Academic literature on the topic 'Women-owned business enterprises Businesswomen'

This study focuses on the emerging ’women entrepreneurship’ and ’womenowned businesses’ in Brunei Darussalam. It first examines the demographic background, personal competency, reasons behind the choice of ’selfemployment career,’ and management style of the businesswomen. Secondly, it looks into the main sources of finance, lines of merchandise, size of the work force, and problems of the women-owned enterprises. The sample consists of 50 businesswomen. In manufacturing, retail, and service businesses. These businesswomen have gone through the formal education process and are in their thirties. Their reasons for doing business are independence and an opportunity to use their knowledge and experience. The popular types of business activities for these businesswomen are retailing and services. They practise a centralised decision making style. Their businesses are generally in the start-up stage and the predominant source of capital is personal savings. Most of the businesses employ less than 10 workers and the major problems of the businesses are labour shortage and strong competition.

Purpose This exploratory study aims to compare how businesswomen with different initial bounds to their businesses resort to gender discourses to construct a shared business identity in group interaction. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted with two focus groups of Portuguese businesswomen with different initial bounds to their enterprises: those who created their own companies and those who “inherited” family businesses. All the participants of both groups own and manage their businesses. Findings A discourse analysis of the interactions shows that the identities of businesswomen are constrained and produced by different masculinities (authority, professionalism and self-determination) and femininities (restrictive and emancipatory). The interweaving of these gender discourses results in the production of a “respect” identity in the family businesses group and a “self-determination” identity in the start-up businesses group. Practical implications The comparison of the different business identities shared by women with particular business experiences contributes to reflections upon the diversified contours that gender discrimination can undertake, and upon the need of practitioners to adjust the gender policies according to those particular experiences. Originality/value The paper compares and highlights how Portuguese businesswomen with different business backgrounds collectively construct specific and shared business identities that allow them to deal with diverse experiences of gender discrimination and devaluation.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the innovation decisions of Emirati women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This study uses a two-phased approach. In the first phase, empirical research on 50 Emirati female entrepreneurs is conducted to discover the extent of innovation in their ventures. In the second phase, the study uses an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to prioritize factors considered important in facilitating business innovation among SMEs. The AHP model is developed with 9 criteria and 25 sub-criteria based on the previous literature. Face-to-face interviews are conducted with Emirati female entrepreneurs operating nascent (n = 10), start-up (n = 10) and established innovative (n = 10) businesses to collect data for the AHP study. The data collected are interpreted and a priority vector is assigned to each criterion and sub-criterion. Findings Female SME owners prioritize government policies, research and development, innovation strategy and skill development as the main criteria that influence their innovation decisions. Family support, access to external financing, social networks and the allocation of funds are the main sub-criteria affecting their decisions to be innovative. Furthermore, respondents who are in the nascent business stage consider family motivation as the greatest influence on initiating new ideas through financial and moral support. Among all respondents, the nascent business owners rank skill development the highest because they are still in the initial stages of their business journeys, and thus, obtaining these skills could help them increase innovation and success in their ventures. However, respondents in the established stage rank innovation strategy the highest. Research limitations/implications The study results can help policymakers and women’s associations, such as businesswomen councils, identify the specific inhibitors and facilitators linked to innovation and, thereby, help develop various effective policies to promote innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs. Originality/value The study is one attempt to facilitate innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs through its efforts to discover the determinants of innovation efforts at nascent, start-up and established business stages as defined by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2012). The study can help Emirati women-owned SMEs understand the critical factors influencing innovation and can encourage them to incorporate innovative characteristics for business growth and resilience. Furthermore, the study can provide insights for policymakers, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations on factors hindering innovation among Emirati women-owned SMEs, which may serve as a tool for creating resilience among female entrepreneurs.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare women entrepreneurship in China and Vietnam by examining the motivations, success factors and problems related to establishing women-owned businesses. Design/methodology/approach The sample in this study consisted of 170 women entrepreneurs in Vietnam and 180 women entrepreneurs in China. The authors used the survey instrument developed by H.M. Chu (Chu and Katsioloudes 2001), which has been adopted in a number of small business studies since 2002. To determine whether there is a significant difference between the two countries regarding each factor of motivations, success factors and problems, the authors use the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Findings Women entrepreneurs are motived to earn more income in both China and Vietnam. Vietnamese businesswomen value intrinsic rewards such as gaining personal satisfaction and freedom. They also take business ownership as a way to reduce work–family conflict. Demonstrating the ability and gaining public recognition play a more important role when Chinese women entrepreneurs decide to establish their businesses. Both Chinese and Vietnamese women agree that good management skills are essential to achieve their goals. Women entrepreneurs in both countries share similar challenges, such as the inability to recruit and retain employees, severe competition, a weak economy and limited access to financial capital. Practical implications Given the nature of transitional economies in both countries, the government is required to improve the regulatory environment for protecting private sector employment and private property rights. Policies such as subsidies and tax incentives may assist the development of women enterprises. To support the sustainable growth of women businesses, it is suggested that the government should design effective programs that direct women entrepreneurs to move into high-growth or high-technology sectors. Training programs are also required to improve the knowledge and skills of women entrepreneurs. Making capital accessible to women is also important to stimulate entrepreneurial growth. As a further stimulus, governments should coordinate with financial institutions to provide low-cost loans or even venture capital to facilitate this process. Originality/value This study is among one of the first attempts to compare women entrepreneurship in the two transitional economies of Vietnam and China. It provides insight into motivations, success factors and problems that women entrepreneurs experienced by examining small business owners in Vietnam and China.

