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In recent years the number of women-owned firms with employees has expanded at three times the rate of all employer firms. Yet women remain underrepresented in their proportion of high-growth firms. A number of plausible explanations exist. To develop richer insights, a two-stage research project was undertaken. A mail survey was sent to a sample of female entrepreneurs to assess motives, obstacles, goals and aspirations, needs, and business identity. Based on the survey results, follow-up, indepth interviews were conducted with entrepreneurs, selecting equally from modestgrowth and high-growth ventures. In terms of quantitative findings, growth orientation was associated with whether a woman was "pushed" or "pulled" into entrepreneurship, was motivated by wealth or achievement factors, had a strong women's identity in the venture, had equity partners, and believed women faced unique selling obstacles. The qualitative research made clear that modest-and highgrowth entrepreneurs differ in how they view themselves, their families, their ventures, and the larger environment. The results of both stages suggest that growth is a deliberate choice and that women have a clear sense of the costs and benefits of growth and make careful trade-off decisions.

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The potential role of entrepreneurship In public sector organizations Is explored. Entrepreneurship Is conceptualized as a manageable process with underlying dimensions of Innovatlveness, risk-taking, and proactlveness. Unique characteristics of the public sector environment are examined, and a number of core principles and concepts from entrepreneurship are applied. Arguments against the application of these concepts are addressed. Results are reported of a survey of 152 public sector managers In South Africa. The findings suggest that these managers find entrepreneurship to be a salient concept for their organizations, and that the key obstacles to Its Implementation are very similar to those reported by corporate managers. Implications are drawn for theory and practice, and a number of suggestions are made for further research.