Demographic Factors and Performance of Women SMES: a Review

  • Deogratias Sangu The Open University of Tanzania
  • Joseph Magali The Open University of Tanzania
  • Salvio Macha The Open University of Tanzania
##share.article##:

الملخص

This study explored the influence of demographic factors on the performance of women-led SMEs. Through a systematic literature review, 66 articles published from 1995 to 2025 were analyzed from Google Scholar, Emerald Insight, Taylor and Francis, Wiley Online and Sage databases. The information was analyzed through thematic and manual content analysis. The study considered title analysis, regional analysis, theoretical analysis, variable analysis and data methods analysis as themes or variables of specific objectives of the study. The findings reveal that demographic variables such as education, access to finance, and family responsibilities significantly impact women's SME performance. The findings further indicated that most of the studies focused on urban settings in developing countries. Feminist theory, entrepreneurship theory, and social capital theory are the most frequently applied theories, while human capital and social learning theories are underutilized despite their relevance. The findings further indicate that regression analysis is the most commonly used method because it depicts well the relationships between multiple variables and assesses their impact on women’s SME performance. Moreover, the findings indicate that most studies assess the role of family responsibilities in promoting women's SME performance. To enhance women's SME performance, policymakers should prioritize education, financial inclusion, and networking support. Future research should adopt broader theoretical perspectives and diverse methodologies to overcome the study’s limitations.

التنزيلات

بيانات التنزيل غير متوفرة بعد.

المراجع

Adams, S., Quagrainie, F. A., & Klobodu, E. K. M. (2017). Women entrepreneurial orientation, motivation, and organizational performance in Ghana. Small Enterprise Research, 24(2), 189-205.

Adkins, C. L., Samaras, S. A., Gilfillan, S. W., & McWee, W. E. (2013). The relationship between owner characteristics, company size, and the work-family culture and policies of women‐owned businesses. Journal of Small Business Management, 51(2), 196-214.

Agbenyegah, A. T. (2019). Insight into the significant relationships between demographic variables and rural small business success: Rural owner managers perspectives. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 25(2), 1-21.

Akehurst, G., Simarro, E., & Mas‐Tur, A. (2012). Women entrepreneurship in small service firms: Motivations, barriers and performance. The Service Industries Journal, 32(15), 2489-2505.

Alene, E. T. (2020). Determinants that influence the performance of women entrepreneurs in micro and small enterprises in Ethiopia. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 9, 1-20.

Awa, H. O., Baridam, D. M., & Nwibere, B. M. (2015). Demographic determinants of electronic commerce (EC) adoption by SMEs: A twist by location factors. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 28(3), 326-345.

Babar, Z. N., Al-Sulaiti, K., Aldereai, O., Abbas, J., & Al-Sulaiti, I. (2023). Empowering women entrepreneurs: The influence of family support and country of origin effects on financial inclusion. Journal of Excellence in Business Administration, 1(2), 39-63.

Batool, A., Zowghi, D., & Bano, M. (2025). AI governance: a systematic literature review. AI and Ethics, 1-15.

Bekele, E., & Worku, Z. (2008). Women entrepreneurship in micro, small and medium enterprises: The case of Ethiopia. Journal of International Women's Studies, 10(2), 3-19.

Bhat, V. (2025). Identifying the factors affecting success and satisfaction of women entrepreneurs in India: a survey-based study and statistical analysis. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 15(1), 7.

Bhindi, J. S., & Jangra, R. (2025). Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs: The Intricate Tapestry of Family and Social Support Networks in India. In Empowering Women Through Rural Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurship (pp. 139-178). IGI Global Scientific Publishing.

Bimha, H., Sridhar, P., Dlamini, X., Mhlanga, S. P., Ndwandwe, L., Nkambule, N., & Sbisi, P. (2018). Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises in Swaziland. Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies, 9(2), 85-95.

Cetindamar, D., Gupta, V. K., Karadeniz, E. E., & Egrican, N. (2012). What the numbers tell: The impact of human, family and financial capital on women and men's entry into entrepreneurship in Turkey. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 24(1-2), 29-51.

Chaniago, H. (2021). Demographic characteristics and small business success: Evidence from Indonesia. J. Asian Finance. Econ. Bus, 8, 399-409.

Cho, Y., Li, J., & Chaudhuri, S. (2020). Women entrepreneurs in Asia: Eight country studies. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 22(2), 115-123.

Dissanayake, K. (2018). Environmental effects on women-LED SMEs in Asia: An institutional perspective. Journal of Business Studies, 5(1), 1-25.

Fairlie, R. W., & Robb, A. M. (2009). Gender differences in business performance: evidence from the Characteristics of Business Owners survey. Small Business Economics, 33, 375-395.

Gathenya, J. W., Bwisa, H. M., & Kihoro, J. M. (2011). Interaction between women entrepreneurs’ age and education on business dynamics in small and medium enterprises in Kenya, 2(15), 265-272.

