Jodyanne Kirkwood

Motivational factors in a push‐pull theory of entrepreneurship

– Entrepreneurial motivations are often defined as fitting into “push” or “pull” categories. To date, research has focused on the factors motivating men and women separately. What is missing from this research is an analysis of the comparative differences in these motivators of men and women, and an exploration of what this means in terms of push‐pull theory. This paper aims to contribute by applying the existing theory on push and pull factors; and using a gender comparative approach to explore the nature of potential gender differences within entrepreneurial motivations., – This exploratory study uses a gender comparative approach in semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews with 75 entrepreneurs (28 women and 47 men)., – Findings suggest that both women and men appeared similarly motivated by a combination of push and pull factors. Three gender differences were found in the incidence of motivations: women were more influenced by a desire for independence; women considered their children as motivators more so than did men; men were influenced more by job dissatisfaction than were women. The discussion focuses on analysing the nature of gender differences rather than merely their incidence., – A number of further research directions and questions are posed as a way of extending the knowledge in this area. Implications for managers and entrepreneurs are also presented., – Contributes to push‐pull theory by offering a gender comparative approach to advance theory.

Is entrepreneurship the answer to achieving work–family balance?

Many people (particularly women) see entrepreneurship as a way of achieving a better balance between work and family than that provided by paid employment. Fifty-eight entrepreneurs were interviewed in New Zealand (32 women and 26 men) in order to explore the work-family conflict they face, the techniques they use to achieve work–family balance and the effectiveness of these strategies. Our study finds that women entrepreneurs employ a number of flexible work practices, such as choosing where to work, when to work and with whom to work as well as managing their roles within the family. This study concludes that entrepreneurship may not be a panacea for achieving work–family balance. We offer some suggestions for how entrepreneurs may better achieve work–family balance.

What motivates ecopreneurs to start businesses

Purpose – Ecopreneurs are those entrepreneurs who start for‐profit businesses with strong underlying green values and who sell green products or services. This is an emerging field where research is still in its infancy. Research has been called for to understand the factors that motivate these ecopreneurs to start businesses – and that is the focus of this study. The aim of this paper is to compare the findings with results of extant literature on entrepreneurial motivations.Design/methodology/approach – This study comprises 14 in‐depth case studies of ecopreneurial companies in New Zealand in 2008. Participants were interviewed in a face‐to‐face, semi‐structured format. In total, 88 secondary sources such as media reports, industry statistics, and information from company web sites were also collected.Findings – Ecopreneurs were motivated by five factors: their green values; earning a living; passion; being their own boss; and seeing a gap in the market. Ecopreneurs appear to have quite similar motivati...

USING MULTIPLE PARADIGM RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES TO GAIN NEW INSIGHTS INTO ENTREPRENEURIAL MOTIVATIONS

Much of the extant entrepreneurship research has focused on studying the field using positivist research methodologies and little attention has been paid to interpretive methodologies or the use of multiple paradigms. The focus of the paper is on illustrating how we applied a multiple paradigm research methodology to an existing research problem. Specifically, the research was concerned with gender differences in motivations for becoming an entrepreneur. We explain how a multiple paradigm research methodology enabled us to gain new insights into an aspect of entrepreneurship where results of the prior research were not only contradictory, but also lacked a focus on theoretical development. Our research process involved two phases. First, a mail survey which was designed to replicate existing studies was administered to 289 entrepreneurs. The second phase involved in-depth face-to-face interviews with 50 entrepreneurs (25 men and 25 women) who responded to the mail survey. Theoretical contributions regarding entrepreneurial motivation are detailed, as are some more general implications of using multiple paradigm research methodologies in other entrepreneurship and organizational research.

Encouraging sustainable entrepreneurship in climate-threatened communities: a Samoan case study

South Pacific island states are at the forefront of climatic changes that have precipitated severe environmental events. These small countries also face economic and social challenges that require entrepreneurial solutions. We develop a model of how external factors and chance events impact on sustainable opportunity recognition and exploitation in this context. We assess the efficacy of this model in an in-depth study of Women in Business Development Incorporated, a non-governmental organization that helps women and families in Samoa to establish sustainable enterprises. Our findings make a significant contribution to the emerging literature on entrepreneurship, sustainability and resilience in at-risk communities by showing how key organizational capabilities are necessary for coping with exogenous shocks in this context. The findings have important implications for research, policy and practice.

