Entrepreneurial orientation and performance – are sexes equal?

Abstract

The main objective of this contribution is to shed light on the different perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of females compared to those of their male counterparts. EO and its links to performance are examined at the level of both the individual and the firm. Design/methodology/approach-Multiple linear regression analyses of a dataset with 301 employees in different industries reveal significant differences between genders. Findings-EO has a positive impact on performance at both individual and firm levels of analysis. Females tend to perceive their individual EO as lower than males, but their selfevaluated work performance is higher than that of males. The firm's EO is also perceived differently by men and by women, but the perceptions of firm's performance are similar. Research limitations/implications-The results draw attention to the differences between individuals when they evaluate firm-level constructs like EO. While our sample is based on a small number of firms, our findings suggest that EO is neither pervasive throughout the firm nor gender-neutral. Practical implications-The different gender-related perceptions should be kept in mind when promoting entrepreneurially oriented behaviour within organizations. A strong focus on EO in entrepreneurship policy or education may discourage women. Originality/value-So far, multi-level organizational interrelationships have been substantially neglected with respect to the gender dimension.

Analyzing entrepreneurial orientation impact on start-up success with support service as moderator: A PLS-SEM approach

“…Entrepreneurial Orientation was used as a proxy to represent Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and are measured using 13 items (Fellnhofer, Puumalainen, & Sjogren, 2016), while Support Service was measured using seven items for TRS, five items for MRS, nine items for FRS, and 11 items for SRS (Knockaert, Vandenbroucke & Huyghe, 2012). The components of Start-up Success were measured using 18 items adapted from a study by Zhou and de Wit (2009).…”

Can role models boost entrepreneurial attitudes?

“…Based on the past results of Brush (1992), it was expected that males would tend to be more entrepreneurial. Gender matters when it comes to entrepreneurial initiatives (Fellnhofer et al, 2016). Nationality also represented a controlling variable assuming that the effects in countries in crisis (e.g.…”

A gender analysis of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and performance: the case of Tunisian women entrepreneurs

“…During these last few years of research dedicated to EO, women gain the center of interest (Fellnhofer et al 2016;Ndubisi, Agarwal 2014; have paid attention to the concept of OE and its relationship with performance without analyzing the mediating role of gender in this relationship. Johnson and Powell (1994) underline the significance of differences between male and female entrepreneurial behavior and their impacts on the success of businesses because of their EO in decision contexts.…”