Purpose This paper aims at contributing to the entrepreneurship literature by identifying factors influencing women entrepreneurs’ performance and the corresponding challenges in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The study also examines the opportunity recognition as a mediator between influencing factors and performance of women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach The study proposes a model that shows the effects of different internal and external factors on women entrepreneurs’ performance. Findings The paper demonstrates several challenges that are encountered by women entrepreneurs such as lack of access to financial resources, difficulty in finding qualified labors, work-home conflict and low profit. The results suggest that the most influencing factor is industry (SMEs) characteristics followed by entrepreneurial goals and motivations, and legal factors. Additionally, opportunity recognition is found to mediate entrepreneurial goals and motivations, and industry characteristics. Research limitations/implications As the study is conducted in Bahrain, it may lack generalization. In future research, it is advisable to expand study factors, use interviews as a research tool and make comparison between women and men entrepreneurial performances. Practical implications The paper can help increase women entrepreneurs’ performance and enable them to make use of the business environment in a more efficient and effective way. Originality/value Although several papers already exist that discuss issues on women entrepreneurs, there has been little research focusing on factors influencing and challenges facing women entrepreneurs, particularly in the Middle East. Our study explores important issues and calls for more research in this domain.

As the world grows and develops, people become more aware of business operational processes that are extremely harmful to our environment. Recently, customers’ demands, and governmental legislations have forced domestic and global organizations to implement environmentally sustainable practices in order to cure what has been damaged in the previous decades. This study focuses on the impact of green supply chain management practices on firm’s performance. These practices are green purchasing, green packaging, green manufacturing, green design and green marketing. A questionnaire was circulated among two companies of two industries: shipping and automobile. 80 managers and supervisors were targeted; 59 responses were received indicating a response rate of (74%). For testing, regression analysis and T-test were used. From the analysis, it was found that most of green practices influence firm’s performance with green manufacturing the most adopted practice that shapes the industries, followed by green marketing and green purchasing. On the other hand, little impact was found in green packaging and negative impact of green design on firm’s performance. Overall, the study indicates that the tested sample is moving towards the green concept but still it is in its first stages and needs more efforts and support from firms, suppliers and customers.

Purpose: This paper aims to contribute to the business literature by identifying challenges that hinder Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to go global.Design/methodology/approach: This study presents a model that shows the effect of different factors on globalisation of SMEs. Findings:The paper demonstrates several challenges facing SMEs to go global such as lack of technology and information, cultural and social differences, regulations and legal environment and marketing products internationally.Research limitations/Implications: There are areas which need more investigation such as expansion in study factors, using larger sample and conducting in-depth research interviews.

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