Factors influencing the business growth of women-owned sewing businesses (WOSBs) in Lagos-State, Nigeria: a gender-aware growth framework.

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Ogundana, O. ORCID: 0000-0002-0121-7231, 2020. Factors influencing the business growth of women-owned sewing businesses (WOSBs) in Lagos-State, Nigeria: a gender-aware growth framework. PhD, Nottingham Trent University.

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to introduce a new comprehensive gender-aware growth framework. To do that, this study: (I) provides in-depth insights into women’s perception of growth; (II) evaluated and modified Brush et al.’s gender-aware conceptual model, which is a framework developed for the study of women-owned firms in the USA. By doing that, this study offered a new gender-aware growth framework which scholars acknowledged is lacking in the field of gender and entrepreneurship.

The objectives of this study were addressed using a qualitative research design that involved the interview of 35 women entrepreneurs, who operated sewing businesses, and other key stakeholders. NVivo is utilised for coding significant statements which were presented using textural and structural descriptions of the way that women perceive growth; and their experiences of utilising the 6Ms (money, management, market, motherhood, meso-environment and macro-environment) within their enterprises.

The finding indicated that women entrepreneurs primarily associated growth with the change in their clientele. Growth was also perceived using other inconsequential growth descriptors (i.e. increase in assets) that reflected the business challenge that women currently face. Contrary to Brush et al., the findings showed that the 6Ms were categorised as direct and indirect determinants of growth. The direct elements (i.e. money, management and market) strongly supported their venture growth when their usage aligns with the way women perceived growth. The indirect determinants (motherhood, meso-environment and macro-environment) improved women’s access to the direct determinants; while their macro-environment and motherhood respectively inhibited women’s access and the utilisation of the direct growth determinants.

The new gender-aware growth model enriches the limited knowledge about women entrepreneurs, their entrepreneurial and growth activities within the developing economies. That contribution to knowledge will enable policymakers to develop effective support mechanisms that can assist women-owned businesses to grow. The new model also provides women entrepreneurs with useful information that will enable them to develop valuable growth strategies. With regards to theory, the new model advances Brush et al.'s theoretical framework as a practical tool that can be used to enhance understanding on women entrepreneurship in emerging economies. Its contextualised constructs form a broad base whose interpretations and interrelationships are useful for scholars in terms of understanding that women entrepreneurship is subjected to social, spatial and institutional contexts.

Item Type:	Thesis
Creators:	Ogundana, O.
Date:	2020
Rights:	This is to certify that this thesis has not been submitted in part or whole as paperwork for an academic award at any other university or institution of learning. I also declare that the study was carried out in accordance with the regulations of Nottingham Trent University. The results and conclusions embodied in this thesis are the work of the named candidate. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, personal and non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained in this document should be fully referenced.
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by:	Jeremy Silvester
Date Added:	18 Sep 2020 10:55
Last Modified:	31 May 2021 15:16
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/40806