A research conducted on urban women entrepreneurs in Dhaka, Bangladesh as part of coursework for University

1. CHALLENGES FOR
URBAN WOMEN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEVELOPMENT IN
BANGLADESH

2. PREPARED FOR
DR. MUHAMMAD Z MAMUN
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: RESEARCH METHODS
PROFESSOR
INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION,
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
PREPARED BY:
AFSARA ZAHEEN AHMED RH-24
REHANUL ISLAM ZR-27
SYEDA SHEHTAZ HASIB RH-28
NABEELA ZEREEN MOBASHWER RH-30
MUNEM CHOWDHURY ZR-33
SHABAB MASHUK ZR-47
NOUSHIN WADUD KHAN RH-58
SAJEED ALAM ZR-60
AHNAF AHMED ZR-62
TOWSIF REAZ ZR-64
GROUP: 01
BBA BATCH 20, SECTION A
GROUP 1
SECTION A

3. CONTENTS
METHODOLOGY
RESPONDENT
DEMOGRAPHICSINTRODUCTION CHALLENGES
CONCLUSION

4. 1.0 INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
40% women involved in the workforce
Entrepreneurship crucial to
MACROECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Bangladesh 75th
in Global Gender
Gap ranking
12.7% of enterprises in Bangladesh
owned by women entrepreneurs

5. 1.0 INTRODUCTION
SCOPE
Research limited to urban women entrepreneurs operating
within Dhaka City
OBJECTIVES
ANALYSE THE CHALLENGES TO URBAN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
DEVELOPMENT:
1. PERSONAL CHALLENGES
2. SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
3. FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
4. BUSINESS OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
5. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES

6. 2.0 METHODOLOGY
DATA COLLECTION
01. PRIMARY DATA
SELF-ADMINISTERED
QUESTIONNAIRES
02. SECONDARY DATA
PERTINENT ARTICLES AND
ACADEMIC JOURNALS
03. SAMPLING TYPE
JUDGMENTAL,
NON-PROBABILITY
SAMPLING
04. SAMPLE SIZE
CALCULATED: 385
REACHED: 76

7. 2.0 METHODOLOGY
QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPMENT
47 QUESTIONS OVERALL divided into 5 sections based on
the challenges
45 of them MCQs
6 respondents for PRE-TESTING
0.718 – value of Cronbach’s alpha for summated scale
questions

8. 3.0 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
77.1% married
89.5% Muslims
67.1% belonging to conjugal families
53.9% have children

9. 3.0 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: EDUCATION
39.5% Business majors
86.8% studied at local institutions
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: PRIOR PROFESSION
47.4% students prior to starting business
30.3% homemakers prior to starting business

10. 3.0 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: BUSINESS
61.8% have Clothing & Merchandising business

11. 3.0 RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
RESPONDENT DEMOGRAPHICS: BUSINESS
59.2% are Sole proprietors

12. 4.1 PERSONAL CHALLENGES
PERSONAL CHALLENGES
01. MOTIVATION FOR STARTING BUSINESS
17.9% self-motivated
02. MAJOR INITIAL OBSTACLES
21.8% have lack of start up finance
14.1% face difficulties in work-life balance

13. 4.1 PERSONAL CHALLENGES
PERSONAL CHALLENGES
27.9% face difficulties in work-life balance
03. MAJOR CURRENT OBSTACLES

14. 4.1 PERSONAL CHALLENGES
PERSONAL CHALLENGES
21.2% faced financial constraints both initially and currently
04. CROSS COMPARISON OF CHALLENGES
43.9% faced work-life balance constraints both initially and
currently
9.1% faced entrepreneurial skills gap both initially and
currently

15. 4.2 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
Maintaining work-life balance
01. CHALLENGES FOR MOTHERS
43.4% faced problems with managing general household
responsibilities
02. SIGNIFICANCE OF DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES
26.3% faced no problems

16. 4.2 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
03. FAMILY SUPPORT
34.9% receive support from husbands
30.2% receive support from parents
04. FAMILY OBLIGATIONS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
57.1% have families with reservations on working hours

17. 4.2 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
05. PROBLEMS WITH COWORKERS
39.3% faced no problems
19% faced lack of cooperation
17.9% felt lack of respect for authority
16.7% thought coworkers felt lack of faith in ability
7.2% faced gender discrimination problems

18. 4.2 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
06. PERCEPTION OF SOCIETAL OUTLOOK ON WOMEN
“Society believes that women should not work.”
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4.61 mean score
STRONGLY
AGREE
STRONGLY
DISAGREE

19. 4.2 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
07. SOCIETAL PERCEPTION ON IDEAL JOBS FOR WOMEN
Teachers, doctors, interior designers, boutique shop owners
08. CONVENIENT INDUSTRIES FOR WOMEN
30.3% Clothing
26.3% Beauty care
23.7% Handicraft

20. 4.3 FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
01. INITIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT
38.2% from Personal savings
31.6% initial investment more than Tk. 500,000
22.4% initial investment between Tk. 100,000 and Tk. 500,000
3.9% from Private commercial banks
1.3% from Public commercial banks

