The Growth of Women Businesses in Small to Medium Enterprises: A Review of the Critical Success Factors for Sustainable Growth

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide an inventory of critical success factors obtainable from women entrepreneurs. Many studies have acknowledged the Small to Medium enterprises as the key driver of many economies in developing countries and are the genesis of large corporations. The majority stakeholders in this sector are women and hence the study focused on the key factors that ‘strengthened' women run enterprises to succeed against a background of several other female and male SMEs failing to live to their expectations. A qualitative case based research philosophy was adopted and data was collected through in-depth interviews. The findings of the study indicated that the Critical success factors were strategy, vision and leadership style factor, innovation and sustainability, product lifecycle shortness and technological adaptation and powerful networks. The results of the study can be used to formulate practical policies and an indigenous business model be framed.