From Attention to Action: Entrepreneurial Networks and Performance of Women-Owned Enterprises: A Theoretical Review
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Date
2020
Authors
Wambui, Rachael
Muathe, Stephen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IJBM
Abstract
In the contemporary business context, the firm’s attractiveness and growth potential are demonstrated by its
performance among other factors. Research has shown that women owned enterprises that utilize networking
avenues to advance their businesses results in significant firm performance. Thus the objectives for the study
were to discuss the key constructs of entrepreneurial networking and performance of women owned enterprises,
to review theories that link entrepreneurial networking and performance, to recommend a conceptual framework
that guides future studies on the highlighted knowledge gaps, and to recommend a methodological framework
for future study. The study was anchored on Resource Based View, Dynamic Capability Theory, Social Capital,
and Structural hole theory. The study was a desktop review of global theories related to entrepreneurial
networking and performance in of women owned enterprises. Further, the empirical review was based on
cross-sectional studies that explored entrepreneurial networking and performance of women owned enterprises.
The studies reviewed were mainly conducted in the last ten years in developing nations in Africa and other parts
of the world. The limitation of this study is that it only provides secondary data on existing studies on
entrepreneurial networking and the performance of women owned enterprises. The findings indicated that these
studies were convergent on the direct relationship between entrepreneurial networks and performance. A
conceptual gap identified was the lack of moderating and mediating variables. The study recommended that
future studies should incorporate, dynamic capabilities as a mediating variable and the business operating
environment as moderating variable. Such studies should adopt explanatory non-experimental and descriptive
research designs in collecting primary data which is crucial for filling the knowledge gaps identified in this study.
Finally, a constructionist approach is proposed since the study seeks to add knowledge in the women
entrepreneurship realm
Description
Article
Keywords
business operating environment, dynamic capabilities, entrepreneurial networks, firm performance, resource based view, women owned enterprises
Citation
Wambui, R., & Muathe, S. (2021). From Attention to Action: Entrepreneurial Networks and Performance of Women-Owned Enterprises: A Theoretical Review. International Journal of Business and Management, 16(2).