Factors Affecting the Performance of Women Entrepreneurs in Micro and Small Enterprises in Gulele Sub-City, Addis Ababa
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Date
2015-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study assesses the major factors affecting the performance of women
entrepreneurs in MSEs. It also addressed the characteristics of women
entrepreneurs in MSEs and the challenges they face in the area of technical
and business training supports from training colleges/institutes.A sample of
181 women entrepreneurs engaged in 5 sectors was taken for the study using
stratified and simple random sampling. In the process of answering the basic
questions, a questionnaire that include demographic profiles, characteristics of
women entrepreneurs and their enterprises, factors that affect the
performance of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and the challenges they face in
technical trainings were designed in a closed ended and likert scales. After
the data has been collected, it was analysed using simple statistical
techniques (tables and percentages) and descriptive statistics (mean and
standard deviations). The results of the study indicates the personal
characteristics of women entrepreneurs in MSEs and their enterprise affect
their performance .It also shows that lack of their own premises(land) to run
their business, financial access given by micro finances or other lending
institutions, inadequate access to business training,stiff competition in the
market place, access to technology and access to raw materials were the key
economic factors that affect the performance of women entrepreneurs in
MSEs. The study also found that conflicting gender roles or household
responsibilities, network with outsiders and social acceptability were the
major social factors that affect these entrepreneurs. The legal and
administrative bodies are required to create an enabling environment for the
growth and development of MSEs, but this study found that access to policy
makers, high amount of tax, network with administrative bodies, interest rate
charged and over all legal and regulatory environments were the main factors
that affect women entrepreneurs.The study also found that customer service
training, marketing training, financial report training and entrepreneurship
trainings were the main challenges of the entrepreneurs.
Based on the major findings, recommendations were forwarded to existing
and potential entrepreneurs, MSEs, Micro finances and other government
bodies
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Geography and Environmental Studies