Motivation as a Driving Force for Achievement in Micro and Small Enterprises: Differences from the Gender Perspectives

Purpose: The aim of the research is to compare the impact of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on the performance of companies established by women and by men. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study involved a random sample of 32 micro and small enterprises led by women and 58 enterprises run by men. The research was conducted in Poland, using a questionnaire-based interview, in the south-eastern part of the Wielkopolskie Voivodship. The research covered the period from 2020 to 2022. Empirical data were compiled using the STATISTICA software. To examine the strength of the relationship between variables, the non-parametric gamma rank correlation method was applied. Findings: The study demonstrated that the influence of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation on the performance of female- and male-led enterprises differs. The performance of women-led enterprises is more strongly influenced by factors related to intrinsic motivation than those related to extrinsic motivation. In contrast, in men-led enterprises, the impact of both types of motivation is similar. Practical implications: The findings may be useful to the business community, academia, and policymakers. For policymakers, they provide arguments for supporting both women’s and men’s entrepreneurship, particularly in countries with similar cultural contexts and economic development levels to Poland. Originality/value: By offering a new perspective on the motivational factors influencing women and men in relation to enterprise performance, the article fills a gap in the literature and serves as a basis for further research.