Browsing by Author "Semasinghe, D.M."

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Are Women Entrepreneurs More Vulnerable Than Their Male Counterparts? – A Content Analysis
(Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Kodisinghe, K.A.M.S.; Semasinghe, D.M.
The objective of this study is to examine the problems faced by women entrepreneurs. Data for the study was mainly based on secondary data and some observations. The basic research method selected for the study was content analysis. For the identification of these issues we have reviewed various research articles and reports published by major journals. Findings of this study reveal that access to finance, social and cultural constrains, lack of specialized education background and advances in technology and role problems are the major problems faced by women entrepreneurs. We recommend that more organizations and networks should be established for the development of women entrepreneurs and to minimise the problems faced by them.
Attractiveness of venture idea amongst expert entrepreneurs: a conjoint analysis
(Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, 2010) Semasinghe, D.M.
Venture ideas are at the heart of entrepreneurship (Davidsson, 2004). However, we are yet to learn what factors drive entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the attractiveness of venture ideas, and what the relative importance of these factors are for their decision to pursue an idea. The expected financial gain is one factor that will obviously influence the perceived attractiveness of a venture idea (Shepherd & DeTienne, 2005). In addition, the degree of novelty of venture ideas along one or more dimensions such as new products/services, new method of production, enter into new markets/customer and new method of promotion may affect their attractiveness (Schumpeter, 1934). Further, according to the notion of an individual-opportunity nexus venture ideas are closely associated with certain individual characteristics (relatedness). Shane (2000) empirically identified that individual’s prior knowledge is closely associated with the recognition of venture ideas. Sarasvathy’s (2001; 2008) Effectuation theory proposes a high degree of relatedness between venture ideas and the resource position of the individual. This study examines how entrepreneurs weigh considerations of different forms of novelty and relatedness as well as potential financial gain in assessing the attractiveness of venture ideas.
Attractiveness of Venture Idea amongst Expert Entrepreneurs: A Conjoint Analysis (Interactive Paper)
(2010) Semasinghe, D.M.
Venture ideas are at the heart of entrepreneurship (Davidsson, 2004). However, we are yet to learn what factors drive entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the attractiveness of venture ideas, and what the relative importance of these factors are for their decision to pursue an idea. The expected financial gain is one factor that will obviously influence the perceived attractiveness of a venture idea (Shepherd & DeTienne, 2005). In addition, the degree of novelty of venture ideas along one or more dimensions such as new products/services, new method of production, enter into new markets/customer and new method of promotion may affect their attractiveness (Schumpeter, 1934). Further, according to the notion of an individual-opportunity nexus venture ideas are closely associated with certain individual characteristics (relatedness). Shane (2000) empirically identified that individual’s prior knowledge is closely associated with the recognition of venture ideas. Sarasvathy’s (2001; 2008) Effectuation theory proposes a high degree of relatedness between venture ideas and the resource position of the individual. This study examines how entrepreneurs weigh considerations of different forms of novelty and relatedness as well as potential financial gain in assessing the attractiveness of venture ideas.
Attractiveness of venture ideas: a conjoint study
(Swinburne University of Technology, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, 2010) Semasinghe, D.M.; Davidsson, P.; Steffens, P.R.
Every venture starts with a venture idea; product/service, method of production, customer, market, or method of promotion etc. This study focused its attention on what factors drive entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the relative attractiveness of specific venture ideas, and how important different venture idea characteristics are for making such assessments. Based on several idea characteristics – four dimensions of newness, two dimensions of relatedness and potential financial gains – the study investigated how 32 expert entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka trade off among different levels and attributes associated with different idea characteristics. The study utilized a Conjoint Analysis to understand how entrepreneurs make preferences for different profiles of venture idea characteristics. Results suggest that entrepreneurs are highly attractive of introducing substantial improved products. They prefer to use a higher knowledge in implementing venture idea. Further, results show that entrepreneurs give higher importance for process newness in perceiving venture idea.
Building a Theoretical Model of Entrepreneurial Venture Growth: An Alternative Perspective
(Sydney, Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, 2014) Dissanayake, D.M.N.S.W.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Despite the low theoretical developments in the Entrepreneurial Venture Growth literature, entrepreneurial ventures require growth to provide economic development, to create wealth and employment. However, some entrepreneurial ventures register for high growth whereas others do not. Adding to that, Azevedo, & Ortiz (2011) write, the main cause for firm growth and success can be found inside of the firm. Despite the wide ranging factors ‘inside the firm’, Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) acts as the strategy of an entrepreneur and the notion of Core Competencies (CC) covers intrinsic resources and capabilities of the entrepreneurial venture. Given these two antecedents of entrepreneurial venture growth, we intend to develop a comprehensive theoretical model of Entrepreneurial Venture Growth. Pertaining main propositions and sub-propositions were developed based on the constructs identified. Entrepreneurial Orientation viewed in a five dimensional framework and Core Competencies was defined rationally. Moderators of entrepreneurial venture growth and core constructs were conceptualized and rationalized and the theoretical framework developed subsequently. We argue that the associated concepts (EO and CC) can be justified as predictors of Entrepreneurial Venture Growth. Also, the application of these constructs in a different setting has important implications. We suggest more scholarly investigations are required in this regard.
