Goal orientations and typology of women entrepreneurs: an empirical study in Gampaha district

Despite making up more than half of the population in Sri Lanka, women's economic engagement is very low. Encouragement of their entrepreneurial endeavours would raise both their level of living and the economy. Knowing their goals, typologies, determinants of the typologies is useful in real-world situations given the growing significance of women entrepreneurs. The majority of studies on entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka, however, focus on men with little attention paid to women. This study examines goal orientations, typologies and determinants of the typologies of women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. Goal orientations were examined by using push and pull factors. Typologies were recognized based on Goffee and Scase model. Factors affecting on typologies were examined using multinomial logit model. The sample is 150 registered women entrepreneurs in Gampaha district. A simple random sampling method was adopt for the study. Primary data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. It was done by direct interviews and telephone interviews. Result of the survey shows that insufficient family income is the main push factor for venturing into business. From pull factors, its hobby. There weren’t any radical women entrepreneurs in the sample. New typology was identified and named as “Conventional – Innovative”. Majority of the women entrepreneurs are conventional followed by domestic. Least number of respondents belong to new typology. Education is significant with the Innovative typology and Conventional – Innovative typology. Age of the current business is significant with the domestic typology and Innovative typology. Marital status, Number of children, previous employment status is significant with none of the typologies. By conducting a similar study in other districts, we can find out whether there are radical women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka or not. These findings may have immense value for promoting women's entrepreneurship in impoverished nations like Sri Lanka because there is no any similar research in Sri Lanka.