Entrepreneurship and technological innovation: The micro-entrepreneur in Mexico

Abstract

<p>Entrepreneurship has gained importance in the field of research due to its ability to dynamize the economy. Knowing how technological expertise and access to financing influence business performance will enable micro-entrepreneurs to make decisions about technological training strategies within their company. Therefore, the aim of this investigation is to analyse and identify the influence between the Technological Training of Human Resources and awareness on the use of ICTs in business management on an ICT development level and access to finance, by micro-entrepreneurs of Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. The methodology is quantitative and transversal, with data collection taking place between 2016-2017 and the informants being the owners or partners of micro businesses located in the municipality of Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. Obtaining from a population of 24100 economic units according to the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units of INEGI, establishing a sample of 379 companies with a confidence level of 95% and 5% sample error, via simple random sampling. The share corresponds to 21.11% of the total sample, and it is a representative sample as entrepreneurs have low participation due to the insecurity in the region. A model based on quantitative indicators which have an influence on business performance of Mexican micro-entrepreneurs is proposed. Nine indicators are taken into consideration; three from the Business Performance variable: 1) Customer Retention, 2) Asset yield, 3) Return on equity, and five from the Technological Expertise of Micro-Enterprises: 4) Technological Preparation of Human Resources, 5) ICT access, 6) awareness of the use of ICTs, 7) Use of ICT in the administration of the company, 8) Level of ICT development, and one from access to financing 9) Financing for technological preparation of the company. Concluding that while micro-entrepreneurs are aware of the importance of ICTs in their businesses, Celaya's micro-enterprises have a low level of technological expertise.</p>