Entrepreneurial women's cognitive ambidexterity: Career and cultural influences

Margarietha J de Villiers Scheepers; C Boshoff; M Oostenbrink

doi:10.4102/sajbm.v48i4.40

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Entrepreneurial women's cognitive ambidexterity: Career and cultural influences

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Entrepreneurial women's cognitive ambidexterity: Career and cultural influences

Margarietha J de Villiers Scheepers, C Boshoff and M Oostenbrink

South African Journal of Business Management, Vol.48(4), pp.21-33

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v48i4.40

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

UniSC Diversity Area - Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

The purpose of this study was to examine how women's career stage and Ubuntu (collectivist) values relate to their cognitive ambidexterity when pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives in multicultural South Africa. In this study individual cognitive ambidexterity was operationalised as using effectual and causal logic. More than three hundred businesswomen from diverse backgrounds were surveyed. The results revealed that career stage, self-efficacy and Ubuntu collectivism are important in women's ambidexterity. Mature, efficacious women in their late career stage draw on their diverse networks and use effectual affordable loss, flexibility and causation when pursuing entrepreneurial initiatives. In contrast, younger, early-career women are more likely to use pre-commitment to ensure support from stakeholders. Women with Ubuntu values use their relationship skills to draw on resources from their networks and use ambidexterity (effectual and causal logic) in their entrepreneurial endeavours. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial women who develop their cognitive ambidexterity and draw on both effectual and causal approaches when initiating entrepreneurial initiatives are more likely to experience successful outcomes. These mental approaches can be developed by means of awareness, training and mentoring. This study extends the literature on women's entrepreneurial decision-making in a culturally diverse society, demonstrating the influence of cultural values and career stage on effectual and causal logic.

Details

Title: Entrepreneurial women's cognitive ambidexterity: Career and cultural influences
Authors: Margarietha J de Villiers Scheepers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
C Boshoff (Author) - Stellenbosch University, South Africa
M Oostenbrink (Author) - Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Publication details: South African Journal of Business Management, Vol.48(4), pp.21-33
Publisher: Association for Professional Managers in South Africa
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.4102/sajbm.v48i4.40
ISSN: 2078-5585
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; USC Business School - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450994402621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Business; Management

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