Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/10
Browse
11 results
Search Results
Item Restricted New Venture Plan (Boulders)(Cardiff University, 2024) Hejazi, Tariq Ziad; Kaleka, AnnaThis report aims to deliver a strategy through which the new Boulders Foundation can be set up. This report covers key areas that must be completed to ensure the basic requirements to create a complete foundation that covers the objectives outlined in the initial brief. The report begins by covering the background of Boulders LTD and reviewing the key objectives of this report. Then the funding strategy, foundation structure, social prescribing, marketing strategy and risk assessment are reviewed in detail. The report ends by covering the key performance indicators and the measurable effects of the foundation. In the sections below this report will deliver in detail explanation, analysis and evaluation of each of the key points.15 0Item Restricted The Unconventional Pathways of Saudi Arabian Women Entrepreneurs in the Luxury Sector(University of Sussex, 2024) Alrashidi, Sarah; Jaser, ZahiraThis research delves into the transformative journey of Saudi Arabian women entrepreneurs in the luxury sector, propelled by Vision 2030. It critically examines their strategic maneuvers, successes, and challenges in navigating this dynamic market. Key areas of inquiry include the metamorphosis in the luxury sector for these women post Vision 2030, detailing specific changes and their impacts, as well as identifying the strategic blueprints and best practices that have driven their success. Furthermore, the study investigates the influence of policy changes on their operational environment, explores mechanisms for sustaining ventures during economic downturns, and examines how trust is built and maintained among discerning clients. Additionally, it aims to understand the unique challenges and achievements characterizing the journey of these women in the Saudi luxury sector. Through this comprehensive analysis, the research provides a critical understanding of the resilience and innovation exhibited by Saudi women in the luxury industry.17 0Item Restricted Developing Dynamic Capability in Entrepreneurial Universities: An Empirical Study on Saudi Arabian Public Universities(Western Sydney University, 2024) Alkhudhayr, Feras; Nakanadala, DilupaAbstract Human capital development has conveniently been the main responsibility of universities. They typically fulfilled this obligation by engaging in research and teaching activities. However, universities have had to create strategies for fostering entrepreneurial development over time to contribute effectively to the local and global economies and respond to changes and emerging trends. Additionally, universities work to foster and support entrepreneurial initiatives to address the financial issues they are facing, primarily resulting from the reduced public funding for higher education in many countries. As a result, some traditional universities have transformed into entrepreneurial universities where dynamic capabilities have enabled them to adapt to rapidly changing environments. This study is informed by the dynamic capability concept (Teece 2007) and the Resource-based View theory (Barney 1991) from the strategic management literature and entrepreneurial university literature. The concept of dynamic capability has been presented to explain the emergence of entrepreneurial orientation in the innovation and entrepreneurship literature. Dynamic capability reflects an organisation’s capacity to sense, seize and reconfigure its potential to create a competitive advantage and to improve performance. This thesis draws on the concept of dynamic capability, where the development of dynamic capability at universities to support their entrepreneurial orientation is at the core of this study. The dynamic capability perspective serves as a link between an organisation's resources and its effective responses to the changing external environment. However, how entrepreneurial universities develop dynamic capability to support their entrepreneurial orientation has not been explicitly investigated in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed at closing this gap by examining how universities apply the entrepreneurial model and develop dynamic capabilities to become entrepreneurial. This is based on the following main research questions; 1. How do universities develop dynamic capabilities to become entrepreneurial? 2. What is the impact of the entrepreneurial orientation of universities’ academic departments on the development of dynamic capabilities? Additionally, innovation culture was identified to promote the attainment of competitive advantage and is an important incubator for creativity and innovation among entrepreneurial universities. Hence, this study also investigated the moderating role of innovation culture on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and dynamic capability. The study focused on public universities in Saudi Arabia considering the strong government focus on entrepreneurial universities and that the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education is keen on enhancing entrepreneurship skills among university students. Saudi Arabian universities encourage students to have strategic abilities in order to advance their competence in their primary fields and strive for excellence and innovation and become globally entrepreneurial. The research study included a two-phase, mixed method design. The use of mixed method design was intended to produce results that were thorough and trustworthy. The study selected seven public universities in Saudi Arabia as the case universities based on the degree of application of the EU model. In the first qualitative phase, data was obtained using semi-structured interviews with 16 strategic management professionals from the seven case universities. The