Browsing by Author "Yousafzai, Shumaila"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Breaking barriers and bridging gaps: the influence of entrepreneurship policies on women’s entry into entrepreneurship
    (Emerald Publishing, 2024-06-24) Raza, Ali; Yousafzai, Shumaila; Saeed, Saadat
    Purpose – How does the interplay between entrepreneurship policies and both formal and informal gender equality affect women’s inclination towards self-employment in contrast to men? Design/methodology/approach – This study introduces and validates a comprehensive multi-level model underpinned by symbolic interactionism, institutional theory, and the nuances of gendered institutions. Employing innovative analytical techniques and leveraging data from 66 countries, we scrutinize how formal and informal gendered institutional arrangements either inhibit or facilitate an environment favorable to women’s entrepreneurial activities. Findings – Significantly, our research delves into the nuanced effects of specific entrepreneurship policies across diverse nations. While these policies can bridge the gendered resource gap, a profound understanding of broader gender dynamics is crucial for fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial landscape. Originality/value – Our insights advocate for a more integrated approach to bolster women’s participation in entrepreneurship, thus furthering their socio-economic progression.
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    Circular entrepreneurial ecosystems: a Quintuple Helix Model approach
    (Emerald Publishing, 2024-04-03) Borrero, Juan D.; Yousafzai, Shumaila
    Purpose The shift toward a circular economy (CE) represents a collaborative endeavor necessitating the presence of efficient frameworks, conducive contexts and a common comprehension. This research serves as a pivotal stride towards this goal, presenting an exclusive prospect for the investigation and fusion of these frameworks, with particular emphasis on the Quintuple Helix Model (5HM), into a unified theoretical framework that underscores the core principles of the CE. This study is centered on three pivotal questions aimed at decoding the CE transition in specific regional settings. Design/methodology/approach Adopting an abductive approach firmly anchored in a two-stage qualitative process, this study specifically merges the foundational principles from institutional theory, entrepreneurship literature and CE frameworks to provide insights into the dynamics of circular ecosystems, with a specific focus on the Huelva region in Spain. Findings The findings demonstrate significant potential in the CE, ranging from the integration of product and service systems to innovations in eco-industrial practices. Yet, a notable deficiency exists: the absence of institutional entrepreneurs, highlighting the essential role that universities can play. As recognized centers of innovation, universities are suggested to be key contributors to the transformation toward a CE, aligning with their societal and economic responsibilities. Practical implications This study highlights the importance of managing relationships with entities like SMEs and policymakers or academia for effective CE adoption. Policymakers can refine strategies based on the research’s insights, while the impact of university-driven circular ecosystems on sustainable societies is another crucial area for research. Originality/value The sustainability models cited in CE literature may not be comprehensive enough to prevent problem shifting, and it can be argued that they lack a sound theoretical and conceptual basis. Furthermore, the connections between sustainability objectives and the three levels of the CE operating system remain vague. Additionally, there is insufficient information on how regions foster the involvement of the environment in fivefold helix cooperation and how this impacts the CE.
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    Epistemic Injustice and Epistemic Resistance: An Intersectional Study of Women’s Entrepreneurship Under Occupation and Patriarchy
    (Sage, 2023-12-07) Omran, Wojdan; Yousafzai, Shumaila
    Women face unique challenges in their quest to achieve business success relative to men. Applying the theories of epistemic injustice and intersectionality, this study collectively analyzes the overlapping impacts of identities that complement gender at multiple levels in the context of the oppressive, interconnected power structures of occupation and patriarchy. Our findings explain how the impact of institutional oppressors, through structural and normative discrimi- nation, may cause some Palestinian women entrepreneurs to internalize and accept injustice while others tap into available resources to engage in epistemic resistance.
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    Top management team attributes and corporate entrepreneurship: A meta-analysis
    (Wiley, 2024) Saeed, Sadat; Alasadi, Mohammad; Yousafzai, Shumaila; Zahra A., Shaker
    How do the attributes of a firm's top management team (TMT) influence corporate entrepreneurship across organizational and national contexts? Drawing on upper echelons theory and the managerial discretion perspective, this meta- analytic study examines the dynamic relationship between TMTs' attributes and corporate entrepreneurship, focusing on the moderating role of managerial discretion arising from organizational and national-level factors. To provide insights into the micro-foundations of firm behavior, we explore how key TMT attributes—diversity, size, transformational leadership, tenure, general human capital, and entrepreneurial human capital—affect corporate entrepreneurship. A comprehensive meta-analysis of 57 primary studies reveals that the effect of a TMT's attributes is context-dependent and is significantly influenced by the approach to managerial discretion taken by the country in which the firm operates. By showing that transformational leadership and the TMT's entrepreneurial human capital and size affect corporate entrepreneurship, while attributes like tenure, diversity, and general human capital have limited or no impact, our findings challenge the prevailing view that a standardized approach to the TMT's composition drives corporate entrepreneurship. The study also underscores the role of the national-level managerial discretion and finds that firms in institutional environments that feature low managerial discretion must align their TMT strategies with local institutional contexts to maximize their corporate entrepreneurship. These findings advance upper echelons theory by demonstrating that managerial discretion acts as a boundary condition in shaping how the TMT's attributes influence corporate entrepreneurship based on the national context. This research contributes to the fields of strategic and innovation management and offers practical insights for leaders who seek to harness the full potential of their TMTs.
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    Trailblazers of the Steppe: Inspiring narratives of Kazakh women entrepreneurs
    (Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business, 2024) Yousafzai, Shumaila; Aljanova, Nurlykhan; Kulbatyrov, Nurlan
    A robust economy is fundamentally built on a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. In Kazakhstan, there is a strong and growing commitment to supporting women in entrepreneurship. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations within the country are implementing various initiatives to assist women eager to grow their businesses. Official data reveals that women lead half of Kazakhstan’s small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing at least 40% to the national GDP. Gender equality, including the support of female entrepreneurship, is a key priority in the country’s national policy. A critical aspect of this support is the facilitation of financial resources and incentives for women entrepreneurs. Government programs provide access to loans, grants, and subsidies specifically tailored to women, designed to stimulate the development and expansion of their businesses. Additionally, various organizations and platforms have been established to educate and advise women entrepreneurs. For instance, the program “Development of Entrepreneurial Potential ‘Men kasіpker’ in the Republic of Kazakhstan” is an initiative developed within the framework of the Small and Medium-Sized Business Development Concept, set to run until 2030.