Many questions can be raised about the position of women in business in China. Has the reform period given women greater opportunities to enhance their economic and social status? What proportion of new small businesses are owned by women and how does the situation in China compare with that in other countries? Are women involved in large businesses? Are women in managerial positions in private business? Are women as motivated as men to achieve managerial positions? Do men and women in China manage businesses differently? Do men and women have different personnel management styles? What are the career options? Are women subject to discrimination and harassment in the workplace? Does the ‘glass ceiling’ exist in China? Are the issues of concern for Chinese businesswomen similar to those of businesswomen elsewhere or are their experiences determined more by specifically Chinese social and economic conditions? These questions are being examined through ongoing research conducted in Yunnan province in south-west China and in Shanghai and Suzhou in eastern China using literature search, questionnaire survey and structured interviews with women working in both state-owned and private business.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of microfinance services on women owned enterprises in Busia County. The study specific objectives included, to establish the effects of credit on performance of women owned business enterprises in Busia County, determine the effects of financial training on the performance of women owned enterprises in Busia County, examination of the effects of savings on performance of women owned business enterprises ,conceptualization of the effects of social capital on the performance of women owned business enterprises and examine the effects of legal framework on the inclusive business enterprises performance of women owned enterprises in Busia County. The study was guided mainly by the resource - based view theory and institutional theory, among others. The study adopted a descriptive survey research designs while study target population was 500 women owned entrepreneurs in Busia County, Kenya. Stratified random sampling technique was used and the sample size constituted 20% of the total target population thus making a simple size of 100 respondents for this study. The respondents were purposively selected women entrepreneurs, customers of the specific selected microfinance institutions found within Busia county business ecosystem. The questionnaires were used as a tool for primary data collection respectively, both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methodologies were applied by use of spss version 23.0.The study findings revealed that, an increase in credit, finance training, social capital, savings and legal framework by one unit leads to an increase in performance by 0.502, 0.124, 0.081, 0.236, and 0.059 units respectively with a p –value of < 0.05 for each variable. Based on the study findings the researcher can conclude that, women owned enterprises are key drivers to the economic development in Kenya and the study recommends that training program should be emphasized to enhance the financial literacy management for exemplary performance of the enterprises. Savings, social capital, financial training, legal framework and credit services significantly influences performances of women-owned business enterprises. According to the research findings, the frequency of trainings should be increased to keep them abreast with modern methodologies for better performance and financial training programs for women owned business enterprises should be designed to meet the standards needs for women entrepreneurs’ and more so the aspiring new entrants.

