CHAPTER - I

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Entrepreneurship refers to the act of setting up a new business or reviving an existing
business to take advantages from new opportunities. A woman entrepreneur is an
adult who owns and runs an enterprise, especially a commercial one, often at personal

enterprise as a small unit where one or more women entrepreneurs have not less than
50 per cent financial holdings. Women entrepreneurs face a series of problems right
from the beginning till the enterprise functions. Being a woman itself poses various
problems to a woman entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is the process of creating
something new with value, devoting the necessary time and effort assuming the risk
and reward. People who perform these activities are called entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs assemble resources including innovations, finance and business
acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods (K.Mahuthammal,
2009). In this dynamic world, women entrepreneurs are an important part of the
global sustained economic development and social progress. With the development
of education among women it gave rise to the women employment. As a result of
which steps were taken to enhance the capabilities of women to be entrepreneurs.

The entrepreneurship amongst women in India is relatively a recent phenomenon. It

waken the people
it is the women who have to be awakened. Once she is on move, the family moves,

Healthy and harmonious growth of the society as well as nation would not be possible
unless women are brought into the mainstream of national development. Academic
debate and research led to a re-
development and to demand for measures which would help them realize their full

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 (White, 1984)

(HDR, 1995) and the year of in India are some

examples of policy interventions in this direction. Action was initiated on several
fronts - Education, health, employment, training etc. - by International, National and
non-governmental organizations. The result is, the conviction among women that it
is perhaps in the world of entrepreneurship that the recognition and
contribution is considered the most vital for a better tomorrow (Dhameja, 2002)

1.2 CONCEPT OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR

evolved that termed an SSI unit/industry related service or business enterprise, managed
by one or more women entrepreneurs in Proprietary concerns, or in which she/they
individually or jointly have share capital of not less than 51%as
partners/shareholders/directors of private limited company /members of a cooperative
society as a woman enterprise (Naga Jyothi, 2014).

The women entrepreneurs are those women who take the lead and organize the
business or industry and provide employment to others. It signifies that section of
female population who venture out into industrial activities. It may be defined as a
woman or group of women who initiate, organize and run a business enterprise.

According to J.A. Schumpeter, "Woman who innovates, imitates, or adopts a business

activity is called woman entrepreneur." Thus women entrepreneur are those women
who initiate, organize and operate business enterprise and want to prove their mettle
in innovative and competitive jobs. She also wants to oversee and control every
aspects of her business for its overall success.

Government of India has given a broader definition of the term women entrepreneur.
It defined women entrepreneur as "an enterprise owned and controlled by women
having a minimum financial interest of 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of
the employment generated in the enterprise to women".

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Women entrepreneurs as a group came in to prominence in the late 1970s.The
information contained in the Second All India SSI Census shows that 7.7 % of the small
enterprises were owned by women.

Industry group wise most popular activity of woman entrepreneurs was food
processing, followed by garment making. Realizing the great untapped potential, the
Government has been making concerted efforts to channelize the skills and talent of
women towards economic and business generating activities.

arises. The Government of India has defined women entrepreneurs based on women
participation in equity and employment of business enterprise. Accordingly the women

minimum financial interest of 51 per cent of capital and giving at least 51 per cent of the
employment generated in the enterprise to wo

In view of the changing outlook for the promotion of women enterprises, the SSI board
in 1991 revised the definition of women enterprises by omitting the condition of
employing 50 per cent of women workers. This provided a boost to women entrepreneurs
to take up business and to avail the facilities and concessions as are applicable to all
small scale industries.

neur is a person who is an

enterprising individual with an eye for opportunities and an uncanny vision, commercial
acumen, with tremendous perseverance and above all, a woman, who is willing to take
risks with the unknown because of the adventurous spirit she possesses. Women
Entrepreneur is a person who accepts challenging role to meet her personal needs and
become economically independent. A strong desire to do something positive is an inbuilt
quality of entrepreneurial women, who is capable of contributing values in both family
and social life. This is great news. But, a part of women in some parts of the country still
do not know their power. They don't know that they can break the domination over men
and move on, walk on and fight for their freedom.
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1.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

they offer a great source of knowledge and innovation. They differ in social background,
educational level, experience and age. One important element, perhaps the only

and sharing information. Women are experienced in balancing claims, in organising and
pacing, and in handling difficulties.

