A Qualitative Study on Environmental Factors Affecting Iranian Women Entrepreneurs’ Growth Orientation

Abstract

Despite the impressive growth in the number of firms run by women entrepreneurs, most of these businesses continue to remain small and women-owned firms have not grown as fast as male entrepreneurs. There are many reasons that may help explain the growth limitations in women-owned firms. Among all, growth orientation is an important factor. A common finding in entrepreneurship literature shows that ventures owned by women tend to be smaller than those by men are. This difference can be due to individual, organizational and environmental factors.Since half of Iran's population is women who are more willing to have higher education and contribution in the society, they deal with more challenges rather than their male counterparts. So attention to the factors affecting growth orientation of their ventures is the same as deliberate economic development and national income. This is a qualitative study to identify environmental factors affecting growth orientation of women entrepreneurs. Data analysis of 10 semi-structured interviews on a sample of women entrepreneurs indicated environmental factors in three groups of "economic", "socio-cultural" and "legal" factors.

Exploring SMEs growth in the greater Banjul area of The Gambia

“…Failure is defined as being "deficient" or to be insufficient (Aryeetey, 2015). Generally, various terms connected to business failure, include terms such as firm closure, entrepreneurial exit, dissolution, discontinuance, insolvency, organizational mortality, and bankruptcy (Arasti et al, 2012a). The approach and the feeling towards failure are grounded in culture.…”

“…A business may "disappear" because it failed or because of acquisition or merger of the business with another company, or failure may stem from a voluntary shut down (Arasti, et al, 2012a). On the other hand, the term "exit" may imply business withdrawal from trading in a particular market, ceased the production of a particular product, and failure may infer the ending of a business owner's involvement in the business (Arasti et al, 2012a).…”

“…A business may "disappear" because it failed or because of acquisition or merger of the business with another company, or failure may stem from a voluntary shut down (Arasti, et al, 2012a). On the other hand, the term "exit" may imply business withdrawal from trading in a particular market, ceased the production of a particular product, and failure may infer the ending of a business owner's involvement in the business (Arasti et al, 2012a). In addition; Arasti et al (2012a) suggested that a business failure may be well-defined as a need or want to liquidate or sell a business to prevent losses or pay off creditors, or generally failing to make a profit.…”

“…On the other hand, the term "exit" may imply business withdrawal from trading in a particular market, ceased the production of a particular product, and failure may infer the ending of a business owner's involvement in the business (Arasti et al, 2012a). In addition; Arasti et al (2012a) suggested that a business failure may be well-defined as a need or want to liquidate or sell a business to prevent losses or pay off creditors, or generally failing to make a profit. Watson and Everett (1996) found that earlier investigators failed to separate business closure from business failure.…”

“…Omri and Frikha (2011) emphasized the importance of the attributes of human and social resources such as education, experience, knowledge and skills, social networks, and family, as critical resources for successful individual businesses. Arasti et al (2012a) wrote that human resources among other resources are paramount for the sustainable development of small businesses. Mano et al (2012) suggested acquiring basic level management training could improve business practices and performances.…”