Role of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation in Entrepreneurial Development: A Case of Selected Districts in Northern Zone of Bangladesh

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate the roles of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in developing entrepreneurial class in the northern zone of Bangladesh in terms of its various supporting services based on institutional and stakeholder theories. This study adopts a sequential explorative mixed-methods approach to attain its objectives using pragmatism research paradigm. In the qualitative phase of this mixed method, a conceptual model is developed based on the 19 in-depth interviews and then in the quantitative phase surveyed on 243 entrepreneurs regarding the role of BSCIC in entrepreneurial development using structured questionnaire. The study finds that the perceptions of the entrepreneurs regarding the support services relating to the infrastructural facilities, credit arrangement, pre-investment counseling, and primary training support services provided by BSCIC for entrepreneurship development at the initialization stage are negative. The support services by the BSCIC at the growth stage such as Skill Development Training, Market information, Customer related information, supportive Behavior and Upholding creativity perceived significantly positive by the entrepreneurs. This study also finds the perception of entrepreneurs are significant towards support services such as motivation, promoting innovation, promoting change and providing training on technological application provided by the BSCIC at the sustenance stage. This study also developed a moderating impact of entrepreneurs’ background characteristics such as experience and years of involvement with BSCIC between support services at initialization stage, growth stage, and sustenance stage and entrepreneurship development where the moderating impact of entrepreneurs’ background characteristics between support services at initialization stage on entrepreneurship development is significant. The outcome of the study regarding the role of the BSCIC would help policymakers to make proper policies for the upliftment of entrepreneurship. Additionally, this research will advance our theoretical understanding of the growth of entrepreneurship.