Ghouse, S. M., Durrah, O., & McElwee, G. (2021). Rural women entrepreneurs in Oman: problems and opportunities. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 27(7), 1674-1695.

Gill, S. S., Golec, M., Hu, J., Xu, M., Du, J., Wu, H., ... & Uhlig, S. (2025). Edge AI: A taxonomy, systematic review and future directions. Cluster Computing, 28(1), 1-53.

Giorbelidze, M., & Jibladze, N. (2024). Enhancing Sustainable Development through Gender Equality: The Role of Mentorship in Empowering Women-led SMEs in Georgia's Economy. OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development, (18), 02.

Harpriya, Sharma, R. K., & Sah, A. N. (2022). Impact of demographic factors on the financial performance of women‐owned micro‐enterprises in India. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 27(1), 6-17.

Hasan, F. S., & Almubarak, M. M. S. (2016). Factors influencing women entrepreneurs’ performance in SMEs. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 12(2), 242–256.

Hill, M. A., & King, E. (1995). Women's education and economic well-being. Feminist economics, 1(2), 21-46.

Holen, S., & Holmen, I. M. (2025). Occupational injuries and fatalities in Norwegian fish farming. Journal of Agromedicine, 1-11.

Huis, M. A., Hansen, N., Lensink, R., & Otten, S. (2020). A relational perspective on women’s empowerment: Intimate partner violence and empowerment among women entrepreneurs in Vietnam. British journal of social psychology, 59(2), 365-386.

Hussain, J., Mahmood, S., & Scott, J. (2019). Gender, microcredit and poverty alleviation in a developing country: The case of women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Journal of International Development, 31(3), 247-270.

Iyiola, O., & Azuh, D. E. (2014). Women entrepreneurs as small-medium enterprise (SME) operators and their roles in socio-economic development in Ota, Nigeria, 2(1), 1-10.

Kantor, P. (2005). Determinants of women's microenterprise success in Ahmedabad, India: Empowerment and economics. Feminist Economics, 11(3), 63-83.

Kato, A. I. (2023). Unlocking the Potential of Microfinance Solutions on Urban Woman Entrepreneurship Development in East Africa: A Bibliometric Analysis Perspective. Sustainability, 15(20), 14862.

Kevane, M., Ratan, A. L., & Dhar, D. (2021). Evidence Review of Women-Led Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) before, during, and after COVID-19: Examining Barriers and Opportunities. Working Paper Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Kevela, S., Magali, J., & Tonya, E. (2024). The influence of Marketing Strategies on Agricultural Produce Performance: A Systematic Literature Review. African Development Finance Journal, 7(6), 112-129.

Khan, R. U., Salamzadeh, Y., Shah, S. Z. A., & Hussain, M. (2021). Factors affecting women entrepreneurs’ success: a study of small and medium-sized enterprises in the emerging market of Pakistan. Journal of innovation and entrepreneurship, 10, 1-21.

Koul, S., Taylor, I. W., Falebita, O. A., Ono, T., Chen, R., & Vogel, M. T. (2022). Examining the success of women of color-owned small and medium-sized enterprises in the United States: A system dynamics perspective. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 18(4), 1373-1401.

Kumar, D., & Kalyani, B. (2011). Motivational factors, entrepreneurship and education: Study with reference to women in SMEs. Far East journal of psychology and business, 3(2), 14-35.

Kyalo, T., Gichira, R., Waititu, A., & Ragui, M. (2013). Demographic factors and social networks influence on women to start enterprises in male-dominated sectors in Kenya. Prime Journal of Business Administration and Management (BAM), 3(4), 944-949.

Linnenluecke, M. K., Marrone, M., & Singh, A. K. (2020). Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses. Australian Journal of Management, 45(2), 175-194.

Madison, K., Moore, C. B., Daspit, J. J., & Nabisaalu, J. K. (2022). The influence of women on SME innovation in emerging markets. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 16(2), 281-313.

Maheshwari, G., Vu, O. T. K., & Thanh, H. P. (2025). Understanding women entrepreneurship in Vietnam: motivators and barriers through integration of two theoretical frameworks. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead- of- print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-04-2024-0207

Mandongwe, L., & Jaravaza, D. C. (2020). Women entrepreneurial intentions in subsistence marketplaces: The role of entrepreneurial orientation and demographic profiles in Zimbabwe. Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1818365.

Martin, A. J. F., & Conway, T. M. (2025). Using the Gini Index to quantify urban green inequality: A systematic review and recommended reporting standards. Landscape and Urban Planning, 254, 105231.

Martín-Ugedo, J. F., & Minguez-Vera, A. (2014). Firm performance and women on the board: Evidence from Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises. Feminist Economics, 20(3), 136-162.

Mitchelmore, S., & Rowley, J. (2013). Entrepreneurial competencies of women entrepreneurs pursuing business growth. Journal of small business and enterprise development, 20(1), 125-142.