In developing countries, the role of women in the business sector is continuously improving. As a result, female enterprises have also been encouraged in Pakistan. This study is based on life cycle development phases from which women-owned enterprises have to go through in order to become successful. As a primary data source, face-to-face interviews with owners of successful women-owned enterprises were preferred. The data collection process was divided into two phases i.e. Phase-I and Phase-II. After data collection, qualitative analysis has been performed using NVIVO. Findings provide both generic and specific factors involved in life cycle development of women-owned enterprises. This study provides a detailed view of life cycle development model followed by successful women enterprises. The outcome of this research work is a theoretical finding which can be utilized by entrepreneurs owning small scale enterprises to improve their level of performance. Findings can also be helpful for potentially talented women interested in setting up their own business.

<p>Businesswomen are increasingly playing a significant role in the economy at both, national and international levels. Women-owned businesses provide job opportunities and contribute to strengthening the family and community’s cohesion. However, the majority of women business owners, whether small or big, in terms of size or those conducted without permits especially in developing countries, are all put at a disadvantage in starting businesses. The reason behind this is due to social, political, family and economic challenges faced by businesswomen in many countries. Other obstacles arise from the personality traits of women entrepreneurs and have continuously caused to hinder their engagement in businesses or their willingness to initiate their own new businesses. The impact of these challenges varies from one businesswoman to another. For instance, poor economic conditions may motivate a Chinese businesswoman; however, the same conditions may represent an obstacle to other businesswomen in some Middle Eastern countries. This research study, following an explanatory nonexperimental research design (Belli, 2008; Cook and Cook, 2008; Johnson, 2001) will focus on the most important challenges facing Saudi businesswomen, particularly including social and economic constraints, discrimination and infrastructure challenges. The study has outlined that family constraints are ranked at the top of those challenges. Recommendations aiming to help businesswomen overcome these challenges shall be drawn up in this study. The study is purposefully divided into several parts as follows:</p><p>Part I: Introduction: Addresses the research problem, its hypotheses, importance and objectives.</p><p>Part II: Addresses the research methodology, literature review and previous research.</p><p>Part III: Data collection, draw up conclusions and recommendations.</p>

Women empowerment and women entrepreneurship has become interesting topic in many researches. This growing attention triggered by education and socio-cultural betterment towards women. Nowadays people see women as important as men in professional context, including their important role to lead and create enterprises. Not only in developed countries, women in developing economy also build opportunities to create enterprises (Motukuri, 2010). There are large number of enterprises in developing economy owned by women (Deka, 2018). The enterprises dominated by small and medium scale enterprises. Instead of rapid development in women enterprises, there are also challenges. Global market provides new chance yet tight competition at the same time. Technological change is one of the key strategies to win competition and increase company performance (Akman and Dagdeviren, 2018). The use of technology in SME's owned by women in developing economies has grow significantly. Technology in this context is not only about Information Communication and Technology (ICT) that has widespread user nowaday. The technology in this context also involving processing technology, for example handling and packaging. Based on prevoius research, the use of technology has brought women enterprises into better business performance and growth. The example of this growth are opening new market, increasing production capacity and adding product diversification (Suhaimi et al, 2018). This research aim to recognize the diverse of strategies to technology in SMEs owned by women, by unfolding the following research questions : 1) What key technology that use to increase business performance in SMEs owned by women? 2) To what extent the business growing? 3) What are the most important influences for women entrepreneur in using the technology? 4) What kind of collaboration that moderating the use of technology to increase business performance for women entrepreneur? Keywords: SMEs, Scale up, Woman Entrepreneurship, Technology Adoption, Technology Strategy.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate performance drivers of women-owned businesses that are funded primarily through microcredit. It draws on Storey’s theory of small business growth and family embeddedness axiom to examine the factors that drive the performance of businesses that are funded primarily through microcredit. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a cross-sectional survey that covered 208 women business owners who had access to microcredit. The authors use a logistic regression analysis to model the relationship between independent variables and enterprise performance. Findings The paper demonstrates that microcredit plays a significant role in business performance. The credit amount has the most significant influence on the enterprise capital base, whereas the effect on profits is insignificant. Also, owners are more likely to report growth in profits if they possess skills in business management. In addition, younger business owners and necessity entrepreneurs are more likely to report success in their businesses. Other factors that have a significant effect on business performance are product cycle, loan use and family support. Originality/value Many women in Tanzania are entering business ownership and depend on microcredit as their primary source of capital for starting and growing their businesses. However, just a few businesses grow into small and medium-sized enterprises. For informed policy decisions, it is important that the factors influencing the performance of funded businesses are known and well understood. This understanding will help the government and development practitioners assist women in achieving business growth rates that could warrant their empowerment and poverty reduction prospects.

