Analyzing the Role of Micro-Entrepreneurship and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Women Empowerment and Development

In India, societal development is a cynosure, and thus, it is not a truism but a reality. Women's entrepreneurship emerging through self-help groups (SHGs) contributes to the economic well-being, sustainability, and in poverty reduction. The growth of SHGs is evidence in itself. In the recent decade, micro enterprises and SHGs have come up as prominent solutions to the entrepreneurial crisis existing in the country, and their role in empowering women and their development needs to studied. This study uses a descriptive statistic, reliability, and correlation analysis through SPSS and structural equation modeling (SEM) as an analytical tool to explore linkages between empowerment effected by SHG and micro-entrepreneurship. The research study results show that the contributory role of women entrepreneurs to the society is considerably worth appreciation. The causal relationship has also surfaced demonstrating the connection between women empowerment and development brought about by SHG and micro-entrepreneurship from a bottom-of-pyramid perspective.

A Study of Buyer Motivations at the Bottom of Pyramid in Urban India

The Indian bottom of pyramid (BoP) segment contributes around 85% of the total national household market. This study attempts to ascertain the purchase behaviour of customers at the Indian urban BoP. It endeavours to appreciate the viewpoint of the urban BoP consumers in the purchase process with reference to their purchase basket comprising of products mainly across categories such as grocery, perishables and basic consumer durables. The study starts with qualitative grounded theory followed by quantitative survey-based approach. It presents and validates emergent themes to give insights about purchase behaviour of consumers at urban BoP. The empirical findings of the study discovered five consumer motivations through factor analysis. The subsequent result of the cluster analysis showed that the urban BOP market is heterogeneous. Since the size of cluster is substantial, companies must make marketing efforts to target them on a priority basis. The study proposes a conceptual model of consumer motivation supported by the self-determination Theory for the urban BoP market in India.

Can Circular Entrepreneurship Save the World Economy?

Global polarization and linear economy models has for generations been the servant of ruthless capitalism and bourgeoisie ventures. In such ruthless circumstance there has been alarming situation both globally and locally to challenge prevailing linear economy structures to question and create a sustainable platform for protecting the resources and user structures of our future generations. Life cycle assessments globally has been a case study which has shown the minimal usage of products in value based propositions and bringing the environmental ecosystem in a balanced structure irrespective of political or governmental interventions. From the birth of the Paris Agreements on Climate changes, scientists and technologists globally has stressed upon the importance of sustainability and resilience on global food security as well as natural resource management. In such scenario resource allocations even in advanced countries like Europe and America has fallen prey to gross inequality, gender gaps and faulty resource transitions even in most advanced regions. Shocking Gini coefficient figures across boundaries have led scientists and economists globally to rethink and restrategise the way strategic business management hovers globally and to better revisualise globalization and utilize the resources our earth has endowed us upon. This paper challenges prevailing notions and even best practices in current management scenario and principles of economics of entrepreneurship to jump start a society based on values, tradition and value based usage proposition; in other terms from a linear based economy to a sustainable resilient circular economy model with greater emphasis on environmental protection, poverty eradication with better integration of triple line bottom of pyramid and better community disciplines to foster a vibrant shared economy model. There is a persistent gap lying across various parameters of a linear economy which has in turn been the causal effect of human impoverishment, poverty and vast scale ecological destructions. A case based approach and exploratory study in this research paper tries to answer rising question in addressing this burning topic of circular entrepreneurship which is quite different in structure and outcome to normative economical falsifications arising out of entrepreneurship models which has till now failed to create a functional economy devoid of hazards and wastes.

Impact of smartphones, self-determination and patience on subjective well-being of bottom of pyramid customers

Study objective: This paper analyzes the impact of non-essential purchases, particularly smartphones, and patience on self-determination and subjective well-being of bottom of pyramid customers.Method: 665 questionnaires were personally administered to respondents. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS SEM) was performed using SmartPLS software to test multiple dependency relationships between non-essential purchases, self-determination, subjective well-being and patience.Main results: Non-essential purchases, particularly smartphones, had a direct effect on self-determination and an indirect effect on subjective well-being of bottom of pyramid customers. Non-essential purchases fulfilled psychological need for self-determination, that led to subjective well-being. Moreover, patience was established as a significant predictor of self-determination and subjective well-being.Theoretical/ methodological contributions: This paper makes a theoretical contribution by connecting social identity theory, self-determination theory and patience with non-essential purchases and subjective well-being of bottom of pyramid customers.Relevance/ originality: Relatively fewer researches are available in Western marketing literature that connect patience with self-determination and subjective well-being of bottom of pyramid customers. The novel insight of this research showed that non-essential purchases can restore a sense of subjective well-being in such customers and when poverty related adverse situations tend to lower subjective well-being of these customers, patience positively impacts their self-determination and does not let them despair.Managerial and social implications: Marketers can use the insights from this research to develop products that satisfy bottom of pyramid customer’s psychological needs for self-determination that lead to subjective wellbeing in a consumer society.

Value co-creation and social media at bottom of pyramid (BOP)

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the value co-creation at bottom of the pyramid (BOP) using social media and to investigate how it is impacted by age, gender and peer influence. Design/methodology/approach A BOP approach provides sustainable profits by involving low-income producers and consumers by way of co-creating values. The focus of the BOP approach in the business environment in this study is to establish co-creation among the different stakeholders at the BOP level. With the help of a literature review and related theories, a conceptual model has been developed. The model has been tested statistically for validation using a survey by considering 314 usable respondents. Findings This study has focused on the impact of different issues such as age, gender and peer influence concerning the consumers at BOP segments involving in co-creation activities. The study finds that people at BOP segments emphasize more social media usage compared to the influence of peers in the context of co-creating values. Research limitations/implications Co-creation at BOP is a new approach. This study is unique research where it identifies the impact of gender, age and peer influence at the BOP level consumers for co-creation activities. The study also highlights the influence of social media on BOP consumers for co-creating values. The model so developed along with the findings of this study contribute to the overall body of knowledge in this area which has a wider theoretical and social implication. Practical implications The proposed model in this study can help organizations to understand the impact of age, gender, peer influence on value co-creation activities at BOP using social media. This study can help managers of the organizations involved in co-creation at BOP to formulate an appropriate strategy to get engaged with the customers at BOP. Finally, this study can motivate customers to value co-creating and engaging with organizations. Originality/value This study has primarily identified the impact of age, gender and peer influence for the consumers at BOP segments and is involved in different co-creation activities. The study has been mainly conducted in India, an emerging economy. None of such studies has been conducted in the emerging markets. Thus, this study claims to have possessed its uniqueness.

Clean Energy Access and Productive Use by Bottom of Pyramid Clients in Ethnic & Tribal Areas of Odisha: An Appraisal

Ending poverty and ensuring sustainability are the defining challenges of the recent times. Energy has the answer to both [1]. Surged right of entry to the modern energy uses is perilous but a positive support to human and their economic expansion through uninterrupted delivery of energy amenities for elementary needs to support both prolific uses and generating employments. Access to modern energy Services like electricity, natural fossil and coal gases, cooking hydrocarbons and wood fuel, etc. are essential for value-added health and agrarian yield [2]. This paper discus on actionable research undertaken for improving the quality of life of countryside individuals (mainly scheduled tribe areas) in some districts of southern zones Odisha by using clean energy systems.