Engineering Management Framework for Women Entrepreneurs in SMEs

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are vital contributors to national economies, yet their efficiency and sustainability are heavily influenced by the legal and market environments in which they operate. Women entrepreneurs, in particular, face systemic constraints arising from outdated labour laws, discriminatory property rights, and restricted access to finance. These barriers not only perpetuate inequality but also generate inefficiencies that reduce SME productivity, technological adoption, and operational optimisation.
This paper adopts an engineering management perspective to examine how legal and market frameworks impact the performance of women-led SMEs in Sri Lanka. Drawing on empirical findings from surveys, interviews, and comparative case studies, the study identifies systemic inefficiencies in resource allocation, process management and innovation caused by regulatory and cultural barriers. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used to map relationships between labour laws, market constraints, and SME performance.
The findings demonstrate that outdated labour laws directly constrain workforce optimisation, while market access barriers reduce the capacity of SMEs to invest in technology and process improvements. Comparative analysis with the UK, Australia, and New Zealand highlights the value of gender-sensitive labour regulations and flexible market policies for enabling innovation.
A framework for inclusive SME engineering management is proposed, integrating legal reform, market access improvements, and system-level optimisation. The study contributes to the engineering management field by bridging social, legal, and operational perspectives, offering actionable insights for policy, academia, and practice.