Firm growth by women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises in a developing economy setting
- Authors: Jomaraty, Mosfeka
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The growth experiences of women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of a developing economy are examined through the lens of pragmatism. This approach views a businesswoman’s ‘belief’, ‘habit’ and ‘doubt’ as critical for researching gender related issues in entrepreneurship. This study explains the growth aspects of women-owned manufacturing and services SMEs of Bangladesh with the aim of addressing two neglected research issues. One is the scarcity of studies on growth oriented women entrepreneurs in developing countries. The other is the lack of focus on very successful high-growth women-owned firms in the context of a strong male-dominated economy. This study adopts a framework developed out of the Diana International Project to evaluate the factors influencing the growth of these successful, growing, Bangladeshi women-owned businesses. In order to evaluate the growth process itself, this framework was then modified with growth resources and actions as explained by Edith Penrose in her 1959 seminal book The Theory of Growth of the Firm. This allows for the investigation of the effects of managerial and entrepreneurial abilities in growth, and the identification of how firms achieve growth. A multiple-case design is adopted, covering sixteen successful growth-oriented firms in the manufacturing and services sector. SMEs were studied as the basis for firm growth from initial venture creation, while the sector concentration on manufacturing and services reflects the urban nature of the study in examining firms that exist in the capital city of Dhaka. Data from in-depth interviews and supporting documents were used for the case studies and integrated with the theoretical framework. Themes were categorised and patterns compared against the framework. The results of this research suggest that SME growth is a process which is gradual and iterative, comprising a series of growth strategies and approaches. The framework identifies interactive connection between different growth variables and highlights how industry sector and the national context of a growing economy facilitate growth of women-owned SMEs. The case study based research seeks to advance scholarship in relation to women’s entrepreneurship globally and contribute to the understanding of growth oriented women’s entrepreneurship. Building upon existing knowledge, this research endeavours to generate new insights and advance theoretical discourse by providing richness and subtlety to the knowledge of growth process and opening up new avenues for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Jomaraty, Mosfeka
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The growth experiences of women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the context of a developing economy are examined through the lens of pragmatism. This approach views a businesswoman’s ‘belief’, ‘habit’ and ‘doubt’ as critical for researching gender related issues in entrepreneurship. This study explains the growth aspects of women-owned manufacturing and services SMEs of Bangladesh with the aim of addressing two neglected research issues. One is the scarcity of studies on growth oriented women entrepreneurs in developing countries. The other is the lack of focus on very successful high-growth women-owned firms in the context of a strong male-dominated economy. This study adopts a framework developed out of the Diana International Project to evaluate the factors influencing the growth of these successful, growing, Bangladeshi women-owned businesses. In order to evaluate the growth process itself, this framework was then modified with growth resources and actions as explained by Edith Penrose in her 1959 seminal book The Theory of Growth of the Firm. This allows for the investigation of the effects of managerial and entrepreneurial abilities in growth, and the identification of how firms achieve growth. A multiple-case design is adopted, covering sixteen successful growth-oriented firms in the manufacturing and services sector. SMEs were studied as the basis for firm growth from initial venture creation, while the sector concentration on manufacturing and services reflects the urban nature of the study in examining firms that exist in the capital city of Dhaka. Data from in-depth interviews and supporting documents were used for the case studies and integrated with the theoretical framework. Themes were categorised and patterns compared against the framework. The results of this research suggest that SME growth is a process which is gradual and iterative, comprising a series of growth strategies and approaches. The framework identifies interactive connection between different growth variables and highlights how industry sector and the national context of a growing economy facilitate growth of women-owned SMEs. The case study based research seeks to advance scholarship in relation to women’s entrepreneurship globally and contribute to the understanding of growth oriented women’s entrepreneurship. Building upon existing knowledge, this research endeavours to generate new insights and advance theoretical discourse by providing richness and subtlety to the knowledge of growth process and opening up new avenues for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The effects of the dislocation of a dominant player on competition within a fine art cluster
- Authors: Giblin, Deidre
