Gender differences in risk management. Small and medium sized enterprise perspective
Gender differences in risk management. Small and medium sized enterprise perspective

Summary/Abstract: Many interactions in all business functions involve some form of risk. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play an important role in most economies worldwide, are particularly sensitive to risk. Often their survival is more easily threatened due to their smaller set of resources. The approach to risk management in SMEs is often determined by the risk-taking behavior by the owner or top executives. A substantial body of research in economic and especially in social science has tried to understand how decision makers incorporate risk in their choices. Part of research points that male SME owners appear to show a different risk-taking behavior than female SME owners. This paper examines whether the gender of the firm’s owners or top executives is reflected in the approach to risk management. The focal point of research is the identification of differences in selected areas of risk management process in SMEs companies from a gender perspective.

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