Women Entrepreneurs: Developing Leadership for Success

by Wells,Sandra J.

• ISBN13: 9780815328919
• ISBN10: 0815328915
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781135658212
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-12-01
• Publisher: Routledge

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
I The Study Introduction	3	(14)
Background	4	(4)
Purpose of Study	8	(2)
Method and Procedure	10	(2)
Limitations of the Study	12	(1)
Significance of the Study	13	(1)
Definitions of Terms	14	(1)
Summary	15	(2)
II Review of the Literature	17	(22)
Introduction	17	(1)
Adult Learning	17	(7)
Feminist Research and the Use of Qualitative Methods	24	(5)
Entrepreneurship and Women Entrepreneurs	29	(5)
Women and Leadership	34	(2)
Qualitative Research and Female Entrepreneur Research	36	(1)
Summary	37	(2)
III Methodology of Study	39	(14)
Introduction	39	(2)
The Sample: Who Were the Participants?	41	(2)
Preparation of the Human Instrument: Investigator Preparation	43	(1)
The Interview Protocol	44	(3)
Pilot Study	47	(1)
Data Collection and Analysis	47	(3)
Follow-up With Participant Sub-Sample	50	(1)
Summary	51	(2)
IV The Data	53	(66)
Introduction	53	(1)
Research Protocol	53	(2)
Demographic Data	55	(3)
Formal Education	58	(1)
Business Background	58	(1)
Ethnicity Background	59	(1)
Research Findings	59	(1)
Childhood Experiences	60	(9)
Post-Childhood Experience (Prior to Own Business Startup)	69	(11)
Starting Their Businesses	80	(7)
The Current Role: Woman Business Owner	87	(10)
The Learning Process and Resources	97	(14)
The Continual Process of Learning	111	(2)
Sharing Their Knowledge and Learning from Others	113	(6)
V Discussion of Findings, Conclusions, and Implications of this Study	119	(14)
Discussion of Findings	119	(1)
Research Question 1: What do female entrepreneurs learn and why?	120	(3)
Research Question 2: How do they learn? How is this demonstrated? What methods or processes do they use?	123	(1)
Research Question 3: What resources do they rely upon in their learning endeavors?	124	(2)
Research Question 4: How do they describe their learning?	126	(1)
Research Question 5: What factors affect their learning?	127	(1)
Additional Findings	128	(1)
Conclusion	129	(1)
Implications of this Study	130	(2)
Implications for Future Study	132	(1)
APPENDIX A: Description of the Women Participants	133	(16)
APPENDIX B: Demographics of Participants	149	(2)
APPENDIX C: Interview Guide	151	(2)
APPENDIX D: Categorizing	153	(4)
APPENDIX E: Categories Which Arose from Interview Data	157	(2)
APPENDIX F: Relationship of Units of Analysis and Categories	159	(4)
Bibliography	163	(12)
Index	175