Identification of Digital Entrepreneurship Indicators in Iranian International Companies: A Meta-Synthesis Approach

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify the indicators of digital entrepreneurship in Iranian international companies using a meta-synthesis approach. In terms of purpose, this research is an applied developmental study. To identify the research categories, qualitative meta-synthesis analysis was employed. In the qualitative stage, a systematic search was conducted in reputable domestic and international databases. The time frame of the search covered the years 2015 to 2025 (Gregorian Calendar). In this process, a total of 71 preliminary studies on digital entrepreneurship in Iranian international companies were identified. After the initial screening based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 66 studies were selected through purposive sampling and included in the analysis phase. The CASP model was used to examine the validity of the qualitative section. Based on the results, 47 subcategories were obtained, which, upon conceptualization, yielded 15 main categories: core capabilities, personality competencies, related behaviors, collaboration and team interaction, collective innovation, digital group leadership, networking and collaboration with the digital ecosystem, information technologies and virtual infrastructures, managerial innovations, digital business models, innovative leadership in the digital world, digital infrastructures, governmental policies and regulations, enhancement of individual skills, and the digital space and online customers. The findings indicate that in the process of digital entrepreneurship in Iranian international companies, leadership and management capabilities are recognized as a key indicator, highlighting the critical role of leaders in guiding digital transformation and fostering an innovation culture. Next in importance are digital security infrastructures, underscoring the need to protect data security and maintain user trust in the digital environment. Additionally, software infrastructures and platforms are ranked third as the primary foundations for executing digital processes, reflecting the necessity for stable and scalable technological systems. Technical capabilities, ranked fourth, emphasize the significance of specialized skills in leveraging modern technologies. Finally, artificial intelligence and machine learning, ranked fifth, signify the inclination toward employing advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, prediction, and intelligent decision-making in the digital entrepreneurship environment. This hierarchy of priorities represents a comprehensive approach that considers managerial, infrastructural, and technological aspects in facilitating the success of digital entrepreneurship.