Leadership Behaviors of Women Entrepreneurs in SME Sector of Bangladesh

Abstract

Women’s leadership development in entrepreneurial business is critical to improving women’s participation in management and businesses in Bangladesh. Research shows that only seven percent of all business establishments in Bangladesh are women-owned and women-headed. This limited ownership and development of women’s leadership behavior is a clear gap to be filled. Thus, the study aims to identify women’s leadership behavioral factors (WLBFs) and examine the causal relationship between WLBFs and women’s leadership behavior practices (WLBPs) in line with path–goal leadership theory. We conducted causal research, applying systematic sampling techniques in selecting participants and conducting interviews with 366 women entrepreneurs from the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industries database under seven administrative divisional headquarters. We analyzed data through exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques. The results show that the factors internal to women as entrepreneurs (including entrepreneurial attitude, intentions, and workplace learning culture), the factors external to women as entrepreneurs (such as training and education), and sociocultural factors are significantly related to the development of WLBPs. The external organizational behavior context was not significant. WLBPs help develop directive, supportive, participatory, and achievement-oriented leadership practices among women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This study suggests that policymakers, implementing managers, training service providers, and women entrepreneurs focus on entrepreneurial attitude, intention, education and skills development training, workplace learning culture, and sociocultural support among women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.