Effect of Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, Southern Eastern Nigeria
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To examine environmental factors that affect women entrepreneurship development in Enugu state
- To ascertain how these factors, enhance the development of women entrepreneurship in Enugu state
- To ascertain the relationship between these factors and the challenges face by women entrepreneurs
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Women Entrepreneurship
Following Lewis (2006), Mordi et al (2010) and Singh et al (2010) entrepreneurs tend to have a number of common traits which include characteristics concerning creativity and innovation, foresight, imagination, and daring. Theories on what makes people entrepreneurs have tended to identify traits internal to the entrepreneur or externally induced or motivated factors, such as a lack of employment opportunities, dissatisfaction at work, and supportive government initiatives. Women entrepreneurs are simply women that participate in total entrepreneurial activities, who take the risks involved in combining resources together in a unique way so as to take advantage of the opportunity identified in their immediate environment through production of goods and services. Most of them are involved in micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) which contribute more than 97% of all enterprises, 60% of the nation’s GDP and 94% of the total share of the employment (Mayoux, 2001, Ndubusi, 2004). The spectrum of women in entrepreneurship often ranges from home-based businesses (HBB) to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSEs) (ILO, 1998). Women entrepreneurs generally share the same motivations with their men counterparts (Kerka, I993).
Characteristics of Women Entrepreneurs
Women in entrepreneurship possess dual characteristics (for instance, they are firstly women and secondly entrepreneurs). Therefore, women entrepreneurs possess characteristics which include adaptability (Kilby, 1968), innovativeness/creativity (Schumpeter, 1934, Drucker, 1985), strength and internal locus of control (Annenkova, 2001), ability to think and reason fast and endure (Mayoux, 2001), managerial skill, accountability and credit risk (Thomson, 2002). Factors that motivate women entrepreneurs have been identified to include, dissatisfaction with “glass ceiling” (Familoni, 2007) or limits on their earnings and advancement (Stoner and Fry, 1982), need to improve quality of life (Cooper, 1983), desire to earn more income, growth and innovation (Carland, Boulton and Carland 1984), desire for independence, risk-taking propensity (Brockhaus,1980), education, freedom, job flexibility and previous experience (Mansor, 2005)
Women Entrepreneurial Development and Environmental Factors
Development connotes a human multifarious and divergent process, manifested in every field of endeavor, which entails the overall improvement of man and his well being, to the level of social group which involves an increased capacity to regulate both internal and external relations (Rodney, 1976). On the other hand, environment is the interrelated and interdependent variables or forces which affect the ways business operates. Business environment is highly dynamic and hence controls the operations and activities of business ventures. The understanding of the dynamism and the effect of environment on women entrepreneurial development is very important for policy making. Kantor (1999) and Iheduru (2002) saw family influence as the antecedent of women entrepreneurial development. Ronstadt (1984), Morris and Lewis (1991) and ILO (1998) included infrastructure, legal, regulatory, economic and socio-cultural variables such as rapid and threatening change, one’s family, school and work environment as the environmental factors that can affect women entrepreneurs. Watkins and Watkins (1986) further classified these factors into ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors. Keeble and Walker (1994) looked at the environmental factors from the perspective of the developmental setting that stimulates local market. Several environmental indicators have been identified as the major factors that can either hinder or inhibit women entrepreneurs. Minniti and Arenius (2003) argue that these factors are the supportive services that enhance women entrepreneurial development. ILO (2003) regards environment factors as the external factors that include: (i) government policy (fiscal and legislative framework), (ii) access to appropriate business development support, (iii) access to finance and financial services and (iv) community and family. Mansor (2005) enumerated these factors, namely: venture capital availability, presence of experience, technical skilled labour force, accessibility of suppliers, customers, new markets, government influences, land, transportation, new technological development, supporting services and living condition.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study effect of Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items or things. The researcher is interested in getting information on effect of Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria. 200 staff of selected SMEs in Enugu state were selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain Effect of Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria.
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing challenge Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria
Summary
This study was on Effect of Cultural Environment on Women Entrepreneurship Development in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: To examine environmental factors that affect women entrepreneurship development in Enugu state, to ascertain how these factors, enhance the development of women entrepreneurship in Enugu state, to ascertain the relationship between these factors and the challenges face by women entrepreneurs, by extension and implication, the study shall provide how the government both state and national and also the society will influence positively on entrepreneurship and its development. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected SMEs in Enugu state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made of male entrepreneur, female entrepreneur, managers and secretaries were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The results of this study show that entrepreneurial development can be linked with the psychological traits of an entrepreneur who is subject to environmental factors that affect the enterprise. The paper also demonstrated a nexus between the influences of the environment on an enterprise. Environment whether conducive or non-conducive has a significant influence on entrepreneurial development. While conducive environment will result in ‘pull’ factors that could encourage or lure women into entrepreneurship, non-conducive environment will result in ‘push’ factors which could also force or push women into business. This study has gone some way to ‘closing the gap’ in terms of our understanding of the impact of environmental factors on women entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. In this respect, we have obtained through our data a ‘snapshot’ of the impacts of the environment on women entrepreneurs. The next step might be to complement this quantitative work with an in-depth qualitative analysis of female entrepreneurs’ perceptions of environmental factors and experiences in turning them into entrepreneurs.
Recommendation
women should endeavour to take advantage of all business opportunities in their environment by seeking advice and counseling from those women who are already succeeding in their type of businesses
The government should make policies that will positively enhance the accessibility of women entrepreneurs to the required funds and help the business support organizations improve their services towards women entrepreneurial development.
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