collected qualitative data was then transcribed and analysed thematically. In the second quantitative phase, an online survey questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data which targeted a sample size of 126 heads of academic departments in the case universities. The collected quantitative data was then coded and analysed using descriptive and inferential analyses. The findings of the study revealed entrepreneurial activities among public universities in Saudi Arabia. Six key themes were identified from thematic analysis, showing how public universities in Saudi Arabia develop dynamic capabilities to become entrepreneurial. Specifically, the findings suggest that the development of dynamic capability is enhanced through entrepreneurship training and infrastructure, commercialisation of university research outputs, improvement of entrepreneurial skills and performance, fostering open innovation, sustaining strategic alignment and policy adjustment for entrepreneurship, and implementation of reform initiatives and effective communication. Theoretically, the study contributes to the literature on strategic management by expanding the knowledge on dynamic capability and entrepreneurial orientations to the university context. The findings contribute to the body of literature by the addition of entrepreneurial activities (third-mission) to the teaching and research activities compared to previous studies. In addition, the findings add to the body of EO research by offering new perspectives on how to think about EO as a composite construct of four components consistent with the ENTRE-U scale adapted to the university context. The research also conceptualised the three-dimensional dynamic capability literature, which includes sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capability, which is consistent with the theoretical perspective put forth by Teece (2007, 2014, and 2018) as the dominant framework in the field of research on dynamic capability. The results of the present study shed new light on the particular micro-foundations of dynamic capability that are relevant in the Saudi Arabia public university setting, including cognitive capability, managerial experience, knowledge transfer and the organisational structures of institutions. The findings of the quantitative phase showed that the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of academic departments has a significant positive impact on sensing, seizing and reconfiguring capabilities. The study did not find evidence for innovation culture moderating the relationship between the EO of academic departments and their dynamic capabilities. The methodological implications add to the body of research on strategic management by showing the extended utility of existing measures for two key constructs which are entrepreneurial orientation of academic departments and dynamic capability. New measures of dynamic capability were developed based on the qualitative research results, which offer more comprehensive measurements for future researchers. The findings also show that university executives should create a managerial vision that considers the significance of entrepreneurial orientation and create distinctive dynamic capability among academic departments in order to obtain and maintain a competitive edge.11 0Item Restricted Investigating the Entrepreneurial Intentions and Action Gap in the Saudi Context(University of East Anglia, 2024-08-14) Alkhulayfi, Abdulmohsen Mohammed A; Connolly, Sara; Sayce, SusanBackground: The importance of entrepreneurship for economic development is well-known, and incorporated in reform programs like the Saudi 2030 Vision. However, despite efforts to encourage entrepreneurial intentions (EIs), many individuals struggle to take actual entrepreneurial actions (EAs) and start businesses. This gap between EI and entrepreneurial behaviours, has led researchers to seek explanations for why potential entrepreneurs do not act. Purpose: This research aims to uncover why there is a gap between EI and EA among young people, by identifying the obstacles preventing them from turning their intentions into actions. It seeks to validate the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model in the Saudi context and to follow up with recent graduates to see if they have taken any entrepreneurial actions after completing their studies. Design/Methodology/Approach: Quantitative data was collected from 301 Saudi students in 2020, followed by a survey six months after graduation to assess their EA. Interviews were then conducted to explore barriers. Another survey was sent to 231 students in 2021, with a follow-up after graduation. This allowed testing of EI during and after COVID-19 restrictions. Findings: The results provided evidence that the TPB model is valid in the Saudi context suggesting a strong association between EI and the TPB antecedents. A mediation analysis indicated that the three TPB antecedents were mediators between the social and societal factors (SAS) and EI. Analysis of the qualitative data pointed towards certain barriers preventing the participants from taking EA, these included the lack of financing, communication, training, and experience alongside bureaucracy and anxiety about expensive penalties. Originality: The findings represent an original and novel empirical test of the TPB model in the context of Saudi Arabia. This thesis represents a groundbreaking exploration of the dynamics of entrepreneurial intention and action in the specific socioeconomic context of Saudi Arabia. By focusing on this unique context, this study fills a significant gap in the entrepreneurship literature, particularly in the Gulf region. This study provides new insights into the complexity of entrepreneurial behaviour in a rapidly evolving economy by providing a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the gap between entrepreneurial intention and