An Empirical Study on Determinants of Business Success of Women Entrepreneurs: Evidence from Gampaha Area

Abstract

Sri Lankan women have only recently taken an active role in the business sector of the country. However, they are seemed competing on an equal footing with the men in the business field. This empirical investigation attempted to understand the Determinants of Business Success of Women Entrepreneurs in Gampaha. Many women see, entrepreneurship as the path for a better future while it deals with their prevailing issues. As the gender discrimination rates are going down globally, a favorable situation is building for the future women entrepreneurs, hence the demographics are changing on the entrepreneurship. The primary data is gathered based on the structured questionnaire from all the registered women entrepreneurs in Gampaha divisional secretarial area as at 31st of December 2018 and the sample consists of 94 women entrepreneurs. The gathered data was dropped down and analyzed by using Descriptive Statistics, Correlation and Regression analysis. The researcher has used business success which is measured by Sales, Profitability and Growth as the dependent variable and Human Capital, Network Affiliation, Social Factors and Environmental Factors as independent variables. The research study concludes that determinant factors (human capital factors, network affiliation, environmental factors and social factors) have a strong positive impact on the business performance of women entrepreneurs. As well as, it reveals that, there is no impact of organizational factors on business success. The findings of this study are useful for identifying the main determinants of the business performance of women entrepreneurs to take actions to facilitate that particular background. And also it will help women entrepreneurs to make their decision more effectively for better performance. Relevant authorities also can use these findings for their decisionmaking process. Moreover, this research would give information to non-government and government organizations to get their decisions and to improve the women participation in SME by giving training and development programs for them.