Dissertation
Phenomenological case study: African American Philadelphia entrepreneurs' creativity and leadership influences
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Jan 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000760
Abstract
The purpose of this case study was to uncover the skills, behaviors and influences impacting African Americans' pathways into entrepreneurship in Philadelphia. Entrepreneurial research focusing on African Americans has remained scarce. Exposure to entrepreneurship occurs at various ages of an individual's life. What remains unknown are the creative and leadership behaviors sparking African Americans to become entrepreneurs. From an age-group perspective, Baby Boomer entrepreneurs are aging and leaving the labor force while studies on millennial entrepreneurs, a more recent and emerging working class demographic, are also limited. This phenomenological case study analyzes the factors contributing to African American entrepreneurship in Philadelphia with a lens on how to increase African American millennial entrepreneurs. During one-on-one semi-structured interviews, 7 African American Entrepreneurs (AAEs) shared their creativity and leadership and how they acquired these skills. Participants offered insights on social, education, work, and entrepreneurial learning. Clinical behavioral analysis unveiled the learned and developed skills and traits of AAEs in Philadelphia. Interviewee stories were gathered and triangulated to determine what gaps, opportunities, or challenges explain Philadelphia African American entrepreneurial scarcity. The researcher proposes a multigenerational collaboration of learners, families, educators, leaders, and entrepreneurs to guide millennial African Americans towards entrepreneurship. Work experience, social relationships, and engagement equip entrepreneurs with critical self-awareness, mentoring, and learning to summon creativity, leadership, behavior, and exposure to become entrepreneurs.
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Details
- Title
- Phenomenological case study
- Creators
- Jeffrey D. Roman
- Contributors
- Lawrence J. Keiser (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xv, 114 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991016457358604721