The Role of Entrepreneurial Agility in Enhancing the Entrepreneurial Intentions of Generation Z Womenpreneurs: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24256/kharaj.v7i4.8769Keywords:
entrepreneurial agility, entrepreneurial intention, womenpreneurs, generation zAbstract
This study aims to examine the role of entrepreneurial agility (EA) in enhancing the entrepreneurial intentions of Generation Z womenpreneurs through theoretical perspectives and recent empirical evidence. In the rapidly evolving digital economy, entrepreneurs are required to adapt to market changes, manage uncertainty, and effectively capitalize on emerging opportunities. EA serves as a key capability that drives these abilities, especially for a generation that has grown up closely with technology. This study employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method using the PRISMA 2020 protocol, with literature searches conducted through the Scopus and Google Scholar databases over the past five years, yielding a total of 244 articles (Scopus = 44 articles from 2020–2025 and Google Scholar = 200 articles from 2020–2025). The SLR findings indicate that Generation Z women possess substantial potential to develop digital-based businesses, yet they still face obstacles such as limited experience, fear of failure, and gender disparities. In this context, EA emerges as a determining factor that can enhance confidence, risk-taking readiness, and resilience in navigating business dynamics. Thus, strengthening EA is not only theoretically relevant but also practically essential to support the development of young womenpreneurs in the digital economy era.
References
Balachandra, L. (2020). How gender biases drive venture capital decision-making: exploring the gender funding gap. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 35(3), 261–273. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-11-2019-0222
Bullough, A., Guelich, U., Manolova, T. S., & Schjoedt, L. (2021). Women’s entrepreneurship and culture: gender role expectations and identities, societal culture, and the entrepreneurial environment. Small Business Economics 2021 58:2, 58(2), 985–996. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11187-020-00429-6
Cueto, L. J., Frisnedi, A. F. D., Collera, R. B., Batac, K. I. T., & Agaton, C. B. (2022). Digital Innovations in MSMEs during Economic Disruptions: Experiences and Challenges of Young Entrepreneurs. Administrative Sciences, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci12010008
Dabić, M., Maley, J. F., Švarc, J., & Poček, J. (2023). Future of digital work: Challenges for sustainable human resources management. Journal of Innovation and Knowledge, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2023.100353
Dheer, R. J. S., & Castrogiovanni, G. J. (2023). Cognitive adaptability’s impact on entrepreneurial intent: The mediating roles of entrepreneurial passion and efficacy. Journal of Business Research, 160, 113798. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JBUSRES.2023.113798
Drydakis, N. (2022). Improving Entrepreneurs’ Digital Skills and Firms’ Digital Competencies through Business Apps Training: A Study of Small Firms. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084417
Goncalves, D., Bergquist, M., Bunk, R., & Alänge, S. (2020). Cultural aspects of organizational agility affecting digital innovation. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 16(4), 13–46. https://doi.org/10.7341/20201641
Hasan, M., Supatminingsih, T., Thamrin Tahir, M. I., & Said Ahmad, M. I. (2025). Entrepreneurship education in higher education: Can we create entrepreneurial readiness through the power of agility in Generation Z students? The International Journal of Management Education, 23(3), 101264. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJME.2025.101264
Hindrawati, G., Dhewanto, W., & Dellyana, D. (2023). Does Innovative Millennial Entrepreneurship have a role in fostering cyber learning on business performance? A perspective of entrepreneurial agility. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 24(4), 219–232. https://doi.org/10.1177/14657503211066011;CTYPE:STRING:JOURNAL
Imjai, N., Promma, W., Usman, B., & Aujirapongpan, S. (2024). The intertwined effects of digital literacy, agile mindset on design thinking skill and management control competency: Insights from Thai young accountants. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights, 4(2), 100244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjimei.2024.100244
Isaga, N. (2019). Start-up motives and challenges facing female entrepreneurs in Tanzania. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 11(2), 102–119. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-02-2018-0010/FULL/XML
Jiao, Y., Zhu, R., Fu, J., Li, X., & Wang, Y. (2024). Functional heterogeneity in digital entrepreneurial teams and pivoting: the role of digital agility. Business Process Management Journal, 30(7), 2303–2328. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-03-2024-0148
Kang, G. L., Park, C. W., & Jang, S. H. (2024). A Study on the Impact of Financial Literacy and Digital Capabilities on Entrepreneurial Intention: Mediating Effect of Entrepreneurship. Behavioral Sciences 2024, Vol. 14, Page 121, 14(2), 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/BS14020121
Karimi, J., & Walter, Z. (2021). The role of entrepreneurial agility in digital entrepreneurship and creating value in response to digital disruption in the newspaper industry. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(5), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052741
Kroska, A., & Cason, T. C. (2019). The Gender Gap in Business Leadership: Exploring an Affect Control Theory Explanation. Social Psychology Quarterly, 82(1), 75–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/0190272518806292;WEBSITE:WEBSITE:SAGE;WGROUP:STRING:PUBLICATION
Kuvshinikov, P. J., & Kuvshinikov, J. T. (2023). Forecasting entrepreneurial motivations and actions: development and validation of the entrepreneurial trigger scale. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 31(8), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-06-2022-0274/FULL/PDF
Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (2014). Qualitative data analysis 3rd Edition: Sourcebook of Bew Methods. In Beverly Hills: SAGE Publications Inc. (Vol. 1304, pp. 89–92).