21. 4.3 FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
Tk. 10,000 – Tk. 50,000 - Majority of Food businesses
02. CROSS COMPARISON BETWEEN INVESTMENT SIZE &
TYPE OF BUSINESS
Tk. 50,000 – Tk. 100,000 - Majority of Event management
businesses
Tk. 100,000 – Tk. 500,000 - Majority of Beauty and
grooming businesses
More than Tk. 500,000 - Majority of Clothing &
Merchandising businesses

22. 4.3 FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
19.7%- used External financing
03. EXTERNAL FINANCING
High interest rates – reasons for not applying
56.6%- Believe external financing is more available now

23. 4.4 CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
59.2%- do not have a formal business plan
01. BUSINESS PLANNING
87.2%- make daily plans themselves
02. BOOKKEEPING
64.5%- maintain records themselves
50%- maintain daily records

24. 4.4 CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
67.1%- have valid tax ID
03. TAX
67.9%- aware of VAT regulations

25. 4.4 CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
CHALLENGES TO BUSINESS OPERATIONS
35.5%- have showrooms
04. BUSINESS EXPOSURE
3.9%- own showrooms
29.2%- promote business via friends and family
24.5%- promote business via word of mouth
0.5%- promote business via TVCs

26. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
61.8%- are of micro scale
01. BUSINESS SIZE

27. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
63.2%- have moderate profit margins
01. PROFIT MARGIN
02. CROSS COMPARISON BETWEEN TYPE OF BUSINESS
AND PROFIT MARGIN
Clothing - moderate
Food - moderate
Beauty & grooming – between low and moderate
Event management–moderate

28. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
64.5%- had moderate expansion
03. BUSINESS EXPANSION
04. CROSS COMPARISON BETWEEN TYPE OF BUSINESS
AND BUSINESS EXPANSION RATE
Clothing - moderate
Food - moderate
Beauty & grooming –moderate
Event management–moderate

29. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
41.7%- received no support
05. EXTERNAL SUPPORT
19%- received networking support
16.7%- received financial support

30. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
05. OPINIONS ON FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A. CAREER/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
1 – NOT RELEVANT
2 – POOR
3 – QUITE GOOD
4 – GOOD
5 – EXCELLENT
3.66 – MEAN SCORE
0.917 – STANDARD DEVIATION

31. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
05. OPINIONS ON FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
B. ABILITY TO USE INITIATIVE:
1 – NOT RELEVANT
2 – POOR
3 – QUITE GOOD
4 – GOOD
5 – EXCELLENT
3.88 – MEAN SCORE
0.799 – STANDARD DEVIATION

32. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
05. OPINIONS ON FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
C. AUTHORITY OVER BUSINESS:
1 – NOT RELEVANT
2 – POOR
3 – QUITE GOOD
4 – GOOD
5 – EXCELLENT
4.03 – MEAN SCORE
0.923 – STANDARD DEVIATION

33. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
05. OPINIONS ON FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
D. LEVEL OF COOPERATION FROM EMPLOYEES:
1 – NOT RELEVANT
2 – POOR
3 – QUITE GOOD
4 – GOOD
5 – EXCELLENT
3.82 – MEAN SCORE
0.890 – STANDARD DEVIATION

34. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
05. OPINIONS ON FACTORS CONDUCIVE TO
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
E. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN:
1 – NOT RELEVANT
2 – POOR
3 – QUITE GOOD
4 – GOOD
5 – EXCELLENT
3.99 – MEAN SCORE
0.792 – STANDARD DEVIATION

35. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
06. OPINIONS ON FACTORS SIGNIFICANT FOR BARRIERS
TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A. MANAGEMENT SKILLS:
1 – NOT IMPORTANT
2 – SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT
3 – VERY IMPORTANT
2.61 – MEAN SCORE
0.544 – STANDARD DEVIATION

36. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
06. OPINIONS ON FACTORS SIGNIFICANT FOR BARRIERS
TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
B. NETWORKING:
1 – NOT IMPORTANT
2 – SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT
3 – VERY IMPORTANT
2.61 – MEAN SCORE
0.544 – STANDARD DEVIATION

37. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
06. OPINIONS ON FACTORS SIGNIFICANT FOR BARRIERS
TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
C. GENDER DISCRIMINATION:
1 – NOT IMPORTANT
2 – SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT
3 – VERY IMPORTANT
2.36 – MEAN SCORE
0.582 – STANDARD DEVIATION

38. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
06. OPINIONS ON FACTORS SIGNIFICANT FOR BARRIERS
TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
D. FAITH IN WOMEN LEADERSHIP:
1 – NOT IMPORTANT
2 – SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT
3 – VERY IMPORTANT
2.58 – MEAN SCORE
0.548 – STANDARD DEVIATION

39. 4.5 BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT CHALLENGES
06. OPINIONS ON FACTORS SIGNIFICANT FOR BARRIERS
TO WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
E. WORK-LIFE BALANCE:
1 – NOT IMPORTANT
2 – SLIGHTLY IMPORTANT
3 – VERY IMPORTANT
2.70 – MEAN SCORE
0.462 – STANDARD DEVIATION

40. 5.0 CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
• GENERALLY POSITIVE SOCIETAL OUTLOOK
• WORK-LIFE BALANCE EXTREMELY
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE
• FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HINDERING
EXPANSION
• MANAGERIAL EXPERTISE & INFORMATION
GAP AS AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

41. THANK YOU