In general terms, female - led enterprises tend to be associated with activities that provide
part - time employment. They are small in size and have loose informal structures,
require very little start - up capital and little or no formal education. Many women
entrepreneurs in the developing world remain illiterate and live in poor communities.

They are concentrated in market sectors that have low barriers to entry and low levels of
outside communication. They focus on trade, services and light manufacturing activities.
Their types of business are smaller than others, employing less than five employees. The
owners have relatively little previous working experience. They use traditional
technologies. Most employees are family - related. Business growth strategies are
affected by household responsibilities. Women start their enterprises with less
knowledge of their sector than their male counterpart.

1.4 TYPES OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Women entrepreneurs can be classified into four groups depending upon the
driving motivational factors to venture into business.
Natural Entrepreneurs: Those who take business as profession on their own either
by self-planning or motivated through money factor and also for keeping
themselves busy are natural entrepreneurs.
Generated entrepreneurs: Those who have been encouraged and trained through
specialized training programmes such as the Entrepreneurship Development
Training Programme to set up independent business are termed as generated
entrepreneurs.
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 Forced entrepreneurs: Those who are compelled by circumstances such as the
death of father or husband with responsibilities falling on them to take over the
existing business and;
Benami entrepreneurs: Those who are acting as a facade for business of their
entrepreneurs.

1.5 FACTORS INDUCING THE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS:

Commercialization and modernization of the economy gradually eliminated many of the
avenues of employment to women in agriculture and industries and thus enabled them to
find ways of supplementing their family income. Because of this, a section of urban
women has emerged as potential entrepreneurs.

Women entrepreneurs are not only a product of their ambitions, but also of the
aspirations of their family members, friends and relatives. Sometimes certain
compulsions also lead them to the entrepreneurial positions. It is inferred that the low
income group has given equal importance to both earn money thereby supplementing in

Scarcity of suitable employment opportunities, non - flexibility of working hours,

limitations on mobility and a desire for economic and social independence forced more
and more women, especially over the last decade, to look for newer avenues of income
generation and self-expression through careers in business and industry.
1.5.1 Pull and Push Factors
Some recent researchers indicate that several women are becoming entrepreneurs
especially the middle class women due to the pull and push of traditional and
changing values.

Under the pull factors women entrepreneurs choose a profession as a challenge, as

adventure with an urge to do something new and to have independent occupation.
Under the push factors, women take up business enterprises to get over financial
difficulties when responsibility is thrust on them due to family circumstances.
Women entrepreneurs ventured into their business because of some compu lsions. The

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compulsions cited were: death of husband who was on business, unemployment, to
supplement meager income at home, to adopt better lifestyle and to settle children.
of entrepreneurs who resorted to
entrepreneurial profession because of some compulsions.

Pull factors refer to situations or opportunities being too attractive to be ignored by

the perceiver, while the push factors denote a response born out of extraneous
compulsions. While neat, unalloyed cases of pull or push factors are hard to come by
in real life situations- there is almost always a mixture of the two-the distinction may,
nevertheless, be useful as a frame of reference, For they connote, in essence, positive
and negative responses to specific situations.

As such, both in the rural and urban sectors women especially belonging to the middle
class are trained towards entrepreneurship to fulfill their aspirations both
economically and socially.

In India, women entrepreneurship ca

and less geographical mobility than men, more so in the case of young, married
women who need to take care of their families. These women can use their skills and
available local resources to start their own enterprises. However, the location of the
enterprise and the strength of relationship with contacts are very important as it
d employ the resources available
in her community.

1.6 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Women Entrepreneurs may be defined as the women or a group of women who initiate,
organize and operate a business enterprise. The Government of India has defined women
entrepreneurs as an enterprise owned and controlled by women having a minimum
financial interest of 51 per cent of the capital and giving at least 51 per cent of the

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business due to push and pull factors which encourage women to have an independent
occupation and stands on their own legs. A sense towards independent decision-making
on their life and career is the motivational factor behind this urge. Saddled with
household chores and domestic responsibilities women want to get independence. Under
the influence of these factors the women entrepreneurs choose a profession as a challenge
and as an urge to do something new. Such a situation is described as pull factors. While
in push factors women engaged in business activities due to family compulsion and the
responsibility is thrust upon them. Women entrepreneurship is the process where women
organize all the factors of production, undertake risks, and provide employment to others.
The definition of women entrepreneurship has never been differentiated on the basis of
sex and hence could be extended to women entrepreneurs without any restrictions.

