Factor Analysis for the Development of Women Entrepreneurship in SMEs: An Empirical Evidence From Bangladesh

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship is now a rapidly growing socio-economic phenomenon in developing country like Bangladesh. Women entrepreneurs’ development in the SME sector is one of the most important challenge. The research aims to analyze the factors related to the development of women entrepreneurship in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector of Bangladesh. The analysis is based on recent theoretical ideas that have been supported by empirical research findings. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used in this research. To analyze the factors we have interviewed 232 women entrepreneurs of SME businesses. The main tool of research was a structured questionnaire. This study illustrates an analytical framework based on institutional theory, which focuses on three kinds of factors: regulative, normative, and cognitive. Regulative factors refer to different rules and regulations of the Government that facilitate women entrepreneurship development of SMEs sector in Bangladesh. Normative and cognitive factors include norms, rules, regulation, and values of society. This study provides suggestions on how to overcome barriers and also many significant policy implications to improve women entrepreneurship in SMEs sector of Bangladesh.