From perceptions to performance to business intentions: what do women and men entrepreneurs really see

Abstract

This study aims to decipher women and men entrepreneurs' pursuant intentions related to their entrepreneurial business' contingency by decoding their perceptions of the environment as opportunities or hurdles to their subsequent financial performance. Drawing on the effectuation model and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, our study reinforces findings on gender differences in perceptions of opportunities and hurdles, particularly on women's higher levels of hurdle as well as opportunity perceptions, revealing women's wider range of financial performance relative to men based on their hurdle and opportunity perceptions. Contradicting some existing research, our study revealed gender similarities in the perceptual 'conversion' of hurdles and opportunities into business intentions, hence introducing novel perspectives on these relations. Implications of the gender and effectuation perspectives for higher education are discussed.