Chennai: The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) researchers have found that a majority of women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu are driven by “market opportunity” and push factors such as “necessity.” A release from IIT-M today said economic motivations are not the primary reasons to venture into entrepreneurship.
The researchers conducted a study to understand why and how women entrepreneurs chose their path into entrepreneurship and continue along their path. According to the All India report of Sixth Economic Census (2016), Tamil Nadu had the maximum number of women-owned enterprises with at least one hired worker in India. The study was conducted in Tamil Nadu by interviewing women entrepreneurs between September and December 2019. The factors that were found to motivate women entrepreneurs to get into business were passion, impulse to create something new, an affinity for challenges, creation of social values, desire for work-life balance, social
support (from the spouse and family), and institutional support (such as government aid and subsidies).
Dr. Rupashree Baral, Associate Professor Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras, conducted the study with Ms. Jasmine Banu, Doctoral Scholar, Department of Management Studies. The findings were published as a research paper in the peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy.
Dr. Rupashree Baral said women’s entrepreneurship is a major step towards contributing the nation’s economy, innovation, growth, and quality of life. The release said considering the important role of women entrepreneurs
in socio-economic development, it was critical to investigate the factors that motivate, facilitate and constrain women’s entrepreneurial activities. “Such an investigation is likely to foster the well-being of women entrepreneurs and develop better initiatives, policies, and programs towards nurturing a conducive environment for women entrepreneurs and reduce the gender gap in society”, Dr. Rupashree said.
The researchers found that various factors that helped women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu to survive and grow in their business include their ability and experience, networking opportunity, support from family and institutional support.