The primary research objective of this treatise is to determine the role of Muslim women in family businesses. Muslim women actively participate in various private and public sectors of the economy as well as in family businesses. The literature review discusses the family business and its definitions and portrayed the advantages and disadvantages of family businesses. Furthermore, the research explored women in family business and investigated common reasons for joining the family business as well as conflict and success planning experienced by the women in the family business. Thereafter, the literature review discussed the Muslim women in family businesses and highlighted the background of the history of Muslim women in Islam. The Muslim women and their rights in Islam were presented followed by the rules of hijab. An overview of Muslim women in the history of Islam of the past and in the current economy was completed. The literature review then discussed the Muslim women in business and concluded with the Muslim women and their role in family businesses. The research methodology and research design literature lead to a qualitative research strategy being adopted to determine the role of Muslim women in family businesses. A questionnaire was designed and participants from the local Muslim business community who live in Port Elizabeth were approached to participate in the research treatise. The participants were initially contacted telephonically followed by an interview session where the questionnaire was used as a guide to the interview. The main purpose of the structured questionnaire was to determine sufficient data for adequate analysis of the research problem. The data were analysed and recommendations were made to address the primary research objective. The findings presented highlighted the role of Muslim women in family businesses. During the research further opportunities for research were presented, particularly to determine the impact of the Muslim daughter in family business is recommended for future research.

Few studies on female entrepreneurship have focused on preventure women and their training needs. This study used four years of data collected from a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in a large mid-western city. The information needs sought by pre-venture females were compared with those of women who were already business owners. The groups were compared to determine training need differences before and after seeing an SBDC counselor. Male clients also were included.Data were obtained from two sources: A Small Business Administration counseling request form to be completed before counseling, and a SBDC counseling form which is a record of items discussed during the counseling session. Of the usable surveys, 553 were female and 276 were male.The three information needs most requested by pre-venture women were: Information on SBDC services (including start-up information), sources of capital, and the business plan. In counseling sessions, the business plan was the most discussed topic. Educational opportunities were the second most discussed.The next six information needs were rated closely together: Sources of finance; legal structure; industry information; business license; business name; and tax information.Little difference was found between the requested needs of pre-venture women and women in business. A greater percentage of the women in business discussed assistance in marketing, record keeping, accounting, advertising, and financial analysis. Further, women in business required more detailed information than did pre-venture women.No difference was found between African-American and white women on the amount of time spent with a counselor. Significantly more African-American women requested information on the business plan, government procurement, and international trade than did white women No difference was found in rank order comparisons of requested training needs between the two groups.Significantly more males than females requested information on bidding, sources of finance, advertising, government procurement, accounting/record keeping, and personnel. Similar gender differences were found in topics discussed during counseling. These differences may be due to the type of business started rather than gender. Rank order comparisons of training needs requested by males and females were identical.More research needs to be done with pre-venture entrepreneurs. Follow-up studies need to identify those who did or did not actually start businesses and the determinants of their decision.
Department of Educational Leadership

