Exploring the Entrepreneurial Experiences of Women in Invercargill
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Authors
Srimali, Paththini Gamage Manoja
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Degree
Master of Applied Management
Grantor
Southern Institute of Technology
Date
2024
Supervisors
Duncan, Wayne
Halstead, Paulette
Halstead, Paulette
Type
Masters Dissertation
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Entrepreneurship
WEs
Challengers
Gender Bias
Support Networks
WEs
Challengers
Gender Bias
Support Networks
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
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Abstract
This study explores the experiences of women who start businesses in Invercargill, New Zealand (NZ), focusing on the challenges they face and their strategies for overcoming them through support networks and work-life balance management. Adopting an interpretivist approach, this research uses a phenomenological, qualitative design, with semi-structured interviews (SSI) conducted with seven women entrepreneurs (WEs). Data were analysed using thematic analysis, revealing key challenges such as gender bias, age, financial literacy, marketing literacy, limited support networks, and work-life balance. The findings indicate that WEs in Invercargill encounter significant barriers, including gender bias and insufficient access to resources, which impede their business growth. By leveraging support networks and adopting effective strategies for work-life balance, these women can navigate challenges more successfully, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment. The study’s recommendations include enhancing support networks, improving access to financial literacy training, and promoting work-life balance strategies for women in entrepreneurship. Additionally, future research should examine a variety of business types, including larger enterprises, and incorporate larger sample sizes to identify industry-specific challenges and trends across different business scales. The study also suggests exploring WEs in other regions of NZ to compare the challenges faced in urban and rural environments, providing a broader understanding of how location influences entrepreneurship.
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CC BY-NC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International