Digital literacy, entrepreneurial networking, and sustainable innovation: Economic and cultural determinants of entrepreneurial success in the Middle East

Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-09 DOI:10.1016/j.stae.2026.100129

Khodor Shatila , Ana Beatriz Hernández-Lara , Jaroslava Gburová

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigates the influence of digital literacy, entrepreneurial networking, knowledge sharing, and innovation on entrepreneurial success within emerging Middle Eastern economies. It further examines the moderating role of cultural support, assessing how societal norms and institutional expectations shape digital entrepreneurship, innovative behaviour, and the transition toward sustainable, knowledge-based economic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design was applied using structured survey data from 305 entrepreneurs across diverse sectors in the Middle East. Validated measurement scales were employed to ensure reliability and construct validity. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationships and evaluate the moderating effect of cultural support on the links between digital literacy, networking, knowledge sharing, innovation, and entrepreneurial success.

Findings

The results show that digital literacy and entrepreneurial networking significantly enhance knowledge sharing and innovation, which in turn improve entrepreneurial success. Cultural support, however, negatively moderates several relationships, indicating that traditional norms and institutional rigidities may constrain digitally driven entrepreneurial activity.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the need for policies that strengthen digital literacy, promote open innovation, and support sustainable technology adoption through inclusive and culturally adaptive entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Originality/value

The study contributes to entrepreneurship and digital transformation scholarship by applying Social Capital Theory to explain how digital competencies and networking interact with cultural dynamics, offering new evidence on sustainable entrepreneurship in rapidly modernizing Middle Eastern economies.

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数字素养、创业网络和可持续创新：中东创业成功的经济和文化决定因素

目的本研究探讨了数字素养、创业网络、知识共享和创新对新兴中东经济体创业成功的影响。报告进一步考察了文化支持的调节作用，评估了社会规范和制度期望如何影响数字创业、创新行为以及向可持续的知识经济体系过渡。设计/方法/方法采用定量研究设计，使用来自中东不同行业的305名企业家的结构化调查数据。采用已验证的测量量表，以确保信度和结构效度。采用结构方程模型（SEM）对假设关系进行检验，并评估文化支持对数字素养、网络、知识共享、创新和创业成功之间联系的调节作用。研究结果表明，数字素养和创业网络显著促进了知识共享和创新，进而提高了创业成功率。然而，文化支持对一些关系起到负调节作用，这表明传统规范和制度僵化可能会限制数字驱动的创业活动。研究结果强调，需要制定政策，加强数字素养，促进开放式创新，并通过包容性和文化适应性的创业生态系统支持可持续的技术采用。该研究运用社会资本理论解释了数字能力和网络如何与文化动态相互作用，为快速现代化的中东经济体的可持续创业提供了新的证据，从而为创业和数字化转型学术做出了贡献。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

0.00%

发文量