Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

The Critical Success Factors of Business Growth among Women Entrepreneurs in Malaysia: A Qualitative Approach

Normilia Abd Wahid, Nurul Nadia Abd Aziz, Maisarah Ishak, Adibah Hussin

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i9/10861

Open access

This article examines the critical success factors of business growth among women entrepreneurs. In Malaysia, women have been given significant contributions to their participation in entrepreneurship activities. However, the economic potentials of woman entrepreneurs remain to be tapped. Hence, it is important to identify what are the factors that contribute to the slow business growth pattern to assist them to grow better. This study adopts purposive and snowball sampling. Several criteria that were considered include first, the samples must be well-educated women holding at least a diploma certificate, second, they are married and third, they are involved in any kind of business. The data and information collected will be thematically analysed using the ATLAS.ti software. The result showed that the first place of critical success factors of business growth among women entrepreneurs in Malaysia is contributed by limited access to financial resources followed by unskilful workers, imbalance family and business responsibilities, and lack of training. This study is conducted on women entrepreneurs in a selected state of Malaysia. Since this study applied a qualitative approach, the limitations include the results may not be representative of all women entrepreneurs. Hence, the conclusion is not generalisable. The finding from this study, therefore, demonstrated that empowering women entrepreneurs require effective cooperation from all parties including the government and other agencies to ensure the inclusiveness of all entrepreneurs. These assistances may be in terms of capital or finance, business advice, education, and training programmes.

