Off-campus South Dakota State University users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your South Dakota State University ID and password.

Non-South Dakota State University users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2015

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Economics

First Advisor

Carol Cumber

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare male and female entrepreneurs in rural South Dakota. The overall objective of this research was to examine whether males and females differed in terms of demographic characteristics, type of industry, start-up capital/initial investment, use of social media, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and needs and challenges. This study also examined the impact of rurality and impact of gender on business ownership as well as gender differences in entrepreneurial motivation and measure of business success. In June of 2015, a survey was constructed, and rural South Dakota entrepreneurs were invited to participate. Seventy-nine responded and sixty-nine qualified as rural entrepreneurs. The following summary statements represent the primary findings: No statistically significant differences were found between males and females in demographic characteristics; males were not using social networks as much as females; females numbered more than males in retail trade and there were more males than females in manufacturing. No significant differences were found in self-efficacy. The need for training programs and government support was higher among females than males; furthermore, with respect to impact of gender on business, more female entrepreneurs than their male counterparts perceived more negativity in terms of customer views of their business, and how they were treated xi as business persons. Desire for increased income was a stronger motivator for male entrepreneurs than for females. In measuring business success male entrepreneurs put more emphases on ‘fulfilling a need in the community,’ while female entrepreneurs put more emphasis on ‘being in control.’

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Businesspeople--South Dakota
Businesspeople--Sex differences--South Dakota
Entrepreneurship--South Dakota

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 87-96)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

126

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Download

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

In Copyright