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Gender differences within early stage and established small enterprises: An exploratory study

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Abstract

This paper examines 2 years of data from GEM Canada in order to develop new insights into the factors that contribute to the performance outcomes of female enterprises and how these factors are affected by the firm’s stage of development. The analysis encompasses both personal and organizational characteristics and assesses their association with selected performance measures at the early stage as well as at the established phase of development. The findings indicate that the greater propensity of men to pursue business growth and earnings can be attributed to marital status (live with a partner) and the expected depth of the ownership team. Moreover, the performance outcomes for male entrepreneurs are influenced by a relatively wide range of variables, with business demographics being more prominent than for the female enterprises. For both genders, the mix of relevant underlying factors varies as the venture progresses along the ‘nascent-new-established’ continuum.

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Acknowledgements

The researchers are indebted to CGA Canada for its funding support and also gratefully acknowledge the research assistance of Nathaly Riverin (GEM Canada).

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  1. Faculty of Management, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, P3E 2C6

    Yves Robichaud, J. Terence Zinger & Rolland LeBrasseur

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  1. Yves Robichaud
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  2. J. Terence Zinger
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  3. Rolland LeBrasseur
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Correspondence to J. Terence Zinger.

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Robichaud, Y., Zinger, J.T. & LeBrasseur, R. Gender differences within early stage and established small enterprises: An exploratory study. Int Entrep Manag J 3, 323–343 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-007-0039-y

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