Challenges Facing by Women in Accessing Credit from Microfinance Institutions in Sri Lanka
(2013) Yogendrarajah, R.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Women are key instrument in the society and their role is very important in the world because they act dual role both in the family as well as society. The microfinance has an important role in empowering women in developing countries as well as in Sri Lanka by accessing credit facilities for their income generating activities to empower the rural women. With the conflict situation in Northern part of Sri Lanka, most of the men left from that area and they were unable to withstand by political condition. In this situation, many men were killed and women had to take the responsibility of the family as leaders. The Sri Lankan government has a responsibility to rehabilitate and revitalize the situation under post war development. MFIs provide their members with financial and social intermediation services to help improve their income generating activities. The aim of this study is to examine the challenges faced by women when accessing loans for income generating activities. This concept paper focuses on a review of academic literature on Challenges when accessing loans in empowering women through micro finance in Sri Lanka. For this purpose previous studies from developed and developing countries on this regards have been examined and then found out the solutions from the literatures. Finally, the conclusion of their studies has been analyzed and then provided a comprehensive literature by seeing the experiences and usefulness of the activities about the solutions for the challenges in accessing the loan facilities for income generating activities to empower poor women. Therefore it has been strongly feel that a look into empowering women and developing them with the support of the microfinance and the monitoring and creating awareness are important to eliminate the challenges facing by them in accessing credit from Microfinance Institutions.
Contribution of Micro Credit Programme in Empowering Women: A Special Reference to Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka
(2014) Yogendrarajah, R.; Semasinghe, D.M.
The prime objective of this study was to assess the impact of micro credit in empowering poor women before and after joining with micro credit programmes. The study was conducted at Kilinochchi District in Sri Lanka as one of the war affected areas. Both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used to obtain a reliable data. Data were derived from a questionnaire survey of a sample of 94 women clients and three focus group discussions were conducted involving 18 women while in-depth interviews were carried out with another 12. The paired sample statistics was used to find out the significant differences between before and after joining the micro credit programme. The study indicated that the income levels of the majority of the clients have increased after the delivery of micro credit. The results have also been shown in the enhancement of the women’s self-confidence with respect to the capability to work on their own and improve their lives. The study concluded that the microfinance activities are necessary for the overall empowerment except access of micro credit.
Does the Innate Culture make all Failures to Entrepreneurs? An Existing Context Specific Problem
(International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2014) Dissanayake, D.M.N.S.W.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Complementing Ireland et al., (2003) inference of „regardless of the size of the entrepreneurial venture, strategic entrepreneurial aspects (advantage seeking and opportunity seeking behaviors) are important‟, we set out to assess whether less entrepreneurial behavior in Sri Lanka has an impact from the innate culture? This working study interviewed 127 entrepreneurs in two districts in Sri Lanka and Geert Hofstede‟s six dimensional cultures were assessed. We came to know that selected entrepreneurs of two districts hold the characteristics of being collective, high power distant, feminine, low uncertainty avoidance, long term oriented and Indulgent. We concluded that, innate culture hinders entrepreneurship in relation to power distance. Though a large number of entrepreneurial ventures started as solo entrepreneurial ventures in Sri Lanka, the distance of power between the owner and the subordinates may act as a restraining factor in the process of expansion. We generalized our findings and different implications were made and finally some research directions were proposed. Importantly, we propose that, despite the relationship of cultural inheritance and entrepreneurship, strategic entrepreneurial aspects are of paramount importance to secure entrepreneurship in a country. Simply put, it provides a clear basis for sustainable entrepreneurship and it clearly differentiates a mere business venture.
The effects of working capital management on profitability, liquidity, solvency and organic growth with special reference to SMEs: A review.
(International Journal of Accounting & Business Finance, 2017) Semasinghe, D.M.; Mahasena, Senanayake; Dayaratna Banda, O.G.
