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WHO WE ARE
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Handbook on Women-owned SMEs:
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Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) |  |
| By forming WOEs, women are often able to overcome traditional boundaries. WOEs now account for a growing share of all new enterprises in many economies. New technologies and associated societal and organizational changes represent great opportunities. However, barriers remain. | "Handbook on Women-owned SMEs:Challenges and Opportunities in Policies and Programmes" by GKP and IKED, September 2007. |
| The issues confronting women-owned enterprises are not unrelated to those confronting male entrepreneurs or entrepreneurs in general. Still, the emphasis may be different, as may the effective solutions. For instance, while there are limitations in information or reliable statistical data on WOEs, female entrepreneurs often represent (or are viewed as associated with) activities in the informal economy . They commonly pursue (or are viewed to pursue) low-key businesses with little growth potential. In many instances, they meet with special cultural and economic barriers throughout the registration and start-up process, as well as during later business development. For WOEs, there are special issues with respect to opportunities for networking and partnering with other firms, and there are managerial and skills issues. In this book, a number of authors who come from different parts of the world and who have complementary experience, venture into issues confronting WOEs with respect to knowledge and competence development. The seed of the book was sown during a special session on Women Entrepreneurship and ICT: Policy & Programme Implications for Women SMEs in Training, Advocacy Strategy and Growth , organised jointly by IKED and the GKP at the Global Knowledge Forum on October 12, 2004, in Seoul, Korea. The presentations and discussions at that session highlighted that many women embark upon an entrepreneurial venture based on considerable experience and skills in a particular area, but with limited experience in management. Once 8 locked into the hectic task of launching a business, they find little room for strategic planning. As a result, they may be further overloaded while seeing their enterprises stagnate. The session at the World Knowledge Forum inspired continued exchange and the search for opportunities to address such issues, and set in motion the process that led to the publication of this book three years later. Discussing and comparing the situation of WOEs in different countries and under varying circumstances, the contributions to this book assume a global outlook. To some extent, the stories presented represent a coherent set of reflections on the situation of WOEs worldwide. Special consideration is given to developing economies, and to some extent transition economies, but the material presented includes observations from developed countries as well. Although the seriousness of the issues usually is most evident in less developed countries, they are often relevant to WOEs in any country. The chapters are written for a broad range of readers, including academics, policymakers, business representatives and intermediaries. The report aims to include observations and conclusions of direct relevance to practitioners and entrepreneurs themselves. The outline of the publication is as follows. This introductory chapter surveys the key issues that tend to plague women entrepreneurs and women-owned enterprises, with special emphasis on aspects related to skills development and the possibilities for women entrepreneurs to make use of new technologies and market opportunities. In particular, we examine various ways of improving the current situation. The four ensuing chapters venture into the different substantive issues confronting women entrepreneurs, paying attention to the specific importance of the gender dimension, employing a bottom-up analysis, and exploring the lessons of case studies in regard to whats not working and whats working (success and failure) in removing barriers and realising opportunities for WOEs. Throughout, we pay special attention to the means and ways of upgrading skills, including through training programmes as well as other mechanisms for competence development. All chapters end with recommendations for women entrepreneurs how to best upgrade their skills in various fields, for policy makers and for those involved in supporting and assisting women entrepreneurs. This introduction sets the scene by outlining the nature and extent of women entrepreneurship. We present evidence from various studies on WOEs around the world, discuss their roles in the economy and society, and look at the environment for women entrepreneurship. This is followed by a short introduction to the main issues tackled in the three chapters on financing, procurement and alliances and networking. The final section of this chapter suggests further avenues for policy-makers and practitioners, and outlines the direction of policy initiatives that are critically needed in a broad range of circumstances. |
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