subsequent action. This study employed a mixed method approach combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to gain a nuanced understanding of the complexity of the entrepreneurial decision-making process among Saudi Arabian individuals and aspiring entrepreneurs. By incorporating a culturally sensitive framework and contextual factors, this study highlights the unique challenges and opportunities inherent to the Saudi business environment. The findings of this paper will not only enhance the academic understanding of Saudi entrepreneurship but also aid policymakers and educators who aim to create a more conducive environment for entrepreneurship development, which also has practical implications for business leaders. By identifying barriers to entrepreneurial activity and proposing targeted interventions, this study aims to facilitate further research and promote the emergence of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia. This dissertation makes a significant contribution to the field of entrepreneurship by providing new perspectives, methods, and perspectives tailored to the specific sociocultural and economic context of Saudi Arabia. This highlights the importance of contextual research for understanding and promoting entrepreneurship both locally and globally. Research Limitations: This research has several limitations including generalisability of the findings to other populations a little bit, short follow-up intervals, participant distribution, and the absence of implicit measures. The generalisability of a study refers to the degree to which the findings can be applied or generalised beyond the study sample to other settings. When investigating entrepreneurial intentions and behaviours in the Saudi context, applicable to large populations with little bit variations due to COVID-19 but is generalisability may be limited by factors such as specific culture and economic differences in the Saudi context and other areas of the world. Theoretical Implications: The findings of the research confirm the applicability of the TPB model in the Saudi context. Additionally, the study introduces the Social and Societal (SAS) factors as a new antecedent to the TPB model. Practical Implications: The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing EI and facilitating the transition to EA should consider the influences of attitudes, social norms, perceived control, and broader societal factors. By addressing these factors, policymakers and educators can create an environment to support entrepreneurship and contribute to economic growth and development.46 0Item Restricted The Legal Impetus for Entrepreneurship in the Saudi E-commerce Market: A Legal Examination of Enacted Changes in the Saudi Legal System(Wake Forest University, 2024) Alahmari, Abrar Ali A; Virgil, Steven M.This dissertation conducts a legal analysis of short-term legal-regulatory changes in the Saudi legal system between 2016 and 2022, exploring their assumed impact on the decision-making process of Saudi entrepreneurs adopting e-commerce technology and launching startups in the Saudi e-commerce market. These changes are categorized into three types: fundamental, procedural, and substantive changes. Utilizing the normative legal research method and considering the concept of the direct legal cost of doing business, the analysis reveals a consistent removal of identified legal barriers to entrepreneurial adoption of e-commerce technology. The implemented legal-regulatory changes are anticipated to significantly enhance the quality of the Saudi legal system, foster entrepreneurship in the Saudi e-commerce market, and contribute to the development of the Saudi digital economy in alignment with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030. However, the findings of the legal analysis regarding the assumed impact of legal-regulatory changes in motivating entrepreneurial growth in the Saudi e-commerce market are limited due to a set of certain challenges. These challenges are transformed into integrated recommendations to guide Saudi decision-makers, including lawmakers, in enhancing the entrepreneurship environment in the Saudi e-commerce market and creating a conducive atmosphere that motivates Saudi entrepreneurs to enter the e-commerce market.38 0Item Restricted A study of the Genesis, Growth and Sustained Performance of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: An Evolutionary and Systemic Approach in the Case of Saudi Arabia(Queensland University of Technology, 2024-02-01) Haddadi, Essa Ali A; Mohannak, Kavoos; Matthews, JudyThis thesis examines the genesis and growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) systematically and dynamically in the case of a developing country, specifically the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By synthesizing systemic and evolutionary perspectives, the study focuses on assessing the impact, influential evolutionary dynamics and mechanisms, and interrelations of the components of EEs on entrepreneurial ventures. It connects these components to a life cycle model with four phases of the EE and an evolutionary process model that structures generative dynamics, explaining how entrepreneurial ventures can evolve to foster productive entrepreneurship and sustained EEs in developing countries.20 0Item Restricted Creative & Collaborative Enterprise Proposal(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-08-17) Alathel, Maya; Thompson, GregoryThis document outlines the comprehensive product development journey of Varada, an innovative online concept store proposed to address the discernible gap in the Saudi Arabian market for unique lifestyle-focused gifts. The development journey is divided into three phases: Phase 1 - Conceptualization: The Varada concept was initiated by outlining fundamental core values, validated through participant observation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This