Assessment of Challenges and Opportunities of Entrepreneurs in the Case Of Selected Wood and Metal Works Small Scale Enterprises in Woliso Town College of Business and Economic

Abstract

The objective of this research is to assess the challenge and opportunity of MSEs in Woliso Town. The main research question was to find the socio-economic and environmental impact of MSEs and the drivers and barriers for sustainable business practices.. The research was based on review of relevant literatures and research methodology was employed where data was collected from entrepreneurs and employees of the enterprises. This study reveals that the enterprises have created job opportunity for local dwellers and are playing considerable role in the interactions in the local markets through the use of local raw materials and serving the local customers needs. However the firms contribution to sustainable development are restrained by many factors including weak economic performance of firms, business constraints as marketing problems, input constraints and finance constraints, non-effective human capital management, weak environment protection measures adopted by the MSEs and lack of relevant knowledge. Though the MSEs entrepreneurs have positive attitude on the benefits from sustainable business practices as cost reduction, profit maximization, attraction of employees and customers, reputation building and comply to legislation, the drivers are not highly influential for the enterprises due to the barriers that strongly hinder the enterprises to implement socially and environmentally responsible business practices. This study is intended to fill the gap by exploring the challenge and prospects of the entrepreneur in the small enterprise particularly in woliso town ,15 samples of the small enterprise, with total number of employees of 75 were selected using jujmental technique, from which the required data ware generated and analyzed employing the descriptive design. From these the study was concluding as A high proportion of respondents from the study area were in the severe problem of tax burden category followed by lack of adequate input supply, shortage of power and frequent power cuts, limited access to working capital, linkage among different enterprises, high interest rate on credits and shortage of managerial skills respectively. and recommend as It is also advisable to create and capitalize on opportunities for sharing best experiences of small enterprises at national level through bazaars and trade fairs as this would inspire others to obtain better access to markets, technology, experience, knowledge and managerial skill.