FEMININE COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS WITH STAKEHOLDERS INFLUENCE ON ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH IN SMALL BUSINESSES

Gender research suggests that women have unique orientations that result in approaches to organizing that differ from men. Not only does this research inform management scholars about gender differences, it also unveils potentially unique approaches to entrepreneurship in the management literature. In this study, we combine gender research about female entrepreneurs and literature from conflict research to theorize that women have a stronger collaborative network orientation than men, which could influence entrepreneurship and firm growth. Data analyses of small family businesses confirm that a collaborative network orientation is positively associated with female influence, valuing entrepreneurship, and firm growth. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Entrepreneurship is viewed by some as market expansion and growth within networks of relationships. Thus, personal networks are an important resource for entrepreneurs. Gender literature suggests that women tend to organize in cooperative networks which build and sustain relationships. The conflict literature suggests that collaboration is the best approach for both building relationships and achieving goals. Based on these literatures, we theorized the female influence in family businesses would yield the presence of a collaborative network orientation. In turn, the presence of a collaborative network orientation would promote entrepreneurship and firm growth. This study examines data from small family businesses to determine the effect of a collaborative network orientation on firm performance. Data from both female and male business owners were examined. Results of these analyses indicated that female CEOs have a stronger collaborative network orientation than male CEOs. In addition, results indicated that a collaborative network orientation is associated with valuing entrepreneurship and, for male CEOs, with firm growth. Finally, the study indicates that when wives work in their husbands businesses there is an increased preference for a collaborative network orientation. What are the implications of these findings for small business owners? If business owners value entrepreneurial growth, they should also value a collaborative network approach to organizing. A collaborative network orientation is related to both valuing entrepreneurship and to firm growth. In particular, male CEOs benefit from having a collaborative network orientation. Since women prefer a cooperative network orientation more than men, male CEOs should encourage female influence in their firms.