Strategic management decisions in power positions to achieve business excellence in small service businesses: does gender matter?
Author
María del Mar Alonso-Almeida – (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid)
Kerstin Bremser – (Pforzheim University)
Received April 1, 2014; accepted June 17, 2014.
Abstract
The paper presents the results of a 2009 survey of 136 Spanish small service businesses. Male and female owners of travel agencies were interviewed to indicate their crisis readiness and measures taken to confront the crisis. Gender based differences in strategic decision-making were detected. Whereas men and women were equally successful to overcome the crisis, their strategies differed. Women were on average significantly younger, employed measures focusing on price, kept social measures intact and employed to a lesser extent drastic measures to reduce costs (layoffs, dismissals). Men used drastic measures most. The differences in strategic choice can be attributed to a gender specific leadership style.
El documento presenta los resultados de una encuesta realizada en 2009 a 136 pequeñas empresas españolas de servicios. Se entrevistó a los propietarios de las agencias de viajes para indicar su preparación para la crisis y las medidas adoptadas para enfrentarla. Se detectaron diferencias de género en la toma de decisiones estratégicas. Mientras que hombres y mujeres tuvieron el mismo éxito para superar la crisis, sus estrategias diferían. En promedio, las mujeres eran significativamente más jóvenes, emplearon medidas centradas en el precio, mantuvieron intactas las medidas sociales y emplearon en menor medida medidas drásticas para reducir los costos (despidos). Los hombres usaron medidas más drásticas. Las diferencias en la elección estratégica se pueden atribuir a un estilo de liderazgo específico de género.
Citation
Alonso‐Almeida, M. D. M., & Bremser, K. (2014). Strategic management decisions in power positions to achieve business excellence in small service businesses: does gender matter?. European Accounting and Management Review, 1(1).
Figures
Keywords
- Gender
- Tourism
- Small services
- Crisis management
- Decision-taking
Palabras clave
- Género
- Turismo
- Servicios pequeños
- Gestión de crisis
- Toma de decisiones
Share this article
Related Posts
Article 3, Volume 10 Issue 1
Web communication of the SDGs in Catalan universities Author Núria Arimany-Serra – (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) Anna Sabata-Aliberch – (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) Josep Burgaya – (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) DOI: 10.26595/eamr.2014.10.1.3 Download PDF View HTML Received May 1, 2024; accepted October 19,
Article 2, Volume 10 Issue 1
WPPM Index Reporting – How can the key figure of women’s quota be appropriately integrated into a reporting system? Author Bettina Binder – (Hochschule Pforzheim) DOI: 10.26595/eamr.2014.10.1.2 Download PDF View HTML Received October 31, 2023; accepted June 13, 2024. Abstract English While women in particular were employed less or not at all in the companies
Article 1, Volume 10 Issue 1
Analysis of the sustainability of swimming pools: Water and energy cycles Author Núria Arimany-Serrat – (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) Juan José Gómez Guillén – (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya) DOI: 10.26595/eamr.2014.10.1.1 Download PDF View HTML Received February 25, 2024; accepted April 9, 2024. Abstract English The objective of