6 Gender Contribution to the Competitiveness of Social Media Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia: Context of the National Transformation
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Bassem M. Nasri
Abstract
This research addresses the questions of “how gender impacts the competitiveness of social media entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, and how the national transformation plan to a diversified economy less dependent on oil might have influenced their level of competitiveness”. Gender gap in entrepreneurship and the difference in competitiveness between men and women are covered in literature. Most of this literature addresses entrepreneurship in general and overlooks the possible contribution of starting these businesses through online social media platforms, especially in the context of the Middle East, and in Saudi Arabia in particular, which witnessed major changes at multiple levels since 2016. This research tries to mind this gap and follows an exploratory qualitative case study methodology to examine how these changes might have influenced the level of competitiveness in female entrepreneurs who founded social media businesses in Saudi Arabia. The conservative nature of the Saudi society, insufficient support by each of the family, the society, and the government were found to have contributed to the success of social media businesses owned by females in Saudi Arabia. The introduction of the Vision 2030 and the set of reforms and social changes associated with the National Transformation Plan revealed a high level of competitiveness and entrepreneurial readiness in female Instagram entrepreneurs. The research has implications for theory, private sector, and policymakers and suggests giving the subject more attention in future research.
Abstract
This research addresses the questions of “how gender impacts the competitiveness of social media entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, and how the national transformation plan to a diversified economy less dependent on oil might have influenced their level of competitiveness”. Gender gap in entrepreneurship and the difference in competitiveness between men and women are covered in literature. Most of this literature addresses entrepreneurship in general and overlooks the possible contribution of starting these businesses through online social media platforms, especially in the context of the Middle East, and in Saudi Arabia in particular, which witnessed major changes at multiple levels since 2016. This research tries to mind this gap and follows an exploratory qualitative case study methodology to examine how these changes might have influenced the level of competitiveness in female entrepreneurs who founded social media businesses in Saudi Arabia. The conservative nature of the Saudi society, insufficient support by each of the family, the society, and the government were found to have contributed to the success of social media businesses owned by females in Saudi Arabia. The introduction of the Vision 2030 and the set of reforms and social changes associated with the National Transformation Plan revealed a high level of competitiveness and entrepreneurial readiness in female Instagram entrepreneurs. The research has implications for theory, private sector, and policymakers and suggests giving the subject more attention in future research.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
- 1 Fostering Digital Entrepreneurship by Developing Entrepreneurial Mindset 5
- 2 Digital Innovation and Incubation Process 23
- 3 Digital Sustainable Entrepreneurship Business Model and Its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals 35
- 4 Digital Technologies in Entrepreneurship and Shifting of Entrepreneurial Trajectories 45
- 5 Entrepreneurial Orientation: An Assessment of Empirical Evidences from Italy and Some Hints for Further Research 67
- 6 Gender Contribution to the Competitiveness of Social Media Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia: Context of the National Transformation 85
- 7 How to Locate Resources in the Personal Networks Along the Entrepreneurial Processes? Follow-Up of a Nascent Digital Nomad Entrepreneur 109
- 8 Managing Conflicts to Improve Performance in Start-Ups: A Theoretical Analysis 129
- 9 Start-Ups and the Hurdles of Scaling-Up 145
- 10 New Technologies as a Lever for the Scalability of Italian Start-Ups 157
- About the Editors 171
- Index 173
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introduction 1
- 1 Fostering Digital Entrepreneurship by Developing Entrepreneurial Mindset 5
- 2 Digital Innovation and Incubation Process 23
- 3 Digital Sustainable Entrepreneurship Business Model and Its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals 35
- 4 Digital Technologies in Entrepreneurship and Shifting of Entrepreneurial Trajectories 45
- 5 Entrepreneurial Orientation: An Assessment of Empirical Evidences from Italy and Some Hints for Further Research 67
- 6 Gender Contribution to the Competitiveness of Social Media Entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia: Context of the National Transformation 85
- 7 How to Locate Resources in the Personal Networks Along the Entrepreneurial Processes? Follow-Up of a Nascent Digital Nomad Entrepreneur 109
- 8 Managing Conflicts to Improve Performance in Start-Ups: A Theoretical Analysis 129
- 9 Start-Ups and the Hurdles of Scaling-Up 145
- 10 New Technologies as a Lever for the Scalability of Italian Start-Ups 157
- About the Editors 171
- Index 173
