Growth of Women - Owned Businesses: The Effects of Intangible Resources and Social Competence

Authors

Crystal X. Jiang, Bryant University
Monica A. Zimmerman, West Chester University
Grace Chun Guo, Sacred Heart University

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published by the North American Business Press in the Journal of Business Diversity, volume 12 issue 1, 2012.

Publisher

North American Business Press

Publication Source

Journal of Business Diversity

Rights Management

Copyright North American Business Press Mar 2012

Abstract

Previous research suggests that women entrepreneurs face many challenges in starting and growing a business. In this study, we examine the relationship of intangible resources and the growth of womenowned businesses. We focus on four intangible resources: social-, human-, and reputational capital, as well as social competence. Using case studies of women entrepreneurs, we found that a woman entrepreneur's social-, human-, and reputational capital are related to the growth of her business. We also found that social competence moderates the social-, human-, and reputational capital - growth relationship in women entrepreneurs.