According to Medha Dubhashi Vinze (2005), a woman entrepreneur is a person who is

an enterprising individual with an eye for opportunities and an uncanny vision,
commercial acumen, with tremendous perseverance and above all a person who is
willing to take risks with the unknown because of the adventurous spirit she possesses.
Thus, a woman entrepreneur is one who starts business and manages it independently
and tactfully, takes all the risks, faces the challenges boldly with an iron will to succeed.
Women entrepreneurship is an economic activity of those women who think of a
business enterprise, initiate it, organize and combine the factors of production, operate
the enterprise and undertake risks and handle economic uncertainty involved in running
a business enterprise. Women entrepreneurs take an important role in entrepreneurial
development of India for the last two decades. Their entry is regarded as a sign of
development of women sector in society and it is inferred that our Socio-economic goals
are going in the right path. Women entrepreneurship is the indicator of women
empowerment and they contribute for the overall economy of a country.

1.7 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN WORLD

Entrepreneurship development among women can be considered a possible approach
to economic empowerment of women. Human resources and technology are the two
important factors of growth in new economic order. To activate these two factors

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require entrepreneurship development in a big way in an economy. Entrepreneurship
and economic development have been found as positively correlated variables in
various research studies conducted in different nations. The growth of developed
economics may be attributed to a large extent to the growth of their entrepreneurship.
Further, the growth of women entrepreneurship has been relatively high in developed
nations as compared to developing countries. Women-owned enterprises represented
nearly 40 per cent of the business firms in the United States employing nearly 27.5
million people. It has been seen that women out numbered men by two times,
particularly when it comes to starting new businesses in China during recent years.
At present, there are over five million women entrepreneurs constituting one fourth
of all the entrepreneurs in China. In Latin America, women constitute 15 to 20 per
cent of all employers, concentrated largely in the commercial and service sectors
(Reyazuddin, 2010).

1.8 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA

Since ages India has been men-dominated country. But, time is changing now.
Women in India have outraged the fact that since hundreds of years they had been
following the orders of men. They now know their rights and duties and with the
spreading awareness amongst the women they are now no less than the men. They
are walking with men at the same pace in each and every field. Following this latest
trend, women are no less and backward any more. Many women have established
their own economy i.e., entrepreneurial empire and are now ruling their world as they
wished to. The hidden entrepreneurial potentials of women have gradually been
changing with the growing sensitivity to the role and economic status in the society.
Skill, knowledge and adaptability in business are the main reasons for women to
emerge into business ventures. Women entrepreneurship in India represents a group
of women who have broken away from the beaten track and are exploring new vistas
of economic participation. Women in India entered business due to pull and push
factors. Their task has been full of challenges. In spite of the family opposition, many

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women have proved themselves independent and successful entrepreneurs. The
emergence of women entrepreneurs and women-owned firms and their significant
contributions to the economy are visible in India and these businesses are ready for
continued growth in the future. In India, women constitute half of the total population
(495.74 million), but their participation in the economic activity is very low. The
Female Work Participation Rate was 25.7 percent in 2001. (Census of India 2001)

In India, women are relatively powerless with little or no control over resources and
little decision making power. Women in the informal sector are found to be home-
based workers, engaged in the petty manufacture of goods, either on piece rate basis
or on own account, petty traders and petty shopkeepers or service specialists. Studies
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human conditions. Over 2/3rd of the enterprises are self-owned and have a fixed
capital of less than Rs.50/- . Over 4/5th of the women workers in this sector earn less
than Rs.500/-p.m. The income earned by women in this sector is said to be about
1/4th of that of a woman in the organized sector. (World Bank Report, 1991).

Nowadays women are well-educated with technical and professional qualifications.

Many of them have medical, management and similar degrees and diplomas. Many
entered their family business as equal partners. Women set up their own clinics or
nursing homes, small boutiques, small manufacturing enterprises and entered
garment exports. They have their own personal choices and the courage to undertake
new ventures. However, many have to face family antipathy and do not get adequate
support from their family.

