Abstract:
This paper intends to determine the preferred training methods of entrepreneurial
skills among women food vendors for successful operation of a business in Ilala Municipality.
The study employed mixed method design particularly embedded design. Both quantitative and
qualitative research methods were employed for data collection. Semi-structured questionnaires
were employed to collect data from a sample size of (150) women food and (11) key informants
participated in an in-depth interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM-SPSS (20.0)
software to generate frequencies and percentage and Pearson correlation of successful operation
of a business and training methods while qualitative data were subjected to content or thematic
analysis. The study indicates that women food vendors have experience of multiple training
methods, majority 36% of women food vendors preferred lecture method for training business
management skills, 36.7% of women food vendors preferred lecture method for training
interpersonal skills, 34% of women food vendors preferred discussion method for training
personal entrepreneurial skills, and 34% of women food vendors preferred learning by doing for
training technical skills. 44% of women food vendors rated learning by doing as the most
preferred training method of entrepreneurial skills. The study found that there was correlation
between successful operation of a business and training methods though this correlation is fairly
weak (p<0.5). Therefore, the respondents have indicated different preferences of training
methods with regard to subject matter of entrepreneurial skills. It is recommended that trainers,
institutions and organization offering entrepreneurial skills training should consider trainees
references of training methods in order to equip them with necessary entrepreneurial skills for
running a business.
