Critical success factors for sustainable entrepreneurship in Pakistani Telecommunications industry: a hybrid grey systems theory/ best-worst method approach
ISSN: 0025-1747
Article publication date: 2 June 2020
Issue publication date: 11 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This study focuses on the Critical Success Factors (CSF) for developing sustainable entrepreneurship in the Pakistani telecommunication industry. Despite the efforts made by governments and stakeholders to stimulate sustainable entrepreneurship initiatives, contributions in the telecommunications sector are lacking. Therefore, this study has the major objective of identifying a transformation path for these firms. This is done by providing a theoretical framework for sustainable entrepreneurship in the telecommunications industry, focusing on managerial and operational practices that should be modified according to a set of CSFs identified by experts in Pakistani firms.
Design/methodology/approach
This article proposes a novel Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM) approach based on Grey Systems Theory (GST) and Best-Worst Method (BWM) while unveiling endogenous relationships among current managerial/operational practices and the CSFs for sustainable entrepreneurship in the telecommunications industry.
Findings
CSFs for achieving sustainable entrepreneurship in the Pakistani telecommunications industry were found to rely on a tripod, based on effectiveness, transparency, and accountability that are embedded within the ambit of managerial and operational practices, such as focusing and reducing digital illiteracy, targeting poor communities, helping the young in structuring start-ups.
Originality/value
This article contributes to the MADM research stream by proposing a novel use of the BWM technique based on GST to promote sustainable entrepreneurship CSFs in Pakistani telecommunications firms.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We are sincerely grateful to Mr. Syed Mazhar Hussain—Chairman Human Resource Management, Mr. Hammad Munir Khattak—Regional Revenue Officer, Mr. Asad Saleem—Area Manager Consumer Sales, PTCL Pakistan, for their assistance in collecting the data and conducting face-to-face depth discussions seeking out eminent factors prompting Telecom Industry. This study would not have been promising without their managerial recommendations, which not only made progress for completing this article, but contributed to our profundity learning. Disclosure statement: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Citation
Muhammad Muneeb, F., Karbassi Yazdi, A., Wanke, P., Yiyin, C. and Chughtai, M. (2020), "Critical success factors for sustainable entrepreneurship in Pakistani Telecommunications industry: a hybrid grey systems theory/ best-worst method approach", Management Decision, Vol. 58 No. 11, pp. 2565-2591. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-08-2019-1133
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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