Gender export gap in Scotland: research

Appendix 1: Scoping Review methodological approach

To form understanding of what is known about the drivers and barriers to exporting for women-led SMEs a scoping review of the existing academic literature was conducted. The research team utilised systematic searches (Table A1) to identify relevant literature. The goal of the scoping review was to provide an indication of what the existing evidence illustrates. The team utilised the Scopus® database to facilitate the systematic searches.

Using various keyword searches to capture existing knowledge on barriers and drivers to exporting for women-led SMEs it become apparent that the existing academic evidence regarding barriers and drivers to exporting for women-led SMEs was not a frequently studies topic. It was decided, therefore, to include an additional two searches, focusing on the barriers and drivers for business growth for women-led SMEs and the barriers and drivers for exporting for SMEs in general. Several filters were applied to the search criteria to ensure the credibility of the data:

1) Only peer-reviewed journal articles were included.

2) Journal articles archived in the topics of “Business Management and Accounting” and the “Social Sciences” were included.

After each search each academic article that appeared in the search was reviewed with the key barriers and drivers captured. During this review phase many articles were excluded. Our inclusion/exclusion criteria for articles at this stage included:

1) Limiting to empirical studies of a western, developed country context to ensure the contextual similarity with Scotland.

2) The exclusion of articles that did not provide evidence into barriers and drivers to exporting or business growth.

This left the research team with 46 academic journal articles. It is important to note that the research team did not conduct an analytical appraisal of the articles but conducting a quick scope of attributed barriers and drivers.