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Information Technology Adoption in Small Family Businesses
for Developing Economies
-- Bijay K Kandel and Jyotiranjan Hota
A gap has always existed between affluent countries with access to modern Information Technology (IT) adopted in areas of business management and less technologically developed countries living with more outdated technologies used in business and management areas. Although it is commonly acknowledged that IT adoption in organization makes a significant contribution to the economic and social progress of a country, it is surprising that the activities of such businesses in developing countries have not received greater scrutiny, particularly in South Asia. This paper describes the adoption process of IT within Small Family Businesses (SFBs), especially in South Asia. In addition, it examines the factors relevant to SFBs managers, owners and staff. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Female Entrepreneurship Within the Experience Industry:
A Case Study of Two Swedish Regions
-- Saeid Abbasian and Carina Hellgren
This paper investigates female entrepreneurship within experience industries in two Swedish municipalities, Degerfors and Gotland. Nine businesswomen and eight practitioners have been interviewed. The women go into business as a result of their eagerness to experience the process of running a business by them. They come armed with concepts and ideas they wish to develop in the form of an experience-oriented business, or through which they search for new meaning or pursue a new lifestyle. The obstacles and opportunities that the women encounter in the two investigated regions have much to do with the different business climates and also, to a certain degree, their natural preconditions. This in turn affects local labor markets and the chances women have of obtaining gainful employment. The general business climate in Gotland is much better than in Degerfors, and women in Gotland have access to numerous organizations, associations and societies. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Financial Management Practices of Micro Handloom Enterprises:
A Case Study of Thenzawl Cluster in Mizoram
-- Rama Ramswamy
The handloom sector in India is important from the point of view of its size and employment potential. Moreover, the sector provides employment to the most vulnerable sections of the Indian population, viz., women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Castes (OBCs). Out of the 27.83 lakh handloom households engaged in weaving and allied activities across the country, 10% handloom households belong to SCs, 22% to STs and 41% to OBCs. Nearly, 77% of the handloom workforce comprises women and most of these women are located in rural areas. The North East (NE) states of India have the largest concentration of handlooms in the country (more than 65% of the total looms). However, a large majority of the looms (62%) are engaged in domestic production only. This paper attempts to understand the financial management practices of micro handloom enterprises predominantly run by women in a remote tribal cluster, Thenzawl in Mizoram. The paper identifies the sources of fixed capital and working capital for the enterprises and the problems faced by them related to finance. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Rural Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Sector of India
-- G H Barhate and Madhavi S Patgaonkar
Informal economy has a significant role in entrepreneurship, particularly, women entrepreneurs of rural area. It has great impact on employment and income generation. Normally, the sector, which is not organized, not recorded by public authorities and which has no identity, is considered to be a part of informal sector. The informal sector is defined as those establishments that employ less than 10 persons with or without use of power. The formal sector includes manufacturing, trade and services, while the informal sector includes businesses that have small size of operation and low investment, so entry is easy compared to the formal sector. On the other hand, women-owned businesses have drawn significant attention around the world. It is observed that women start business for several reasons like financial support, earning livelihood for the family, independence, etc. The size of the business owned by women in informal sector is usually small and operated from their own residence. With successful business performance, most of the women want to remain in the business. But women do not receive enough support from their family as well as government authorities. These entrepreneurs must be involved in modern small-scale units. If they are properly trained and provided with the required capital, then rural India and informal sector will emerge as a story of success. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
A Study on the Growth and Performance of Selected Women
Entrepreneurs in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu
-- Sherly Thomas and V L Lavanya
With industrialization, urbanization and a change in the educational pattern, the Indian society is gradually undergoing progress, and increasing number of women are coming forward, apart from seeking employment of challenging nature, to take up self-enterprise. These days, many women entrepreneurs either by their own interest or in order to earn a living and to support their family, have come forward to take up challenging opportunities like entrepreneurship. Despite the problems relating to managerial and financial aspects, lack of cooperation from the family and a host of other problems that women entrepreneurs face in their journey on this path, they still dare to take up this challenging job in the present era, thanks to the initiating and enterprising nature of the women. Against this backdrop, an attempt is made in the present study to evaluate the growth and performance of selected women entrepreneurs in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu, India. © 2011 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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