Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2012
Abstract
Not a lot of attention has been paid to the networking behavior of minority entrepreneurs. Research on the minority entrepreneur population has typically taken a deficiency and academic approach in focusing on the high failure rate of minority owned businesses in the United States. This has created a gap in the literature on successful behavior of minority business owners. Networking theory suggests that entrepreneurs can use relationships as an asset to increase the success of their business opportunities. Successful minority and non-minority entrepreneurs have engaged in qualitative interviews to share their views and techniques in expanding their business opportunities and the sustaining of those business relationships. Analysis of their experiences provides a better understanding of the networking skills needed to increase the success rate of minority entrepreneurs in the United States. The key findings of the successful minority and non-minority were that relationships, with their client, are paramount to contract procurement, the lack of collaboration among minority business owners, the perception of racism by minority business owners, and success of diversity program.
Keywords
minority entrepreneur, networking, trust, weak ties, legitimacy and organizational design
Rights
© The Author(s). Kelvin Smith Library provides access for non-commercial, personal, or research use only. All other use, including but not limited to commercial or scholarly reproductions, redistribution, publication or transmission, whether by electronic means or otherwise, without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
Department/Center
Design & Innovation
Recommended Citation
Watt, Robert T., "What Are The Experiences Of Successful Minority Entrepreneurs In Building Effective Trust-Based Relationships" (2012). Student Scholarship. 522.
https://commons.case.edu/studentworks/522