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the type of decision-making approaches used by businesswomen, both intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs, under conditions of uncertainty, and how the human and social capital they possess influence their strategic entrepreneurial behaviour (SEB). Entrepreneurial decision making often takes place under uncertain conditions, in which rational models provide little guidance for decision makers. Effectuation is proposed as an alternative decision model to rationality, particularly for emerging opportunities. Although some exploratory work has been conducted on this school of thought, research gaps remain. Particularly, there is a lack of research on businesswomen, despite the fact that they are an important group of entrepreneurs within the economy with great potential to contribute to economic growth, development and employment generation. The study population was South African businesswomen, and the membership register of the South African Businesswomen's Association (BWA) was used as a sampling frame. An online survey was sent to all members and a total of 269 usable responses were obtained. Data were analysed with SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings indicate there are no significant differences between the decisionmaking approaches of intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs, and that they use both effectuation and causation when shaping and implementing new initiatives, while the literature argues that these two approaches are distinct and dichotomous. In using a causal approach, the respondents value planning and a systematic approach to new, uncertain projects, although they realise the benefit of flexibility and of limiting the downside loss to their decisions; therefore they also incorporate elements of effectual logic. Furthermore, businesswomen's ability to cultivate relationships plays an integral role in the SEB process for both effectuation and causation, with businesswomen emphasising their relationships with key stakeholders. Concerning businesswomen's human capital, the study finds that self-efficacy plays an important role in terms of businesswomen's confidence, and that it has an impact on both SEB decision-making approaches. Several theoretical, practical and educational implications arise from these findings. Theoretically, this study contributes to the decision-making literature by showing that businesswomen utilise both decision-making styles and do not merely rely on one or the other. Furthermore, it also shows that relationship cultivation and self-efficacy are significantly related to both SEB approaches. Practically, both businesswomen and other stakeholders, such as financial institutions, should recognise the relevance and importance of using both styles and not stress causation above effectuation, as is the case currently. Furthermore, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which is relevant for both approaches to SEB, can be raised through investing in targeted training and education in female entrepreneurship. For entrepreneurship educators, these findings emphasise that courses should incorporate both decision-making styles and that these skills should be developed in students. Business management students should be taught that, while logical, planned and prediction-based causal approaches are appropriate under stable conditions, effectuation provides resources to approach uncertain conditions more effectively. In addition, entrepreneurial initiatives with a low degree of innovativeness also would be more suited to a predictive, casual approach, while initiatives with a higher degree of innovativeness would benefit from using effectual principles.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die besluitnemingsmetodes van sakevroue, beide intrapreneurs en entrepreneurs, onder omstandighede van onsekerheid te bepaal en te bestudeer hoe die menslike en sosiale kapitaal wat hulle besit hul strategiese entrepreneuriese gedrag (SEG) beïnvloed. Entrepreneuriese besluitneming vind dikwels onder onsekere omstandighede plaas waar rasionele modelle min leiding aan besluitnemers verskaf. Effektuasie ("effectuation") word voorgestel as 'n alternatiewe besluitnemingsmodel tot rasionaliteit, spesifiek vir ontluikende geleenthede. Hoewel daar reeds verkennende navorsing in die veld gedoen is, is daar steeds navorsingsgapings. Daar is veral 'n tekort aan navorsing oor sakevroue ten spyte van die feit dat hulle een van die belangrikste groepe entrepreneurs binne die ekonomie is, met groot potensiaal om 'n bydrae tot ekonomiese groei, ontwikkeling en werkskepping te lewer. Die studiebevolking was Suid-Afrikaanse sakevroue, en die lederegister van die Suid-Afrikaanse Sakevrouevereniging (BWA) is as steekproefraamwerk gebruik. 'n Aanlynopname is aan al die lede gestuur en 'n totaal van 269 bruikbare antwoorde is ontvang. Data is ontleed met behulp van SPSS deur gebruik te maak van beskrywende en inferensiële statistiese tegnieke. Die bevindinge dui aan dat daar geen betekenisvolle verskil tussen die besluitnemingsbenaderings van intrapreneurs en entrepreneurs is nie en dat beide effektuasie ("effectuation") en kousaliteit ("causation") in die vorming en implementering van nuwe inisiatiewe gebruik word. Volgens die literatuur is hierdie twee besluitnemingsbenaderings egter duidelik onderskeibaar. In die gebruik van 'n kousale ("causal") benadering heg die respondente waarde aan beplanning en 'n sistematiese benadering tot nuwe, onseker projekte. Hulle besef egter die voordeel van buigsaamheid en die beperking van besluite wat met kousaliteit gepaard gaan; hulle neem dus ook elemente van effektuasie-logika in ag. Verder speel sakevroue se vermoë om verhoudings te kweek 'n integrale rol in die SEG-proses vir beide effektuasie ("effectuation") en kousaliteit ("causation"), met sakevroue wat hulle verhoudings met sleutel rolspelers beklemtoon. Met betrekking tot sakevroue se menslike kapitaal het die studie gevind