A well designed and implemented working capital management is expected to contribute positively to the creation of a firm's value and ultimately to its organic growth extent. The purpose of this paper is to review the trends in working capital management and its impact on firms' performance and organic growth as experienced in previous studies. The theoretical underpinnings have also been evaluated and recorded as preliminary comments. The examination of literature has been categorized, so as to consider micro aspects of: definitions, nature, generics of working capital management and the key contributions of profitability, liquidity, solvency leading to organic growth. On a macro footing the impact of small and medium enterprise on national development in Sri Lanka and hence the need for a differentiated approach has been examined. A strong significant relationship between working capital management and profitability, liquidity, solvency and financial health has been found in previous empirical work. A case in point would be to determine by further research the extent of presence of these value drivers and determine the extent to which they champion, the cause of value enhancement amidst an increasing trend in the short-term component of working capital financing as reflected in their respective 'financial architectures'. Adoption of 'cutting edge' strategies and tactics in relation to working capital management practice seems to be a need for most SMEs in Sri Lanka.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Through Micro Finance in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka: Challenges and Scenarios
(Centre of Excellence for Scientific & Research Journalism, 2014) Yogendrarajah, R.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Micro finance serves as a vital role for women entrepreneurship development in the developing countries as well as in Sri Lanka. As a result of 30 years conflict situation, women lost their male relatives in struggle, and forced to take a responsibility of their family in order to look after their children, aged parents and their male relatives. Micro finance institutions help the poor people particularly women in effective ways in order to create income generating activities. This study focuses the challenges and Scenarios associated with the adoption of microfinance as an instrument for empowering women entrepreneurs in Jaffna District in Sri Lanka. The prime objective of this study is to identify the challenges and scenarios in empowering women entrepreneurs through micro finance in Jaffna District. In this study the rural areas of Jaffna, Nallur, Kopay Divisional Secretariat Divisions, were selected as the sample size of population of women entrepreneurs who were involving in numerous self employable activities around 76 women. Both primary and secondary data were used for gathering information and quantitative and qualitative analysis was carried out to find out the results. To find out the results and check the validity and reliability of quantitative analysis the case study method also used in this study. In the quantitative analysis the correlation and regression method was used to find out the association between the variables of entrepreneurship challenges and needs and micro finance objectives by using SPSS. Three case study method also was included in this study that the women entrepreneurs were improved their activity by the support of micro finance institutions facing many challenges. The result of this study concluded that there is no significant relationship between the objectives of micro finance institutions and the needs of the respondents. In addition to this, using micro finance facilities create more job opportunities and variety of economic activities and improve household education, family welfare and empowering women themselves. Further this study shows that even though micro finance scheme is a strategy for increasing women entrepreneurs those who express their feelings on challenges and issues on marketing activities due to transport problem and financial difficulties. It is suggested that if much awareness will be created to enlighten the women entrepreneurs on record keeping, building assets, managing risk and increasing savings, it would be identified as the best strategy for helping poor women entrepreneurs’ access on financial and non-financial services in MFIs.
Enterprise Education and Venture Initiative in Developing Entrepreneurial Potentials
(2014) Musa, B.M.; Semasinghe, D.M.
The development of entrepreneurial potentials is important to sustaining a competitive advantage among people coexisting in innovative environment. Quality entrepreneurship education and training seem to be a mechanism in promoting and encouraging entrepreneurial potentials among youth in schools. However, identifying and nurturing these potentials can contribute immensely for the development of entrepreneurial skills to sustaining economic growth and development. This research investigates the effect of enterprise education in arousing entrepreneurial spirits among pre-tertiary level students. Ten public secondary schools in Gombe metropolis Nigeria were examined to identify students who started a given form of business after graduation; students that graduated ten years ago from 2000-2010 was sampled. The study examined among non-science based students that had entrepreneurship related subjects and the science based students that had not. The study observed that entrepreneurship education can influence psychological attributes commonly associated with entrepreneurship spirit. Further reveals that secondary school students with entrepreneurship or related knowledge have higher achievement motivation and creativity for starting a business than their counter part without it. The study recommends that there is need to include a compulsory entrepreneurship subject in the secondary school curriculum.
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Growth: The Moderating Role of National Culture.
(J Entrepren Organiz Manag, 2016) Semasinghe, D.M.; Dissanayake, D.M.
Complementing to the inferences of previous research, this paper seeks to investigate the moderating impact on the relationship of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and venture growth. This study conducted as a cross sectional survey and utilized the sample frame of the registry of Small Enterprises Development Division, Sri Lanka. 317 entrepreneurs were captured from varied districts of Sri Lanka and the data were collected by means of a structured questionnaire. The assessment of the moderating effects was subjected to multi-group analysis and the moderation effect was observed in the Chi-Square difference test. Findings of the study revealed that, EO acts as a predictor of venture growth suggesting a direct positive relationship. EO-growth relationship is strengthening under a low power distant organization. Uncertainty and ambiguity an entrepreneur faces is also weaken the relationship of EO-growth. Finally, individualism weakens the relationship of EO-growth.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND UNEMPLOYMENT: A LITERATURE REVIEW.
