Moderating Effect of Information and Communication Technology Tools on the Relationship Between Networking Services and Incubator Success

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to explore the moderating effect of information and communication technology tools on the relationship between networking services and business incubator (BI) success in Palestine. Business incubators are considered to offer important guidance that can help young firms to survive during their early stages. Many developing countries are currently suffering from a critical economic situation, especially Arab countries where the unemployment rate is very high and the gross domestic product is very low compared to developed countries. Many success models have been proposed to measure the success of business incubators (BIs) in developed and developing countries. Also, many studies have examined the impact of ICT tools on economic and business development, but very few have been conducted in Palestine. Therefore, this study investigates the role of networking services as a critical success factor in the performance of BIs in Palestine, and also determines whether ICT tools moderate the relationship between networking services and BI success because it has been argued that ICT tools facilitate economic growth by accelerating knowledge sharing and increase the new product development activities and competition in the marketplace. This study adopted a descriptive survey consisting of six main stages that were administrated in 22 incubators to 79 incubator managers, team members and experts in Palestine. The results show that networking services were one of the important factors that are affecting the incubator success in Palestine, and the ICT tools moderate the relationship between networking services and incubator success.