Wits Business School (ETDs)

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    Factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions of women in the South African digital ecosystem
    (2021) Danisa, Nombulelo
    In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there have been increasing calls in support of female entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa. The entrepreneurial gender disparity against women in South Africa is a cause for concern considering the important role of female entrepreneurs in the economy. Potential female entrepreneurs face challenges and hostile environments that discourage entrepreneurial spirit. However, with the advent of the digital ecosystem, it is hoped that these institutional barriers would be overcome. Thus, an investigation on the influence of institutional factors and the digital environment on entrepreneurial intentions of women is imperative. Utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour within an institutional embedded perspective, a model for the digital economy was inferred to analyse factors affecting female entrepreneurial intention in the South African digital ecosystem. This quantitative study utilised cross sectional data collected for a final sample of 302 females across South Africa. Results reflected that entrepreneurial intentions of women are positively influenced by favourable perceptions of the cognitive and normative institutional dimensions. However, the regulatory dimension had a positive but insignificant influence with no evidence that the digital environment interacts with the institutional environment to influence entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, it is recommended that government and policy makers play a leading role in promoting a culture that values female entrepreneurship. This would assist in creating favourable perceptions of the institutional environment and in turn encourage aspiring female entrepreneurs to start their own business.
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    Factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions of women in the South African digital ecosystem
    (2021) Danisa, Nombulelo
    In line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there have been increasing calls in support of female entrepreneurship in Sub Saharan Africa. The entrepreneurial gender disparity against women in South Africa is a cause for concern considering the important role of female entrepreneurs in the economy. Potential female entrepreneurs face challenges and hostile environments that discourage entrepreneurial spirit. However, with the advent of the digital ecosystem, it is hoped that these institutional barriers would be overcome. Thus, an investigation on the influence of institutional factors and the digital environment on entrepreneurial intentions of women is imperative. Utilising the Theory of Planned Behaviour within an institutional embedded perspective, a model for the digital economy was inferred to analyse factors affecting female entrepreneurial intention in the South African digital ecosystem. This quantitative study utilised cross sectional data collected for a final sample of 302 females across South Africa. Results reflected that entrepreneurial intentions of women are positively influenced by favourable perceptions of the cognitive and normative institutional dimensions. However, the regulatory dimension had a positive but insignificant influence with no evidence that the digital environment interacts with the institutional environment to influence entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, it is recommended that government and policy makers play a leading role in promoting a culture that values female entrepreneurship. This would assist in creating favourable perceptions of the institutional environment and in turn encourage aspiring female entrepreneurs to start their own business
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    Exploring institutional factors enabling the Nigerian digital economy policy and strategy
    (2020) Olanusi, Olabode
    This study explores the viability of the deployed institutional framework that are mandated to enable the implementation of the National digital economy and strategy in Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative research approach utilising interpretative phenomenological data analysis and interpretation due to the emergent policy implementation and the nuances associated with digital economy evolution in Nigeria. Purposive sampling method was used for selecting participants from the primary stakeholders mandated to drive the implementation of the National digital economy policy and strategy. The research approach necessitated the use of semi-structured interviews for data collection, leveraging digital meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams due to the restrictions on physical meetings occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. All interviews were recorded as agreed by the participants and collected data was transcribed and analysed using the interpretative phenomenological analysis. Discussions emanating from presented data were guided by research questions posed by the study. The findings obtained from this research show that institutional frameworks are key enablers of the national digital economic policy and strategy; established institutional frameworks needs to be operationalised synergistically to enable the national digital economic policy and strategy and that well-resourced institutional frameworks are vital to enabling the national digital economy policy and strategy in Nigeria. Amongst others, the study provides recommendations that the National digital economy policy and strategy document be reviewed to ensure collaboration with, and participation of all stakeholders. The study further recommends an outcomes-based approach for policy and strategy implementation. The study further provides suggestions for further research to nurture the development and implementation of digital economic policy and strategy in alignment