Determinants Of Sustainability Among Women Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Background: Women Entrepreneurs aid the growth of a nation newlineand create employment opportunities for the local population. There are newlineseveral motivators like need for achievement, self -efficacy, want to be newlinedifferent, want to make a change and the support of the family which newlineenable them to reach their goals. On the other hand, they have barriers newlinesuch as lack of financial support, societal attitudes, familial newlineresponsibilities, etc. that pose impediments to their growth and newlinedevelopment. newlineObjectives: This work proposes to analyse the determinants of newlinethe Sustainability of Women Entrepreneurs and the role played by newlinenetworking and competitive advantage in it. newlineMethods: The study adopted the Explanatory Sequential Mixed newlineMethod research design. Quantitative data through a questionnaire, newlineQualitative Data through semi-structured interviews of select newlineentrepreneurs are used. 116 women entrepreneurs answered the survey. newlineData analysis was done by means of statistical tests such as Simple newlinePercentage Analysis, Multivariate statistical tools and Structural Equation newlineModelling through SPSS and AMOS. As for qualitative data, analysis was newlinedone by thematic analysis and common themes and subthemes were newlineidentified. newlineResults: The study revealed that sustainability is positively newlineinfluenced by all the enablers such as need for achievement, risk newlinepropensity, entrepreneurial self-efficacy and, funding and institutional newlinex newlinesupport. Further sustainability is positively influenced by personal and newlinefamilial challenges, venture related challenges and financial challenges. newlineHowever, socio cultural challenges do not influence the sustainability of newlinewomen led enterprises. newlineConclusion: Entrenched socioeconomic complexity in the newlineform of gender stereotypes, lack of information and financial support newlineresult in fewer women pursuing entrepreneurship. Despite this, women newlinehave shattered patriarchal shackles and fought for their enterprises and newlineeconomic independence using ingenious tactics and techniques newline