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Gender, technology and decision-making: insights from an experimental conjoint analysis

Bari L. Bendell (Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Suffolk University Sawyer Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Diane M. Sullivan (Management and Marketing, University of Dayton School of Business Administration, Dayton, Ohio, USA)
Kathrin J. Hanek (Management and Marketing, University of Dayton School of Business Administration, Dayton, Ohio, USA)

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

ISSN: 1355-2554

Article publication date: 5 March 2020

Issue publication date: 28 May 2020

1257

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate differences in how men and women small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs make decisions regarding whether to invest in technologies for their firms. Answering recent calls for a gendered perspective in entrepreneurial decision-making, this study integrates premises from social identity theory and role congruity theory to help explain innovation investment decisions among male and female SME entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from 121 SME entrepreneurs in the dry cleaning industry, the authors employ a conjoint experimental methodology to capture decisions SME entrepreneurs make to adopt or reject an environment-friendly dry cleaning technology. The authors examine the role gender, firm revenue, technology price, and technology complexity play in entrepreneur investment decisions.

Findings

The authors find that gender indirectly impacts innovation purchase decisions through interactions with firm revenue and key innovation characteristics. Women SME entrepreneurs were less likely to purchase the technology than their male counterparts at low (and high) firm revenue, high innovation price, and high innovation complexity—all highly risky, masculine, choice contexts.

Research limitations/implications

These findings suggest that men and women's entrepreneurial investment decisions might be shaped by gender stereotypes. Future research should sample additional industries and determine the norms guiding gendered decision-making.

Originality/value

Beyond the decision to launch a new venture, this multi-level analysis, using the lens of social identity and role congruity theories, helps illuminate how men and women SME entrepreneurs approach innovation investment decision-making in significantly different—and gender role consistent—ways.

Keywords

Citation

Bendell, B.L., Sullivan, D.M. and Hanek, K.J. (2020), "Gender, technology and decision-making: insights from an experimental conjoint analysis", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 647-670. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-04-2019-0232

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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