Entrepreneurial motivation : a study of female entrepreneurs in Malta

Abstract

Female entrepreneurship is a growing phenomenon and there is evidence that more women are pursuing an entrepreneurial career. However, the literature on female entrepreneurship in Malta is still scarce. The purpose of this study was to provide a better understanding of female entrepreneurs in Malta and what motivates them to pursue entrepreneurship as a career option. A conceptual model by Shane et al. (2012) was identified as a suitable framework to guide this study. This model identifies general entrepreneurial motivations, task-specific entrepreneurial motivations, environmental conditions, and cognitive factors as having an influence on entrepreneurial motivation. In-depth semi-structured interviews with 10 female entrepreneurs based in Malta were conducted in order to explore their entrepreneurial motivations on the basis of this model. The results of this study generally support this model. They indicate that female entrepreneurs in Malta are mainly motivated by what Shane et al. (2012) label as general entrepreneurial motivations, namely need for achievement, desire for independence, passion, drive, vision, and locus of control. The findings also showed that Shane et al.’s (2012) task-specific entrepreneurial motivators, namely goal setting and self-efficacy, together with the cognitive factors of knowledge, skills and abilities, are also important factors for facilitating the entrepreneurship process. With regards to environmental conditions, banks in Malta were found to act as a barrier to female entrepreneurship. An interesting finding that was not predicted by Shane et al. (2012) is that work-life balance played an important role in female entrepreneurship. From an academic point of view, this study adds to existing literature in female entrepreneurship which is still limited, especially in Malta. Furthermore, it contributes to the literature on entrepreneurial motivation as it is the first to empirically address Shane et al.’s (2012) conceptual model. In terms of practical contributions, this study might be useful for entrepreneurship training programmes. Furthermore, the findings might be beneficial to government agencies for implementing policies which provide a business environment that supports and encourages female entrepreneurship.