Characteristics of women entepreneurs : A case study in Kokkola, Finland
Rimpioja, Eija (2011)
2011
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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023102327827
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023102327827
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this thesis is to study five female business owners in Kokko la, Finland in order to uncover differences and similarities in their personal characteristics and initial motivations for starting a business, and to look at their business success from their own perspectives. Thematic interviews were conducted with five different types of female business owners to gather empirical data.
The results show that the initial motivations for starting the businesses varied from the freedom of deciding about things to the desire to provide customer satisfaction and these motivations were consistent with the previous research findings on women entrepreneurs and their motivations. As to specific personality traits, the study found some similarities but also many differences. As to the key factors of perceptions on business success, it was found that the interviewees emphasized quality of life more than financial or other concrete measures of success. The recent recession was not found to play the most significant role as an external factor in these cases.
For policy makers, the study offers insight into the factors that motivate women to start small businesses and the study can thus contribute to devising policies that might support female business owners. New entrepreneurs have played a crucial role in rebuilding the Finnish economy after the recession in 1990. There is a need for new entrepreneurs after the 2008 recession as well as with the retiring baby boomer business owners. A better understanding of the determinants of success and failure in new small businesses and the motivations of the new entrepreneurs may give valuable insights into the support needs of these individuals and their efforts.
The results show that the initial motivations for starting the businesses varied from the freedom of deciding about things to the desire to provide customer satisfaction and these motivations were consistent with the previous research findings on women entrepreneurs and their motivations. As to specific personality traits, the study found some similarities but also many differences. As to the key factors of perceptions on business success, it was found that the interviewees emphasized quality of life more than financial or other concrete measures of success. The recent recession was not found to play the most significant role as an external factor in these cases.
For policy makers, the study offers insight into the factors that motivate women to start small businesses and the study can thus contribute to devising policies that might support female business owners. New entrepreneurs have played a crucial role in rebuilding the Finnish economy after the recession in 1990. There is a need for new entrepreneurs after the 2008 recession as well as with the retiring baby boomer business owners. A better understanding of the determinants of success and failure in new small businesses and the motivations of the new entrepreneurs may give valuable insights into the support needs of these individuals and their efforts.