Back  -  Case 1  -  Case 2  -  Case 3  -  Case 4  -  Case 5 CASE 5 Comitato Impresa Donna of CNA organises training courses and consultancy to promote female entrepreneurship. Syntesis of interviews carried out to female women who attended these courses and content of the courses are as follows. SYNTHESIS OF INTERVIEWS CARRIED OUT TO FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS BY COMITATO IMPRESA DONNA, CNA EMILIA ROMAGNA (TAB. 1) Themes   Aspects considered Main replies given Previous training and work experience Expectations Vary, nearly never of the company Degree in Architecture Mathematics and physics Agricultural science Biological science Biology Sport science Previous work experience Employees Employees in public sector and in private companies Teachers At times self employed workers or part-time workers Skills gained from previous jobs Technical skills Organisation skills Management of human resources Origin of the company Motivations To challenge oneself To create something for oneself To take on the responsibility as the prime person To not be dependent on anybody Loss of interest in being an employee Push factors Chances and opportunities offered by a relative or friend Loss of job Important figure in decision making Mostly nobody Sometimes domestic Sometimes consultants Obstacles and difficulties met Bureaucracy Resources utilised The owner has the superiority Funding Family funds Own savings Raised by chairman Advice and support CNA Business consultants Role of the family At times support At times conflict Organisation and management of the company                           Company dimensions Small (composed of only the entrepreneur, the shareholders or a few employees and partners) Criteria used to choose partners Trust Own intuition and impression made at job interview Competence Relations with shareholders Excellent Decisions Make by oneself or “consult others and I decide” Management of conflicts of interest Any problems can be resolved through conversation Management difficulties Administrative intolerance Methods of collecting information Participation in trade fairs Internet Training courses Specialist reviews Market relations Relations with clients and suppliers Excellent in particular with clients Relations with banks Difficult Promotion strategies Quality at a low price To be at the customers’ disposal “Word of mouth” Few advanced marketing strategies Description of role, identity Evaluation of oneself Brave Strong Trustworthy Creative How one works Passion for the job A preference for creative tasks How entrepreneurial skills were achieved Initially, limited competence “Learn on the job” “Entrepreneurial skills develop themselves” Advantages and disadvantages of being female At times it can prove helpful At times it can prove as an obstacle At times it is very hard Use of time Time management Always carrying out many tasks at one time Assessment Hard to admit to an unconscious conflict of interests between work and family. General valuations of the entrepreneurial experience         General valuations of the entrepreneurial experience. Judgement of the experience Positive Errors that will not be repeated Trusting others (especially banks) Planning for the future Strengthen Improve Expand Proposed changes Improve the level of communication Find new partners, especially young people Update training The transfer of knowledge to others - mentoring High in general Advice to others “Never give up” “To have a winning idea” SYNTHESIS OF THE RESULTS FROM THE INTERVIEWS CARRIED OUT TO FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS BY COMITATO IMPRESA DONNA - CNA EMILIA ROMAGNA ( TAB. 2) CASE TYPE OF COMPANY NUMBER OF PARTNERS   YEAR STARTED     FOUNDED OR INHERITED AGE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR QUALIFICATIONS MOTIVATION FOR ESTABLISHING THE COMPANY LEVEL OF SECTOR ACTIVITY KNOWLEDGE WHEN ESTABLISHING THE COMPANY PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT COMPANY ACTIVITY 1 Sole company 1 1998 Created 36 Degree in architecture Auto realisation Little knowledge Self employed Artistic/ decorative glass 2 Sole company 7 1989 Company collaboration with parents   27 Diploma in sport science Excess work in the parents’ company Family knowledge, the brother also works in a company Casual work Mechanics of small metal parts, stamps 3 sas 2 2000 Created 31 Degree in biological sciences Entrepreneur mentality Technical knowledge Work experience in a laboratory Environmental monitoring 4 p.soc.coop.a.r.l. 3 2000 Created 34 Degree in biology A need to work Knowledge through training Employee Consultancy of Information Technology 5 s.r.l 15 ? Created ? Degree in mathematics and physics Auto realisation Little knowledge Teacher Probing and reading of water conditions 6 Sole company 1 1991 Created 51 Degree in architecture Auto realisation Technical knowledge Employee Assessment of decorative tissue wall hanging 7 Sole company 1 1997 Created 36 Degree in biological sciences       Consultancy for hygiene and health in the work place 8 Sole company 1 2000 Created 39 Degree in agricultural sciences with economic orientation Auto realisation, she did not want to work as an employee Technical knowledge Teacher and product manager Consultancy in the marketing and communications sector.