선행 연구들에 따르면, 여성기업인과 남성기업인은 기업 성장에 대해 서로 다른 인식을 가지고 있는 것으로 조사되고 있다. 즉 여성기업인들이 남성기업인들에 비해 성장 열망이 약하다는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 신사업인 IT 부문 여성기업인들을 대상으로 심층면접을 진행하여 이들이 기업 성장에 대해 어떤 인식을 가지고 있는지 살펴보고, 여성기업인이 기업성장을 위해 정부정책자금을 동원하는 방식을 밝혀보고자 하였다. 연구 결과 IT부문 여성기업인들은 기업 일반의 여성기업인들과 달리 남성기업인들과 유사하게 강한 성장 열망을 가지고 있는 것으로 조사되었다. 그런데 이들은 성장 의지를 실현하는 과정에서 자금 문제로 심각한 어려움을 겪고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 여성이라는 이유로 경영 능력을 인정받지 못해 외부 자금에 접근할 수 있는 통로가 협소하고, 또 기술과 같은 무형자산이 중심이 되는 산업이지만 정부정책자금 이용 시 담보 제공 요구로 인해 어려움을 겪고 있다. 이러한 어려움 속에서도 여성기업인들은 다양한 전략과 방법을 통해 어려움을 타개해 나가며 기업의 생존력을 높이고 있다. 따라서 이들 여성들이 가진 강한 성장 열망이 성공적으로 개화할 수 있도록 정책 자금 지원 시 IT 산업의 특성을 반영한 지원책이 마련되도록 하여야 할 것이다.

This study explores the growth aspiration on the part of women entrepreneurs in IT business and describes their attitudes toward using government supported funding for growth financing. An in-depth interview was conducted to collect data for a qualitative analysis. The results of the study reveal that women business owners in IT businesses have two types of growth aspiration. They are aspiration for an unlimited high growth and aspiration for a growth in real terms rather than a fast speed high growth in figures. The study also finds that women resort to government financing for capital mobilization. However, they are faced with severe difficulty in financing firm growth with the government financing programs. Women in IT businesses are disadvantaged as they have narrow access to capital. Applying for government funding is deterred as women have problems with providing collateral. Observing the complicated application procedures that require extensive documenta -tion also causes difficulty for women to get government funding. Government policies addressing the specific financing needs of women in IT businesses are needed for women to fully realize their growth aspiration.

This study explores the growth aspiration on the part of women entrepreneurs in IT business and describes their attitudes toward using government supported funding for growth financing. An in-depth interview was conducted to collect data for a qualitative analysis. The results of the study reveal that women business owners in IT businesses have two types of growth aspiration. They are aspiration for an unlimited high growth and aspiration for a growth in real terms rather than a fast speed high growth in figures. The study also finds that women resort to government financing for capital mobilization. However, they are faced with severe difficulty in financing firm growth with the government financing programs. Women in IT businesses are disadvantaged as they have narrow access to capital. Applying for government funding is deterred as women have problems with providing collateral. Observing the complicated application procedures that require extensive documenta -tion also causes difficulty for women to get government funding. Government policies addressing the specific financing needs of women in IT businesses are needed for women to fully realize their growth aspiration.

women entrepreneurs, IT business, growth aspiration, government policy on financing