Women Entrepreneurs : Opportunities, Performance and Problems
Contents: Preface. I. Women entrepreneurship and business: 1. Entrepreneurship and small business: an introduction. 2. Defining entrepreneur. 3. Women as entrepreneurs. II. Women entrepreneurship: Indian and international research scenario: 1. Indian research pertaining to women entrepreneurship. 2. International research pertaining to women entrepreneurship. 3. Research gap and need justification. 4. Methodology of study. 5. Tools and statistical techniques. III. Profile and entrepreneurial performance: 1. Profile of women entrepreneurs. 2. Motives for starting business. 3. Performance of women entrepreneurs. IV. Experience with enterprise support agencies: 1. Extent of expectations fulfilled. 2. Attitude towards support agencies. 3. Suggestions of women entrepreneurs. V. Problems in enterprise set-up and management: 1. Types of problems faced and suggested solutions. 2. Perception about issues related to women entrepreneurship. VI. Managerial capabilities and training needs: 1. Perception about managerial capabilities. 2. Training needs of existing and prospective women entrepreneurs. VII. Business opportunities for women: 1. Preference for different entrepreneurial areas. 2. Areas of business opportunities. 3. Additional business opportunities. VIII. Promoting entrepreneurship amongst women: 1. Factors strengthening women entrepreneurship. 2. Inculcation of entrepreneurial values in family. 3. Desirable business environment for women entrepreneurs. 4. Increased involvement of women in entrepreneurship. 5. Recommendations. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.
"The hidden entrepreneurial potentials of women have gradually been changing with the growing sensitivity to the role and economic status in the society. Women are increasingly becoming conscious of their existence, their rights and their work situations. Today, women entrepreneurs represent a group of women who have broken away from the beaten track and are exploring new avenues of economic participation. Among the reasons for women to run organised enterprises are their skill and knowledge, their talents and abilities in business and a compelling desire of wanting to do something positive.
Life for a woman entrepreneur having a small scale industry is not a bed of roses. The individual woman entrepreneur single-handedly faces a plethora of seemingly endless problems. But despite these numerous barriers and tangible obstacles women are, today, entering the field of business in increasing numbers.
This study was undertaken with a view to find out the entrepreneurial performance and problems of women in business in North-Western India. In all 175 women entrepreneurs who had established their enterprises during the time frame of 1982 to 1996 and were employing 5 or more in their respective enterprises were interviewed personally. The author was astonished to see the spectacular performances of some women entrepreneurs. Equally interesting was to find out some of the peculiar problems faced by women entrepreneurs, which need to be addressed by the powers that be in the right earnest.
Small business policy formulators, women entrepreneurs : both prospective and existing, small business trainers, curriculum designers and students of entrepreneurship and small business will find this book informative and useful." (jacket)
