Exploring gender imbalances in innovation and entrepreneurship: evidence from a global south country
International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship
ISSN: 1756-6266
Article publication date: 14 September 2023
Issue publication date: 11 October 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the gender diversity within innovation and entrepreneurship teams and the perceptions of gender imbalance in digital skills among team members in Kazakhstan, a Central Asian country belonging to the Global South.
Design/methodology/approach
Primary data were collected from ten leading firms in Kazakhstan's manufacturing, construction and oil and gas sectors, which have international connections or perspectives. The members of the research and development (R&D) departments of these firms completed an online, structured closed-question questionnaire anonymously. A total of 169 completed responses were analyzed using regression analysis, controlling for company size and sector, with gender as the independent variable.
Findings
The gender diversity within innovation teams is not as high as anticipated, even though there is a substantial representation of women in the scientific workforce across many firms. Similarly, there is a gender gap in entrepreneurship teams involved in business innovation, although it is slightly less pronounced. Female employees report a greater disparity compared to their male counterparts. Surprisingly, over 60% of both male and female respondents agree that women lack the same level of digital expertise and knowledge as men.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this research should be interpreted in light of the fact that they are based on a perception-based survey. Local firms exhibit skepticism toward external researchers due to privacy concerns, making their participation challenging. However, it is noteworthy that the survey targeted front-line workers in the innovation and entrepreneurship field, providing informed perspectives that strengthen the study's outcomes.
Originality/value
This study reveals that while women form a considerable proportion the scientific workforce, gender diversity in innovation and entrepreneurship teams is lacking in a Global South country. Gender imbalance in innovation and entrepreneurship is thus present in both developing and developed countries, highlighting the need for interventions to promote gender diversity at the firm level.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the Nazarbayev University (No: 021220FD0751) (FDCRG).
Citation
Akhmadi, S. and Tsakalerou, M. (2023), "Exploring gender imbalances in innovation and entrepreneurship: evidence from a global south country", International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, Vol. 15 No. 3, pp. 275-292. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-08-2022-0145
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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