OECD, T. E. C. (2023). The Missing Entrepreneurs 2023: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment. OECD Publishing, Paris. https://doi.org/10.1787/230efc78-en
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. The BMJ, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Raharjo, K., Afrianty, T. W., & Prakasa, Y. (2024). Digital literacy and business transformation: social-cognitive learning perspectives in small business enterprises. Cogent Business and Management, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2376282
Sari, S. A., & Ahmad, N. H. (2022). Connecting the Dots: Linking Entrepreneurial Leadership and Strategic Agility towards SME Competitiveness. Vision. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722629221091658;WEBSITE:WEBSITE:SAGE;WGROUP:STRING:PUBLICATION
Secundo, G., De Turi, I., Garzoni, A., Posa, M., & Barile, D. (2025). Unveiling knowledge practices and microfoundations of knowledge-based dynamic capabilities for digital transformation in SMEs through industry–university perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-02-2024-0244/1268823
Soomro, B. A., Lakhan, G. R., Mangi, S., & Shah, N. (2020). Predicting entrepreneurial intention among business students of public sector universities of Pakistan: an application of the entrepreneurial event model. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 16(3), 219–230. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-11-2019-0092
Stephan, U., Zbierowski, P., Pérez-Luño, A., Wach, D., Wiklund, J., Alba Cabañas, M., Barki, E., Benzari, A., Bernhard-Oettel, C., Boekhorst, J. A., Dash, A., Efendic, A., Eib, C., Hanard, P. J., Iakovleva, T., Kawakatsu, S., Khalid, S., Leatherbee, M., Li, J., … Zahid, M. M. (2023). Act or Wait-and-See? Adversity, Agility, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing across Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 47(3), 682–723. https://doi.org/10.1177/10422587221104820;PAGE:STRING:ARTICLE/CHAPTER
Swaramarinda, D. R., Isa, B. Bin, Puruwita, D., Faslah, R., Arfiando Sebayang, K. D., & Adha, M. A. (2025). Preparing vocational students for the digital economy: Exploring the role of digital literacy, entrepreneurial agility, and digital entrepreneurship education. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 12(April). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101926
Uthaileang, W., & Kiattisin, S. (2023). Developing the capability of digital financial literacy in developing countries: A Case of online loan for small entrepreneurs. Heliyon, 9(12), e21961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21961
Varshney, D. (2020). Digital Transformation and Creation of an Agile Workforce: Exploring Company Initiatives and Employee Attitudes. In Contemporary Global Issues in Human Resource Management (pp. 89–105). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-392-220201009
Wang, Y., Zhou, H., Zhang, Y., & Sun, X. R. (2022). Role of Entrepreneurial Behavior in Achieving Sustainable Digital Economy. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 829289. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPUBH.2022.829289/BIBTEX
Wardana, L. W., Ahmad, Indrawati, A., Maula, F. I., Mahendra, A. M., Fatihin, M. K., Rahma, A., Nafisa, A. F., Putri, A. A., & Narmaditya, B. S. (2023). Do digital literacy and business sustainability matter for creative economy? The role of entrepreneurial attitude. Heliyon, 9(1), e12763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12763
Zhang, J., Huang, J., & Ye, S. (2024). The impact of career adaptability on college students’ entrepreneurial intentions: a moderated mediation effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and gender. Current Psychology, 43(5), 4638–4653. https://doi.org/10.1007/S12144-023-04632-Y/METRICS
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Citation Check
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ericha Tiara Hutamy, Muhammad Hasan, Inanna

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. In line with the license, authors are allowed to share and adapt the material. In addition, the material must be given appropriate credit, provided with a link to the license, and indicated if changes were made. If authors remix, transform or build upon the material, authors must distribute their contributions under the same license as the original.







