{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7225238784","doi":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","title":"Characteristics of Innovative Digital Technology Entrepreneurship in South Africa: Case of KwaZulu-Natal","display_name":"Characteristics of Innovative Digital Technology Entrepreneurship in South Africa: Case of KwaZulu-Natal","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-11-04","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7225238784","doi":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","doi":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210197987","display_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem and Strategy (2687-2293)","issn_l":"2687-2293","issn":["2687-2293"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)","raw_type":"journal-article"},"volume":null,"type":"article","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"diamond","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","any_repository_has_fulltext":false},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5093215427","display_name":"Nonophela Buhle Mvakwendlu","orcid":null,"observed_orcids":[]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I177181097","display_name":"Durban University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/0303y7a51","country_code":"ZA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I177181097"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Nonophela Buhle Mvakwendlu","raw_affiliation_strings":["Durban University of Technology"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7467-6116","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Durban University of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I177181097"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5013776598","display_name":"Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9104-963X","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9104-963X"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I177181097","display_name":"Durban University of Technology","ror":"https://ror.org/0303y7a51","country_code":"ZA","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I177181097"]}],"countries":["ZA"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Lawrence Mpele Lekhanya","raw_affiliation_strings":["Durban University of Technology"],"raw_orcid":null,"affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Durban University of Technology","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I177181097"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":1,"corresponding_author_ids":[],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I177181097"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.89139658,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":"8","issue":"6","first_page":"59","last_page":"71"},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10058","display_name":"Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences","score":0.9976000189781189,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1405","display_name":"Management of Technology and Innovation"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/14","display_name":"Business, Management and Accounting"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10058","display_name":"Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences","score":0.9976000189781189,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1405","display_name":"Management of Technology and Innovation"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/14","display_name":"Business, Management and Accounting"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T12693","display_name":"Migration, Ethnicity, and Economy","score":0.0007999999797903001,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3312","display_name":"Sociology and Political Science"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T13053","display_name":"SMEs Development and Digital Marketing","score":0.0005000000237487257,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3317","display_name":"Demography"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/33","display_name":"Social Sciences"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/2","display_name":"Social Sciences"}}],"keywords":[],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C84309077","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3908516","display_name":"Entrepreneurship","level":2,"score":0.772599995136261},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C105776082","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q617473","display_name":"Likert scale","level":2,"score":0.6877999901771545},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C165696696","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11287","display_name":"Exploit","level":2,"score":0.574400007724762},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780598303","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65921492","display_name":"Flexibility (engineering)","level":2,"score":0.5602999925613403},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C126082660","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4252370","display_name":"Digital transformation","level":2,"score":0.5123999714851379},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C162853370","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39809","display_name":"Marketing","level":1,"score":0.5095999836921692},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C198531522","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485146","display_name":"Sample (material)","level":2,"score":0.4699999988079071},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C144133560","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4830453","display_name":"Business","level":0,"score":0.45719999074935913},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778755073","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10858537","display_name":"Scale (ratio)","level":2,"score":0.3871000111103058},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C133462117","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4929239","display_name":"Data collection","level":2,"score":0.36660000681877136},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C192314503","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q780705","display_name":"Digital native","level":2,"score":0.33799999952316284},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2985879086","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1061910","display_name":"Technology transfer","level":2,"score":0.3346000015735626},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C50522688","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189833","display_name":"Economic growth","level":1,"score":0.32690000534057617},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778000738","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1005490","display_name":"Self-employment","level":3,"score":0.3109000027179718},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121017731","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11661","display_name":"Information