JOURNAL OF BUSINESS DIVERSITY

An Exploration of the Motivations and Expectation Gaps of Mompreneurs

Author(s): Melissa Jean, Caroline S. Forbes

Citation: Melissa Jean, Caroline S. Forbes, (2012) "An Exploration of the Motivations and Expectation Gaps of Mompreneurs," Journal of Business Diversity, Vol.12, Iss. 2, pp. 112 - 130

Article Type: Research paper

Publisher: North American Business Press

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to explore the motivations and the nature and scope of the expectation gaps

experienced by mompreneurs. An exploratory, qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with

20 mompreneurs was undertaken. The results of the analysis indicate that mompreneurs are motivated by

unique factors deemed “intrinsic” motivators. This exploratory research supports the existence of

entrepreneurial expectation gaps and highlights the need for these expectation gaps to be explicitly

considered in future entrepreneurial research. Limitations, applications for practice and theory and

directions for future research are also discussed.