Challenges in Promoting Entrepreneurship An Inquiry into the Role of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation

Abstract

Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in fostering entrepreneurship, particularly in the Northern Zone of Bangladesh, despite its critical institutional role and long-standing presence.

Design/methodology/approach: Adopting a constructivist paradigm and a qualitative case study approach, the research draws on 30 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, BSCIC officials, and key

stakeholders. Thematic analysis was employed to identify and interpret major institutional barriers. Findings: The study reveals key challenges, including misalignment between BSCIC services and entrepreneurs’ needs, bureaucratic inefficiencies, inadequate financial facilitation, lack of regional customization, and weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These findings highlight systemic issues in policy implementation, service delivery, and institutional flexibility.

Practical implications: The research offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, such as decentralizing BSCIC operations, modernizing training and support services, enhancing collaboration with financial institutions, and strengthening stakeholder feedback and accountability mechanisms.

Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on institutional entrepreneurship in developing economies by providing grounded, context-specific insights. It emphasizes the need for a stakeholder-driven, regionally adaptive institutional model to enhance entrepreneurial development in Bangladesh.

Limitations: The study is limited by its focus on a specific geographic area (the Northern Zone of Bangladesh), which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other regions. Additionally, reliance on self-reported data from interviews may introduce respondent bias, and a broader sample across diverse regions and longitudinal data could further strengthen future research.