Sources of enterprise success in Amish communities

Donald B. Kraybill · Steven M. Nolt · Erik J. Wesner

18 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Enterprising Communities People and Places in the Global Economy

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Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences Social Capital and Networks Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy

Abstract

Purpose This research project aims to investigate Amish small businesses in North America to determine their success rate and the factors that explain their vitality. Amish entrepreneurs have developed some 10,000 small businesses despite taboos on motor vehicles, electricity, computers, the internet, and education. A theoretical model consisting of five types of socio‐cultural capital (human, cultural, social, religious, and symbolic) was conceptualized to explain and interpret the success of Amish enterprises. The model includes capital deficits that identify the hurdles that successful enterprises must overcome. Design/methodology/approach The research employed qualitative ethnographic methods that included participant observation, face‐to‐face interviews with business owners in eight states, and document analysis. Findings The paper finds that Amish businesses have a success rate above 90 percent, which is much higher than that of other American small businesses. Five types of socio‐cultural capital (human, cultural, social, religious, and symbolic) account for the high success rate of Amish enterprises. Research limitations/implications The qualitative methods do not permit quantitative analysis or tracking the performance of businesses over an extended period of time. Practical implications Understanding the importance of socio‐cultural capital assets and deficits for business success is critical for entrepreneurs, consultants, and scholars. Originality/value The five concepts of socio‐cultural capital assets and deficits are a significant expansion of traditional social capital theory. These concepts offer a rich resource for understanding small business failure and success and merit inclusion in future research. Religious and symbolic capitals are especially pertinent for understanding enterprise building in religious and ethnic communities.

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References

1973The Strength of Weak Ties 2018Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste*1989The Practice of Social Research 1983The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network Theory Revisited 2005Research methods in the social sciences 1999Culture and Power: The Sociology of Pierre Bourdieu 1997Culture and Power 2011Entrepreneurship Through Social Networks

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2021Examining the determinants and consequences of financial constraints faced by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises' owners 2018The impact of religiosity on self-employment 2013The Role of Social Capital for Amish Entrepreneurs in Pursuing Informal Economic Opportunities 2014Humility in Social Entrepreneurship: A Virtuous Circle 2024“Be Not Conformed to this World”: MacIntyre’s Critique of Modernity and Amish Business Ethics

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