(International Conference on Business & Information, 2013) Semasinghe, D.M.; Musa, B.M.
A great deal of ambiguity exists in the literature over the relationship between entrepreneurship and unemployment. The simple theory of income choice, which has been the basis for numerous studies focusing on decision confronted by individuals to start-up venture and become entrepreneur i.e. the increase in unemployment will lead to an increase in start-up activity (push-effect) on the grounds that the opportunity cost of not starting a venture has decreased. This study aims to contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by exploring the relationship between the two conflicting concepts; entrepreneurship and unemployment. In this paper we reviewed the relationship between entrepreneurship rate and unemployment rate using exploratory research. Furthermore, using secondary data we attempt to address the ambiguity between the two concepts empirically. However, we assumed that increase in entrepreneurship activities reduced unemployment, at the same time, high rate of unemployment lead to slowdown or decrease in entrepreneurial activity in an economy. Using available literature, we tried to justify this notion and reconciled the two conflicting concepts, for policy-makers and researchers as well.
The Gravity of Entrepreneurs’ Network Ties on the growth of the Business in Sri Lanka
(European Journal of Business and Management, 2017) Semasinghe, D.M.; Kumarapeli, K.
Using the business performances of the firm we investigated how network ties (NT) interfere to obtain business growth in Sri Lankan context. As NT consist of two constructs which are social NT and business NT, this study aims to what extent both constructs engaged to the growth of the business in distinctly. It was mainly hypothesized that entrepreneurs who have high NT could perform more than others who engaged with lack of NT in same context. Finally results confirmed that NT has a positive impact on business growth. However, results indicated that business NT has significant influence on business growth than social NT. The results of the study have important implications to the existing entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants and policy makers.
Human Capital and Venture Performance: The Role of Entrepreneur’s Culture and Business Environment in Nigeria
(JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS RESEARCH, 2014) Musa, M.B.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Human capital is getting a wider attention with increasing globalization and competitiveness among enterprises and nation states. Both developed and developing countries put emphases on a more human capital development towards accelerating their economic growth and development. This paper examines the moderating effect of entrepreneur’s culture and business environment on the relationship of human capital and venture performance. In this study, Human capital was measured in terms of entrepreneur’s education, start-up experience and prior industry experience while venture performance is viewed in terms of sales growth and employment growth. Finally, the paper develops a model that explains the relationship between human capital and venture performance with a moderating effect of entrepreneur’s culture and business environment. We investigated fifty four small firms in Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling and questionnaire were employed. The authors hypothesized that higher levels of inadequate entrepreneur’s education, industry and start-up experience moderated by culture and environment led to poor venture performance. A multiple regression analysis was used via SPSS software. The study observes that inadequate entrepreneur’s human capital moderated by business environment and/or culture has a significant effect on venture performance. We conclude that the relationship between human capital and venture performance is being influenced by other variables. Finally the study suggests among others that the government, its agencies and non-governmental organizations should embark on a massive awareness campaign among small business entrepreneurs on the effect of culture on venture performance.
Impact of Demographic Factors on Women Empowerment through Micro Credit – A Special Reference to Jaffna District
(2013) Yogendrarajah, R.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Rural women play a significant role in the domestic and socio economic life of the society. Therefore nations‟ development is not possible without developing this segment of the society. Women face numerous challenges in accessing education and health services, as well as economic development. Most micro finance organizations target poor women and usually who excluded from social groups. This study explores the personal demographic factors‟ influence on empowerment of women in Jaffna District. Quantitative method has been used for gathering information and purposeful sampling method has been used to collect the data. The survey instrument in the form of close-ended questionnaire was developed for the purpose of collecting the main data for the study. Regression analysis has been used to find out the impact of demographical factors on women empowerment and the Independent sample one-way Anova (f-test) and independent sample t-test (t-test) were used to identify the significant mean differences between the degree of women empowerment across the demographic factors. The results showed that the demographic factors surveyed education, occupation and experience influence on women empowerment and that have weak impact on them. Based on the findings, it has been concluded that there is no significant mean differences between the degree of empowerment across the education level, occupation and years of experience.
The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on the growth of SMEs in Sri Lanka
(International Conference on Business, Marketing & Information System Management, 2015) Semasinghe, D.M.; Kumarpeli, K.I.
