Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the individual-level elements that are linked to entrepreneurial orientation, as well as the inclination or intention of women to initiate a new business endeavor. The primary objective of this study is to examine various characteristics, including social capital, self-efficacy, locus of control, need for achievement, and need for independence/autonomy, that may influence the entrepreneurial orientation of women and, consequently, their inclination to initiate a business endeavor. In order to accomplish the stated purpose, a comprehensive collection of quantitative data was undertaken, encompassing a sample size of 243 women. This sample included both female students and businesswomen residing in Saudi Arabia. The data underwent analysis using the statistical software packages SPSS and AMOS. The findings indicate a favorable correlation between social capital, self-efficacy, need for accomplishment, and demand for independence/autonomy with the entrepreneurial inclination of women. However, the study did not identify locus of control as a statistically significant predictor of entrepreneurial orientation among women. The study also revealed a favorable correlation between entrepreneurial orientation and the entrepreneurial intention of women. This study is a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature, which remains limited in its coverage of women's entrepreneurship, particularly in the context of emerging nations. Also, previous research has not adequately examined the concept of social capital within the realm of women's entrepreneurship (Setini et al., 2020). Further, the idea of entrepreneurial orientation in individuals is a relatively recent area of inquiry that warrants additional examination (Singh & Mehdi, 2022). Thus, this study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature in this field.