Role of women entrepreneurs and NGOs in promoting entrepreneurship: case studies from Uttarakhand, India
| Date | 12 December 2017 |
| Published date | 12 December 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-07-2015-0088 |
| Pages | 451-465 |
| Author | Usha Lenka,Sucheta Agarwal |
| Subject Matter | Strategy,International business |
Role of women entrepreneurs and NGOs
in promoting entrepreneurship: case
studies from Uttarakhand, India
Usha Lenka and Sucheta Agarwal
Usha Lenka is an
Associate Professor and
Sucheta Agarwal is a
Research Scholar, both
at the Indian Institute of
Technology, Roorkee,
India.
Abstract
Purpose –Women establish their enterprise for economic independence and empowerment. This
study aims to identify the factors that promote women entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand, a state in India.
Although, women have the potential to become entrepreneurs, they do not have the right opportunities
to explore it. Therefore, the role of non-government organizations (NGOs) is imminent in supporting
women’s entrepreneurial cause.
Design/methodology/approach –The problems of women entrepreneurs during venture creation
have been explored. Case studies of women entrepreneurs and NGOs operating in Uttarakhand have
been developed through an in-depth interview method.
Findings –Entrepreneurial learning occurs because of certain personal, social and environmentally
driven motivational factors. Entrepreneurial learning helps in the development of personal, social,
managerial and entrepreneurial competencies. These competencies are essential for the performance
of an enterprise.
Practical implications –This study provides directions to policymakers and researchers to focus on
developmental programmes for women entrepreneurs.
Originality/value –This study explores a conceptual framework for the promotion of women
entrepreneurship.
Keywords Competencies, Women entrepreneurs, NGOs, Entrepreneurial learning, Venture creation
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Entrepreneurship is the backbone of economic development of a nation, as it opens new
job avenues. Globally, entrepreneurship has emerged as a developmental inspiration for
the business world (LaVan and Murphy, 2007). Economic growth of the nation would be
lopsided without the involvement of women in entrepreneurial activities who constitute
approximately half of the population. Despite being almost equal in number, there is wide
disparity in women’s economic status. Therefore, there is a need to unearth reasons for
economic disparity and identify measures to promote the status of women. Promotion of
women as entrepreneurs is one such initiative geared up around the globe. A survey
conducted in the 2015 by Dell Inc. has ranked countries on the basis of certain dimensions:
business environment, gendered access to resources, women’s leadership and legal
rights, pipeline for entrepreneurship and potential women entrepreneurial leaders. The
graph has been plotted on the basis of scores obtained by various countries (Figure 1).
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, the UK and the USA have dominated in
women entrepreneurship space, while Bangladesh, India and Pakistan scored the lowest
(Global Women Entrepreneur Leaders Scorecard, 2015). All these Asian countries,
especially India, has the highest number of educated youth population. The Government of
Received 3 July 2015
Revised 1 November 2015
10 January 2016
10 February 2016
Accepted 19 April 2016
This study is a part of
research project (IITR/SRIC/
255/F.I.G. (Scheme-A)) named
“Exploring dynamics of
potential women
entrepreneurs” undertaken by
Dr Usha Lenka and is
financially supported by
Sponsored Research and
Industrial Consultancy, IIT
Roorkee, India.
DOI 10.1108/JABS-07-2015-0088 VOL. 11 NO. 4 2017, pp. 451-465, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1558-7894 JOURNAL OF ASIA BUSINESS STUDIES PAGE 451
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