This edited collection presents state of the art research on entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Combining practical and academic insights, it sheds light on future directions for the sector and addresses the many challenges that entrepreneurs face, for instance, the lack of special laws and regulations, lack of financial assistance and government recognition as well as the lack of social awareness. It covers topics such as entrepreneurship and sustainability, female entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship education, and future research directions. Ultimately this book aims to advance research in the field and highlights the importance of social entrepreneurs in the Middle East
Author(s): Nehme Azoury, Taïeb Hafsi
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 325
City: Cham
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introduction
Part I: Entrepreneurship: Trends and Concepts
1: The Intersection of Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and the UN SDGs in the Arab World: A Humane Entrepreneurship Perspective
The Arab Ecosystem
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability: What Can Be Done?
The Ancestors of Social Entrepreneurship
Understanding that Culture Matters
Social Entrepreneurship as the Next Rung on the Giving Ladder
Beyond Social Entrepreneurship: Possible Solutions for Sustainable Change in the Arab World
The Theory of Humane Entrepreneurship
Qualification of HumEnt
Looking Further: Who Is Considered When Sustainable Patterns Are Created?
An Arab Ecosystem
Conclusion
Bringing It All Together
Final Thoughts
Appendix
References
2: Entrepreneurship: Social Entrepreneurship in the Arab World—Innovation and Entrepreneurship
What Is Entrepreneurship?
Innovation and Invention
Innovation
Innovations in Business
Categories of Business Innovation
Approaches of Innovation
Examples of Innovation
Product Innovation
Process Innovation
Business Model Innovation
Opportunities and Sources of Innovation
Social Innovations
Systematic Innovation
Why Does Entrepreneurship Matter?
Why Entrepreneurship in the Arab World?
Part II: Entrepreneurship in the Arab World
3: Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship: A Trend or a Real Factor for a Prosperous Future?
The Current Economic Situation in the Arab World
Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship as Trends
Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship as a Real Factor of Growth
Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship as Actors for Better Future
Conclusion
References
4: A Review and Research Agenda on the Determinants of Entrepreneurial Orientation and its Implications on Firm Performance: Tackling SMEs in Emerging Economies
Introduction
Entrepreneurship and SMEs’ Contribution to Developing Economies
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Interrelationship with Firm Performance
Firm Resources, Dynamic Capabilities (DCs) and Entrepreneurial Orientation
Social Capital and Entrepreneurial Orientation
Additional Theoretical Lenses
Self-Efficacy
Subjectivist Theory of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial Dominant Logic (DL)
Organizational Culture and Structure
Conclusion
References
5: Women in Entrepreneurship and Social Entrepreneurship in the Arab World
Introduction
The Paradoxes of the Arab World Regarding Women
Why, Despite Impactful Governmental Measures and One of the Highest Education Levels in the World, the Female Labour Force Participation Remains One of the Weakest in the World?
Impactful Numerous Governmental Measures for Two Decades
One of the Strongest Performances in Girls’ Education in the World
Despite These Significant Improvements in Women Rights and Status, the Arab World Scores One of the Lowest Female Labor Force Participation Rate in the World
A Mix of Structural and Contextual Reasons: Heavy Social Norms and High Unemployment Rate Undermine Women’s Participation in the Workforce
Women’s Entrepreneurship
An Opportunity to Enter the Labor Force and to Thrive
Despite Low Figures in Female Entrepreneurship, Women-Owned and Led Businesses Stand Out in the Service Sector
Women Consider the Digital Field as a Tremendous Opportunity for Entrepreneurship, Where Everything is Possible
What are the Key Drivers that Push Women to Create Their Businesses?
Social Entrepreneurship for Women
A Potential That Still Remains Untapped
A Relatively Unknown Field Preempted by International Organizations and Donors
A Field Led by the Success of Some Women-Led Digital Platforms with Massive Social Impact
Women Entrepreneurs Still Face Heavy and Various Challenges
The External Barriers are Only One Side of the Medal. On the Other Side and as a Consequence of a Long History of Restrictions, Some Women in the Arab World Also Face Internal Barriers
Governments, Private Companies, and NGOs have Taken These Barriers into Account and are Starting to Create More Enabling Environments for Women Entrepreneurship
The Covid Crisis has Brought New Forms of Female Leadership in the Arab World
Women Need to Build Up More Women-Led Ecosystems
Women Need to Act to Find Shared Innovation Solutions on a Regional Basis
Conclusion
References
Articles
6: Entrepreneurship and Education: Between Trendy and Usefulness
Introduction
Entrepreneurship Education: What & Why?
