THE TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: CRITERIA FOR PREDICTING SUCCESS IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (EDUCATION, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, SMALL

The problem of this study was to identify the traits and characteristics of women entrepreneurs and to compare the perceptions of successful women entrepreneurs with less successful ones.;The need for the study was to find out what makes a woman entrepreneur successful. Most studies done previously had been on men, on small samples of women, or in very limited geographic areas.;The significance of the study was to present educational institutions and the business sector with data on women entrepreneurs so they may better structure their programs to fit women as well as men.;The method of research was descriptive. Survey studies were used to question respondents about demographics, traits and characteristics. A demographic survey instrument and a Likert-type scale containing sixty traits and characteristics were mailed to the entire membership of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Thirty percent (519 members) participated in the study. The conclusions include the following: (1) Net profit is not a factor of success in the opinion of the less successful woman entrepreneur. (2) Net profit is a factor of success in the opinion of the more successful woman entrepreneur. (3) Length of time in business is a predictor of success for women entrepreneurs. (4) The traits and characteristics survey instrument has such high reliability it can be used as a predictor for traits and characteristics of successful women entrepreneurs in other studies. (5) Successful women entrepreneurs and less successful women entrepreneurs perceive the same traits and characteristics necessary for success; therefore, it is not necessary to be successful to predict success. (6) Having entrepreneurial parents does not affect the success of women entrepreneurs.