Abstract
Benchmarking is a process of measuring the performance
of a firm’s products, services, or processes against those
of another business considered to be the best in the market.
However, benchmarking practices could not well explored
in the context of home-based small businesses operated
by women entrepreneurs in rural areas. To add new insights
in previous literature, we take a qualitative approach based
on semi-structured interviews from 17 home-based women
entrepreneurs operate small scale businesses in the rural areas
of Pakistan. The findings reveal that women entrepreneurs
undertake two approaches for benchmarking and these are
home-based businesses and market-based businesses.
Home-based benchmarking practices with similar businesses
are carried out with a collaborative environment and strong
network linkages among these women entrepreneurs and
information are shared in all sorts of benchmarking except
financial benchmarking. However, those women entrepreneurs
targeting the similar home-based businesses for benchmarking
achieved entrepreneurial growth. In the other hand, there is no
cooperative environment for those women targeted marketbased businesses for benchmarking dominated by men and
face business failure. We contribute in threefold. Theoretically,
the paper offers a new avenue for research to explore further
benchmarking practices of women entrepreneurs in rural areas
in different countries. Practically, we show how benchmarking
takes place through collaborative practices on the poor
infrastructure environment by women entrepreneurs. Finally, this
paper could provide practical advice and knowledge regarding
benchmarking practices to other women entrepreneurs who are
in similar businesses in rural areas
of a firm’s products, services, or processes against those
of another business considered to be the best in the market.
However, benchmarking practices could not well explored
in the context of home-based small businesses operated
by women entrepreneurs in rural areas. To add new insights
in previous literature, we take a qualitative approach based
on semi-structured interviews from 17 home-based women
entrepreneurs operate small scale businesses in the rural areas
of Pakistan. The findings reveal that women entrepreneurs
undertake two approaches for benchmarking and these are
home-based businesses and market-based businesses.
Home-based benchmarking practices with similar businesses
are carried out with a collaborative environment and strong
network linkages among these women entrepreneurs and
information are shared in all sorts of benchmarking except
financial benchmarking. However, those women entrepreneurs
targeting the similar home-based businesses for benchmarking
achieved entrepreneurial growth. In the other hand, there is no
cooperative environment for those women targeted marketbased businesses for benchmarking dominated by men and
face business failure. We contribute in threefold. Theoretically,
the paper offers a new avenue for research to explore further
benchmarking practices of women entrepreneurs in rural areas
in different countries. Practically, we show how benchmarking
takes place through collaborative practices on the poor
infrastructure environment by women entrepreneurs. Finally, this
paper could provide practical advice and knowledge regarding
benchmarking practices to other women entrepreneurs who are
in similar businesses in rural areas
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 9 Feb 2018 |
| Event | Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange (ACERE) Proceedings, Queensland University of Technology 6 – 9 February Austra - QUT Business School , Brisbane, Australia Duration: 6 Feb 2018 → 9 Feb 2018 http://acereconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ACERE-2018-Program-F.pdf |
Conference
| Conference | Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange (ACERE) Proceedings, Queensland University of Technology 6 – 9 February Austra |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Australia |
| City | Brisbane |
| Period | 6/02/18 → 9/02/18 |
| Internet address |