Drivers of global e-commerce business ventures among international business graduates

Abstract

Global e-commerce has become a transformative force in modern economies, offering opportunities for international trade, innovation, and entrepreneurial ventures. This study investigates the key drivers motivating international business graduates to pursue e-commerce business ventures, focusing on the skills, knowledge, and resources essential for success. Utilizing a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with international business graduates engaged in e-commerce. The findings reveal that technological advancements, consumer behavior shifts, and global market dynamics significantly influence graduates' decisions. Key enablers include enhanced access to digital platforms, practical entrepreneurial education, and mentorship opportunities, while barriers such as limited resources and regulatory complexities pose challenges. The study emphasizes the need for academic programs to integrate practical e-commerce training and foster industry collaborations to equip graduates with the skills required to navigate the evolving digital marketplace. While the research provides valuable insights, its scope is limited by the small, localized sample size, which restricts generalizability. Future studies could expand on these findings by exploring diverse contexts and long-term impacts of educational interventions. This research contributes to the literature on entrepreneurship and e-commerce, offering actionable recommendations for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to support the next generation of e-commerce entrepreneurs.