1.9 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TAMIL NADU

Traditionally, Tamil Nadu is one of the well-developed states in terms of industrial
development. In the Post-Liberalisation era, Tamil Nadu has emerged as one of the
front-runners, by attracting a large number of investment proposals. It has been
s efforts come only
from 1970 onwards for the promotion of self-employment among women.
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In Tamil Nadu each city has its own set of products that are manufactured by women
entrepreneurs using indigenous skills. Most of these products are made with locally
available materials and the skills available in production are seldom found in other
cities. Through traditional activities like production and sale of domestic items such
as garments have been taken up by women since long entrepreneurship on the modern
lines has been found in industry and trade and service concerns only for the last one
decade or so.

The modern Tamil Nadu women is different from the housewife of past, to whom
selling or running a business carried a stigma which she found difficult to shake off.
Women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu possess organizational abilities, marketing
skills, entrepreneurial skills and efficiency and novel ideas. Many women have
vaulted the barriers of conditioning and reaped the rewards of a globalizing economy.

According to Lakshmi V. Venkatesan (2004), Founder Trustee of Bharatiya Yuva

they have shown that they could make excellent entrepreneurs if they get support by
way of finance and g
Youth, Self-Help Groups, Minorities and Weaker sections of the community. One
such novel scheme introduced by the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in the
name of five lakh (Ramesh Kumar, 2011) Women Entrepreneurship Development
Programme is worth mentioning here.

The objectives of Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP)

under this scheme are to promote economic activities among the SHG members
through skill training, Women Entrepreneurship Development, credit linkage and
market support. Under the scheme, every year one lakh self-help group women have
availed Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme through TCDW, DRDA
and SHPI for setting up of micro enterprises.

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1.10 EVOLUTION OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Although women form a very large proportion of the self- employed group, their work
is often not recognized catalysis the

attitudes of society. Women entered entrepreneurial activities mainly for economic

reasons. In Babylonia, about 200 B.C., women were permitted to engage in business and
to work as scribes. By 14th century, in England and France, women were frequently
accepted on a par with men as carpenters, saddlers, barbers, tailors etc. Dressmaking and
lace making guilds were competed more with men for some jobs, but were concentrated
primarily in textile mills and clothing factories. In 1950, women made up nearly 25 per
cent of both industrial and service sectors of the developing countries. In 1980, it
increased to 28 per cent and 31 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, i n 1950, 53 per cent
of females and 65 per cent of males of industrialized countries were in non-agricultural
sectors (Vignesh K. Chandran, 2009). As a result of the economic crisis of the 1980s and
the commercialization and modernization of the economy, women lost employment in
agriculture and industries. This pushed women in urban areas to find out a suitable
solution for generating income, which resulted in the emergence of self-employment,
largely in micro- businesses in the informal sector.

1.11 IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

economy. There is considerable entrepreneurial talent among women. Many

budgeting are directly transferable in the business context. Women have the ability
to balance different tasks and priorities and tend to find satisfaction and success in
and from building relationships with customers and employees, in having control of
their own destiny, and in doing something that they consider worthwhile. They have
the potential and the will to establish and manage enterprises of their own.

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global economic growth, too often, women do not have access to basic business
education, commercial credit and marketing opportunities. Maintenance of proper
quantitative balance among various economic activities is one of the principal
functions of the economic system, which should operate to give equal freedom of
choice to men and women (Brady Anderson, 2005).

The process of economic development would be incomplete and lopsided, unless

women are fully involved in it. The orientation of a society as a whole, regarding
desir
very important precondition for the advancement not only of women, but the country
as a whole. The highest national priority must be for the unleashing of woman power
which is the single most important source of societal energy. Women entrepreneurs
should be regarded as individuals who take up roles in which they would like to adjust
their family and society, economic performance and personal requirements.
Emancipation of women is an essential prerequisite for economic development and
social progress of the nations. (Gurumoorthy, 2000)

In the closing years of the 21st century, multi- skilled, productive and innovative
women entrepreneurs are inextricable for achieving sustained economic growth.
Globalization of industrial production and economic interdependence has become the
torch-bearers for all international cooperation. In the dynamic world which is
experiencing the effects of globalization, privatization and liberalization, women
entrepreneurs are likely to become an even more important part of the global quest
for sustained economic growth and social development. The economic status of

Women (especially rural women) are vital development agents who can play a
significant role in the economic development of a nation, but they should have an

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equal access to productive resources, opportunities and public services. It has also
been realized in the last few years that the widespread poverty and stunted economic
growth can be overcome only by gainful and sustainable economic participation of
women. National development will be sluggish, if the economic engine operates only
at half power.