dat self-doeltreffendheid 'n belangrike rol in terme van sakevroue se vertroue speel en dat dit 'n impak op beide SEGbesluitnemingsbenaderings het. Verskeie teoretiese, praktiese en opvoedkundige implikasies ontstaan uit hierdie bevindinge. Teoreties het hierdie studie bygedra tot besluitnemings-literatuur deur aan te toon dat sakevroue gebruik maak van albei besluitnemingstyle en nie net op een staatmaak nie. Die studie het ook gevind dat die kweek van verhoudings, asook selfdoeltreffendheid, beduidend verband hou met beide SEG-benaderings. Prakties moet sakevroue en ander belanghebbendes, soos finansiële instellings, die toepaslikheid en belangrikheid van die gebruik van beide style herken, en nie op kousaliteit klem lê bo effektuasie nie. Verder kan entrepreneuriese selfdoeltreffendheid, wat vir beide benaderings tot SEG relevant is, verhoog word deur in geteikende opleiding en onderrig oor vroulike entrepreneurskap te belê. Vir entrepreneurskapopvoeders beklemtoon hierdie bevindinge dat kursusse beide besluitnemingstyle in ag moet neem en dat hierdie vaardighede in studente ontwikkel moet word. Ondernemingsbestuurstudente moet leer dat hoewel logiese, beplande en voorspellingsgebaseerde kousaliteitsbenaderings onder stabiele omstandighede toepaslik is, effektuasie maniere bied om onsekere situasies meer effektief te benader. Entrepreneuriese inisiatiewe met 'n lae graad van innovasie is meer geskik vir 'n voorspellende, kousale benadering, terwyl inisiatiewe met 'n hoër mate van innovasie voordeel sal trek uit die gebruik van effektuasiebeginsels.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Low economic growth, high unemployment and debilitating poverty pose a major threat to the social fabric of South Africa. Entrepreneurship and the establishment of small businesses play a key role in stimulating the South African economy, creating jobs, uplifting living standards and overcoming the injustices of poverty. Compared with other developing economies, South Africa (SA) has one of the lowest entrepreneurial activity rates. Women small- and medium- enterprise (SME) owners, and particularly those from previously disadvantaged socio-economic communities, play a vital role in addressing this situation. There are a number of initiatives aimed at building the capacity of women SME owners in SA. The ILIMA Trust is one such initiative which, through its coaching and mentoring programme, supports women SME owners who come from previously disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, to start up and grow their enterprises. The work of the Trust is primarily focused on such women SME owners who receive financial loans from Masisizane, a sister company of the Trust. This research study aims to establish the stakeholder experiences of the ILIMA Trust's coaching and mentoring programme of Masisizane women SME owners and to identify ways in which it can be improved. The case study provides an in-depth description of the stakeholders‟ experiences of the ILIMA Trust's coaching and mentoring of the Masisizane SME owners. Several strengths of the coaching and mentoring programme are reported. Areas of improvement are pointed out and recommendations are made to strengthen the programme.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Business Administration (Entrepreneurship) in the Faculty of Business at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
The South African government, to accelerate economic growth and development, has identified the Small Medium Micro Enterprises (SMME) sector, and female entrepreneurs, as vehicles capable of bringing about this change. Unfortunately, this growth has been stifled due to the high failure rate of entrepreneurial businesses in the SMME sector. A possible solution for female entrepreneurs is the introduction of start-up support services to empower them to be successful. Empowering entrepreneurs is the function of nurturing and supporting entrepreneurs by providing them with professional skills development and moral support, to impact positively on the business’s sustainability. There is a clear need to widen access to business start-up training and advice to encourage larger numbers of women to embrace self-employment. This implies offering a wide range of start-up support services which encourage women to go into business. Women enter business from a variety of backgrounds and with a wide range of experience. The provision of business start-up training and advice needs to accommodate these very different experiences. Women attending entrepreneurship programmes have often criticised these programmes as being male-orientated and prescriptive. Women are expected to conform to male models and standards of behaviour. While this study relates specifically to female entrepreneurs in the Western Cape, it is set in the context of female entrepreneurship in South Africa. The target population for the research was 150 female entrepreneurs in the Tourism industry in the Western Cape. The study is quantitative in nature, using the survey method for better understanding of the research problem. The study aimed to understand the needs of female entrepreneurs, and to underscore the significance of skills and knowledge transfer from the government to female entrepreneurs. The research explored the role of government in empowering female entrepreneurs in the Tourism industry in Western Cape, and identified support services that can be used to promote the growth and development of female entrepreneurs. Possible solutions to failure rates of female entrepreneurship are also addressed, with specific models for improved business support services for all female entrepreneurs in the Tourism industry in the Western Cape. This will help them to run sustainable businesses as well as provide more jobs. This research recommends that management capability and financial management acumen be regarded as key to success for funding by the entrepreneurs themselves, and the parties involved in supporting and promoting them.

