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The IUP Journal of Entrepreneurship Development :
What Motivates Women Entrepreneurs? Factors Influencing Their Motivation
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The field of entrepreneurship is characterized by competition, financial gain and independence, and the socio-economic setting provides a base for individuals to venture into entrepreneurship. Individuals perform the entrepreneurial role because of a desire to achieve, and individuals with a high need for achievement venture into enterprise building, whether small or large. This paper presents findings on the reasons why women from the low-income group venture into business and what motivates them to do so. The analysis is based on primary data collected from two districts of Maharashtra. The paper also examines the basic factors that have a potential to influence the decisions taken by women engaged in entrepreneurial activities.

Entrepreneurs exhibit determination to make their business dream a reality, which is fueled by a passion for success. The pursuit of an entrepreneurial opportunity is an evolutionary process in which entrepreneurs select out many steps along the way, make decisions to positively evaluate opportunities, to pursue resources and to design the mechanism of exploitation. In this whole entrepreneurial game, the willingness or motivation of the entrepreneurs to "play" constitutes an important aspect of entrepreneurial development. The motivation of an entrepreneur is a combination of financial gains, a strong desire to do something new, an urge to control her future and an `I can do it' attitude.

In the recent years, entrepreneurship in India has been a new impetus for economic development. Micro-entrepreneurial ventures are considered to be the most critical factors that would help both urban and rural population through the creation of jobs, rescue out of unemployment and poverty and thereby impact upon developing skills, self-esteem and self-sufficiency. With the changing global scenario, women entrepreneurship has emerged in the forefront. Women business owners are continuing to demonstrate economic prowess worldwide. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), one in eleven (8.9%) women is involved in entrepreneurship across the globe and India occupies the second position among the 22 countries where 14.1 percent of women have ventured into entrepreneurship (GEM, 2002). The increase in the level of entrepreneurial activity among women increases as levels of education rise especially among those who go beyond secondary education. Women, especially those belonging to the low-income strata and who have no other option for employment, are taking to entrepreneurship not only to meet the survival needs of the family but also due to low barriers of entry and flexibility.

 
 
 

What Motivates Women Entrepreneurs? Factors Influencing Their Motivation, entrepreneurial, business, venture, financial, individuals, motivation, competition, constitutes, entrepreneurial activity, economic prowess, economic development.