Entrepreneurship Education in the Arab World
Youth and Women Entrepreneurship in Arab Countries
Entrepreneurship Education as a Pillar for Competitiveness
Entrepreneurship Education and the Business Environment
References
7: Strategies for Managing Institutional Pressures in a Turbulent and Dynamic Institutional Context
Introduction
Theoretical Background: From Institutional Complexity to Institutional Pressures
Methods
Research Design
Data Sources
Data Analysis
Analysis: Strategies for Managing Institutional Pressures in State-Business Relations in Algeria
The Lion Case: The Strategy of Confrontation for External Change
Motivations
Protect the Organization from Blockages
Radically Transform Institutions
Approach
Critical Position Towards the Decisions of the Public Authorities
Revealing Public Institutions’ Inconsistencies and Dysfunctions
Reinforcement of the Position as an Economic Actor
Outcomes
Chameleon’s Case: The Strategy of Proactive Collaboration and Change Through Compliance and Proximity
Motivations
Impulse a new “State-Business“ Relational Logic Through Concession
Replace the State as an Actor-Partner
Growing Sheltered from Pressure
Approach
Involvement and Collaboration in Socioeconomic Life
Proximity to the Community and the Authorities
Promotion of an Image of Progress and Development
Outcomes
The Fennec Case: The Ambiguous Strategy of Avoidance-Collaboration
Motivations
Maintain the Ethical Principles of the Organization
Reduce Institutional Pressures and Sustain the Activities of the Organization
Approach
Proximity with Local Decision-Makers
Discretion
Strategic Reorientation
Outcomes
The Duck Case: A Strategy of Responsive Collaboration
Motivations
Evolve Near Sources of Pressure
Work in Groups to Better Manage the Pressures
Approach
The Partnership with State Partners
Rapprochement and Collaboration with the State
Outcomes
Discussion and Contributions
Conclusion
References
8: The Cultural Side of Entrepreneurship in the Middle East: Religion, Gender and Family
Introduction
The Influence of Middle Eastern Culture in Business
Culture as a Descriptive Term
Regional Subcultures
The Hofstede Framework for Assessing National Cultures
Characteristics of Middle Eastern Cultures
The Perception of Gender in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial Intentions
Barriers to Entrepreneurship
Women as Perceived in Media and Advertising
The Working Woman Segment
The Importance of Family Businesses
The Role of Religion in Business
References
9: Social Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in the Lebanese Market
Introduction
Social Entrepreneurship: Stipulation and Particularities
Entrepreneurship: What It Is and Is Not
Social Entrepreneurship: Paradoxical Conceptualization
Social Entrepreneurship Particularities: Neither Charitable nor Philanthropic
The Social Entrepreneur: Pillar of Social Entrepreneurship
The Social Entrepreneur’s Educational Qualifications and Training
The Social Entrepreneur’s Previous Experience and Family History
The Social Entrepreneur’s Financial Support
Social Enterprise: The Idea Taking Form
Innovation
Scalability
Institutionalization
Firm Size and Job Creation
Social Firm Size: Creation, Growing and Legal Identity
Social Competitive Advantage and Sustainability
Job Creation: Third Mission for Social Enterprise
Conclusion
References
Part III: Case Studies of Entrepreneurship
10: The Influence of Entrepreneurship on the Arab Cultures and Economies: Reflections from Egypt’s Entrepreneurial Journey
Overview
AUC School of Business: The Journey
Entrepreneurial Education
Building the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
The Venture-Lab (V-Lab)
Conclusion
References
11: Social Entrepreneurship as a New Institutional Field: Institutional Barriers in the Algerian Context
Introduction
Theoretical Background: Social Entrepreneurship as an Emerging Institutional Field
Methodology
Research Design
Choice of Case and Empirical Context
Data Sources
Data Analysis
Empirical Analyses: Social Entrepreneurship in Algeria
Normative Pilar: Social Entrepreneurship Is not a Legitimate Endeavor
The Stability Factor
Entrepreneurship as a Peripheral Process
The Rules and Regulations Pillar: SE in the Heart of an Entrepreneurial Void
Persistent Institutional Void
A Discouraging Institutional Framework
Cultural-Cognitive Pillar: Social Entrepreneurship Is Foreign to Established Mental Schemata
Conceptual Ambiguity
Moral Tension
Pragmatic Tension
Discussion and Conclusion
References
12: Conclusion
Entrepreneurship in the Arab World Is an Engine of Society’s Well Being
An Overview of This Book’s Contributions
References
Index
