An Empirical Study of Success Factors of Women Entrepreneurs in Southern Region in Malaysia

This study investigates the key factors affecting success of women entrepreneurs in Southern region in Malaysia. Data was collected using a self administered questionnaire that was distributed through mail survey. Multiple regression analysis was used as a more suitable methodology to identify the important determinants of success of women entrepreneurs. The results suggest that family support, social ties and internal motivation affect positively and significantly to the success of women entrepreneurs in the small business. The survey result also shows that women entrepreneurs having problem when they enter into the business. The implications of this study are discussed along with some recommendations.

[1]  E. W. Nafziger.  The Effect of the Nigerian Extended Family on Entrepreneurial Activity , 1969, Economic Development and Cultural Change.

[2]  Don R Scott,et al.  Why women enter into entrepreneurship: an explanatory model , 2001 .

[3]  S. Dhaliwal.  Silent contributors: Asian female entrepreneurs and women in business , 1998 .

[4]  A. Shapero.  The Displaced, Uncomfortable Entrepreneur , 1975 .

[5]  Yue Wah Chay,et al.  Social support, individual differences and well-being: A study of small business entrepreneurs and employees. , 1993 .

[6]  M. Lerner,et al.  Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research , 2003 .

[7]  Erik R. Pages.  The Changing Demography of Entrepreneurship , 2005 .

[8]  A. Kara,et al.  An exploratory study of characteristics and attributes of Turkish entrepreneurs: A cross-country comparison to Irish entrepreneurs , 2007 .

[9]  S. Dhaliwal.  Entrepreneurship – a learning process: the experiences of Asian female entrepreneurs and women in business , 2000 .

[10]  Carolyn Y. Woo,et al.  Entrepreneurship and the initial size of firms , 1989 .

[11]  M. J. Norušis,et al.  SPSS professional statistics 6.1 , 1994 .

[12]  Lisa K. Gundry,et al.  CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A REVIEW AND STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS , 2002 .

[13]  Jean Lee,et al.  The motivation of women entrepreneurs in Singapore , 1996 .

[14]  S. Birley,et al.  Growth and performance contrasts between ‘types’ of small firms , 1990 .

[15]  Major R. H. Bright p.a.c.,et al.  Women in Industry , 1942 .

[16]  J. P. Fernandez.  Racism and sexism in corporate life , 1981 .

[17]  Jon Hartwick,et al.  The Impact of Automated Office Systems on Middle Managers and Their Work , 1987, MIS Q..

[18]  Akiko Kamogawa.  Higher Education Reform: Challenges towards a Knowledge Society in Malaysia , 2004, Cyberspace, Distance Learning, and Higher Education in Developing Countries.

[19]  Cengiz Kahraman,et al.  Malaysian women entrepreneurs: understanding the ICT usage behaviors and drivers , 2005, J. Enterp. Inf. Manag..

[20]  Katerina Sarri,et al.  Female entrepreneurs' personal characteristics and motivation: a review of the Greek situation , 2005 .

[21]  Vary T. Coates,et al.  OFFICE AUTOMATION: PRODUCTIVITY, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL IMPACTS , 1988 .

[22]  Raymond W. Smilor,et al.  The Art and Science of Entrepreneurship , 1986 .

[23]  C. Brindley.  Barriers to women achieving their entrepreneurial potential: Women and risk , 2005 .

[24]  S. S. Alam,et al.  ICT Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises: an Empirical Evidence of Service Sectors in Malaysia , 2009 .

[25]  P. Ibbotson,et al.  Following the pathway of female entrepreneurs: A six‐country investigation , 2005 .

[26]  A. Harley.  Women Hold Up Half the Sky , 1974 .

[27]  Steven B. Moser,et al.  A Longitudinal Investigation of the Impact of Family Background and Gender on Interest in Small Firm Ownership , 1996 .

[28]  C. Rogers,et al.  A Way of Being , 1967 .

[29]  Attahir Yusuf,et al.  Critical Success Factors for Small Business: Perceptions of South Pacific Entrepreneurs , 1995 .

[30]  B. Ehigie,et al.  Psychological Factors Influencing Perceived Entrepreneurial Success among Nigerian Women in Small-Scale Businesses , 2003 .

[31]  S. Fielden,et al.  Entrepreneurship and social inclusion , 2004 .

[32]  Mark S. Granovetter.  Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness , 1985, American Journal of Sociology.

[33]  R. Chaganti,et al.  Management in Women-Owned Enterprises , 1986 .

[34]  Y. Gasse,et al.  Examining Venture-Related Myths Concerning Women Entrepreneurs , 2004 .

[35]  C. S. Ling,et al.  Work‐family conflict of women entrepreneurs in Singapore , 2001 .

[36]  J. Yanagida,et al.  Factors Associated with Business and Family Success: A Comparison of Single Manager and Dual Manager Family Business Households , 2001 .

[37]  Women hold up half the sky. , 2009, International nursing review.

[38]  Afzalur Rahim,et al.  Stress, Strain, and Their Moderators: An Empirical Comparison of Entrepreneurs and Managers , 1996 .

[39]  Stephanie Riger,et al.  Measuring Perceptions Of The Working Environment For Women In Corporate Settings , 1995 .

[40]  Richard I. Hartman,et al.  Work-Home Role Conflict in Female Owners of Small Businesses: An Exploratory Study , 1990 .

[41]  L. Macassey.  Women in Industry , 1957, Nature.

[42]  Dorothy P. Moore,et al.  Women's Organizational Exodus to Entrepreneurship: Self-Reported Motivations and Correlates with Success , 1997 .

[43]  Heinz Klandt,et al.  Entrepreneurship and Business Development , 2019, The PR Agency Handbook.

[44]  Nan Lin,et al.  SOCIAL NETWORKS AND STATUS ATTAINMENT , 1999 .

[45]  Mary A. Littrell,et al.  Craft Retailers’ Criteria for Success and Associated Business Strategies , 2002 .

[46]  J. Winn,et al.  Women Entrepreneurs: Can We Remove the Barriers? , 2005 .

[47]  S. Shane,et al.  An exploratory examination of the reasons leading to new firm formation across country and gender , 1991 .

[48]  Howard E. Aldrich,et al.  Entrepreneurship Through Social Networks , 1986 .

[49]  Lynn M. Martin,et al.  No gender in cyberspace?: Empowering entrepreneurship and innovation in female‐run ICT small firms , 2005 .

[50]  Thaddeus McEwen,et al.  Competencies Needed for Small Business Success: Perceptions of Jamaican Entrepreneurs , 1991 .

[51]  Kamal Naser,et al.  Factors that affect women entrepreneurs: evidence from an emerging economy , 2009 .