Journal of Entrepreneurship Research

Journal of Entrepreneurship Research

Determinant Strategies of Entrepreneurship Development among Rural Women in Ardabil County

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Mojtaba Sookhtanlou 1
Nejat Vahedi 2
1 Department of Water Engineering and Agricultural Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
2 Department of Water Engineering and Agricultural Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili and Green Space Expert in Ardabil Municipality, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22034/jer.2023.1989366.1028
Abstract
It is impossible to improve the economy and development of villages without considering the importance of employment and entrepreneurship of rural women. Therefore, the research aimed to explore the determining strategies of entrepreneurship development among rural women in Ardabil County. The present research is a descriptive-analytical study conducted by the field method using a combination of SWOT (weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, threats matrix) and QSPM (quantitative strategic planning matrix) in the form of the Delphi technique. The statistical sample, taken by the snowball technique, included 37 experts and specialists in the agricultural and rural sectors in Ardabil County, who were active in the field of rural women's employment. According to the exploratory results in the SWOT matrix, 28 strength and weakness indicators and 31 opportunity and threat indicators were identified for the development of rural women's entrepreneurship. According to the sum of the final scores of the internal and external factors (EFE: 2.158; IFE: 2.694), decisive and focal strategies for entrepreneurship development, including competitive strategies (ST), were obtained. In examining the importance of the strategies selected in the QSPM matrix, creating a unit in charge of entrepreneurship and specialized counseling for rural women in agricultural or rural centers, planning to assess the needs of rural women's entrepreneurship and designing codified training-promotional programs, and creating or developing microcredit funds for rural women were determined as the first to third priorities in the target areas. Therefore, the focus of entrepreneurship development planning among rural women must be based on determining a certain authority in rural executive institutions. In this context, paying attention to developing a comprehensive program for entrepreneurship needs assessment of rural women and attracting the cooperation of women entrepreneurs in educational-motivational programs will play an essential role.
Keywords
SWOT Matrix
GSPM Matrix
Rural Women
Entrepreneurship Development
 
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  • Receive Date 07 February 2023
  • Revise Date 27 February 2023
  • Accept Date 27 February 2023