Using growth of Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SME‟s) we investigated the relationship between the Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) and growth of SME‟s in Sri Lanka. As EO has three dimensions, the study also aims to investigate to what extent these dimensions affect the growth. It was mainly hypothesized that higher entrepreneurial orientation leads to high venture growth. Venture growth was measured by sales growth and employment growth of firms. Results confirmed that EO has an impact to the venture growth of SMEs. Further, it was found that innovativeness and risk taking propensity have a positive impact on venture growth. However, results indicate that proactivness has no significant impact on the venture growth. The results of the study have important implications to the existing entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants and policy makers.
Impact of strategic orientation competitive strategies on venture growth in Sri Lankan SMES.
(Australian centre for Entrepreneurship(ACE) Research exchange Conference, 2017) Wijetunge, D.; Semasinghe, D.M.
SME sector in Sri Lanka plays a vital role in the economy. However, it confronts with so many barriers and ultimately it leads to failure of majority of new ventures. Previous studies have shown that strategic management concepts and tools are adopted by the well-established organizations and less attention has been paid by the SME sector. When it is discussed about the growth and survival of the SME sector, it is important to practice and adopt these concepts. With that view this study attempts to examine the impact of Strategic Orientation (SO) on venture performance. On the other hand small businesses also should be competitive enough to face the competition in order to survive in the market. Accordingly this study aims to examine the impact of competitive strategies on venture performance. Strategic management literature points out that the culture is an important factor in implementing strategies and to be strategically oriented. Accordingly organizational culture has been identified as a moderating variable. In order to achieve these objectives, a conceptual frame work has been proposed by this study through a rigorous literature review.considering the persistence of such decisions over time, particularly in the extractive industries. Drawing on imprinting theory, this paper provides a theoretical link between the initial natural resource characteristics surrounding a firm’s birth and its choice of vertical integration. The main argument is that initial natural resource conditions have an imprinting effect on the vertical integration decisions made by firms in the extractive industries. An imprinting process through which imprinting happens is explained. This mechanism acts as the carrier of initial influences as how firms lock-in a decision for their supply chain management. We discuss the above mechanism and several propositions concerning the kind of influence different initial natural resource characteristics have on firm decisions. Our main contribution is presenting a natural imprinting view that can explain the enduring effect of natural environment characteristics on firms’ ownership structures in the extractive industries.
Impediments to Innovations among Small Scale Firms in Agro-Food Processing Sector in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Anjalee, G.H.I.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Innovation is widely recognized as a key factor in the competitiveness of nations and firms. However, innovation is a cost to any organization, especially to small scale firms due to the nature of operations. The aim of this study was to identify the impediments to innovation faced by the owners of small scale agro-food processing firms in Sri Lanka and in turn to investigate the most critical impediments faced by them. The data were collected from 120 small scale agro-food processing firms. The study was able to locate eight internal and five external factors that act as impediments to innovations. High cost of innovations and lack of qualified personals were identified as the most critical internal impediments while, insufficient government support was identified as the most critical external impediment to innovation. The results of the study recommend that, the policy makers should pay their attention on providing financial assistance to the small scale firms to come up with new innovations and also focus on developing skilled human resources that can be used by the small scale firms.
"THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN NOVELTY, PRIOR KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCE INVESTMENTS IN NEW VENTURE EMERGENCE (SUMMARY)
(Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 2015) Huyghe, Annelore.; Davidsson, Per.; Semasinghe, D.M.
Despite Shane & Venkataraman’s (2000) call for studies on the interdependence of entrepreneurs and “opportunities”, empirical research going beyond the individual to explore the non-actor part of the “entrepreneurship nexus”, as well as the interplay between both, remains scarce (Davidsson forthcoming; Grégoire & Shepherd 2012). Replacing objective “opportunities” with subjective new venture ideas as the nexus partner, our study addresses this critical gap in the literature. Specifically, we investigate the contingent relationships through which the novelty of new venture ideas influences nascent ventures’ ability to get established in the market. Highly novel new venture ideas represent a key source of economic development, as they imply greater potential for growth and high profits (Rosenbusch et al. 2011). However, novelty also increases the uncertainty, complexity and liabilities related to the venture creation process (Samuelsson & Davidsson 2009). This tension has recently led to a debate on the performance implications of novelty in the context of new ventures (e.g., Amason et al. 2006, Boyer & Blazy 2013). We advance this emerging stream of research by focusing on nascent ventures (avoiding survival bias) and by disentangling mediating and moderating contingencies pertaining to the novelty-performance relationship.