Entrepreneurship plays an imperative role in the growth of any society. Development

of entrepreneurship culture and qualitative business development services are the
major requirements for industrials growth. Entrepreneurship emerges from an
nto long-term business ownership, employment creation,
capital formation and economic security. Entrepreneurial skills are essential for
industrialization and for alleviation of mass unemployment and poverty.
Today, women in advanced market economics own more than 25 per cent of all
businesses and women-owned businesses in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin
America are growing rapidly. In some regions of the world, transformation to market
economy, women entrepreneurs is a growing trend. However, in India, the actual
participation of women on income generating activities is quite unsatisfactory, only
eight per cent of the small scale manufacturing units are owned and operated by
women (Sumangala Naik, 2003).

Women entrepreneurship is the process where women organize all the factors of
production, undertake risks and provide employment to others. The definition of
women entrepreneurship has never been differentiated on the basis of sex and hence
could be extended to women entrepreneurs without any restriction.

According to Medha Dubhashi Vinze, (1987) a women entrepreneur is a person who

is an enterprising with an eye for opportunities and an uncanny vision, commercial
acumen, with tremendous perseverance and above all a person who is willing to face
risks with the unknown because of the adventurous spirit she possesses. Empowering
women is a challenge. Micro enterprises in rural area can help to meet these
challenges. Micro-enterprises not only enhance national productivity, generate
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employment but also help to develop economic independence, personal and social
capabilities among women. Economic empowerment of women by micro
entrepreneurship led to the empowerment of women in many things such as socio-
economic opportunity, property rights, political representation, social equality,
personal right, family development, market development, community development
and at last the nation development.

1.12 BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN

ENTREPRENEURS
Researches identify that women definitely poses lot of barriers, challenges while

handling the business and grow as equal to businesses run by male entrepreneurs. It
is only because being a woman she has to cross many circles
her goal. She is first a daughter and sister of the family where her life is ruled by her
parents and she develops her ideology of life, a sound career for herself from the
lessons she has got from her parents. Later she is wife and daughter-in-law where the
first break in her career happens as she has to adapt a different lifestyle as per the
traditions and culture of her in-laws. Later she becomes a mother not only taking care
of the baby but also managing entire household by maintaining family and social ties
and commitments. By the time she starts thinking for serious career to pursue again
she is already in her mid-30s.If the moral, financial, support is strong from in-laws
then she goes ahead and takes leap in either entrepreneurial venture or as a working

maintain a balance between her professional goals and family errands. Researcher
has strongly got a contrast opinion between survey conducted and case studies
observed at the time of analysis.

business, had good moral support, did not had socio - cultural issues had strong
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support from her husband, no male dominance. All these characteristics gave a very
rosy picture to the researcher. So the researches started probing still deeper and deeper
by motivating the women entrepreneurs to answer some unanswered questions.

The analysis on various case studies reflected the picture of around 70% women

be on their own because of financial problems, sudden death of the earning member
in the family, lack of support system from the social and family front. So when she
embraces the entrepreneurial career path she undergoes many hurdles and cannot
progress as fast as or as smooth as compared to male entrepreneurs due to several
reasons. Few barriers are mentioned as follows:
1. Financial institutions are skeptical about the entrepreneurial activity carried
out by women. The bankers consider that the loans granted to the women
entrepreneurs are always risk than that of the loans granted to men
entrepreneurs. Besides this, low-level risk taking attitude, low confidence
level due to male dominance, investing money, maintaining the operations and
ploughing back money for surplus generation requires high risk taking
attitude, courage, and confidence.
2. Support from husband acts as a major determining factor or rather a back bone
in her entrepreneurial venture.
3. She has to put more time and energy to prove her merits in the male dominated
areas. Being a woman she has to follow time limits. So the restriction comes on
her travelling. She cannot spend long working hours outside her house. This
automatically puts restrictions on her marketing skills, networking skills.
4. Being a women there are hindrances like going out with male colleagues for
official meets, dinners or entertainment is not welcomed positively by the society.
She is looked down or is considered to have an affair with the opposite gender.
5. Lack of technical know-how also creates obstacles in technical aspect while
running business.

