Key innovation abilities on capability and the performance of women entrepreneurs: the role of entrepreneurial education and proactive personality

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to ascertain the influence of innovation conviction, innovation mindset and innovation creed on the performance of women entrepreneurs in South African small and medium enterprises and their capacity for innovation. The study also examined how proactive personality and entrepreneurial education moderate the relationship between innovative capability and women entrepreneurs' performance.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a quantitative research design and administered a questionnaire to collect data from participants. Since there was no sampling frame available, purposive sampling, a non-probability sampling technique, was used to select suitable respondents who were identified as entrepreneurial women. Data were collected from 304 women entrepreneurs in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data were analyzed using smart partial least squares.FindingsThe findings demonstrated that innovation conviction, innovation mindset and innovation creed have a positive impact on innovation capability. It was also discovered that innovation capability, proactive personality and entrepreneurial education all positively and significantly impact women entrepreneurs' performance. Furthermore, the results showed that entrepreneurial education and proactive personality had a positive and significant moderating effect on the nexus between innovation capability and the performance of women entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis study will add to the body of knowledge on women's small business management and entrepreneurship in Africa, two topics that are typically ignored by academics in developing nations.

Inovação Como Vantagem Competitiva Em Escritórios De Contabilidade Liderados Por Mulheres

“…A busca pela criação de índices de inovação para analisar empresas requer uma seleção e avaliação adequadas de indicadores com o propósito de descrever a técnica de inovação, uma vez que possibilitam captar aspectos relevantes desse processo (Costa Cavalcante, 2024;Maziriri et al, 2023).…”

Performance of Female Entrepreneurs: An Organized Assessment of the Literature Addressing the Factors Affecting Bangladeshi Women Entrepreneurs' Performance

“…Due to things like sociocultural hurdles, discriminatory lending practices, and a lack of collateral, women frequently encounter difficulties when trying to get loans or investments. The performance of female entrepreneurs can be improved by providing them with access to microfinance and other financial services (Maziriri, Nyagadza, & Chuchu, 2023).…”

Increasing Student Proactivity Through Entrepreneurship Education (A Studi Systematic Literature Review)

“…Proactivity leads to entrepreneurial intentions to start a new business for students who do not yet have a business and encouragement for students who have started a business (Maziriri, 2023). A proactive attitude is important for students to have an awareness of opportunities and threats to the business.…”

“…Of the 7 articles that are relevant to the research objectives, 2 articles have relevant objectives to this research, namely , and (Eugine, 2023). The 2 articles discuss the role of proactivity in increasing entrepreneurship.…”

“…They have an attraction for customers to buy products and services. One article, namely (Eugine, 2023) found that proactivity encourages students to have an innovative mindset and ability to develop business. Innovation is a skill that needs to be developed by students in modifying and adapting businesses following the times.…”