This thesis entitled "Empowering young female entrepreneurs: can e-business break the barriers?", submitted by Uzma Kawser –ID to the Department of Development Studies, Daffodil International University, has been accepted as satisfactory for partial fulfillment of the requirements. for the degree Masters in Development Studies and approved in respect of its style and content. Our sincere thanks go to the member of the board of examiners who helped us articulate questions appropriately for the survey.
INTRODUCTION
- Background
- Statement of the Problem
- Scope of the Research
- Objective of the Research
- Significance of the Research
- Conceptual Framework
- Organization of the Thesis
This chapter also discusses where data will be obtained, background to data sources, demographics, sampling methodologies, sample sizes, and interviewees. This chapter covers data collection, validation and analysis and explains the limitations of the study.
In this chapter we will summarizes the data findings after reviewing all the chapters and made some recommendations have been included in this chapter and role of government in
Demographics provides a methodology regarding the research problems and how the study will be conducted, including where the data will be collected and the background of the data sources. The chapter also discusses the findings in detail and compares them with other research that has been conducted in the sector.
Drawing conclusion
General condition of the female entrepreneur who engages in entrepreneurial activities on online platform. This chapter demonstrates the review of secondary sources, writings of the recognized authors and researchers and pioneers in the idea and concept of this field.
CHAPTER 2: Literature Review
Research Design
CHAPTER 3: Methodology
- Study Subjects and Sampling Methods
- Interview Outline
- Data Collection Technique
- Data Analysis
- Ethical Issues
- Limitation and Challenges of the Study
In the participant selection process, I used theoretical purposive sampling (Bryman, 2012) and the snow globe sampling method as these ensure saturation of my expected data from forty participants. I conducted in-depth interviews of the women entrepreneurs involved in e-business via telephone, as face-to-face interviews were not possible due to the current context where the WHO recommended 'social distancing' during the Covid-19 situation. Over the telephone, all participants gave their verbal consent, which was recorded in both paper and audio format and can be provided upon request.
The participants' contact details were recorded in case they needed to be contacted for further clarification and verification.
Research Findings and Analysis
Demographic Profile
Social Mobility
- Customers Location
- Female Entrepreneurs Building Stronger Network
99% of women entrepreneurs enjoyed using Shundarban and S.A paribahan courier service for delivery of products outside Dhaka. They are usually satisfactory for the most part, but during festival or Eid season, the quality of service is hampered. 80% of the entrepreneurs said that although there are several options to choose from among the delivery services available in Dhaka city, all of them face difficulties in the initial phase. At the same time, grocery/bakery/frozen food business owners said they have fewer options to deliver their packages as groceries are not allowed in most courier companies, except for a few such as Pathao and individual designated delivery people food.
Networking/Building Customer pool
Change in Social Perspective and Family Dynamic Of The Female Entrepreneurs The study shows among the interviewed female entrepreneurs of e-business in Bangladesh,
The rest 30% of the e-business owner think that they experienced all these privileges even before they started the business. I was doing an online class, so I took the opportunity and started the business of tailoring home wear for ladies. It received tremendous support and I continued to do the business even after the lockdown was lifted.
13.33% agreed that they are generally more aware of their socio-political environment than before, while 20% of women told us that they are not interested or concerned about such matters because the only concern for them is making money through e-business.
Change in social perspective and family dynamics
Previous Occupational Experience
Among the young women, 13.33% said that they have no future plan and will go with the flow, while 16.67% revealed that they have no prior work experience.
Joining Social/Virtual Groups
Technological and other Skills development
- Technological Skills
- Skills Development
- Digital/ Social Media Platform Used For E-Business
23.33% said that they have been a tech savvy person and hence they are doing well while the rest 16.67% of the respondents revealed that they have faced challenges in adopting new technologies. 30% women entrepreneurs said that e-business makes them manage people more effectively as they have been dealing with different people like customers/clients, suppliers, team members on a daily basis, 13.33% said that they are now more confident, 13.33% revealed that the entire process from generating the idea and executing it makes them a business oriented person, 23.33% believe that e-business changes their nature to explore opportunities and improve their risk behavior. During the interview, the result of using the preferred digital platform to run e-commerce is demonstrated in the graph.
It shows that 76.67% of young women e-business entrepreneurs preferred using social media platforms such as Facebook, while 23.33% did so.
Digital Platforms use for E-business
Other Value Generation
- Business generates extra value
- Covid-19 Affecting E-Business or Adoptability Of E-Business
- Benefits Except For Income Generations and Reasons Behind Choosing E- Business
73.33% answered that Covid-19 affects their e-business positively, while only 26.67% confirmed that their business has been negatively affected. Tulika Sarkar, one of the women entrepreneurs whom I interviewed said, “I have started my business during the shutdown of the Covid - 19 pandemic. The country's e-commerce business was changed during the COVID-19 epidemic, according to e- Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) which acts as a common platform for the industry.
While there were other factors identified by the female entrepreneurs, 63.33 % choose all the above benefits along with increased social mobility and acceptance from family and friends.
