An Exploratory Investigation into the Causes of Pull and Push Motivations of Rural Entrepreneurs of Handcrafts in South Khorasan Province: A Phenomenological Study

One of the most important factors that result in rural development is preparing good conditions for rural entrepreneurship. The development requires enough attention to the motivations of those who intend to start entrepreneurship. Choosing entrepreneurship, taking risks, dealing with different problems, and tackling obstacles necessitate very strong motivations. The study was conducted to identify the pull and push motivations perceived by rural entrepreneurs of handicrafts. The statistical population of the study was rural entrepreneurs of handicrafts sector in South Khorasan Province, from among of which 22 participants were selected using snowball sampling. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews from November 2017 to June 2018. Analyzing the data using Colaizzi method let to seven major theme: Job problems, social barriers, improper resources productivity as push factors and social motivations, achieving economic progress, facilitating employments, and personal-psychological characteristics as pulling motivations. The results show that local entrepreneurs having the significant factor of interest in their own hometown and culture and preventing forgetting the handicrafts of the regions, are so motivated to do entrepreneurial works in spite of various problems. So, it is recommended that officials support productive employment and maintain art and culture in rural areas by facilitating starting new jobs and giving especial facilities to the active people of the sector.