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Digital divide, gender gap, and entrepreneurial orientation: how to foster technology adoption among Pakistani higher education students?Advances in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) bear the promise of multiple benefits, including individual and entrepreneurial empowerment. The prospect of harnessing ICT as a means of creating growth and development opportunities is particularly appealing in developing countries. Still, several factors, including digital illiteracy and gender inequality, hamper the possibility of effective and universal utilization of these opportunities, in extreme cases leading to digital divide, gender-based exclusion, poverty, and precarity. Using this observation as a springboard, the objective of this paper is to conceptualize and quantify the digital divide-gender-entrepreneurial orientation nexus as it emerges in the perception of Pakistan higher education students. Using a quantitative approach, this study identifies the impact of digital skills (and thus the knowledge inequalities that can determine the potential digital gap) on entrepreneurship-related technology adoption (as measured through Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, UTAUT), whereby gender is treated as a moderator. The empirical findings, based on Structure Equation Modelling (SEM) and Multiple Group Analysis (MGA), show that digital skills and perceptions of technology capabilities have a substantial impact on the desire to use ICT in entrepreneurial activities. The influence of technology adoption intent on the development of entrepreneurial orientation is also confirmed. This paper adds to the broader debate on gender, digital divide and entrepreneurship. Importantly, by identifying some of the drivers behind students’ technology adoption in a developing nation such as Pakistan, filled with technological and economic unbalances, the conclusions of this study will have conceptual, managerial, and policymaking applications, notably in terms of technological access, digital literary, and gender-based exclusion.
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The Industry 5.0 (I50) paradigm, blockchain-based applications and the smart cityPurpose Against the background of the I50 paradigm, this paper queries in what ways blockchain and blockchain-based applications deployed in the smart city context facilitate the integration of the I50 paradigm in smart urban contexts. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods approach is applied. First, by means of desk research and thematic literature review, a conceptual model integrating the I50 paradigm, smart city and blockchain-based solutions is built. Second, science mapping bibliometric analysis (SciMat) based on keywords’ co-occurrence is applied to a sample of 491 research articles to identify key domains of blockchain-based applications’ use in smart city. Third, a semi-systematic literature review complements insights gained through SciMat. Fourth, the findings are interpreted through the precepts of the conceptual model devised earlier. Findings The key blockchain-based applications in smart cities pertain to two domains, i.e. the foundational, service facilitation-oriented domain, including security (and safety), networks, computing, resource management and the service delivery-oriented domain, including mobility, energy and healthcare. Blockchain serves as the key building block for applications developed to deliver functions specific to each of the thus identified domains. A substantial layering of blockchain-based tools and applications is necessary to advance from the less to the more complex functional domains of the smart city. Originality/value At the conceptual level, the intricacies of the (making of the) I50 paradigm are discussed and a case for I50 – smart city – blockchain nexus is made. Easton’s input–output model as well as constructivism is referenced. At the empirical level, the key major domains of blockchain-based applications are discussed; those that bear the prospect of integrating the I50 paradigm in the smart city are highlighted. At the methodological level, a strategic move is made aimed at restoring the literature review’s role as subservient to the key line of exploration, to justify and ultimately support it, rather than to showcase the literature review as the ultimate purpose for itself.
