s) towards English than education students. The findings also indicate that female business students have a relatively positive attitude in comparison to male business students but also a higher level of anxiety. The results are discussed as related to the situation of English-medium instruction in Southern European bilingual areas and previous studies on gender, attitudes and anxiety.

Gender and the Workplace: The Impact of Stereotype Threat on Self- Assessment of Management Skills of Female Business Students

Stereotype threat, the threat of being stereotyped against (Steele & Aronson, 1995), regardless of the legitimacy of the stereotype, can impact not only productivity, but goals, behavior, and ultimately attitudes. Stereotype threat impacts not only racial groups but men and women as well, each group impacted by the negative stereotypes about their intellectual and/or work performance. As the workplace becomes more and more diverse, managers must understand and brace for the impact stereotypes have on their workers. This study looks at the impact of stereotype threat on male and female business majors in the workplace and future entrepreneurs. The impact of stereotype was measured in their ranking of their own management skills, how they thought others would rank their management skills, and their goals in the workplace.

Risk, success, and failure: female entrepreneurship in late Victorian and Edwardian England

This article analyses female entrepreneurship in late Victorian and Edwardian England. Traditional views on female entrepreneurship in nineteenth‐ and twentieth‐century England point towards a decline in the number and relevance of women as business owners in comparison to the eighteenth century, and their retreat into a ‘separate sphere’ away from the world of trade and production. Recent studies, however, have deeply challenged this view, suggesting that women still played an important role as entrepreneurs during industrialization and beyond. Nevertheless, a number of questions remain unanswered with regard to the features of female entrepreneurship during these phases of British history, and issues such as scale of operation, attitude to risk, credit structure, and managerial styles are still widely debated. Using original sources, this article provides a novel view on these issues, analysing female entrepreneurship from the perspective of bankruptcy. Analysing statistics on women's bankruptcy derived from Board of Trade reports, as well as a sample of archival cases, this article argues that overall female business owners traded in ways similar to their male counterparts in terms of business size, risk‐taking, and, eventually, success.

Swearing at work: the mixed outcomes of profanity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the use and misuse of swearing in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative methodology, the authors interviewed 52 lawyers, medical doctors and business executives in the UK, France and the USA.FindingsIn contrast to much of the incivility and social norms literatures, the authors find that male and female business executives, lawyers and doctors of all ages admit to swearing. Further, swearing can lead to positive outcomes at the individual, interpersonal and group levels, including stress-relief, communication-enrichment and socialization-enhancement.Research limitations/implicationsAn implication for future scholarship is that “thinking out of the box” when exploring emotion-related issues can lead to new insights.Practical implicationsPractical implications include reconsidering and tolerating incivility under certain conditions.Originality/valueThe authors identified a case in which a negative phenomenon reveals counter-intuitive yet insightful results.

Discourses of entrepreneurial leadership: Exposing myths and exploring new approaches

This article explores gender and entrepreneurial leadership, notably the meanings female entrepreneurs ascribe to notions of entrepreneurial leadership. Drawing from interviews with female business owners, the article questions the dominant hegemonic masculine entrepreneurial leadership model as well as that reportedly associated with women. Research findings illuminate the fluidity and variability of the entrepreneurial leadership construct. Our feminist poststructural lens and critical leadership stance adds new insight into the multiple subjectivities of entrepreneurs and surfaces contradiction and tension that shape the very sense of their entrepreneurial selves. By questioning accepted knowledge, this research offers new perspectives on the multiple realities of entrepreneurial leadership, which should be heeded by policy makers, academics and practitioners alike.

The Macroeconomic Landscape of Post-Apartheid South Africa: A Critical Review of the Effect of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Program on the Success of Female SMEs Operators

Abstract Previous business research has highlighted the impact of government policy in the processes of formulating business strategies and in the decision-making process of organizations. In the South African context, a review of this impact on organizational strategy is for the most part important especially after the fall of apartheid as businesses have been saddled with widespread institutional change the purpose of which is to redress historic inequalities that characterized the apartheid regime. Specifically, the introduction of a far-reaching B-BBEE policy aimed at increasing participation of PIDs in economic activities. Previous researchers have been focused on the impact of B-BBEE policy on mergers and acquisitions, strategic decisions and value chain structures, as well as ROEs. The current report from STATS-SA indicates that the failure rate for women-owned businesses remains at a high rate despite the implementation of the B-BBEE policy. Therefore, research on the impact of BBBEE on business strategy and success of female SMMEs operators may provide an accurate and deep understanding that will be beneficial to policymakers because of the social pressures to emphasis more on a 'broad-based' BEE (B-BBEE) policy aimed at increasing the participation of the black population (and in particular women) in economic activities as well as increasing the number of black ownership in businesses or creating employment for the black population. This study used appropriate data tools and techniques to analyze the data drawn from a sample of female entrepreneurs in South Africa. The study applies culturally instantiated facets of the debate on gender entrepreneurship as part of a detailed and empirically sophisticated consideration of the status of female entrepreneurship within South Africa. This paper involves an in-depth survey using the ten dimensions of business performance as a basis to study small South African women-owned businesses given that the approach is useful in the development of a theory in fields where not much research has been undertaken. The businesses studied for this research are based on a setting where B-BBEE program is a principal factor in the strategic framework of the South African female business owner. This paper contributes to existing literature on the implications of the BBBEE program on SMEs by studying the relationship between business strategies, outcomes, and the B-BBEE program.