Building resilience: A case study of

challenges of young craft producers

Richan Shrestha1*, Associate Prof. Prakash C Bhattarai2,
1, 2
School of Education, Kathmandu University
*richa_mpds22@kusoed.edu.np
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
Requirement of current generation and future
generation through business process
Sustainable Development
Enterprises (SDE) Growing needs

Craft business among SDE

•Sustainable business enterprise:

•3E (ethics, efficiency, and effectiveness) and
• 3-P (People, Planet, Profit) Eskildesen et al.,
2013
Challenges
Traditional organizational culture (Ngo et al., 2019)
Secure funding (Hockerts & Wustenhagen, (2010)
Lack of skilled human resource (Costache et al., 2021).
Institutional challenges (Bocken&Geradts, 2020)
Personal barriers (Partidario et al., 2010).
PROBLEM STATEMENT
PURPOSE AND THEORETICAL LENS

Main Purpose: to identify the challenges of craft business in Nepal and

understand their resiliency

•Institutional Theory:
Organizational Practice by social
pressure than economic pressure
METHODOLOGY DATA ANALYSIS
Qualitative Design •Transcribed recorded data
Case study approach •Coding
Organization registered with fair trade group, Kathmandu •Categorization
Information rich case (Yin, 2014) •Theme

•Credibility
preset thinking and minds were not imposed
Data collection Rigorous interaction were done
five craft business owner(Participant Ram, Participant Shyam, All the available document online and offline were
Participant Gita, Participant Gita, Participant Riya) checked
In-depth interview method (face to face) •Ethical on critical and reflective roles
20-30 minutes •Pseudonym were used
INFLUENCES
•Lack of skilled youth

Participant Riya

There are fewer workers on the job every day………………………………………………Youth migration to other
countries is an issue for our industry.

•Limited Innovation

Participant Ram

I have take over the business of weaning from my parents. I am following same process as my father used to
do in the business. ………………………………………………………………….I even open the vacancy for the
youth with skills to bring the new innovation. However, I received no application for the post.
INFLUENCES
•Dependency on Raw material

Participant Gita

We are a landlocked country that relies on another country for export and transit.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……... We rely on wool from India and the Netherlands because there are no raw materials available or
capable of catering to the industrial level in Nepal.

•Market acceptance

Participant Shyam
It is very hard for us to convince the importance of our product. Our products are handmade.
…………………………It can be identified that some consumers may not be willing to pay the premium prices
that SDEs need in order to be profitable, which can limit the potential market for these enterprises.
INFLUENCES
•Policy Barrier

Participant Gita
A big impediment is the policy barrier. The government has done a lot of lobbying, and we've had several
discussions about it. There are many things that are required of us.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………The government
has various intervention possibilities, yet it is doing nothing.

•Resiliency: As it is; Education and awareness as hope

Participant Ram
As of now, I am running my business as per situation. I have no concrete planning or any long term strategy.
Whatever problems come, I tried to deal accordingly. Sometimes it works and sometime it does not work.
Somehow, I am surviving. However, with growing challenges, I fear I may have to shut down my business.
The only hope is educating and motivating youth to consider craftsmanship and its business as their career.
DISCUSSION

•In consistent with institutional theory

•Social pressure create challenges for sustainability

Challenges
•Lack of skilled youth (Khanal & Maharjan, 2010, Ngo et al., 2019)
•Limited innovation (Horbach & Rammer, 2022)
•Dependency on raw material (Bhandari et al., 2022, Mangal, 2022, and
Ngo et al., 2019)
• Market acceptance (Alayon et al., 2022, Mangal, 2022)
• Policy barrier (Kharel & Dahal, 2020, Mangal, 2022, Timsina, 2019)

Resiliency:
As it is (Alternative ways (Hussain, 2021))
Education and awareness as hope (Cagno et al. 2017; Shi et al. 2008)
CONCLUSION IMPLICATIONS
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A STUDY ON PROSPECTS AND PROBLEMS OF NEPALESE HANDICRAFT EXPORT