Rahman, N. A., Yaacob, Z., Radzi, M. R. (2016). An Overview of Technological Innovation on SME Survival: A Conceptual Paper. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 224, 508 – 515.
Abdul Mutalib, R., Arshad, R., Ismail, N. A., & Ahmad, Z. (2015). Women and Entrepreneurship: An Overview of Women Entrepreneurship Programs in Malaysia. Special Issue on Social Entrepreneurship,11, 15-28.
Akehurst, G., Simarro, E., & Mas-Tur, A. (2012). Women Entrepreneurship in Small Service Firms: Motivations, Barriers and Performance. Service Industries Journal, 32(15), 2489–2505. http://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2012.677834
Al Mamun, A., Fazal, S. A., & Muniady, R. (2019). Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Skills, Competencies and Performance: A study of Micro-enterprises in Kelantan, Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJIE-11-2018-0067
Ayob, N. A., Daud, S., & Ismail. (2016). Faktor pembentukan modal insan dan daya saing usahawan wanita Malaysia: Kajian empirikal wanita bumiputera di Melaka. Geografia OnlineTM Malaysian Journal of Society and Space, 12(5), 115 – 129.
Bahramitash, R., & Esfahani, H. S. (2014). Gender and Entrepreneurship in Iran. Middle East Critique, 23(3), 293–312. http://doi.org/10.1080/19436149.2014.949935
Bharthvajan, R. (2014). Women Entrepreneurs and Problems of Women Entrepreneurs. International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology. 3(9), 16104-16110. ISSN:2319-8753
Bhardwaj, B. R. (2014). Impact of education and training on performance of women entrepreneurs: A study in emerging market context. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, ISSN: 2053-4604
Borg, A. (2013). Challenges facing Women Entrepreneurs. Retrieved from https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/eurwork/articles/challenges-facing-women-entrepreneurs.
Bouazza, A. B., Ardjouman, D., & Abada, O. (2015). Establishing the Factors Affecting the Growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Algeria. American International Journal of Social Science, Vol. 4, No. 2.
Chatterjee, S., Gupta, S. D., & Upadhyay, P. (2020). Technology Adoption and Entrepreneurial Orientation for Rural Women: Evidence from India. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Vol 160, 120236.
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2016). Labor Force Survey Report. Retrieved from https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/pdfPrev&id=SGZCNnMrWW9ZTEdpYys4YW0yRlhoQT09
Galli, E., & Stefania, P. S. (2015). Bank Credit Access and Gender Discrimination: An Empirical Analysis. Retrieved from http://www.siecon.org/online/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Galli.pdf.
Hajwa, A., Rizki, M., Wan Hassin, W. S., & Moi, W. S. (2017). Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Kejayaan Usahawan Wanita Tekun: Satu Kajian di Daerah Hulu Langat. Proceeding of the 4th International Conference on Management and Muamalah 2017 (ICoMM 2017) e-ISBN: 978-967-2122-15-9
Haimid, M. T., Masdek, N. R. M., & Rahim, H. (2016). Women Entrepreneurs in the Agriculture Sector: Issues and Challenges. Economic and Technology Management Review, 11, 53-61.
Hashim, N. S. A., Yaakob, M. R., & Muhayiddin, M. N. (2015). The Environmental Factors That Influence Success of Women Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurial Intention as A Mediator. Retrieved from
http://umkeprints.umk.edu.my/5047/1/Conference%20Paper%2040%20%20ISEB%202015.pdf
Hassan, F., Ramli, A., & Desa, M. N. (2014). Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Malaysia. What Drives Their Success. International Journal of Business and Management, 9(4).
Hassan, I. B., Mugambi, F. (2013). Determinants of Growth for Women Owned and Operated Micro Enterprise: The Case of Garissa, Kenya. International Journal of Business and Commerce, 2(7), 45-55.
Hassan, Z., Dollard, M. F., & Winefield, A. H. (2010). Work-family Conflict in East VS Western Countries. Cross Cultural Management, 17(1), 30–49.
http://doi.org/10.1108/13527601011016899
Khaleque, A. (2018). Performance of Women Entrepreneurs: Does Access to Finance Really Matter?. Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics, 11(21), 23-48.
Kumbhar, V. M. (2012). Some Critical Issues of Women Entrepreneurship in Rural India. SSRN Electronic Journal, (January 2012). http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2043821
Lahiri, R. (2012). Problems And Prospects of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) In India in The Era Of Globalization. Semantic Scholar.
Loveline, A. A., Uchenna, O. I., & Karubi, N. P. (2014). Women Entrepreneurship in Malaysia: An Empirical Assessment of The Challenges Faced by Micro and Small Business Owners in Kuching- Sarawak. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE), 1(4), 48-58.
Mahmood, R., & Hanafi, N. (2013). Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance of Women-Owned Small and Medium Entreprises in Malaysia: Competitive Advantage as a Mediator. International Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 4(1).
Mohamad, M., & Bakar, M. S. (2017). Malay Women Entrepreneurial Success: Challenges and Barriers. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business, 2 (5), 76-84.
Masuda, A. D., Sortheix, F. M., Beham, B., & Naidoo, L. J. (2019). Cultural value orientations and work–family conflict: The mediating role of work and family demands. Journal of Vocational Behavior, Vol 112, 294-310.
Welch, M. (2021). Help wanted: Region Seeks to Fill Labor Shortage. The Winchester Star. Retrieved from https://www.winchesterstar.com/coronavirus/help-wanted-region-seeks-to-fill-labor-shortage/article_0a8b9b94-9dc8-59ac-b6e4-3f47ff50d559.html
Mazlina, M., & Punitha A/P S. (2016). Challenges and Success Factors of Female Entrepreneurs: Evidence from a Developing Country. International Review of Management and Marketing, 6(4):224-231.
Mohamad, M., Bakar, M. S. (2017). Malay Women Entrepreneurial Success: Challenges and Barriers. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business, 2(5), 76-84.
Musa, M., Shuib, R., Selamat, N., Isa, M. S., Osman, I., & Abu Bakar, S. (2016). A Study of Women Micro Entrepreneurs in Malaysia: Livelihood Strategies And Challenges. In: 3rd Kanita Postgraduate International Conference on Gender Studies, 16 – 17 November 2016, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.
Mutalib, R. A., Arshad, R., Ismail, N. S., Ahmad, Z. (2015). Women and Entrepreneurship: An Overview of Women Entrepreneurship Programs in Malaysia. JGD Vol. 11, Special Issue on Social Entrepreneurship, 15-28.
Noraini, I. (2005). Dayasaing Usahawan Wanita dalam Era Ekonomi Global: Kajian Kes Wanita dalam Industri Makanan Halal. Seminar Keusahawanan Islam Peringkat Kebangsaan, APIUM: Kuala Lumpur.
OECD Report to G7 Leaders on Women and Entrepreneurship. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/gender/OECD-Report%20-to-G7-Leaders-on-Women-and-Entrepreneurship.pdf
Rashid, K. M., Ngah, C. H., Mohamed, Z., & Mansor, N. (2015). Success Factors Among Women Entrepreneur in Malaysia. International Academic Research Journal of Business and Technology, 1(2), 28-36.
Samina, M. S. (2015). Women Entrepreneurs’ Adoption and Use of Technology. Retrieved from https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/m/en_ca/offers/wec/pdfs/women-entrepreneurs-adoption-and-use-of-technology.pdf
Thuaibah, A. B., Azlah, M. A., Rozeyta, O., Hishamuddin, M. S., & Noorizwan, S. M. (2007). Women’s Involvement in Entrepreneurship in Johor: A Study About Critical Success Factors in Achievement and Failure in Handling Business. Project report, FPPSM: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Tundui, C., & Tundui, H. (2012). Survival, Growth Strategies and Performance of Women Owned Micro and Small Businesses in Tanzania. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(8).

In-Text Citation: (Wahid et al., 2021)
To Cite this Article: Wahid, N. A., Aziz, N. N. A., Ishak, M., & Hussin, A. (2021). The Critical Success Factors of Business Growth among Women Entrepreneurs in Malaysia: A Qualitative Approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(9), 1445–1459.