Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender Perspectives of SMEs Networking Activities: Evidence from Slovenia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Entrepreneurship in the Balkans

  • 822 Accesses

Abstract

The basic purpose of the current chapter is to examine one of the most well-known organizational concepts from the end of the 1990s – the concept of networking. In so-called networking economy, each network actor (individual, team, or organization) is embedded in a larger economic web that affects each participant and, in return, is influenced by that participant. By analyzing networking activities between enterprises and organizations (business networking) as well as entrepreneurs’ personal networking (entrepreneurial networking), this study seeks to empirically address the following research question: “How does activity in network relationships differ between male and female entrepreneurs and the companies they are directing?” The gender perspective is important because of the limited understanding of the gendered influences of economic development that entrepreneurship activity undoubtedly has on a society. The analysis is based on a data set and questionnaires with 193 entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized companies in Slovenia. The results revealed interesting findings. It appears that male entrepreneurs have less intensive cooperation with supportive institutions as female entrepreneurs who are largely separating their private life from business. The initial findings represent a signal for the entrepreneurial supportive environment; it should be better adapted to meet the needs of the specific SME segment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahl H (2004) The scientific reproduction of gender inequality: a discourse analysis of research texts on women’s entrepreneurship. Copenhagen Business School Press, Liber

    Google Scholar 

  • Aldrich H, Zimmer C (1986) Entrepreneurship through social networks. In: Sexton D, Smilor RW (eds) The art and science of entrepreneurship. Ballinger Publishing, Cambridge, MA, pp 3–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JC, Håkansson H, Johanson J (1994) Dyadic business relationships within a business network context. J Mark 58(4):1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antončič B (1999) Entrepreneurship networks: a review and future research directions. Slovenska ekonomska revija 50(3):195–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Arena BJ (2004) Creating and managing international alliance relationships. Copyright Blaise Arena [online]. Available at http://www.leadervalues.com/Content/detail.asp?ContentDetailID = 68. Accessed 14 Aug 2008

  • Biggiero L (2001) Self-organising process in building entrepreneurial networks; a theoretical and empirical investigation. Hum Syst Manag 3:209–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Blois KJ (1990) Transaction costs and networks. Strat Manag J 11:493–496

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley PJ (1993) Foreign direct investment by small-and medium-sized enterprises: the theoretical background. In: Buckley PJ, Ghauri PN (eds) The internationalization of the firm: a reader. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Buttner EH, Rosen B (1988) Bank loan officer’s perceptions of the characteristics of men, women and successful entrepreneurs. J Bus Venturing 3(3):249–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caputo RK, Dolinsky A (1998) Women’s choice to pursue self-employment: the role of financial and human capital of household members. J Small Bus Manag 36(3):8–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson D, Cromie S, McGowan P, Hill J (1995) Marketing and Entrepreneurship in SMEs. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs\New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter S, Rosa P (1998) The financing of male- and female-owned businesses. Entrep Reg Dev 10:225–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman S (2000) Access to capital and terms of credit: a comparison of men- and women-owned small businesses. J Small Bus Manag 38(3):37–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Drnovšek M (2002) Merjenje prispevka podjetniških inovacij k rasti v mladih tehnoloških podjetjih, dissertation. Ekonomska fakulteta, Ljubljana

    Google Scholar 

  • Drnovšek M (2007) Teorija podjetništva, PP predstavitev, 23.11.2007 [online]. Available at: miha.ef.uni-lj.si/_dokumenti3plus2/192226/3pred_TPP_23112007-objav.ppt. Accessed 18 Aug 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubini P, Aldrich H (1991) Personal and extended networks are central to the entrepreneurial process. J Bus Venturing 6:305–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford D, Gadde LE, Hakansson H, Snehota I (2002) Managing networks, Australia: 18th IMP-conference in Perth (online). http://www.impgroup.org/uploads/papers/4198.pdf. Accessed 4 Sept 2008

  • Groen AJ (2005) Knowledge intensive entrepreneurship in networks: towards a multi-level/multi dimensional approach. J Enterprising Cult 13(1):69–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulati R (1998) Alliances and networks. Strat Manag J 19:393–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hitt MA, Ireland RD, Camp SM, Sexton LD (2001) Guest editors’ introduction to the special issue strategic entrepreneurship: entrepreneurial strategies for wealth creation. Strat Manag J 22(6/7):479–491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland RD, Hitt MA, Camp M, Sexton DL (2001) Integrating entrepreneurship and strategic management actions to create wealth. Acad Manag Exec 15(1):49–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanchevich JM, Matteson MT (1993) Organizational behavior and management, 3rd edn. Homewood, Irwin