phase laid the groundwork for product development, synthesizing observations and refining core values. Phase 2 - Mentor Collaboration: Mentoring sessions were pivotal in synthesizing participant observation insights and implementing them into a digital framework. Social media inquiries were conducted to engage the target audience, and actionable points were integrated into the evolving Varada concept. Phase 3 - Digital Integration: This phase focused on translating actionable items into a digital framework, emphasizing content creation and website development. Core values were adjusted based on participant observation, providing a solid foundation for mentoring sessions and digital integration. Core Values: Varada's core values, including Uniqueness, Wonder, Inspiration, Connection, and Quality, were identified and refined based on participant observation insights, serving as a guiding framework for the project. Participant Observation: Selective participant observation in a Saudi department store provided valuable insights into customer behaviors and preferences. Refined core values emerged from these observations, shaping the foundation for the Varada project. Social Validation: Mentoring sessions with an experienced entrepreneur guided the project towards specific offerings. Social media polls and questionnaires were used for engagement, with the insights contributing to actionable strategies for Varada's digital platform. Content & Website Development: Biweekly mentor sessions facilitated systematic development, leading to the creation of template content for the beta site. The Varada website represents a simplified version of the envisioned platform, with continuous refinement planned. Conclusion: While the beta site development is underway, identified areas such as financial mapping, UX collaboration, feature validation, brand alignment, and visual content enhancement will be addressed. Acknowledging product development as an iterative process, ongoing refinement is emphasized for post-launch success. The dedication to improvement is guided by the knowledge gained throughout the Creative and Collaborative Enterprise program.30 0Item Restricted Social media usage and entrepreneurial development amongst 18- to 25-year-olds in Hail, Saudi Arabia.(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-11-14) Alyousef, Hattan; Biressi, Anita; Rixon, Paul; Kolb, AlexandraThe recent transformation endorsed by the Vision 2030 development plan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instigated a negotiation of modern values and norms in a youthful conservative nation. The rise of social media usage in Saudi Arabia and specifically in Hail has enabled these negotiations due to considerable technological advancement and its adoption by a youthful nation where almost 72% of the population are below the age of 35. The Saudi social media scene has not only become a recognisable career path, driven by the vast economic and socio-cultural reform, but a space where intersections of a power dynamic is visible and complex. Two main theoretical approaches have been adopted to examine and explore social media usage and entrepreneurial development. The first approach is Bourdieu’s work of field, habitus, and capital (1977, 1984, 1986) and more recent scholarly work on social, cultural, economic, and symbolic capitals. The second approach is informed by scholarship on presentational culture and communication, new media and creative industry, and social media studies. Although both theoretical approaches are from a western viewpoint, the experiences of Saudi youth provide new insight into the contextual negotiations between old values and norms and modernity in an era of development. In this qualitative study, the data will speak for themselves through the experiences and perspectives of social media users and entrepreneurs explored across an open-ended survey, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. While this work is focused on Saudi, it offers lessons and insights for other similar nations, or even for the west. The study raises questions relating to how Hail’s young men and women who maintain old values will utilise social media platforms to navigate and negotiate their online identity into an online entrepreneurial identity. Furthermore, having a diverse sample for each method – for instance, influencers and micro-celebrities from both rural and urban backgrounds – enabled me to capture different dimensions of the same entrepreneurial process. This entrepreneurial process identified different identity constructions and identity performances and crosschecking these practices with Hail’s young men and women demonstrates the complex ways in which the Saudi social media entrepreneur can participate in and contribute to the attention economy in this new Saudi era.24 0Item Restricted Examining the Institutional Influences Shaping the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia(2023) Alothman, Nouf Abdulrahman; Baxter, DavidDrawing upon the existing literature that bridges institutions and entrepreneurship, the overarching aim of this doctoral study is to explore the influence of institutional forces on entrepreneurial ecosystems by embedding the lens of institutional theory. Three qualitative research papers have been developed to address this research aim. The first phase of this study is comprised of a comprehensive review of the literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems and institutions in order to understand ecosystem dynamics and contextualise entrepreneurial ecosystems. Building on the literature review, the first paper pays close attention to the role of institutions within entrepreneurial ecosystems and generates a proposed framework to examine the intersection between the three pillars of institutional theory and the entrepreneurial ecosystem attributes of Spigel’s (2015) framework. The