Do Access to Finance, Technical Know-How, and Financial Literacy Offer Women Empowerment Through Women’s Entrepreneurial Development?

The motivation of the study is to gauge the effects of access to finance, technical know-how, and financial literacy on women’s empowerment through establishing women’s entrepreneurial development. A sample of 950 women-owned SMEs was considered, and structured questionnaires were sent from getting target responses. After careful assessment through the data cleansing procedure, it was found that only 795 responses are suitable for further investigation, implying the sample response rate for the study is 74.71%. The study implemented structural equation modeling and multivariate regression analysis for gauging the causal association that is direct and indirect effects of target variables. According to findings, a positive statistically significant linkage was revealed with women’s entrepreneurship sustainability and women empowerment. Furthermore, the mediating effects were also established for women’s empowerment. According to the study findings, it is suggested that for women entrepreneurship sustainability, effective policies surrounding financing accessibility, technical knowledge expansion, and financial understating have to be promulgated in the economy, which allows bringing women empowerment at large.

Conceptual Framework—Artificial Intelligence and Better Entrepreneurial Decision-Making: The Influence of Customer Preference, Industry Benchmark, and Employee Involvement in an Emerging Market

Purpose: Technology initiatives are now incorporated into a wide range of business domains. The objective of this paper is to explore the possible effects that Artificial intelligence systems have on entrepreneurs’ decision-making, through the mediation of customer preference and industry benchmark. Design/methodology/approach: This is a non-empirical review of the literature and the development of a conceptual model. Searches were conducted in key academic databases, such as Emerald Online Journals, Taylor and Francis Online Journals, JSTOR Online Journals, Elsevier Online Journals, IEEE Xplore, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) for papers which focused on Artificial intelligence (AI), Entrepreneurial decision-making, Customer preference, Industry benchmarks, and Employee involvement. In total, 25 articles met the predefined criteria and were used. Findings: The study proposes that Artificial intelligence systems can facilitate better decision-making from the entrepreneurial perspective. In addition, the study demonstrates that employees, as stakeholders, can moderate the relationship between Artificial intelligence systems and better decision-making for entrepreneurs with their involvement. Moreover, the study demonstrates that customer preference and industry benchmark can mediate the relationship between Artificial intelligence systems and better entrepreneur decision-making. Research limitations/implications: The study assumes a perfect ICT environment for the smooth operation of Artificial intelligence systems. However, this might not always be the case. The study does not consider the personal disposition of entrepreneurs in terms of ICT usage and adoption. Practical implications: This study proposes that entrepreneurial decision-making is enriched in an environment of Artificial intelligence systems, which is complemented by customer preference, industry benchmark, and employee involvement. This finding provides entrepreneurs with a possible technological tool for better decision-making, highlighting the endless options offered by Artificial intelligence systems. Social Implications: The introduction of AI in the business decision-making process comes with many social issues in relation to the impact machines have on humans and society. This paper suggests how this new technology should be used without destroying society. Originality/value: This conceptual framework serves as a valuable organizational spectrum for entrepreneurial development. In addition, this study makes a valuable contribution to entrepreneurial development through Artificial intelligence systems.

Social entrepreneurship and SDGs: case studies from northeast Nigeria

Case synopsis The use of entrepreneurship to deliver profound social impact is a much-needed but poorly understood concept. Although the authors can generally recognize social enterprises when they see them, they lack a common approach to understanding and measuring the different ways they create social value for them. The authors also lack an appropriate method for reducing the difficulties of starting and expanding them within the difficult conditions of developing countries. In the northeast of Nigeria, for example, the mammoth challenge of rebuilding communities in an unfavorable entrepreneurship environment makes the need for a solution even more urgent. This case study illustrates a model of promoting entrepreneurship that advances the conditions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in local communities using a configuration of the key theories of social impact entrepreneurship (variants of entrepreneurship with blended value or mission orientation, including social entrepreneurship, sustainable entrepreneurship and institutional entrepreneurship). The extent to which ventures can adjust and improve the extent of their contributions to the SDGs are shown using examples of three entrepreneurs at different stages of growth. From this case study, students will be able to understand how entrepreneurs can identify and exploit social impact opportunities in the venture’s business model, within the network of primary stakeholders as well as in the wider institutional environment with the support of Impact+, a simple impact measurement praxis. Learning objectives The case study envisions training students how to hardwire social impact focus in the venture’s business model (social entrepreneurship), how to run ventures with minimal harm to the environment and greatest benefit to stakeholders (sustainable entrepreneurship) and how to contribute to improving the institutional environment for social purpose entrepreneurship (institutional entrepreneurship). At the end of learning this case study, students should be able to: 1. discover an effective model for a startup social venture; 2. explore options for managing a venture sustainably and helping stakeholders out of poverty; and 3. identify ways to contribute to improving the institutional environment for social impact entrepreneurs. Social implications For students, this case will help in educating them on a pragmatic approach to designing social impact ventures – one that calibrates where they are on well-differentiated scales. For business schools, entrepreneurial development institutions and policymakers, this case study can help them learn how to target entrepreneurial development for specific development outcomes. Complexity academic level The case study is preferably for early-stage postgraduate students (MSc or MBA). Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Innovation Management MADU PELAWAN (Integrated House of Entrepreneurship Development and Services) in Central Bangka Regency

