The Relationships Between Entrepreneurs' Gender, Attitudes Toward Seeking Assistance from Entrepreneurship Centers, Utilization of Centers, and Entrepreneurial Success

<p>Despite the proliferation of entrepreneurship centers, little is known about the reasons entrepreneurs appear reluctant to utilize their services. Although women are more likely than men to seek help in most settings, some research appears to suggest that this tendency may not apply to entrepreneurs. This is interesting given the financial underperformance of female-owned firms and research showing that entrepreneurship centers are effective and thereby lead to economic development. To better understand these issues, I propose and test a new conceptual framework of entrepreneurial help seeking that considers how entrepreneurs vary in their attitudes towards seeking professional help. In addition, I explore the influence of entrepreneurs’ gender on attitudinal differences, help-seeking behaviors, and entrepreneurial success. This research integrates three theoretical frameworks: the psychology of help-seeking, gender role congruity, and the theory of guided preparation as an entrepreneurial resource. The findings demonstrate that entrepreneurs’ gender influences their attitudes toward seeking assistance from entrepreneurship centers as well as their entrepreneurial success. In addition, entrepreneurs’ attitudes toward seeking assistance influence their utilization of assistance, which influences their subsequent entrepreneurial success.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Management

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Business Administration

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Manley, Scott C

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Kimberly Eddleston
• Dr. Torsten Pieper

• entrepreneurship
• entrepreneurship centers
• attitudes toward seeking assistance
• guided preparation
• Business Administration, Management, and Operations
• Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/dba_etd/11

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu:dba_etd-1011