Human capabilities and firm growth; an investigation of women-owned established micro and small firms in Ireland

Figures & data

Table 1. Measures of growth: average turnover, employment, turnover per employee growth (2007–2009) (n = 172).

Growth measure	Average growth (%)
Average growth rate in turnover	12.94
Average growth rate in employment	22.04
Average growth rate in turnover per employee	5.83

Table 2. Sample description of women owner-managers and their micro and small firms (n = 172).

Description of the women-entrepreneurs in sample		Description of the firms in sample
Age	Percent (%)	Industry sector	Percent (%)
18–34	25.6	Professional services	37.8
35–44	43.6	Manufacturing	15.1
45–54	25.0	ICT	13.4
55+	5.8	Health	11.64
Education		Education and training	9.3
Second level	12.8	Retail	7
Third level	53.5	Food and drink	5.8
Postgraduate level	33.7	Firm age
Work experience		3–5 years	61
Same sector experience	61.6	6–10 years	22.1
Managerial position	63.4	Over 10 years	16.9
Involvement in business start-up	36.6	Firm size
		0–10 (micro)	86
		11–50 (small)	14

Table 3. Analysis of variance between human capabilities and growth (turnover, employment and turnover per employee, n = 172).

Growth metrics/human and organizational capabilities	Turnover growth F Stat	Employment growth F Stat	Turnover per employee growth F Stat
Same sector work experience	1.781	1.745	1.541
p value	.184	.188	.261
Managerial experience	26.575***	.451	5.457**
p value	.000	.503	.021
Third level education	16.445***	.036	5.262**
p value	.000	.850	.023
Nature of ownership	17.842***	1.597	7.986***
p value	.000	.208	.005
Firm size	.112	.033	.782
p value	.738	.856	.378
Age of women entrepreneur	.222	13.156***	1.887
p value	.638	.000	.171
Firm age	.113	4.315***	4.231***
p value	.940	.006	.007
Industry sector	1.460	1.052	3.399***
p value	.195	.394	.003

Note: ANOVA F Statistic **significant at the 5% level, ***significant at the 1% level.

Growth is measured by three dependent variables, both financial and non-financial, firstly the percentage change in turnover from 2007 to 2009; secondly, the percentage change in employment numbers from 2007 to 2009; and finally, the percentage change in the ratio of turnover to employment numbers from 2007 to 2009. Same Sector Experience is the Women entrepreneur’s previous sector experience. Managerial Position is the Women entrepreneur’s previous managerial position. The Age variable is the age of the Women entrepreneur. Third Level Education captures the Women entrepreneur’s education level (with or without a third level education). Firm Size is a firm of more than 10 employees. Nature of Ownership indicates that the firm owned by a team of entrepreneurs. Firm Age is a variable that captures the number of years a firm is in operation. Sectors include ICT, Manufacturing, Food and Drink, Professional Services Education and Training, Health, and Retail.

Table 4. A multiple regression examining the link between growth (turnover, employment, turnover per employee,) and human capabilities in women-owned Firms (n = 172).

Growth metrics/human and organizational capabilities	Turnover coefficients	Employment coefficients	Turnover by employees coefficients
(Constant)	4.086	69.152**	−37.127**
Same sector experience	−6.585	13.224	−11.326
Managerial position	14.852***	2.564	12.173
Third level education	15.095***	−10.452	23.518**
Nature of ownership	10.447***	13.840	18.773**
Firm size	−2.143	8.086	−26.933**
Age of women entrepreneur	−3.424**	−17.912***	4.668
Firm age	3.101	−17.998***	12.101***
ICT sector	5.736	−30.428	38.498***
Manufacturing sector	−6.625	2.171	6.431
Food and drink sector	−8.485	16.152	−1.191
Education and training sector	−4.547	16.213	4.220
Health sector	−6.794	28.336	−10.655
Retail sector	−2.160	−313.409	3.649

Note: **significant at the 5% level, ***significant at the 1% level.

Growth is measured by three dependent variables, both financial and non-financial, firstly the percentage change in turnover from 2007 to 2009; secondly, the percentage change in employment numbers from 2007 to 2009; and finally, the percentage change in the ratio of turnover to employment numbers from 2007 to 2009. Same Sector Experience is the Women entrepreneur’s previous sector experience. Managerial Position is the Women entrepreneur’s previous managerial position. The Age variable is the age of the Women entrepreneur. Third Level Education captures the Women entrepreneur’s education level (with or without a third level education). Firm Size is a firm of more than 10 employees. Nature of Ownership indicates that the firm owned by a team of entrepreneurs. Firm Age is a variable that captures the number of years a firm is in operation. Sectors include ICT, Manufacturing, Food and Drink, Professional Services Education and Training, Health, and Retail.