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THE EFFECT OF BUY NOW, PAY LATER FINTECH ON TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES AND CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN SAUDI ARABIAThis research investigates the impacts of financial technology (Fintech) on traditionalfinancial services and the emergence of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies withinthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Fintech signifies a paradigmatic shift in the financial land-scape, utilizing technology to transform banking, payment systems, investment strate-gies, and lending practices. The BNPL model, recognized for its disruptive nature, ena-bles consumers to divide purchases into interest-free installments, thereby reshapingglobal consumer spending patterns. Thisstudy concentrates specifically on the SaudiArabian context, where Fintech adoption is experiencing rapid growth. It scrutinizes thefactors that influence BNPL adoption behavior among Saudi consumers, addressing aresearch void in localized studies. A sample of 100 consumer participants responded toan online survey. The statistical analysis underscores the strength, significance, andcorrelation between financial elements and the factors crucial to the decision-makingprocess for BNPL adoption. The descriptive analysis of Independent Variables (IVs) en-compassing Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI),and Facilitating Conditions (FC) has provided significant insights into the perceptions ofconsumers regarding the adoption of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. The analysishas revealed noteworthy patterns in the data. Performance Expectancy (PE) demon-strates moderate perceptions (Mean = 2.98), indicating a measured belief in the use-fulness of BNPL. Furthermore, Facilitating Conditions (FC) registered moderate scores(Mean = 3.04), underscoring the significance of favorable external factors. Collectively,these findings depict a moderate inclination and a generally positive outlook amongrespondents towards BNPL adoption,providing insights into the factors influencing theiradoption behaviors. The research findings contribute to academic comprehension, pro-vide insights for industry stakeholders, and inform the development of policies and reg-ulations within Saudi Arabia's dynamic Fintech ecosystem. Future studies may utilizelongitudinal studies, conduct cross-cultural comparisons, and explore technological in-tegration in exploring the BNPL consumer behavior studies
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Saudi Arabian Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and MicrofinanceMicrofinance is an important component of the entrepreneurship ecosystem (Iansiti & Levien, 2004). This research explores prominent microfinance models and introduces leading microfinance institutions, in a certain format, practicing these models across the globe. Using primarily qualitative methods of investigation, it then identifies the use of microfinance by different organizations in Saudi Arabia. The study contributes a model of microfinance in Saudi Arabia upon the contemporary conventions, procedures, and practices (Saudi Arabian microfinance model, SAMFIN). It would assist the microfinance landscape and practices of leading institutions. Eventually, the study would ascertain and pinpoint the challenges and opportunities for the Saudi Arabian entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders to introduce the changes and additions required to make the Saudi microfinance landscape more dynamic, and vibrant, and contribute to and satisfy the community needs. Also provided is a brief impact of the Saudi Vision 2030. This work would offer guidance and learning for practitioners, lenders, borrowers, and academics alike both in and outside the country. It can be concluded that the loan limit in Saudi Arabia is substantially high and equals $2666; the microfinance in Saudi Arabia is evolving and the differences identified and discussed above imply that the SAMFIN and global models are quite different in approach and modalities.
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Ethical Systems’ Dynamics in Family BusinessBuilding an ethical culture is challenging and a basic requirement of the companies to embed transparency in their systems, creating a positive image; serving the internal and external communities. Twelve family owned businesses participated in qualitative research. Interviews were conducted from employees of these businesses to explore the moral dynamics in their business. The paper significantly adds knowledge to the literature by exploring the ethics role in particular contexts. It explores how these companies build the ethical culture, identifying the ethical culture sustainability triggers, challenges and role of religion. Values, culture, community and social norms are identified as major ingredients of a sustainable principled culture development and implementation of ethical policies and procedures require institutional and structural mechanisms for effectiveness in family owned businesses. Numerous findings are in contrast to the literature, whereas, in other instances these are similar. Religion, society, family image, the entrepreneurs themselves and their family members play a vital role. Non-interference in private matters of the employees, whistle blowing, code of ethics, training and awareness creation and a number of other factors play a leading role in ethical culture development in family businesses.
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Research ArticleMicrofinance is an important component of the entrepreneurship ecosystem (Iansiti & Levien, 2004). This research explores prominent microfinance models and introduces leading microfinance institutions, in a certain format, practicing these models across the globe. Using primarily qualitative methods of investigation, it then identifies the use of microfinance by different organizations in Saudi Arabia. The study contributes a model of microfinance in Saudi Arabia upon the contemporary conventions, procedures, and practices (Saudi Arabian microfinance model, SAMFIN). It would assist the microfinance landscape and practices of leading institutions. Eventually, the study would ascertain and pinpoint the challenges and opportunities for the Saudi Arabian entrepreneurship ecosystem stakeholders to introduce the changes and additions required to make the Saudi microfinance landscape more dynamic, and vibrant, and contribute to and satisfy the community needs. Also provided is a brief impact of the Saudi Vision 2030. This work would offer guidance and learning for practitioners, lenders, borrowers, and academics alike both in and outside the country. It can be concluded that the loan limit in Saudi Arabia is substantially high and equals $2666; the microfinance in Saudi Arabia is evolving and the differences identified and discussed above imply that the SAMFIN and global models are quite different in approach and modalities.
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An Entrepreneurial Approach for Government Employee Family Welfare in Developing CountriesDeveloping countries like Pakistan face challenges of payment of sufficient benefits at the superannuation to their government employees. Anticipating this the employees resort to unfair practices in an endeavour to safeguard own and family’s future post retirement. This paper identifies the problem and proposes a solution whereby the government has minimal resource investment and yet their employees and families can generate revenues on continual basis through productive family concept. The model is proposed for Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa (KPK) province police department initially and can be replicated for other government departments and countries. The concept can generate a number of jobs and raise the economic conditions at micro levels thus contributing nationally.