technology","level":2,"score":0.3019999861717224},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C67363961","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5268834","display_name":"Information and Communications Technology","level":2,"score":0.3010999858379364},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C83864248","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q177323","display_name":"Developing country","level":2,"score":0.3009999990463257},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C127413603","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11023","display_name":"Engineering","level":0,"score":0.29490000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C73945780","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q814232","display_name":"Survey methodology","level":2,"score":0.2879999876022339},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779082914","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817245","display_name":"Social entrepreneurship","level":3,"score":0.28279998898506165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C207267971","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120208","display_name":"Emerging technologies","level":2,"score":0.2824000120162964},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C140779682","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q210868","display_name":"Sampling (signal processing)","level":3,"score":0.26589998602867126},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C56739046","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192060","display_name":"Knowledge management","level":1,"score":0.2639999985694885},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C28129649","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q926217","display_name":"Microfinance","level":2,"score":0.2563999891281128},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2988118331","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q276099","display_name":"Technology development","level":2,"score":0.2563000023365021},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C203043789","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138461","display_name":"Digital economy","level":2,"score":0.25609999895095825},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C39549134","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133080","display_name":"Public relations","level":1,"score":0.2547000050544739},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C198327121","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7410163","display_name":"Sampling frame","level":3,"score":0.2515000104904175}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","doi":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210197987","display_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem and Strategy (2687-2293)","issn_l":"2687-2293","issn":["2687-2293"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)","raw_type":"journal-article"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","doi":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.36096/ijbes.v8i6.1439","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4210197987","display_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem and Strategy (2687-2293)","issn_l":"2687-2293","issn":["2687-2293"],"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":[],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"journal"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"publishedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":true,"raw_source_name":"International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293)","raw_type":"journal-article"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":[],"abstract_inverted_index":{"This":[0,226],"study":[1,158,200,255],"examines":[2],"entrepreneurial":[3,26,222,270],"characteristics":[4,18,193,271],"of":[5,30,66,87,140,213,221,237,249,266],"innovative":[6,36,195,214,259],"digital":[7,37,49,68,122,161,196,215,243,260,281],"technology":[8,123,197,216,234],"entrepreneurship":[9,124,217],"in":[10,20,39,153,163,168,181,246,274],"Kwa-Zulu":[11],"Natal,":[12],"for":[13,92,129,148],"survival":[14,178],"and":[15,25,54,137,151,165,179,224,235,240,269],"growth.":[16],"These":[17],"are":[19,208],"two":[21],"folds:":[22],"personal":[23],"traits":[24],"behaviour.":[27],"The":[28,199],"purpose":[29],"these":[31,182],"objective":[32],"is":[33,125,144,218],"to":[34,46,62,82,188,210,229,231,242,276,279],"address":[35],"SMEs":[38,162],"South":[40,154,169,250],"Africa":[41,170],"who":[42],"often":[43],"either":[44],"struggle":[45],"effectively":[47],"use":[48],"systems":[50],"such":[51],"as":[52],"computers":[53],"software\u2019s,":[55],"or":[56],"they":[57,272],"completely":[58],"lack":[59,220,236],"adequate":[60],"skills":[61,268],"exploit":[63],"the":[64,67,135,157,177,204,211,219,232,258,280],"benefits":[65],"technology.":[69],"A":[70],"quantitative":[71],"research":[72],"approach":[73],"was":[74,115],"adopted,":[75],"while":[76,112],"using":[77,98,107,117],"a":[78,84,99,108,141],"non-probability":[79],"sampling":[80],"technique":[81],"achieve":[83],"sample":[85],"size":[86],"179":[88],"excluding":[89],"10":[90],"participants":[91],"pilot":[93],"study.":[94],"Data":[95],"were":[96],"collected":[97],"self-administered,":[100],"closed-ended":[101],"questionnaire,":[102],"with":[103],"predetermined":[104],"answers":[105],"scaled":[106],"5-point":[109],"Likert":[110],"scale,":[111],"data":[113],"analysis":[114],"conducted":[116],"SPSS":[118],"(version":[119],"29.0).":[120],"Innovative":[121],"becoming":[126],"recognised":[127],"worldwide":[128],"its":[130],"significant":[131,172],"positive":[132],"impact":[133],"on":[134],"economic":[136,149],"social":[138],"growth":[139,150,180],"country.":[142],"It":[143],"an":[145],"important":[146],"driver":[147],"development":[152],"Africa.":[155,251],"Nevertheless,":[156],"found":[159,202],"that":[160,174,203,207,257],"undeveloped":[164],"small":[166],"communities":[167],"have":[171],"constraints":[173],"affect":[175],"both":[176],"regions.":[183],"Thus,":[184],"this":[185,253,254],"paper":[186],"aims":[187],"identify":[189],"key":[190],"areas":[191,248],"whereentrepreneurial":[192],"impacts":[194],"entrepreneurship.":[198],"also":[201],"primary":[205],"factors":[206],"contributing":[209],"failure":[212],"passion":[223],"intention.":[225],"involves":[227],"willingness":[228],"adapt":[230,277],"ever-changing":[233],"technical":[238,267],"adequacy":[239],"flexibility":[241],"transformation":[244],"especially":[245],"underdeveloped":[247],"Hence,":[252],"recommends":[256],"entrepreneurs":[261],"must":[262],"elevate":[263],"their":[264],"level":[265],"possess":[273],"order":[275],"quickly":[278],"transformation.":[282]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-05T12:25:35.769452","created_date":"2026-11-05T00:00:00"}