Systematic Literature Review
The UAE is becoming one of the significant players in the global economic arena. The country is ready to adopt new ways to develop and the empowerment of women is one of these ways. Entrepreneurship is seen as one of these ways and now women are entering the Emirati entrepreneurial environment. There is a significant bulk of research on the matter. It is possible to employ a systematic literature review method to explore major issues revealed in the research and potential areas of further research.
It is necessary to analyze papers published from 2010 to 2014 to trace the way the research has been developing. First, the research will involve an analysis of the number of papers on the matter during the period. It is necessary to identify the way the interest in women entrepreneurship evolved.
In 2011, researchers only started exploring the role Emirati female entrepreneurs played or could play in the economy of the country (Erogul 315). Those were steps in the field.
The research will then focus on topics highlighted in the papers. Thus, in 2012, the focus of researchers was on factors affecting Emirati females’ choices to set up a business. Kargwell provides a comprehensive analysis of gender differences in entrepreneurial development (44). Researchers also note that technological and economic development of the country as well as support from the state have a positive impact on women’s participation in the Emirati business world while cultural peculiarities of the region lead to significant obstacles (Kargwell Women Entrepreneurs Breaking through 122). Manar et al. also stress that technology can be a potent stimulus for women to start their businesses (509). It is possible to note that a significant number of articles were written during the year, which shows the rise of attention to the field.
In 2013, researchers concentrated on the entrepreneurial environment and the place of the Emirati women in it with a specific focus on students and novice entrepreneurs. Hossan, Parakandi, and Saber study business students’ entrepreneurial knowledge and stress that novice female entrepreneurs face similar obstacles associated with cultural peculiarities of the area. It is also found that females have the same entrepreneurial potential and are more willing to enter the entrepreneurial ecosystem though they have a different attitude towards risks (Zeffane 60).
In 2014, researchers have another aspect to consider and they explore innovations in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the United Arab Emirates. It is stressed that women are likely to play an essential role in the economic development of the UAE as the number of female entrepreneurs is growing and the environment is becoming more favorable for them (Byat and Sultan 104).
Approximately 60 papers (both published and unpublished) will be analyzed. Articles (written in English) from peer-reviewed journals, professional magazines, and newspapers (from different countries) will be considered. Both qualitative and quantitative types of research will be included in this analysis. The research will be mainly Internet-based though papers from the university databases and local libraries will also be included.
The paper will focus on the development of research between 2010 and 2014. Major topics discussed in the articles will be considered in terms of the time frame and this study will attempt to unveil reasons for attention to this or that aspect of the issue. This paper will also reveal major gaps in the study as well as limitations that are typical of the research of the period in question. Possible areas for further research will be considered in the present survey.
The following is the timeline of the present research:
Meta-Synthesis
Interest in the role of Emirati female entrepreneurs in the development of the economy of the country has risen significantly since 2010. This increased attention to the female entrepreneurial ecosystem suggests that more females are entering the business world of the UAE. It is possible to identify factors that have had an impact on the process. The research will also identify favorable conditions for further development of female entrepreneurship. Finally, the present study will identify the gaps in the field to reveal areas for further research as well as new approaches to address issues.
One factor positively affecting the economic empowerment of women and encouraging them to enter the entrepreneurial ecosystem is the change in the cultural terrain. Kargwell notes that females reveal the same interest (and capability) in entrepreneurship and Emirati people (as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations, policymakers, business people) are starting to acknowledge that (52). Erogul also stresses that the Emirati society is starting to change and male/female cooperation can become a potent stimulus of this process. Manar et al. claim that women have already had a significant impact on the development of the economy and the state support females’ initiatives through establishing corresponding policies (520).
Another important aspect of the issue is administrative (in other words, state’s) support of females’ start-ups. It has been acknowledged that the state is introducing new policies to encourage females to enter the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the UAE through these policies are still not sufficient (Kargwell Women Entrepreneurs Breaking Through 123). It is important to identify the major flaws of the policies revealed by researchers.
Finally, researchers reveal a lot of interest in innovation and development in the field. Hossan, Parakandi, and Saber compare female business students with their male counterparts and identify potential female entrepreneurs’ knowledge, preferences, and barriers (96). Zeffane also concentrates on the potential of Emirati female entrepreneurs (60). Byat and Sultan stress that women have started playing an important role and have become an integral part of the innovative approach employed in the business world of the UAE (104).
The present research will involve an analysis of approximately 80 papers (published in English between 2010 and 2014). These papers will include scholarly journal articles, newspaper and professional magazine articles, reports and briefs of governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as certain governmental acts. The main part of the research will be the Internet based though some materials will be accessed via the university and local libraries.
Articles based on qualitative as well as quantitative research methods will be utilized through the focus will be made on qualitative data. Areas of concern or, in other words, topics discussed in the papers in question will be grouped and analyzed with the help of qualitative research methods (mainly grounded theory). Apart from identifying favorable conditions for and factors affecting the development of female entrepreneurship in the UAE, it will be important to reveal major limitations that characterize the scope of research on the matter.
The following is the timeline of the present research:
Works Cited
Byat, Ahmad Bin and Osman Sultan. The United Arab Emirates: Fostering a Unique Innovation Ecosystem for a Knowledge-Based Economy. The Global Innovation Index. 2014. Web.
Erogul, Murat Sakir. “Social Capital Impediments in the United Arab Emirates: A Case of Emirati Female Entrepreneurship.” Journal of Enterprising Culture 19.3 (2011): 315-339. Print.
Hossan, Chowdhury, Mohammad Parakandi and Hussein Saber. “Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Preferences and Barriers of Female Business Students in the Middle East.” Journal of Business and Policy Research 8.2 (2013): 83-99. Print.
Kargwell, Samia A. “A Comparative Study on Gender and Entrepreneurship Development: Still a Male’s World within UAE Cultural Context.” International Journal of Business and Social Science 3.6 (2012): 44-55. Print.
—. “Women Entrepreneurs Breaking Through: Push and Pull within UAE Cultural Context.” International Journal of Business and Social Science 3.17 (2012): 122-131. Print.
Manar, Abu Talib, El Barachi May, Khelifi Adel, Obaid Hanadi and Sultan Ayesha. “Towards a Women’s Entrepreneurship Century: The UAE Case Study.” European, Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Conference on Information Systems. 2012. Web.
Zeffane, Rachid. “Gender and Youth Entrepreneurial Potential: Evidence from the United Arab Emirates.” International Journal of Business and Management 8.1 (2013): 60-72. Print.