Personal Choice of Profession
- Online Business to The Female Entrepreneur
- Inspiration Behind E-Business
However, it is not an easy way to survive and thrive, so you have to adapt; you have to improve 24/7.
Inspiration Behind Starting the Business
Initial Investment of the Entrepreneurs
Financial Factors
- Initial Investment and Source
- Contribution to Household
- Generate Employments
- Payment Mode
- Relation between being a female entrepreneur and financial management skills
- Business Documents
Most of the young female entrepreneur's initial investment came from her own savings, income from tuition fees, from parents or husband, savings from salary. 33.3% women entrepreneurs say they contribute to their households based on their income or equally to that of other members, while 10% say they are in business only for personal satisfaction. 13.33% choose other options to answer this question. Even though only 3.33% confirmed that they are financially independent and 26.67% said that their personal financial management skills improved; 70% of respondents confirm that they have achieved financial independence and that their personal financial management skills have improved at the same time.
Although it appears that 43.33% of respondents have bank accounts (personal) due to the low rate of having Tin and.
Relationship between being an entrepreneur and financial management skills
Tax /Income Tax Return
Bank Loan
Receiving Trainings and Joining Different Social Groups for Networking And Sharing Information And Knowledge
Interested Doing Trainings
Barriers faced by the female entrepreneurs
- Major Obstacle for Starting Or Doing Online Business
- Barriers to Become A Successful Entrepreneur
According to the interview of the subjects of the study, the main obstacles to becoming successful e-business entrepreneurs for female entrepreneurs were found – 43% mentioned not being able to reach the target group of customers, 26.67% said that they consider marketing as an obstacle. 13.33% mentioned funding/capital issues, 16.67% feel that they are unable to update themselves in technological skills such as video editing, new product design, promotional activities, photo editing, etc.
My busines Major Obstacle for starting E-business
Challenges Exclusive To E-Business
10.00% answered that Problem sourcing fund for e-business, 40% answered that purchasing raw materials locally is a big challenge for them, 10% have problems in getting raw materials from abroad, while the majority 40.00% of the respondents answered that copying ideas and designs when they are out on the internet is a challenge exclusively for e-business.
Entrepreneurial Competency
Challenge exclusive to E-business
Institutional Challenges
46.67% Lack of knowledge on how to deal with good institutions that can protect the rights of entrepreneurs, 30.00% say they face challenges due to the lack of training institutions or platforms. Ms Suchi, entrepreneur of an online business that sells premium quality tea both retail and wholesale, said: After completing my studies in Britain and getting married, I started this business. For example, it takes a lot of effort to manage some of the special Tea Board licenses I need to do business because of the type of business I have online.
They are not up to date with the "new way of doing things" and always things to be a successful business owner must have a retail store.
Instituitional Challenges
Personal Challenge
Facing work-life balance issues 36.67%, struggling to give time to family members 13.33%, family members not taking it seriously as women entrepreneurs work from home or own a business 46.67%, women entrepreneurs respond on lack of time and providing sufficient time for their business which can hamper their growth is 3.33%. Nishat Nabila while being interviewed said, “it's not always the technical challenges of e-business that hit us. It is and always has been a challenge for a woman to start everything and fight all the way.
It was quite challenging when they tried to stop me from even cooking in the kitchen.
Personal Challenges
Perception Of The Respondents Of Achieving The Level Of Empowerment Using Likert Chart
During the interview respondents were asked if they think they have reached a level of empowerment to become e-business entrepreneurs. Their responses are demonstrated through the Likert chart, where 63.3% think or strongly agree that empowerment achieved, 23.3% have moderate views as agreeing with the status achieved while 13.33% think they do not achieve the status of empowerment due to online membership . business as a female entrepreneur.
Achieved Empowerment Status
SUMMARIZATION OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
- Summarization of Findings
- Further Research Scope
- The Role of Government in the Development of E-business and Some Recommendations
The majority of women entrepreneurs (43%) are between 20 and 24 years old and have completed a university or postgraduate degree, and 53% of them are unmarried. 30% of women entrepreneurs said they develop people management skills efficiently, while 20% said the venture would definitely boost their self-confidence. One of the key findings is that the majority of respondents (96%) believe their e-business generates additional value beyond generational monetary value and employment.
Various fairs in public places, awards and recognitions not only make a difference but also establish a strong presence of female e-business entrepreneurs in the real physical world.
CONCLUSION
Some reflections on blind spots of ICT-based development projects for women's entrepreneurship and empowerment. Entrepreneurial career aspirations of educated women in Bangladesh: A comparative study of employed women and housewives. Impact of quarantine experiences and attitudes on the COVID-19 distribution of mental health in China.
Women Entrepreneurship in India: Issues and Problems - You can tell the state of a nation by looking at the status of its women.
Interview questionnaire
- Demographic information of the respondents
- Business related information
- Success factors
- Barriers experienced by the respondents
Have you joined any social/virtual group of entrepreneurs to share knowledge/ideas/solve a problem or build community.