This research is about management Independent Entrepreneurial Development and Service innovation as one of the real actions of the government in an effort to improve the community's economy through empowering IKM (Small and Medium Industries). The focus of this research is the management of Independent Entrepreneurial Development and Service innovation carried out by Central Bangka Regency. This study used qualitative research methods. The population in this study is an area that has made innovations in the development and service of independent entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, the research subject is in Central Bangka Regency with an innovation called Madu Pelawan (Integrated House for Independent Entrepreneurship Development and Services). The results showed that the Honey Innovation Management of Pelawan (Integrated House for Development and Independent Entrepreneur Services) in Central Bangka Regency succeeded in making real changes. The existence of the Product Development House (RPP) has made significant changes to the growth and development of IKM/UKM in Central Bangka Regency. As it is very easy to find IKM products that already have a good label in accordance with the required provisions, it is very easy to find products that have used food grade packaging, many IKM products are found that are accepted and marketed in gift shops and modern stores, almost all packaged food products have marketing permits, the reach of loan services has become easier with the facilitation of counseling, many IKM products have promotional media such as the 7/9 booklet, some IKM actors already have process and promotional videos, and 5 IKM Centers have been formed.

Quality Service Provision and Students Satisfaction at Akenten Aooiah-menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development: Implications for University management

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that affect quality service provision and students’ satisfaction at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development. Descriptive survey research was used for the study. Simple random sampling was used to select third and final year undergraduate students in Kumasi and Mampong campuses.The total population of the study was 1642. Parasuram’s SERQUAL instrument type of questionnaire was adopted as a research instrument for data collection. The internal consistency of the 32-items yielded a Cronbach Alpha value of 0.91. The data gathered were quantitatively analysed with the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study showed a statistically strong and direct relationship between quality in commitment, social and financial bonds, communication, general academic conditions and administrative support and students’ satisfaction which in turn influenced institutional image and students’ loyalty. This indicates that students had high expectations in the five-dimensional variables that stood as proxy for quality service provisions by the University. It was recommended that university management should appoint competent academic and administrative staffs to positions, provide them with adequate professional development programmes to improve their commitment in teaching and learning, communication and other service provisions. More so, management should be proactive towards adequate infrastructural provision for students in order to improve their academic work in a conducive learning environment. Lastly, the study will benefit other universities in Ghana to identify cost effective ways of improving service quality provision.

REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA – THE ROLE OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING GRADUATES

In Nigeria, the number of unemployed persons in recent times increased to 23,187,000 in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 21,765,000 in the second quarter of 2020, hence this paper is an exposition on the role of tertiary institutions in the entrepreneurial development of engineering graduates most of whom are unemployed. A brief discuss on the need for engineering-based entrepreneurship is presented. The key challenges hindering engineering entrepreneurship in Nigeria are highlighted. Some of the roles and strategies which the tertiary institutions in Nigeria can deploy to foster entrepreneurship amongst engineering graduates are presented and include; highly functional and strategic entrepreneurship development centers with think tanks, funding support for the most promising business ideas of students, business and entrepreneurship-motivated research, engaging with government and policymakers to make entrepreneurship fostering policies and minimize bottlenecks to business amongst others. Edo State University Uzairue is presented as a case study of a tertiary institution in Nigeria that has taken some steps in the right direction as regards entrepreneurial development. It is concluded that all stakeholders such as the government, industry, NGOs, and the students/graduates must partner with the tertiary institutions to achieve commendable results on the uphill task under consideration. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, tertiary institutions, engineering, unemployment, development, Nigeria.