In the Quebec city area, 400 women owner-managers of business in the three industrial sectors answered a detailed questionnaire, and 75 of these subsequently underwent in-depth interviews. The main dimensions explored were the characteristics of the entrepreneurs and their firms, the experience of starting a business, the success criteria used, and their vision for the future of their firms. The results suggest the importance, to these women, of a model of
small and stable business
. This is not a transitory phase for their firm: most choose and value such a scale of business, and they seek recognition for what they do. This model seems to represent an innovative adaptation to their professional, social, family and personal demands and challenges our definitions of entrepreneurship and of
serious business
.
Dr Hélène Lee-Gosselin is associate professor of Management at Université Laval. She has directed a variety of research projects on women in business, entrepreneurship and the effect of stress on the mental health of nurses, and has co-authored two books on personnel management.
Dr Jacques Grisé is professor of management at Faculté des sciences de l'administration of Université Laval, Quebec City. He is currently Director of Undergraduate Studies in business administration. Professor Grisé has been involved in extensive research on woman entrepreneur over the last 4 years and he has co-authored several articles on the subject with Dr Lee-Gosselin.