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: This investigation examines the applicability of cluster theory in predicting what happens in a set of business relationships when a key player moves out for an indeterminate time but indicates it will be back. It involves a longitudinal research design using a mixed method approach to explore the dynamic inter-relationships of the fine art sector in this period of change. The main research site is the Melbourne fine art cluster, but the work also includes three situations that help to reflect the relevant system dynamics. This multidisciplinary study contributes to the field of regional development, industrial organisation and innovation by analysing how, as the structure of a cluster changes, the behaviour of cluster participants and the nature of competition in the cluster is affected. Hence, this exploratory investigation moves beyond commonalities between suppliers, resources and technologies to consider the cluster’s distinctive character and support networks which act as a significant knowledge resource to the regional cluster. Various models of cluster operation are examined in order to identify underlying issues of networks, systems and a cluster’s configuration in terms of power relationships and authority. By documenting the change process, the research contributes significant clarity to the understanding of the structural dynamics that enhance cluster strength. It demonstrates that the growth of inter-relationships and innovative activity in a dislocation period can diminish greatly as the key player returns to its pivotal role. This reinforced the importance of interactivity, both within and outside the cluster as a vital contributor to the fine art industry’s potential and success. The longitudinal design of this study allows for the consideration and examination of patterns of activity and behaviour, over time, with an emphasis on the cluster’s intangible and tangible assets while its retrospective approach provides an opportunity for comparability. Qualitative data was collected using interviews while additional data was gathered using attitudinal scales and examined using category identification. However, because of the sample size this was a minor part of the study. The study clearly demonstrates the significant control that the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) exerts on the sector through its ability to manage information and resources and how during dislocation this influence was reduced and the cluster took on a different character. This was evident in that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Victorian fine art cluster became more self-sufficient, suggesting that the dominant player suppresses SME innovativeness in the cluster. The structure of the cluster and particularly the behaviour that a dominant player induces may be important in a consideration of the ideal nature of a cluster. The contribution of the longitudinal data shows that change in the absence of a key player can be positive but that policy needs to be revised if it is demonstrated that the cluster is vulnerable to that key player.
- Description: Doctorate (Philosophy)
- Authors: Giblin, Deidre
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Thesis
- Full Text:
- Description: This investigation examines the applicability of cluster theory in predicting what happens in a set of business relationships when a key player moves out for an indeterminate time but indicates it will be back. It involves a longitudinal research design using a mixed method approach to explore the dynamic inter-relationships of the fine art sector in this period of change. The main research site is the Melbourne fine art cluster, but the work also includes three situations that help to reflect the relevant system dynamics. This multidisciplinary study contributes to the field of regional development, industrial organisation and innovation by analysing how, as the structure of a cluster changes, the behaviour of cluster participants and the nature of competition in the cluster is affected. Hence, this exploratory investigation moves beyond commonalities between suppliers, resources and technologies to consider the cluster’s distinctive character and support networks which act as a significant knowledge resource to the regional cluster. Various models of cluster operation are examined in order to identify underlying issues of networks, systems and a cluster’s configuration in terms of power relationships and authority. By documenting the change process, the research contributes significant clarity to the understanding of the structural dynamics that enhance cluster strength. It demonstrates that the growth of inter-relationships and innovative activity in a dislocation period can diminish greatly as the key player returns to its pivotal role. This reinforced the importance of interactivity, both within and outside the cluster as a vital contributor to the fine art industry’s potential and success. The longitudinal design of this study allows for the consideration and examination of patterns of activity and behaviour, over time, with an emphasis on the cluster’s intangible and tangible assets while its retrospective approach provides an opportunity for comparability. Qualitative data was collected using interviews while additional data was gathered using attitudinal scales and examined using category identification. However, because of the sample size this was a minor part of the study. The study clearly demonstrates the significant control that the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) exerts on the sector through its ability to manage information and resources and how during dislocation this influence was reduced and the cluster took on a different character. This was evident in that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Victorian fine art cluster became more self-sufficient, suggesting that the dominant player suppresses SME innovativeness in the cluster. The structure of the cluster and particularly the behaviour that a dominant player induces may be important in a consideration of the ideal nature of a cluster. The contribution of the longitudinal data shows that change in the absence of a key player can be positive but that policy needs to be revised if it is demonstrated that the cluster is vulnerable to that key player.
- Description: Doctorate (Philosophy)
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