Browsing by Author "Jayawardane, T."

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The Buddhist perspective of continual improvement
(University of Kelaniya, 2016) Jayawardane, T.; de Alwis, A.C.
Continual Improvement (CI) is closely linked to Japanese quality management. As the CI concepts were developed in a strong Buddhist culture in the background, a remarkable similarity can be seen between CI and Buddhism. This paper reveals the overlap between various sciences of CI and various Suttas’ in the Sutta Pitaka of Buddhism as the main reference body. Sutta Pitaka is one of the three key branches of Tripitaka which is the oldest and most original text available on the Buddhist philosophy. The similarities that are observed deep inside the tools, techniques and behavioral branches of CI such as cause and effect relations, problem validation, problem solving sequence, problem types, corrective and preventive action, nonconformity, autonomy and knowledge are discussed in detail.
The Issues and Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Jayawardane, T.
Entrepreneurship has been considered as a male-dominated vicinity for many years, but in today's society there are many women running their respective businesses as outstanding and inspirational entrepreneurs. With the economic changes and globalization, women entrepreneurship has been gaining higher importance in Sri Lanka. Legislations have been created with laws and by-laws to support motivating entrepreneurship, encouraging education and training for potential entrepreneurs. Literature confirms that there are many successful stories of female business entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. As observed in countries like Japan and Spain, the development and nurturing of women entrepreneurs would be a value addition to the development and prosperity of the whole country. Many women leave their respective employment for various reasons. Such women can be encouraged to be entrepreneurs who will contribute to the income of their family as well as the development of the country. Women entrepreneurs provide a strong, empathetic and supportive role in the society while demonstrating unique characteristics when faced with challenges in running their businesses. All these reasons, created the motivation for the researcher to study this area. This article intends to identify the various issues and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka and the competencies they exercise to overcome them. This research was undertaken using qualitative methodology in a chosen sample of 24 women entrepreneurs based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In conclusion the outcomes identified the challenges and issues faced by the women entrepreneurs along with the unique ways they faced and overcame these obstacles. It was further reiterated that these women entrepreneurs were highly capable in motivating employees, retaining customers, creating job opportunities and they invested most of their earnings for the betterment of their family and country.
Strategic Management and Sri Lankan Women Entrepreneurs
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayawardane, T.
The focus of this paper is to view and examine the various strategic management styles used by Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs. The paper further explores women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka to understand the impact created upon them on empowering women. Are there different management styles used by the women entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka? Have the women entrepreneurs made an impact on the development of Sri Lanka? What is the importance of women entrepreneurship on empowering females in Sri Lanka? These were the questions that this paper attempts to answer. In many parts of Sri Lanka women play a crucially important role in social and economic production. However, the constraints of poverty, combined with poor infrastructure and minimal resources, limit entrepreneurial possibilities. Nonetheless, Sri Lankan women entrepreneurs use enterprise to try to improve their lives. There is a thought that significant differences exist in the general entrepreneurial behaviour and performance between men and women, as well as between women from the same region and from other localities. This paper is aimed at increasing understanding on whether these differences are brought about by the cultural and social attributes, rather than physical and psychological differences. In summary the outcomes of this paper identify the intrinsic motivator for women entrepreneurs is to provide for their family, to give their children a better life than what they experienced, and to escape the entrapments of poverty. Stereotyping and discrimination combined with lack of capital and access to micro-credit were seen as the major inhibitors to business success of the women entrepreneurs. Therefore the paper has not only identified the unique management styles used by the women entrepreneurs of Sri Lanka but has found the various ways the women are empowered through the women entrepreneurship and how it affects the development of Sri Lanka.