Investigating the Effect of Women's Entrepreneurial Orientation on Political and Business Relations, Network Resource Acquisition, and Firm Performance (Case Study: Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Kerman City)

This study aims to examine the effect of women's entrepreneurial orientation on political and business relations, network resource acquisition, and the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kerman city. The research follows a descriptive-survey design with an applied purpose. The statistical population includes women entrepreneurs in SMEs active in Kerman in 2024. A total of 392 valid responses were collected using a standardized questionnaire through random sampling. The questionnaire's reliability was confirmed by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.901. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 and PLS 3. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis were used to test hypotheses and assess model fit. SEM results showed that women's entrepreneurial orientation significantly influenced political relations (β=0.626, t=16.846), business relations (β=0.486, t=9.902), and network resource acquisition (β=0.301, t=5.783). Political (β=0.567, t=8.452) and business ties (β=0.159, t=2.418) also had a significant effect on resource acquisition. Furthermore, political (β=0.199, t=2.443) and business ties (β=0.174, t=2.766) positively affected company performance. Finally, network resource acquisition (β=0.763, t=12.913) and entrepreneurial orientation (β=0.162, t=2.940) significantly enhanced SME performance. The findings indicate that women's entrepreneurial orientation plays a pivotal role in fostering political and business relationships and acquiring critical network resources, which collectively contribute to the improved performance of SMEs. Strengthening these ties can serve as a strategic response to gender-based and structural barriers in resource-constrained environments.