Interaction between Women Entrepreneurs’ Age and Education on Business Dynamics in Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

Abstract

Women entrepreneurs have been considered more averse to exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities irrespective of age and education. A key question as a consequence arise – Do the two significantly influence the use of entrepreneurial strategic planning practices (entrepreneurial orientation, scanning intensity, planning flexibility, planning horizon and locus of planning) and firm performance among women-led SMEs in Kenya? An exploratory cross-sectional survey was carried out. The sample comprised of 128 small and medium scale women entrepreneurs. The results of the interaction of the UNIANOVA analysis revealed that there was significant interaction between the effects of both age and education on locus of planning. Both also had a significant impact on the profitability of the enterprises when firm performance was measured as return on asset. It is recommended that there is dire need for special courses and programs for women entrepreneurs whose highest educational achievement is primary education.