Family businesses are operating throughout the world and suggested to be the predominant way of doing business. This is also true in South Africa with its unique challenges and informal sector providing work to many South Africans not able to find work in the formal sector. Women operating in the corporate environment have traditionally encountered challenges in breaking through the glass ceiling in order to be counted as a successful person in her own right. The same scenario seems to be evident in the family Business environment. Women in family business might choose the family business career path as it allows them more flexibility and time to attend to the home and children, but they also face a glass ceiling of another nature and are there other challenges to overcome in order to make their mark in the family business world. This study’s primary objective was to investigate the literature pertaining to women in business and women in family business. Of great importance was to determine what contributions women make in the family business environment allowing them to be successful. In order to answer this question the secondary objectives supported the primary objective of this study and pertained to the difference between men and women in terms of leadership style and execution of their personalities in business. The inherent strengths and weaknesses displayed by both male and females in the family business environment are investigated in order to link this to their management execution. v A questionnaire was developed to do an empirical study on respondents as identified in the Nelson Mandela Metropole and greater Eastern Cape. The respondents were from varied industries and was selected and interviewed with the support of the questionnaire structure as guidance. The results were analysed and certain recommendations were made addressing the primary objective. Further recommendations were made relating to future potential research in this area. An important finding of the research is that women as identified in the Eastern Cape environment still have difficulty in reaching the top. This is true for the corporate world as well as the family business environment. The difficulty might be based in the traditional roles women assume, but in many cases it was found that women are responsible for their downfall or stagnation in the family business environment as women are satisfied to remain in the shadows and do not command their own space and right of existence. Recommendations were made based on the advice of some of the female respondents which can assist in women stepping up to the role they should take up. Some of the advice given can be used as a best practice in future research of this nature.

