dc.description.abstract | This study provides an insight into how family-owned businesses in Botswana can become more competitive by creating an environment that encourages women to start businesses, retain them in the business, and make them more productive. It is essential to create an environment that establishes practices that tap into the vast potential of female human capital for gaining lasting competitive advantage for sustainable growth and diversification of the country’s economy. The focus of the study was on experiences of women in family-owned businesses, with emphasis on their roles, challenges, and gender dynamics, their perception of success, the support they get, and enablers they need to improve their performance in family businesses. This research’s major aim was to explore the roles women play in family-owned businesses and recommend a framework on how women can successfully play their roles of a business partner, a wife, a mother, a super and efficient housekeeper, and have time to pursue other personal interests in a family business context that is embroiled in challenges from the family, business, community and the woman herself.
Qualitative research was carried out in Gaborone and Francistown, and data was collected from ten women whose families own one or two small to medium family businesses, and the women are part of the businesses. The results showed that the number of women in leadership roles in family-owned businesses is very high. Out of the ten interviewed businesswomen, nine lead the family business, and one woman’s family business is headed by the husband. Five of the women operate as co-preneurs with their husbands, whereas two of the seven married businesswomen manage the businesses on their own. Although the married businesswomen are in the management of the business, they consult their husbands on decisions as they want to get the approval of their husbands who are the heads of the families, whereas others, lack either confidence or technical knowledge to make decisions. Most women prefer family business as they work flexible hours, with relatives and, without limitations. The study reveals that women who have children continue to be homemakers, doing duties like childbearing and rearing, and at the same time carrying out business activities. Being in business has brought the women, a sense of self-fulfillment and pride.
Finally, the study recommends that families can tap into the human capital of female members of their families by offering them support: in their homes with family chores and raising the children; through government and private sponsored programs; sending women to school for skills; assisting them in building networks and, lastly the women should rise-up, get educated and acquire entrepreneurial skills, and seize existing opportunities to get into the business. | |