integrated framework inspired the second paper which aims to generate empirical evidence of the interplay between different institutional forces and the key elements of entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second paper principally focuses on business incubators as crucial players in entrepreneurial ecosystems, revealing a multi-level interplay between the contextually unique institutional elements that have a demonstrable impact on business incubators’ role in Saudi Arabia. These institutional elements include regulatory influences such as bureaucracy and investment laws regulating finance for local entrepreneurs, as well as the normative influences of informal supports from family and friends, and the norms of wasta. The third research paper applies the lens of institutional logics to examine the influences of digitalisation on entrepreneurship processes. The study reveals that digitalisation affects every stage of the entrepreneurship process, along with other established logics operating on both the socio-cultural and economic levels. This thesis makes multiple contributions to knowledge, policy and practice. First, it generates new insights into the intersection between the three pillars of institutional theory and the attributes of entrepreneurial ecosystems. It then advances understanding of a context-specific entrepreneurial ecosystem by examining the interplay between different institutions and business incubators as key actors in entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly in Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Incorporation of institutional theory in entrepreneurial ecosystems provides the potential to help develop a deeper theoretical understanding of context-specific entrepreneurial ecosystem. The theoretical contribution of this study further underlines the importance of multiple institutional logics and the new logic of digitalisation in the process of digital entrepreneurship in a transition economy. The study provides fresh insights for practitioners by examining their ecosystems through the lens of institutional theory and institutional logics to consider the major institutional forces and challenges at play within their national contexts. It then offers a number of policy implications while making practical recommendations for policymakers, business incubator managers and entrepreneurs working in today’s entrepreneurial ecosystems.14 0Item Restricted Examining the Institutional Influences Shaping Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Saudi Arabia(2023) Alothman, Nouf Abdulrahman; Baxter, DavidDrawing upon the existing literature that bridges institutions and entrepreneurship, the overarching aim of this doctoral study is to explore the influence of institutional forces on entrepreneurial ecosystems by embedding the lens of institutional theory. Three qualitative research papers have been developed to address this research aim. The first phase of this study is comprised of a comprehensive review of the literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems and institutions in order to understand ecosystem dynamics and contextualise entrepreneurial ecosystems. Building on the literature review, the first paper pays close attention to the role of institutions within entrepreneurial ecosystems and generates a proposed framework to examine the intersection between the three pillars of institutional theory and the entrepreneurial ecosystem attributes of Spigel’s (2015) framework. The integrated framework inspired the second paper which aims to generate empirical evidence of the interplay between different institutional forces and the key elements of entrepreneurial ecosystem. The second paper principally focuses on business incubators as crucial players in entrepreneurial ecosystems, revealing a multi-level interplay between the contextually unique institutional elements that have a demonstrable impact on business incubators’ role in Saudi Arabia. These institutional elements include regulatory influences such as bureaucracy and investment laws regulating finance for local entrepreneurs, as well as the normative influences of informal supports from family and friends, and the norms of wasta. The third research paper applies the lens of institutional logics to examine the influences of digitalisation on entrepreneurship processes. The study reveals that digitalisation affects every stage of the entrepreneurship process, along with other established logics operating on both the socio-cultural and economic levels. This thesis makes multiple contributions to knowledge, policy and practice. First, it generates new insights into the intersection between the three pillars of institutional theory and the attributes of entrepreneurial ecosystems. It then advances understanding of a context-specific entrepreneurial ecosystem by examining the interplay between different institutions and business incubators as key actors in entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly in Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Incorporation of institutional theory in entrepreneurial ecosystems provides the potential to help develop a deeper theoretical understanding of context-specific entrepreneurial ecosystem. The theoretical contribution of this study further underlines the importance of multiple institutional logics and the new logic of digitalisation in the process of digital entrepreneurship in a transition economy. The study provides fresh insights for practitioners by examining their ecosystems through the lens of institutional theory and institutional logics to consider the major institutional forces and challenges at play within their national contexts. It then offers a number of policy implications while making practical recommendations for policymakers, business incubator managers and entrepreneurs working in today’s entrepreneurial ecosystems.21 0