Factors Affecting the Development of Rural Entrepreneurship: A Case Study on the Rural Areas of Manoojan County

Abstract

Entrepreneurship development is one of most effective solutions to the economic and sociocultural development in the disadvantaged areas. This holds true to such an extent that it is currently regarded as an elixir to eliminate both poverty and deprivation. As a qualitative study following a grounded theory approach, the current study aimed at recognizing the essential components of rural business environment in Manoojan County and determining the factors that influence rural entrepreneurship in the area. The aim was to provide a conceptual method out of the extracted factors to improve the efficiency and the productivity of policies and plans adapted by the institutions involved in rural entrepreneurship development. Accordingly, a total of 15 participants comprised of 3 groups; ie. the rural entrepreneurs of Manoojan County, local officials and expert staff, and non–local experts and authorities were selected to be studied through the non-probability (theoretical, purposive, and snowball) sampling methods. The required data were gathered trough 3 instruments; ie, interviews, field observations, and archived review. The collected data were then analyzed using a 3-step coding mechanism: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The findings well revealed that the major factors affecting rural entrepreneurship development in Manoojan county fell into 9 categories as individual, sociocultural, infrastructural, natural and ecological, legal, educational, institutional, political, and economic. The interactive mechanism of the factors was in conformity with the grounded theory, and paradigm model under 3 theoretical components.