Information requirements of women entrepreneurs in Pune City

Abstract

Entrepreneurs in different situations need information inputs for planning, implementing, monitoring or reviewing schemes, projects and programs. The purpose for which information is required varies. There may be an immediate need for information to understand the situation one is in, to convince and persuade others, and to use the opportunities available; or individuals may gather information to prevent a problem situation in future, or help one to make the most of it.

A majority of the information studies have been done in different fields as there seems to be a consensus that the information needs of an employment group of a local population or a subject group tend to be similar, while that of different groups may be different. This framework assumes that by studying the groups to which the users belong, researchers can determine the needs and the information seeking patterns of the individual members of the group; and that systems can be designed to serve the group members.

This paper is based on a study conducted on first generation women entrepreneurs in the city of Pune, India. Entrepreneurs were asked about their entry into becoming ‘entrepreneurs’, and about the types of information that they had looked for and mainly how they had sought information. Entrepreneurs were asked to tell their “stories” of how they started, why they started and how they looked for information for the work that they were planning. This paper further looks into what is available readily, how a site could be created for women running small and micro businesses, and how this information could further empower them.