Mashenene, R. (2021). Performance of rural and urban women-owned small and Medium enterprises in Tanzania: Do socio-cultural factors matter? Journal of Co-operative and Business Studies, 5(1), 73-84.

Nkwabi, J. M., Nkwabi, J. M., & Nkwabi, J. M. (2020). A review of the challenges affecting the success of small and medium enterprises (SME) of women entrepreneurs in Tanzania. Asian Journal of Sustainable Business Research, 1(2), 95-104. Egg, R. (2015). Women empowerment through business member organization series. Produced by the International Training Centre of the ILO and the Dutch Employers Cooperation Programme. 10pp.

Nyathi, L. (2022). Challenges facing SMEs in the Western Cape townships with a focus on gender issues (Master Dissertation, University of Cape Town).

Olamide, A., & Ogbechie, R. (2021). Social capital and business performance: a study of female-owned SMEs in the Nigerian informal sector. Small Enterprise Research, 28(2), 190-205.

Orser, B., Liao, X., Riding, A. L., Duong, Q., & Catimel, J. (2021). Gender-responsive public procurement: strategies to support women-owned enterprises. Journal of Public Procurement, 21(3), 260-284.

Owalla, B., Nyanzu, E., & Vorley, T. (2021). Intersections of gender, ethnicity, place and innovation: Mapping the diversity of women-led SMEs in the United Kingdom. International Small Business Journal, 39(7), 681-706.

Pergelova, A., Manolova, T., Simeonova‐Ganeva, R., & Yordanova, D. (2019). Democratizing entrepreneurship? Digital technologies and the internationalization of female‐led SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 57(1), 14-39.

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual review of psychology, 63(1), 539-569.

Prasad, V. K., Naidu, G. M., Kinnera Murthy, B., Winkel, D. E., & Ehrhardt, K. (2013). Women entrepreneurs and business venture growth: an examination of the influence of human and social capital resources in an Indian context. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 26(4), 341-364.

Ritz, A., Brewer, G. A., & Neumann, O. (2016). Public service motivation: A systematic literature review and outlook. Public Administration Review, 76(3), 414-426.

Samad, S., & Alharthi, A. (2022). Untangling factors influencing women entrepreneurs’ involvement in tourism and its impact on sustainable tourism development. Administrative Sciences, 12(2), 52. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12020052

Sangu, D. (2025). Cultural Factors and Women SMEs Performance. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 6(1), 22-36.

Shastri, S., Shastri, S., Pareek, A., & Sharma, R. S. (2021). Exploring women entrepreneurs’ motivations and challenges from an institutional perspective: evidence from a patriarchal state in India. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 16(4), 653-674.

Shava, H., & Rungani, E. C. (2016). Influence of gender on SME performance in emerging economies. Acta Commercii, 16(1), 1-9.

Singh, G., & Belwal, R. (2008). Entrepreneurship and SMEs in Ethiopia: Evaluating the role, prospects and problems faced by women in this emergent sector. Gender in management: An international journal, 23(2), 120-136.

Fatou, G. (2021). Formalizing small and women-led businesses in West Africa: major approaches and their limitations. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 33(4), 377-392.

Ssekiziyivu, B., Takwi, F. M., & Kabahinda, E. (2025). Challenges Facing Women Entrepreneurship: A Developing Country Perspective. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, 23939575241277331.

Strzelecki, A. (2025). ‘As of my last knowledge update’: How is content generated by ChatGPT infiltrating scientific papers published in premier journals? Learned Publishing, 38(1), e1650.

Suseno, Y., & Abbott, L. (2021). Women entrepreneurs' digital social innovation: Linking gender, entrepreneurship, social innovation and information systems. Information Systems Journal, 31(5), 717-744.

Vasan, M. (2020). Moderating effect of demographic and business characteristics on performance of women-owned small enterprises: Empirical evidence from India. Serbian Journal of Management, 15(2), 319-333.

Watson, J. (2012). Networking: Gender differences and the association with firm performance. International Small Business Journal, 30(5), 536-558.

Welmilla, I., Weerakkody, W. A. S., & Ediriweera, A. N. (2011). The impact of demographic factors of entrepreneurs on the development of SMEs in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka. Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.

Welsh, D. H., Kaciak, E., Memili, E., & Minialai, C. (2018). Business-family interface and the performance of women entrepreneurs: The moderating effect of economic development. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 13(2), 330-349.

Wu, P., Yao, X., & Muhammad, S. (2017). The effect of female participation in top management teams on the growth performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) evidence from a panel-data analysis in Chinese-listed SMEs. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 11(1), 108-119.

Zengyu Huang, V., Nandialath, A., Kassim Alsayaghi, A., & Esra Karadeniz, E. (2013). Socio‐demographic factors and network configuration among MENA entrepreneurs. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 8(3), 258-281.

منشور
24 آذار, 2025