Entrepreneurial Profile, Networking And Outcomes: A Study Of Women Owned Mitumba Enterprises In Mombasa City, Kenya

Abstract

Entrepreneurs are widely recognized as prime movers of economic development. They translate ideas into action and use networks to gather resources, exploit opportunities through venture creation. This study focused on the influence of enterprise profile on entrepreneurial outcomes, influence of enterprise venture creation on entrepreneurial outcomes, influence of social network on entrepreneurial outcomes and how the utilization of network resources affects entrepreneurial outcomes. This study adopted a survey research design. This study targeted women entrepreneurs operating mitumba small enterprises (SEs) in the informal sector in Mombasa city. The target population for the study was 228 SEs. The sample size for this study was 114 respondents. A simple random and stratified sampling technique was used to select the respondents. The main data collection tool was a questionnaire. Reliability analysis level, using Cranach alpha was> 0.7. Data was analyzed using SPSS V 20; Chi square and multiple regressions was used to test the Hypotheses. The findings of this study show that enterprise Venture creation had a significance of 0.359 hence was not supportive to enterprise outcomes. The Level of enterprise venture creation, utilization of network resources and social network intensity had very strong positive significant relationship with mitumba enterprise outcomes. Venture creation with a significance of 0.359, were weak predictors of Mitumba enterprise outcome and hence, did not support Mitumba Enterprise Outcome. This study concludes that the Mitumba enterprise outcomes in Mombasa city, were influenced by entrepreneurs’ profile, utilization of network resources and social network intensity. While enterprise venture creation had no support for mitumba enterprise outcomes. This study recommends that future research should consider the capabilities of mitumba enterprise outcomes in a more detailed approach such as expanding the study areas and examining a large number of companies and counties.