Push, Pull and Mooring Strategies to Strengthen Malaysian Women’s Entrepreneurial Intention

You, Hui Li (2026) Push, Pull and Mooring Strategies to Strengthen Malaysian Women’s Entrepreneurial Intention. Doctoral thesis, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

Entrepreneurship serves as a crucial engine for economic growth, innovation, and social inclusion, particularly in emerging economies like Malaysia. However, women's participation in entrepreneurial activities remains disproportionately low, limiting their full contribution to national development. While existing studies have primarily focused on socio-cultural and economic motivations individually, there remains a significant research gap in understanding the integrated effects of push (socio-cultural), pull (opportunity-driven), and mooring (Theory of Planned Behaviour, TPB) factors in shaping women’s entrepreneurial intention within a Malaysian context. This study addresses this gap by integrating the Push-Pull-Mooring (PPM) Migration Model with the TPB, offering a more holistic framework to explain Malaysian women’s entrepreneurial motivation and intention. The research aims to analyse how these factors shape women's entrepreneurial intention and action, contributing to designing a more inclusive, sustainable, and genderresponsive entrepreneurial ecosystem. A purposive sampling approach is employed, targeting 535 women entrepreneurs aged 18 and above, involving both formal and informal enterprises, from January 2024 to June 2024, across Malaysia’s Central (Klang Valley), Northern (Penang), and Southern (Johor) regions. These regions are selected based on their significant female population, high entrepreneurial activity, and economic contributions to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Data is collected via structured self-administered questionnaires and analysed using SmartPLS 4.0, applying Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for hypothesis testing and model validation. The results reveal that push factors such as social recognition positively influence women’s entrepreneurial intention, whereas work-family balance challenges act as barriers. Pull factors, particularly monetary motivations, also significantly impact women's entrepreneurial intention. Crucially, attitudes towards behaviour mediate the effects of push and pull factors on entrepreneurial intention, underscoring the pivotal role of psychological readiness over external motivators. These findings confirm that sociocultural expectations, economic imperatives and internal attitudinal constructs shape women's entrepreneurial intention. This study provides significant theoretical contributions by operationalising TPB constructs as mooring factors within the PPM Migration Framework, refining the existing literature study gap on entrepreneurial behaviour and intention models. From a practical standpoint, the findings align with Malaysia’s Ekonomi MADANI Framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reducing Inequality). Additionally, they directly support the National Women’s Policy (2025–2030). Ultimately, this research study offers strategic insights for policymakers, financial institutions, business and community organisations to design targeted interventions aimed at bridging gender gaps, promoting women's socio-economic inclusion, and strengthening Malaysia’s position in global development benchmarks.