Empowering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy: Success factors and potential benefits in a developing country

Empowering Women Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy: Success Factors and Potential Benefits in a Developing Country TREO Talk Paper Kamla Ali Al-Busaidi Information Systems Department, Sultan Qaboos University [email protected] Abstract Entrepreneurship is essential for diversifying economies, especially in oil-dependent countries. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector is a key pillar driving knowledge and digital economies, playing a crucial role in national economies by fostering innovation and supporting business processes across various sectors. International organizations like the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have launched initiatives such as "etrade for women" to support female entrepreneurship in developing countries within the digital economy. National statistics reveal a higher number of female graduates and job seekers in Oman compared to males. Utilizing ICT to empower women aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 and 2040, aiming to reduce job loss among women and promote gender equality. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can play a significant role in empowering Omani women by creating job opportunities, generating profits, and contributing to the national economy. Understanding critical success factors and avoiding failure factors is crucial for female entrepreneurs. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a Delphi study involving Omani female entrepreneurs in the ICT sector to identify these factors using an extended TOE (Technology, Organization, Environment) model. The study also offers female entrepreneurs a balanced scorecard method to assess their business success. The first phase of the Delphi study highlighted critical factors for ICT entrepreneurship, including customer-related aspects (trust, satisfaction, innovation, awareness, and loyalty), entrepreneur characteristics (commitment, confidence, capability, experience, and knowledge), company attributes (culture, reputation, professionalism), government support (national ICT infrastructure, entrepreneurship assistance), and technology security. The results also indicated that the performance of ICT entrepreneurship can be evaluated not only based on financial metrics (such as productivity, profitability, and operating expenses), but also metrics related to customers (such as satisfaction and loyalty), employees (such as learning, effectiveness, and innovation), company learning, and national innovation. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of SME entrepreneurship in the ICT sector and provides recommendations for government agencies and female entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital economy.