Abstract:
Concern over women’s entrepreneurship has grown in recent years, and now
there are programs and institutions helping women founders with funds,
education, networking opportunities, mentoring, and public policy. The
economic growth of Sri Lanka is strongly aided by women entrepreneurs. The
majority of small and medium-sized businesses have come up with innovative
products and services, and by doing so, they contribute to the development of
the national economy. Such small and medium-sized businesses must be
established properly to support national development. The objective of the
study is to investigate the factors that influence the performance of women
entrepreneurs in small and medium businesses of Sri Lanka. This study was
performed as a cross-sectional survey, where the data was gathered using a
specially designed questionnaire distributed using the random sampling
technique, two hundred women entrepreneurs were chosen as the sample. The
result had shown that the performance of women entrepreneurs is significantly
influenced by their educational background, prior entrepreneurial experience,
access to financing, government support, land ownership, tax, business
training, access to information, entrepreneur orientation, human capital,
entrepreneurship goals, motivational factors, and social and cultural factors.
On the other hand, it is discovered that factors such as age, marital status,
access to physical infrastructure, and market access are having an insignificant influence on women entrepreneurs’ performance. The findings of the research might be used as inputs for policymakers and to promote an environment that helps women entrepreneurs succeed. Further, the study may aid women entrepreneurs in addressing the variables that affect performance. Hence, they may take steps to enhance it, which will assist in poverty alleviation, promoting wealth & creativity, and creation of job opportunities. The study adds, to the body of knowledge on the factors that influence women entrepreneurs’ performance in small and medium enterprises.
