Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Work-Time Management and Decision-making Process in Agricultural Microenterprise

This research work is aimed to find the extent of participation of women entrepreneurs in microenterprise like mushroom cultivation and marketing by exploring their work and time management with decision-making strategies. A survey of 60 women entrepreneurs engaged in mushroom cultivation was conducted to assess women entrepreneurs’ time and decision-making issues and employee attitudes. A snowball sampling was used to compare the work-life balance of startups and established women entrepreneurs who worked alone, with spouses, or with partners. The study findings revealed that majority of women are actively engaged in mushroom cultivation activities and have given equal time to households and entrepreneurial activities. But still, their role in decision-making in running a microenterprise like mushroom cultivation and marketing is very low. They are working as subordinates or work jointly, and this may due to their socio-economic factors status which keeps them away from decision-making process. This research work would be helpful for academicians, enterprises, human resource and management consultants, policymakers and professionals to understand management practices of women engaged in relation to decision-making, work distribution and time management in the agricultural microenterprise and also in their household.

• The majority of women have actively engaged in mushroom farming, namely in the tasks of packing and spinning. However, they have limited opportunities to participate in marketing activities.

• Despite playing a crucial role in mushroom cultivation, their standing in decision-making processes regarding raw material selection, purchasing frequency, location, source, payment method, transportation, purchasing delegation, and marketing is minimal and questionable.