1. A Study to understand the impact of Social Media on Virtual Entrepreneurial Venture with reference to KnowledgeOman
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty
Mr. Salim Al Rashdi
Mr. Abdul Rahman Al-Naafie
Ibra College of Technology
Sultanate of Oman

2. Contents Abstract Introduction Objective Background Literature Review
Methodology
Findings, Analysis, Interpretations
Proposed Interventions
Conclusion
Bibliography
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

3. Abstract
Social entrepreneurship and social media are like brothers and sisters of the same family. Social entrepreneurship venture solely with a not for profit motto are generally targeting their offerings to a wide range of stakeholders, notably the society. Social media has given new dimension to organizational promotion and communication not only to make their presence felt and cut across the communication clutter, but also for leveraging the strength of this powerful tool. The intertwined relationship between the two siblings is often neglected owing to various reasons. The paper makes an attempt to understand the linkage by focusing on the operational model of a social entrepreneurial venture like KnowledgeOman, the leading knowledge transfer initiative in the Sultanate of Oman, along with the organizations usage of social media tools and techniques in line with their vision of making Oman a knowledge driven society.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

4. Introduction Entrepreneurs –Societal and National Backbone.
Social Entrepreneurship Vs. Business Entrepreneurship.
Social Entrepreneurship for profit and not for profit cause(Dees, 1998)
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

5. Objective
To understand the operating model of social entrepreneurial venture.
To study the functioning of a virtual socially focused volunteer organization.
To understand the importance of social media on a social entrepreneurial venture.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

6. Background
KnowledgeOman(KO) founded by Omani IT wonder boy, Mr. Tariq Al Barwani.
KO Vision, Mission in line with His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said’s vision of metamorphosing Oman into a Knowledge based Society.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

7. Background (Continued)
2008 saw the humble beginning.
For the community, by the community.
From a thread disseminating knowledge to the leading Societal Knowledge based initiative.
Local, Regional and Global awards as recognition for KO.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

8. Snapshot of Literature Review
Social entrepreneurs collaborate and work together for stakeholders like society(Ashoka, 2013)
Social entrepreneurs isn’t satisfied only with fish and the teaching how to fish, their objective lies in revolutionizing the fishing industry (OPB,2005)
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

9. Methodology Secondary data generated through Facebook, Twitter.
Virtual Communication between the volunteers.
Primary data through convenience sampling generated in the virtual mode.
Data analysis and Interpretation
Proposed Interventions.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

10. Findings, Analysis, Interpretations
Data analysis revealed the information in subsequent slides.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

11. Inorganic Reach of the Content posted in the Facebook page of KO from January 2013 to August 2013
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

12. Posts visibility in the Facebook page of KO from January 2013 to April 2013
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

13. Comparison of followers of KO in Twitter and Facebook from January 2013 to April 2013
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

14. Analysis of the data generated from the Facebook page of KO for the period from 1/12/2013 to 7/12/2013
(1) Page likes- The total page likes for KO went up to 6,036, a minuscule 0.1% reach from last week. It had 5 new page likes, which again came down by 70.6% vis-à-vis that of last week.
(2) Post reach- A total reach of 1261, which came down by 65.5% from last week. The post reach within the period under study was 1,170, which came down by 66.1%.
(3) Engagement- 190 people were engaged which was 52% lower, with 96 likes, 8 comments, 2 shares and 758 post clicks.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

15. Beneficiaries opinion about the Facebook page of KO
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

16. Respondents opinion about the Facebook page and Twitter account of KO
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

17. Respondents opinion about the website of KO
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

18. Proposed Interventions
Serial Number
Proposed Interventions
Reasons for the proposed interventions 1.
The look and feel of the website should be improved.
Blending audio-visuals with static picture of the major happening would increase the dynamism of the website. 2.
Twitter can be an independent account from the facebook page
The separation of twitter contents from the page is a necessity as replication of content may lead to loss of audiences, especially those who prefer different social mediums. 3.
Corporate message should be scribbled in all the sources
The corporate message should be a part of all communication as it serves to align the offerings with the vision and mission of the organization. 4.
Need for enhanced participation and interactivity
KO being a social entrepreneurial venture through the virtual mode, there is an increased need of increasing the participation and interactivity of the audience to derive more learning.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

19. Conclusion
Social media the fulcrum for volunteer based virtual social entrepreneurial.
The power of social media is immense.
Periodical analysis of the data would reveal the direction the organization is heading to vis-à-vis the social media tools being used.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie

20. Bibliography
(1) Gregory Dees. (1998). The Meaning of “Social Entrepreneurship”. Available: Last accessed 10th December 2013.
(2) Knowledge Oman. (2008). Home Page. Available: Last accessed 10th of December 2013.
(3) Ashoka, Innovators for the public. (2013). What is a Social Entrepreneur? Available: Last accessed 10th of December 2013.
(4) OPB. (2005). What is Social Entrepreneurship? Available: Last accessed 10th of December 2013.
(5) Shapelo, A;Sokol,L. (1982). The Social Dimensions of Entrepreneurship. SSRN, Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship. 11 (3), p72-90.
(6) Aldrich, H;Zimmer,C . (1986). Entrepreneurship Through Social Networks. SSRN--Champaign's Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership Historical Research Reference in Entrepreneurship. 2 (3), p54-67.
(7) Haugh, H. (2005). A research agenda for social entrepreneurship. Emerald Group Publishing Limited. 1 (1), P1-12.
(8) Correa,T;Hinsley,A;Zuniga,H. (2010). Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use. Computers in Human Behavior. 26 (2), p
(9) KnowledgeOman in facebook. (2008). Facts about Facebook. Available: Last accessed 10th of December 2013.
(10) (2008). KnowledgeOman Twitter. Available: Last accessed 10th December 2013.
(11) Chakraborty,M;Aoudia,R;Rashdi,S. (2013). A Case Study on Community Entrepreneurship with reference to KnowledgeOman. In: Miryala, R. Changing Paradigms of Rural Management. India: Zenon Publishing. p72-85.
2/23/2019
Dr. Manishankar Chakraborty, Mr. Salim Al Rashdi, Mr. Abdul Rahman Al Naafie