Gender Differences in Business Related Experience amongst Smmes Owners in King Williams Town, South Africa: A Comparative Analysis

This paper aimed at examining whether or not the level of business related experience conceptualised as managerial, industry and prior-business ownership experience differs across gender amongst SMME owners in King Williams Town, South Africa. Questionnaires were self-administered to 109 respondents (56 male and 53 female-owned SMMEs). Data obtained was statistically analysed by making use of the Chi-Square test to determine whether or not a significant association could be found between gender and the level of business related experience in the selected area of study. The findings revealed that a statistically significant association can be found between gender and the level of management experience as well as in the level of prior-business ownership experience. However, the study’s findings further revealed that no statistically significant association could be found between gender and the level of industry experience. On the basis of the findings, it is proposed that private and public firms should therefore set targets for women in senior roles as this would help female employees to acquire managerial and industry experience considered crucial in case they decide to operate their own Small, Medium and/or Micro Enterprises. Further, it is recommend that the business community, government and the community at large should encourage female business owners to work hand in hand with international networks such as the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM) that have the potential for transferring knowledge and business related experience between different continents. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2687