1. Women entrepreneurs in Indonesia face significant challenges in growing and extending their businesses to become large corporations.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on women entrepreneurs, with many struggling to maintain their businesses.
3. An integrative model of sustainable livelihood for women entrepreneurs based on the VUCA can be applied as a survival strategy in dealing with various uncertainties.
The article "Livelihood strategies of women entrepreneurs in Indonesia" presents a study that aims to identify the relationship between five variables of pentagon assets in Sustainable Livelihoods and investigate the survival strategy of women entrepreneurs during COVID-19 in Indonesia. The study uses a mixed-method approach, combining Partial Least Square (PLS) and Group Discussion Forum (FGD), to examine the relationship element of women entrepreneurs to build a business strategy and support the Livelihoods strategies Model.
The article provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Indonesia, who account for 60% of small and medium businesses. However, there are some potential biases and limitations in the study that need to be considered. Firstly, the sample size is relatively small, with only 155 women entrepreneurs participating in PLS and 14 participants in FGD. This may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts.
Secondly, while the article highlights the importance of sustainable livelihoods for women entrepreneurs, it does not explore how gender inequality affects their access to resources such as finance, education, and networks. Women entrepreneurs face significant barriers due to cultural norms that limit their mobility and participation in public life. These factors can affect their ability to access capital or training programs that could help them grow their businesses.
Thirdly, while VUCA is an important concept for understanding how businesses can adapt to changing environments, it is not clear how this framework applies specifically to women entrepreneurs. The article suggests that an integrative model based on livelihood strategies and VUCA can be applied as a survival strategy for women entrepreneurs dealing with various uncertainties. However, it does not provide concrete examples or evidence of how this model has been implemented successfully.
Finally, there is a lack of discussion around potential risks associated with promoting entrepreneurship as a solution for economic growth and development. While entrepreneurship can create jobs and generate income, it also comes with risks such as financial instability or failure. Women entrepreneurs may be particularly vulnerable to these risks due to their limited access to resources and support networks.
In conclusion, the article provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Indonesia and highlights the importance of sustainable livelihoods for their long-term viability. However, there are potential biases and limitations in the study that need to be considered, including small sample size, gender inequality, unclear application of VUCA framework, and lack of discussion around potential risks associated with entrepreneurship.