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Though she faces many obstacles the researchers observed that when woman decides
to be on her own lot of thought process and energy is involved. The shift from
previous lifestyle or career to the establishment of new business requires a lot of
courage. The reason to start venture results from specific positive or negative
circumstances. The impulsive motive to change his/her lifestyle and create something
new and an inner urge to do something worthy are the forces behind these decisions.

1.13 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY

Women have always played a special role in India since the distant past and in the
present. Family has also been an integral element of Indian society. The women and
the Indian family values and structure have changed dynamically keeping with the
times. Women now play an active role in the field of business. Many women have
turned into entrepreneurs setting up their own businesses. Likewise, women have
gradually transitioned to occupying an important role not only in the family but in the
family business as well. Hence, Indian women in business may be studied on two
dimensions as entrepreneurs and as part of family business.

The women entrepreneurship is viewed as a movement of women for their

empowerment. Economic betterment of the women members through the family
business is a condition to attain such status. For this, it is necessary to the families to
promote the women to reap the economic benefits from their business. The
performance of women members is at growing stage but at the same time it is
expected more development from the government side.

As number of women entrepreneurs increases every year, it is not possible to show a

success track record by the women in their business because of lack of experience,
business skill and family support. However, the women are essential to ensure

well as empowerment of women in the country. This situation makes the present
study as important.

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1.14 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The women entrepreneurs add their contribution to the national output and their role
is also very much required. As they start new industries they are the job providers so
that they mitigate the intensity of unemployment problems to some extent. In
metropolitan cities, they start medium and large industrial undertakings; at the same
time, they engage small industries in the rural areas.

So, the rural development depends upon them and their successful performance
changes our Indian family systems also. (Dhameja S.K., et al., 2001). And
development of women entrepreneurs is viewed as a transformation of our societal
system and it is a sociological change in our country. In this context, the present study
gains significance.

1.15 NEED FOR THE STUDY

considered equivalent to men in all respects. Women employment is also at increase,

face great problems and restrictions to join or work in the family business, especially
in northern region of India where people give more importance to societal factors.
These factors lead to be an obstacle or hurdle in the enhancement of women
participation and growth of women entrepreneurship. Women have always played a
special role in India since the distant past and in the present. Family has also been an
integral element of Indian society.

The women and the Indian family values and structure have changed dynamically
keeping with the times. Women now play an active role in the field of business. Many
women have turned into entrepreneurs setting up their own businesses. Likewise,
women have gradually transitioned to occupying an important role not only in the
family but in the family business as well. Hence, Indian women in business may be
studied on various dimensions so that the study is needed.

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1.16 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Women entrepreneurs often depend upon the middlemen for marketing their products
who pocket large chunk of profit. The middlemen exploit the women entrepreneurs.
Women entrepreneurs also find it difficult to capture the market and make their
products popular. A lot of money is needed for advertisement in these days of stiff
competition from male entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs also lack energy and
extra efforts needed to be investing and to win the confidence of customers and
popularize the products.

Women entrepreneurs continuously face the problems in marketing their products. It

is one of the core problems as this area is mainly dominated by males and even
women with adequate experience fail to make a dent. Today, women entrepreneurs
represent a group of women who have broken away from the beaten track and are
exploring new avenues of economic participation. There should be efforts from all
sectors to encourage the economic participation of women. Along with adequate
training, institutional and financial support as a composite package needs to be
encouraged. The role of the women needs to be broadened which is beyond the
household responsibility. There are certainly a large number of unexplored areas
where women can be placed as entrepreneurs. Like a male entrepreneur, a women
entrepreneur performs many functions. She should explore the prospects of starting
a new enterprise; undertake risks, introduce new innovations, coordination,
administration, control of business and provide effective leadership in running the
business successfully.

