Title: The impact of networks on value co-creation for women-owned businesses

Authors: Dianne H.B. Welsh; Eugene Kaciak; Izabela Koładkiewicz; Esra Memili; Lakshmi S. Iyer; Veland Ramadani

Addresses: Bryan School of Business & Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA ' Goodman School of Business, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada; Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Technology, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland ' Department of Entrepreneurship, Center for Management Studies, Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland ' Bryan School of Business & Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402-6170, USA ' Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA ' Faculty of Business and Economics, South-East European University, Tetovo, Republic of Macedonia

Abstract: Researchers have called for more attention to the issues surrounding women entrepreneurs and their businesses that impact their success and the value co-creation it brings to stakeholders. This study examines the moderation effect of social networks on the relationships between women entrepreneurs' specific entrepreneurial skills sets in information technology, management, and securing funding, value co-creation and the effect on firm performance. Social network support is considered a proxy for value co-creation. Our findings show that IT skills are positively related to firm performance. Results showed a positive interaction effect of network support with management skills and with the ability to obtain financing on firm performance. Implications and future research are discussed.

Keywords: networks; value co-creation; firm performance; women entrepreneurs; developing economy; Poland.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2021.117521

European Journal of International Management, 2021 Vol.16 No.3, pp.473 - 498

Received: 16 Jul 2018
Accepted: 15 Sep 2018
Published online: 13 Sep 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article