How green is green? Ecopreneurs balancing environmental concerns and business goals

This articles main research objective is to understand more about ecopreneurs with respect to the way they manage their businesses whilst maintaining their commitment to the environment. We conducted a mail survey in 2011, where 350 questionnaires were sent out to ecopreneurs in New Zealand. This article reports on the results of the 84 survey responses that were received (a 24 per cent response rate). This study outlines the motivations for starting the business, the key green aspects of the product or service that the ecopreneurs produce or sell, as well as the degree of greening of their organisations. We also focus on decision-making practices and growth aspirations of the ecopreneurs. Ecopreneurs prioritise the environment over profits whenever practical, and are conscious of doing the best they can to lessen their impact on the environment. Ecopreneurs may offer a win-win scenario for the economy and the environment, as well as enabling the ecopreneurs themselves to fulfil their own personal goals. Ecopreneurs are therefore able to incrementally improve the environment within their own companies, and with their products and services they have the ability to educate a wide audience on the benefits of protecting our environment.

Family Matters: Exploring the Role of Family in the New Venture Creation Decision

Abstract This exploratory study focuses on how entrepreneurs’ families influence their decision to start a new venture. Seventy-five entrepreneurs were interviewed in person in New Zealand and their experiences form the basis of this paper. It delves into the roles of three key types of family member that may impact on motivations for entrepreneurship: parents, spouses and children. The analysis uses a gender comparative perspective to focus on the role of the family. The findings are that women tend to look for support and advice from their parents; and that women analyze the potential effects of the decision on their spouse and children. In contrast, men focus more on being independent from their parents; and men think of practical aspects such as financial considerations towards their spouse and children. The preliminary findings of this study lead to many suggestions for research to further understand how the family can influence new venture creation.

How women and men business owners perceive success

Purpose – Women and men business owners are often thought to have different success criteria for their businesses, but there is little empirical research to support this. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature of self-defined success factors, and to compare women and men’s success criteria. Design/methodology/approach – This study surveyed 216 New Zealand business owners’ (78 women, 138 men) self-perceived success criteria for their businesses. Results are based primarily on an open-ended question on their interpretation of what success means to them. In total, 30 main categories of success factors were identified, and the four main factors analyzed in depth. Findings – The four most frequently occurring success factors were financial success, personal satisfaction, work-life/work-family balance, and satisfied stakeholders. Women and men business owners described very similar success criteria, which were balanced across financial success and personal and relationship factors. No statistica...

Tempered radicals! Ecopreneurs as change agents for sustainability – an exploratory study

Ecopreneurs (as a subset of social entrepreneurs) are often posited as change agents – champions for sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of ecopreneurs or environmental entrepreneurs as green change agents. Specifically, this paper examines how they bring about change through running their businesses. A qualitative, interpretative approach was adopted and interviews conducted with 17 ecopreneurs in 14 companies in New Zealand. Two key aspects of practice emerged; commitment to the environment and the redefining of growth. We discuss each of these and suggest that ecopreneurs act as ‘tempered radicals’. They have values congruent with radical change for sustainability but they enact a tempered path – they operate a viable business based on current business realities (BAU). Nonetheless they have potential to be key players moving towards low carbon and green economies.

Environmental entrepreneurs facilitating change toward sustainability: a case study of the wine industry in New Zealand

This research explores the roles and strategies of environmental entrepreneurs in fostering wider change within their sociotechnical system, employing a qualitative case study in the context of the New Zealand wine industry to provide illustrative depth. A combination of strategic niche management and evolutionary theory of organizational change is used to explain the findings, focusing on the three key aspects of learning, networking, and articulation taking place at niche level. The research proposes that while environmental entrepreneurs facilitate processes of change through their actions, they are strongly influenced by broader business environment factors such as financial pressures and acceptance of their philosophies among the wider population; as a consequence, their actions indicate role shifts between being proactive, influential actors and reactive, self-centered players.