Success and survival of the women in the family business depend upon the family
support and individual performance of them. The business performed by the women
should be viable and it should yield a fair return to them. The flow of financial
assistance to them was too marginal, if at all, to enable them to cross poverty line. As
the women entrepreneurs are viewed as catalytic agents to bring socio economic
developments in a growing economy, it is necessary to see them as potential business

18
groups. But, the individual business performance of the women is not satisfactory in
terms of profitability, investment and marketability of the products. This study
thereby attempts to analyze the critical issues, motivating factors and performance of
women entrepreneurs.

1.17 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Following research questions arise in the present research study:
1. Why do the socio demographic factors affect the performance of the women
entrepreneurs?
2. What are the various business problems faced by the women entrepreneurs?
3. How the attitudes of the women entrepreneurs affects their success and
satisfaction level?
4. What are the factors affecting the status of the women entrepreneurs?
5. To what extent the scope of the women entrepreneurs improve their status and
their empowerment?
6. What are the factors that motivate the women entrepreneurs?
7. To what extent the problems affect the performance of the women entrepreneurs?
8. How does the Success factor prevailing in the business environment helps to
improve the women entrepreneurs performance?
9. What are the various factors affect

1.18 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Following are the objectives of the present study:
1. To study socio economic profile of the women entrepreneurs of Pudukkottai and
Sivagangai District.
2. To examine the status of the women entrepreneurs in the study area.
3. To study the attitudes and scope of the women entrepreneurs in Pudukkottai and
Sivagangai District.
4. To examine various business problems of women entrepreneurs in the selected
districts for the study.

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 5. To ascertain the motivating force behind the women entrepreneurs in
Pudukkottai and Sivagangai District.
6. To render suitable suggestion for the effective performance of the women
entrepreneurs.

1.19 PROPOSED CONCEPTUALIZED RESEARCH MODEL

The research takes the demographic profile of the women entrepreneurs, attitudes of
women entrepreneurs, status of women entrepreneurs, scope of women
entrepreneurs, motivation forces, problems faced by the women entrepreneurs, and
effective performance of the women entrepreneurs as the major independent variables
taken for analysis. satisfaction is the dependent variable. It is
studied how and to what extent the independent variables make changes in the
dependent variable. The proposed conceptual research model shows the process of
research as follows:
Figure 1.1
Proposed research model

Demographic and Scope of

socio economic women
profile of the women entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs

Effective
Satisfaction of
Attitudes of women Motivation performance
Women
entrepreneurs Forces of the women
entrepreneurs
entrepreneur

Problems faced
Status of women
by the women
entrepreneurs
entrepreneurs

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1.20 LIMITATIONS OF THE PRESENT STUDY
The limitations of this study are as follows:
1. This research has been undertaken from the point of view of women
entrepreneurs but not from the other members of their family.
2. This study covers the women entrepreneurs who undertake the business for
the minimum period of five years. It means, the women who have registered
as the entrepreneurs during the year 2014-15.
3. As the perception of women entrepreneurs is based on their own belief, view,
experience etc., it may change in passage of time. So, findings of the study
may not be suitable to future period.
4. This study takes only the registered women entrepreneurs who have registered
in the relevant District Industries Centres (DICs).

1.21 ORGANISATION OF THE THESIS

The present research is presented in five chapters as follows:
Chapter - I: This chapter deals with a general introduction and background of the
study tracing the women entrepreneurs and family business. It also presents the
significance of the study, need for the study, importance of the study, statement of
problem of the study, limitations of the present study and finally chapter scheme of
the study.
Chapter - II: It reviews literature with respect to the various aspects of women
entrepreneurs in India and Tamil Nadu. It highlights the empirical studies on women
entrepreneurship.
Chapter - III: It presents research methodology of the study. It includes hypothesis,
research design, Measurement scale, reliability test and tools used for the analysis.
Chapter - IV: It Presents the Problems, Motivation and Success factors of women
entrepreneurs towards their business. And it summarizes the outcomes of the
statistical and econometrical analysis that are used to test the hypotheses.

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Chapter - V: It identifies the findings of the study drawn from the interpretations of
the analysis of the research, recommendations for future research, and conclusion of
the study.

1.22 TO SUM UP
The present chapter is an introduction of the research. It has introduced the concept
of women entrepreneurship, importance of the entrepreneurship, need for the study,
statement of the problem, profile of the geographical area of the study, limitations
and chapter scheme of the thesis. This chapter has given a theoretical background
towards the subject matter of the research.

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