Résumés
Abstract
Given the challenges women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face in global markets, we investigate the effects of gender and immigrant background on their direct versus indirect export strategies. Drawing on insights from social capital theory, our analysis consists of a sample of 109 Canadian SMEs. We found that although women-majority-owned SMEs are less likely to export directly compared to their men-majority-owned counterparts, women owners with an immigrant background have the potential to overcome network-related barriers, thus weakening the negative effect of gender on direct exporting. These results point to the significance of having access to international networks and the necessity to leverage this linkage to support the direct exporting approach for women-majority-owned SMEs. Our research guides SME owners and managers with global aspirations. We suggest policymakers develop initiatives to encourage women owners to identify, build, and cultivate international business relationships and improve the design and implementation of policies targeted at immigrant export businesses.
Keywords:
- direct export,
- indirect export,
- women,
- immigrant ownership,
- international business,
- SMEs
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Biographical notes
Xiaojing (Sara) Wang is a Client Advisor at Tiffany & Co. She completed her Master of Science in Management degree at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2019, and this article is an extension of her original thesis work.
Dr. Horatio M. Morgan is an Associate Professor of International Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. His academic pursuits traverse the domains of international entrepreneurship, strategy, immigrant entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial finance. A significant portion of his research delves into the role of owner and team dynamics in influencing firms’ international strategies and outcomes. His insights have graced the pages of premier journals, including the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Business Venturing, and the Journal of Management. His work has also garnered attention from media platforms such as CBC News, Vancouver Sun, and Huffington Post Canada.
Yu Wei Ye is a PhD candidate at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University. Her academic explorations encompass but are not confined to, the innovation strategies of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in today’s digitized, global context. Prior to her doctoral pursuits, Yu Wei amassed a rich tapestry of industry and managerial experience, showcasing her adeptness at global thinking and stakeholder engagement.