The difference in inventory management between female and male-managed smes : a cross country analysis in the mena region

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between top manager gender and the inventory performanceof a firm under the moderation of obstacles observed in the business climate. Investigation of howthis relationship would be rewarding especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) inMENA region countries, whose economies are mainly based on SMEs. For this purpose, we usedata from World Bank’s MENA Enterprise Surveys (MENA ES) that have been formed by surveysconducted during 2013-2014. The reason that data from 2013 is selected for the analysis is that2013 is the most recent survey year that included inventory level related questions in World Bank’sES dataset.The results have shown that there is no significant difference proved between the inventoryperformances of the firms managed by female and male top managers in the overall. On the otherhand, it is proved that female top managers are more sensitive to business climate variables.Specifically, in female-managed firms, obstacles in access to finance and political instability havesignificant effects on inventory performance. While the difficulty in access to finance decreasesthe inventory level, the obstacles due to political instability increases the inventory kept. None ofthe business obstacles concerned prove any significant effect on inventory levels in male-managedThis study analyzes the relationship between top manager gender and the inventory performanceof a firm under the moderation of obstacles observed in the business climate. Investigation of howthis relationship would be rewarding especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) inMENA region countries, whose economies are mainly based on SMEs. For this purpose, we usedata from World Bank’s MENA Enterprise Surveys (MENA ES) that have been formed by surveysconducted during 2013-2014. The reason that data from 2013 is selected for the analysis is that2013 is the most recent survey year that included inventory level related questions in World Bank’sES dataset.The results have shown that there is no significant difference proved between the inventoryperformances of the firms managed by female and male top managers in the overall. On the otherhand, it is proved that female top managers are more sensitive to business climate variables.Specifically, in female-managed firms, obstacles in access to finance and political instability havesignificant effects on inventory performance. While the difficulty in access to finance decreasesthe inventory level, the obstacles due to political instability increases the inventory kept. None ofthe business obstacles concerned prove any significant effect on inventory levels in male-managed