Investigating Relational Capital in the Start-Up of the Immigrant Women-Owned Enterprises
摘要
In recent years, immigrant entrepreneurship has experienced significant growth in Italy, and this phenomenon has become increasingly feminized. When studying female entrepreneurship, it becomes necessary to understand the network that supports it, namely, the value of relational capital. Understanding the value of relational capital becomes crucial when studying entrepreneurship among foreign-born individuals. This study investigates the quantitative dimension of foreign-owned female entrepreneurship in Italy, identifies the factors behind this phenomenon, and examines the value that relational capital holds for the creation and development of businesses. This research contributes to expanding the literature on relational capital in the context of foreign female entrepreneurship in Italy by contributing to two distinct fields: relational capital and studies on immigrant female entrepreneurship. The initial segment of this research is dedicated to a comprehensive literature review, delving into the salient factors’ characteristic of female immigrant enterprises and the correlation between relational capital within small and micro female-owned businesses. Subsequently, a methodological examination of the case studies was conducted. Regarding practical implications, this study emphasizes the importance of relational capital as an intangible resource in the development of foreign female-owned businesses, employing a qualitative methodology through a multiple case study to support the research. The limitation of this study concerns the number of pilot cases observed, which was limited to three.