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarillo JC (1990) Comments on transaction costs and networks. Strat Manag J 11:497–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarillo JC (1993) Strategic networks. Creating the borderless organization. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Johanson J, Mattsson L-G (1993) Internationalization in industrial systems – a network approach. Strategies in global competition. In: Buckley PJ, Ghauri PN (eds) The internationalization of the firm: a reader. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen GJ, McMahon RGP (2005) Owner-manager gender, financial performance and business growth amongst SMEs from Australia’s business longitudinal survey. Int Small Bus J 23(2):115–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz JA, Williams PM (1997) Gender, self-employment and weaktie networking through formal organizations. Entrep Reg Dev 9(3):183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley DJ, Brush CG, Greene PG, Litovsky Y (2011) Global entrepreneurship monitor, 2010 women’s report. Babson College, Babson Park and GERA, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley DJ, Singer S, Herrington M (2012) Global entrepreneurship monitor, 2011 global report. Babson College, Universidad del Desarrollo, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak and London Business School

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovač J (1999) Organizacijske strukture v kompleksnem in dinamičnem okolju. In: Kavčič B, Kovač J (eds) Sodobna razlaga organizacije. Moderna organizacija, Kranj, pp 143–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs V (2006) Managing the connected organization [online]. Available at: http://www.leader-values.com/Content/detail.asp?ContentDetailID=913. Accessed 7 Aug 2008

  • Lipnack J, Stamps J (1994) The age of the network: organizing principles for the 21st century. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • McAuley A (1999) Intrepreneurial instant exporters in the Scottisch arts and crafts sector. J Int Mark 7(4):67–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Munih SŠ (2003) Medorganizacijske in medpodjetniške mreže – pregled in smernice za nadaljnje raziskave, master thesis. Ekonomska fakulteta, Ljubljana

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohria N (1992) Is a networking perspective a useful way of studying organisations? In: Nohria N, Eccles RG (eds) Networks and organisations. Harvard Business School Press, Boston, pp 1–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostgaard T, Birley S (1996) New venture growth and personal networks. J Bus Res 36(1):37–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters MP, Brush CG (1996) Market information scanning activities and growth in new ventures: a comparison of service and manufacturing businesses. J Bus Res 36(1):81–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rebernik M, Močnik D, Knez-Riedl J, Tominc P, Širec K, Rus M, Krošlin T, Dajčman S (2004) Slovenian entrepreneurship observatory 2003. Faculty of Economics and Business, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, Maribor

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebernik M, Tominc P, Crnogaj K (2012) GEM Slovenija 2011: Usihanje podjetništva v Sloveniji. Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta, IPMMP, Maribor

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds P, Bygrave W, Autio E, Cox L, Hay M (2002) Global entrepreneurship monitor, 2002 executive report. Babson College, London Business School, E.M. Kauffman Foundation

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter FJ (2000) Strategic networks. International Business Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruminska-Zimny E (2003) Women’s entrepreneurship and labour market trends in transition countries. In: UNECE (ed) Women’s entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe and CIS countries. United Nations, Geneva, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruzzier M (2004) The internationalization of small and medium enterprises: the influence of the entrepreneur's human and social capital on the degree of internationalization. Dissertation, Ekonomska fakulteta, Ljubljana

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruzzier M, Konečnik M (2007) Internacionalizacija malih in srednjih podjetij: integrativni konceptualni model. Organizacija 40(1):42–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RP, Hills GE, Hybels RC, Lumpkin GT (1999) Opportunity recognition through social networks of entrepreneurs. In: Frontiers of entrepreneurship research. Babson College, Wellesley, pp 228–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Solymossy E (1998) Entrepreneurial dimensions: the relationaship of individual, venture, and environmental factors to success. Dissertation, Department of Marketing and Policy, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

    Google Scholar 

  • Standke LJ, Stell C (2000) Network connections. Legal Assitant Today 17(5):64–69, May/June 2000

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (2011) Statistical yearbook of the Republic of Slovenia, 2011. Statistical office of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JL (1999) The world of the entrepreneur – a new perspective. J Workplace Learn Employee Couns Today 11(6):209–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valkokari K, Helander N (2007) Knowledge management in different types of strategic SME networks. Manag Res News 30(8):597–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerer TW, Scarborough NM (2005) Essentials of entrepreneurship and small business management. Person Education/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia

    Karin Širec & Katja Crnogaj

Authors
  1. Karin Širec
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Katja Crnogaj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karin Širec .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. South-East European University, Ilindenska nn, Tetovo, 1200, Macedonia

    Veland Ramadani

  2. , The College at Brockport, State University of New York, New Campus Drive 350, Brockport, 14420, New York, USA

    Robert C. Schneider

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Širec, K., Crnogaj, K. (2013). Gender Perspectives of SMEs Networking Activities: Evidence from Slovenia. In: Ramadani, V., Schneider, R. (eds) Entrepreneurship in the Balkans. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36577-5_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation