Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger Delta

Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2019 Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger Delta Ebierede Osemi Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks For more information, please contact ScholarWorks@waldenu.edu Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Ebierede Osemi has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made Review Committee Dr Judith Forbes, Committee Chairperson, Management Faculty Dr Richard Dool, Committee Member, Management Faculty Dr Craig Barton, University Reviewer, Management Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D Walden University 2019 Abstract Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger Delta by Ebierede Osemi MSc, Delta State University, Abraka, 2009 PGD, Delta State University, Abraka, 2008 HND, Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University June 2019 Abstract Forty percent of women in the Niger Delta states in Nigeria were unemployed in 2015 Guided by acquired needs theory, this multiple case study was conducted to gain an indepth understanding of how women in the Niger Delta states can acquire the requisite entrepreneurial knowledge to make decisions about becoming self-employed Twenty women entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta states who had knowledge and experience of entrepreneurship were selected to participate in providing data through a semistructured interview, field notes, and document review Through Yin’s 5-step data analysis process, member checking, and triangulation, the following key themes emerged: creativity and innovation, promoting learning and development on entrepreneurship, developing a business mindset, information technology, financial and economic literacy, mentoring the mentees, financial freedom, flexibility of time, adequate control, lack of adequate entrepreneurial training, unsupportive business environment, educational barriers, and shortage of funds and resources The study findings may create awareness of how women entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta states can obtain knowledge and experience of entrepreneurship This awareness may promote positive social change by supporting efforts to prepare women for employment, thereby reducing unemployment, improving the standard of living, and reducing poverty among women in Nigeria Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger Delta by Osemi Ebierede MSc, Delta State University Abraka, 2009 PGD, Delta State University Abraka, 2008 HND, Federal Polytechnic Kaduna, 1999 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University June 2019 Dedication I dedicate the study of this doctoral program to God Almighty The dedication of my doctoral dissertation goes to my wife, Ebiye, and my three lovely children, Miebi, Tekena, and Eladebi To my wife for her support towards the completion of the program against all odds, I say a big thanks to you This dedication also goes to my mother, Mrs Iniye Claris Agbai, for her prayers, care, and understanding during the period of the study, without which the journey would have been even harder Thank you so much for providing me with time and encouragement for me to complete my doctoral goal Acknowledgments Thank you to my chair, Dr Judith Forbes, for all the guidance that was provided that enabled me to go through the doctoral journey His timely interventions and responses to questions and inquiries are commendable Resources that were provided within the classroom gave me a giant leap I would also like to thank my committee member, Dr David Gould, for his valuable feedback and comments that ensured that my study conformed to the standard set out by the university To my siblings, Eunice, Tonye, Ebi, and Godwin, I love you all Table of Contents List of Tables vi Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study Background of the Study .2 Problem Statement Purpose of the Study Research Questions Research Subquestions Conceptual Framework Nature of the Study Definitions Assumptions .10 Scope and Delimitations 10 Limitations 11 Significance of the Study .12 Significance to Practice 12 Significance to Theory 13 Significance to Positive Social Change 13 Summary and Transition 14 Chapter 2: Literature Review .15 Literature Search Strategy 15 Conceptual Framework 17 i Entrepreneurship 18 Small-Scale Businesses 20 Characteristics of Women Entrepreneurs 22 Women’s Motivations for Entrepreneurship 24 Barriers to Women Entrepreneurs 27 Summary and Conclusions 32 Chapter 3: Research Method 34 Research Design and Rationale 34 Research Design 35 Role of the Researcher 41 Methodology 42 Participant Selection Logic 43 Instrumentation 45 Field Test .46 Research Subquestions 49 Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection 50 Data Analysis Plan 51 Issues of Trustworthiness .57 Credibility 58 Transferability 59 Dependability 60 Confirmability 60 ii Ethical Procedures 61 Summary 61 Chapter 4: Results 63 Research Setting 64 Demographics 65 Data Collection 68 Data Analysis .70 Evidence of Trustworthiness 73 Credibility 73 Transferability 74 Dependability 75 Confirmability 75 Study Results .76 Emergent Themes 80 Theme 1: Creativity and Innovation 80 Theme 2: Promoting Learning and Development on Entrepreneurship 81 Theme 3: Developing Business Mindset 82 Theme 4: Information Technology 83 Theme 5: Financial and Economic Literacy 84 Theme 6: Mentoring the Mentees 85 Theme 7: Financial Freedom 86 Theme 8: Flexibility of Time 86 iii ... thereby reducing unemployment, improving the standard of living, and reducing poverty among women in Nigeria Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger. .. through previous knowledge gained, (e) extend the scope of knowledge acquisition to other fields of learning, and (f) mentor others in the acquisition of knowledge The Niger Delta in recent years... Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D Walden University 2019 Abstract Exploring the Acquisition of Information on Entrepreneurial Knowledge of Women: Niger Delta by Ebierede Osemi MSc, Delta State