Distinction or Discrimination?A Qualitative Study of Sustainable growth of Women-Owned Technology based SMEs in Malaysia

Abstract

Technopreneurship development and its significance in economic growth has led world’s economies to identify the potential role of growth-oriented women-owned technology based SMEs for economic gains. The existing literature on growth among women owned firms, however, exclusively elucidates dearth of empirical research of this phenomenon particularly in transitional economies. This qualitative study is an attempt to reveal the most significant factors that influence the sustainable growth of women owned technology SMEs in Malaysia. The findings from semi-structured interviews from policy makers explain that sustainable growth among these women owned technology based SMEs appears to be entwined in both personal factors related to distinctiveness of these firms as well as external factors associated with socio-cultural discrimination. Several practical and managerial implications have been provided to enlighten policy makers and women technopreneurs on one hand and enhance theoretical knowledge of researchers in the field of technology, innovation and gender.