The existing scholarship on women in China suggests that gender inequality still exists against the background of the country’s reform and opening in recent years. However, the situation of women in enterprise ownership and leadership seems to indicate that under the surface of women being disadvantaged, some of them are playing a more active and significant role in China’s economic development. Based on a series of interviews with women enterprise owners, wives of enterprise owners and women managers conducted in three localities in three difference provinces of China, this research aims to discover the deeper socio-political realities of leading women in enterprises. By analyzing information on these women’s personal experiences, career and families, this thesis investigates their status at work and at home, as well as their connections with local politics. The research results suggest that although traces of gender inequality can still be found in these women’s lives, they appear to be actively engaged in the business establishment and operation and gradually casting off the leash of domestic responsibilities. At the same time, these women have developed strong connections with the Party-state, not necessarily in their own right, but largely through their family ties. The research has also highlighted that the varied socio-economic development of each locality has its effects on these women’s development.

The number of women-owned businesses has increased in the last several years. This chapter begins with the theoretical background of women entrepreneurship, its history, and its influencing factors. The rate of women-owned enterprises is lower than men's in most countries. Women-owned enterprises are characterized by their small size and a business segment with less monetary value. Women in developing countries face additional challenges due to limited resources and cultural barriers. Therefore, the discussion follows issues faced by these women. The role of culture and a cross-cultural comparison are presented to gain a thorough understanding. The chapter includes a qualitative study and concludes with a brief outlook.

The number of women-owned businesses has increased in the last several years. This chapter begins with the theoretical background of women entrepreneurship, its history, and its influencing factors. The rate of women-owned enterprises is lower than men's in most countries. Women-owned enterprises are characterized by their small size and a business segment with less monetary value. Women in developing countries face additional challenges due to limited resources and cultural barriers. Therefore, the discussion follows issues faced by these women. The role of culture and a cross-cultural comparison are presented to gain a thorough understanding. The chapter includes a qualitative study and concludes with a brief outlook.

The empowerment of women through quality education and wage employment has added to income generation for them and their families. Some women become entrepreneurs in the absence of meaningful wage employment, or where formal employments are seasonal, erratic, and not able to support the family. In Sub-Saharan Africa, women who are self-employed are growing exponentially. Globally, women-owned enterprises contribute nominally to total business revenues in most economies, suggesting that on average they are smaller in size and have lower market capitalization. Recently, businesses are migrating online, with entrepreneurs leveraging on digital platforms. This chapter investigates how social media can enhance business operations for women-owned firms, thus mitigating a number of these constraints. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 73 respondents; data were analyzed with SPSS (vs. 25). The results showed that some constraints experienced by female entrepreneurs were impacted positively with the use of digital technologies.

Women entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe has undergone a formidable structural transformation since independence (1980) and has significantly contributed towards survival of the economy, especially during the hyperinflationary period which heightened in 2008. What is peculiar about Zimbabwe is that the economy has suffered a protracted deterioration for almost two decades, fitting into the category of a fragile and volatile economy. This coincided with an exponential growth of women-owned enterprises (WOEs) in the informal economy with the wide recognition of the informal economy as the “new” economy supporting the livelihoods of the majority of people. Women entrepreneurs are increasingly becoming active economic agents in this new economy. Unpacking the paradox of a volatile and fragile economy coexisting with the growth of WOEs is critical. Analyzing the survivalist and coping strategies employed by these women in order to sustain and grow their enterprises in such an economic context is critical in order to influence policy direction and development.

While mobile phones are making significant inroads in many developing countries, little is known about the institutional drivers, policy barriers and industry challenges that affect their use for business growth of micro- enterprises. The authors address this gap. After conducting semi-structured interviews of 74 women-owned micro entrepreneurs and ten key informants from the government and industry in Fiji, the authors found that appropriate policy framework, supporting infrastructure and appropriate ecosystem are required for rapid uptake of mobile value added services by women-owned micro entrepreneurs. They contribute by proposing a revised technology adoption framework as well as the four shackles theory of women micro entrepreneurs' empowerment and emancipation. The authors also highlight the policy initiatives necessary to accelerate the growth of women-owned micro enterprises by mobile value added services which could also guide other developing and emerging economies.