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This research attempts at determining entrepreneurial orientations of women entrepreneurs, founders of new businesses – ne necessit cessity/oppor y/opportuni tunity ty orient ientati ation on and their impact on business success Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Research shows that: • Women founders are key contributors to economic growth in most countries (Allen, Elam, Langowitz, & Dean, 2007; Fischer, Reuber, & Dyke, 1993) • Women are still placed at a disadvantage in the entrepreneurial market • Women manage smaller businesses than men, they are less likely to have employees, and their businesses grow more slowly and to a lower level. Women businesses have lower levels of capitalization in their firms and lower annual revenues Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Why? Women-related hindrances: *Markets that are more hostile to women than to men *Difficult to penetrate the market *Difficulties in financing the business *Barriers in establishing networks with higher potential benefits for their business (Kolvereid, Shane, & Westhead, 1993) Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Research has revealed a discrepancy between the genders in their orientations towards entrepreneurship — necessity and opportunity (Hughes, 2003; Reynolds, Camp, Bygrave, Autio, & Hay, 2002; Shane, 1992, 1993; Shane, Venkataraman, & MacMillan, 1995). Also, studies have revealed connections between a necessity-driven orientation to entrepreneurship and lower levels of business success, and an opportunity-driven orientation stimulating higher levels of business success (Hinz & Jungbauer-Gans, 1999; Parker, 2004; Pfeiffer & Reize, 2000). Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
What are opportunity and necessity orientations? Opportunity entrepreneurs - start a business because they are motivated or enthused to launch a venture and foresee the benefits of entrepreneurship in terms of personal and economic independence. They still have other employment alternatives, some being less risky or more stable than entrepreneurship Necessity entrepreneurship typifies individuals who embark upon entrepreneurship out of limited or no suitable alternatives in the labor market. Necessity entrepreneurs have limited or no job opportunities, or are experiencing unsatisfactory or severe job conditions in their current job (Allen et al., 2007; Brush, Carter, Gatewood, Greene, & Hart, 2006a,b; Langowitz & Allen, 2006; Reynolds et al., 2004). Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
We suggest that women and men’s differences in business’ success is the result of differences in men and women's orientations towards entrepreneurship Research findings on the 'distribution' of the genders across necessity/opportunity orientations are scarce and inconsistent. Also, they were country-based. Therefore we compared between countries. Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
To determine necessity orientation , we used factors of the respondents' prior jobs — considered push factors which, though ranked low, represented the respondents' low satisfaction with job conditions, a dissatisfaction that might push them into entrepreneurship. To determine opportunity orientation , we used factors of the entrepreneurial business or path (e.g., providing independence, work-life balance, etc.) — considered pull factors and which, while ranked high, suggested that the respondents perceive entrepreneurship as improving their lives, potentially attracting them to entrepreneurship Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
We suggested the following model: Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Sample and results: Descriptives: Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Gender differences in necessity- opportunity orientations: T-test results Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
These results suggest that: CANADIANS Women and men entrepreneurs - are not differentiated by their opportunity orientation They are differentiated by their necessity orientation. Women that were less satisfied with their rewards in the previous job – tend to start a new business Men- that were less satisfied with the social aspect (nice people) and with family loads (work-life balance) – tend to start new businesses NON CANADIANS Women and men entrepreneurs - are differentiated by their opportunity orientation Women that were satisfied with the match of their skills in previous job – – tend to start a new business Men- that were satisfied with self-fulfillment (making a difference; involved in different business) -tend to start new businesses They are differentiated by their necessity orientation. Women that were less satisfied with promotion, rewards and appreciation in the previous job and faced long unemployment – tend to start a new business Men- that were less satisfied with future career avenues in their prior job – tend to start new businesses Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
ZOOM IN: Women entrepreneurs’ perspective Impact of necessity/opportunity orientations on expectations of business success Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Regression results – for opportunity-orientation – Women entrepreneurs Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
Women interviewees quotes: “I see great opportunity is having my own business. I can be independent…the sky is the limit. I am creating my exclusive designs, my clients love it. I am well paid, everybody appreciates my work …” (Maribor, Slovenia; started a business as home designer) “I have never been happy in any job I was employed. I was professional, devoted and committed but my boss (a woman) and my colleagues did not see it. When I started my own business people kept ‘warning’ me that I take an irrational risk; that I have children, and I put everybody in risk. See how successful I am now? “(Zagreb, Croatia; started a plant nursery) “I was always very interested in Green and ecological topics. I invented many procedures to protect the ozone, save water consumption, etc. I am thrilled by what I do. It is amazing!!! I actually save the world!” (Montreal, Canada; promoting the Green movement) “I turned my hobby into my own business. I love animal; as a Kibbutz member I grew with animals. This is my passion. I developed with a hi=tech, global company a device that monitors the food capacity of cattle. We sell it all over the world. We keep developing interesting devices. It is much more fulfilling than any other job I have ever done” Mismar Ha’emek (Kibbutz), Israel; started a startup in animal monitoring equipment) Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
What do our results tell us? Expectations of business success is not significantly depended on Gender. Contradicting previous findings, thus contributing to research in this area Women and men founders are differentiated by necessity-opportunity orientations, in line with research. BUT…. BUT….not at the same directions as reported in research. Women are not automatically more necessity-oriented and men opportunity-oriented. By splitting Necessity and Opportunity orientations to different variables, we could decode those components that differentiate between the genders . Canadian women founders are more affected by opportunity orientations in anticipating their new business success (comparatively to non-Canadians); contradicting findings on WF orientations Canadian culture, support- and facilitation- systems are known as more supportive for women entrepreneurs; thus should be adopted in other countries as well Implications: Our results can lead to construct empowering programs for WF at the educational system, academia, workplaces, corporate, governmental support, private centers/hubs devoted for women….. Do not copy or quote without author’s permission
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