scholarly journals SOCIAL COMPETENCE AND ACCESS TO FINANCE IN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN UGANDA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-70
Author(s):  
Nixon Kamukama

Purpose: The paper examined the mediating effect of innovation in the relationship between social competence and access to finance by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. The major aim was to establish the role of innovation in the relationship between social competence and access to finance. Methodology: The research took a positivist paradigm and a cross-sectional research design were used to collect data from 307 SMEs in Uganda. Close-ended and self-administered questionnaire with question items anchored on a five-point Likert-type scale was used to collect data from either managers or owner of SMEs. Pearson correlation and Hierarchical regression analyses were employed for data analysis. More so, the study adopted MedGraph program, Sobel tests, Kenny, and Baron Approach to test for mediation effects. Findings: The findings indicated that the true drivers of access to finance by SMEs in Uganda are social competence and innovation. However, innovation exhibits partial form of mediation in the relationship between social competence and access to finance.    Unit Contribution to practice and policy: Since innovation was found to be a causal chain in the relation between social competence and access to finance in this study, managers of the SMEs should endeavor to reinforce agents of innovation since commercial institutions trade off higher interest and lower collateral requirements for firms involved in the innovative process. Besides, this study can therefore reinforce the importance to foster academic achievement not only because of academic and learning reasons, but also because of its implications in other important domains (such as social competence) of young generation development along the school years. The government of Uganda can therefore, introduce some subjects in schools and institutions that can promote the development of social competences in the learning group. Study Limitation: First, only a single research methodological approach was employed and future research through interviews could be undertaken to triangulate. More so, future studies could use the same basic hypotheses and regression construction, but implement the study in terms of a longitudinal rather than a cross-sectional design. The longitudinal study would need to correct changes in data relative to time element. Keywords: Social Competence, Innovation, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Mediating effect, Access to Finance.

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doreen Musimenta ◽  
Stephen Korutaro Nkundabanyanga ◽  
Moses Muhwezi ◽  
Brenda Akankunda ◽  
Irene Nalukenge

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between tax fairness, isomorphic forces, strategic responses and tax compliance in Ugandan small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach This is a correlational and cross-sectional study using two respondent types, the demand (represented by the tax collecting body respondents) and supply (represented by SME respondents) sides of tax compliance, to examine perceived tax compliance in Uganda’s SMEs. Findings Tax fairness, isomorphic forces and strategic responses have a predictive force on tax compliance. Significant mediation effects of tax fairness and also strategic responses are found. The two respondent types perceive the study variables differently – providing an understanding of why the tax compliance puzzle has remained a burgeoning concern. For example, the tax-collecting body respondents perceived more tax fairness than SME respondents, suggesting that perceived tax fairness depends on whose “lenses” you look through. Research limitations/implications Rather than focussing only on the importance of the rational analytical deliberation of tax fairness by taxpayers in influencing their tax compliance, the current paper shows that in addition, isomorphic forces and strategic responses establish the basis for understanding taxpayers’ compliance. Originality/value The methodology that enlists two respondent types, i.e. the supply side of tax compliance and the demand side of tax compliance, probably offers a unique way of deriving better results than previous studies.


Author(s):  
Juliansyah Noor ◽  
Musa Alkadhim Alhabshy ◽  
Mohd Rafi Bin Yaacob

This research aims to evaluate the link between human resource practices (HRPs) and innovation with mediating effect of entrepreneurial creativity. This research uses the hierarchical analysis to examine data collected from entrepreneurs running 172 small and medium enterprises. The results show that (a) HRPs have a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial creativity; (b) HRPs have statistically significant impact on innovation. These results provide empirical evidence that entrepreneurial creativity mediates the relationship between HRPs and innovation. Also, the findings provide evidence that the mediating role of entrepreneurial creativity causes improving employees' innovation. Also, the findings provide evidence that the mediating role of entrepreneurial creativity cause improving employees' innovation. By providing a cross-sectional examination of our model, we showed that HRPs and entrepreneurial creativity are of essence in shaping an innovative context. A comprehensive view on the triggers and outcomes of entrepreneurial creativity and innovation are needed, as the traditional unidirectional cause-effect rationale short in explaining how these concepts relate to one another and to entrepreneur experiences of HRPs.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Muhamad Marwan

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of networking on SME’s ability to access government financial support through legal channels in Asia Pacific. This study is quantitative in nature in which the data has been gathered from 281 employees and managers working in SMEs through survey questionnaire. The SEM technique was utilised for the purpose of analysing and testing the mediation effect. The study found that there is a partial mediation of government financial support through legal channels among the relationship between networking with officers and access to finance. This study is restricted to the SMEs operating in the region of Asia Pacific.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Dubihlela ◽  
Manilall Roy Dhurup

Expansion, diversification, greater choice, market share, profits and increased competition are the overarching forces that drive organisations to embrace marketing concepts such as market orientation. Various researchers assert that market orientation is a vital marketing concept for the performance of businesses and for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) there are no exceptions. The study examines the relationship of the determinants and barriers to market orientation and the influence of market orientation on business performance among SMEs in a developing country. This cross-sectional study made of a quantitative survey design. The target population comprised 273 owners/managers of SMEs in the Vaal Triangle, South Africa. The results revealed that the determinants of market orientation exhibited a strong influence in market orientation. Market orientation in turn showed strong positive relationship with business performance. Barriers to market orientation showed strong negative relationship with market orientation. The study identified the constructs that foster or discourage market orientation, and the contribution that market orientation can have on business performance for SMEs. SMEs owner/mangers are encouraged to consider the market orientation constructs that positively influences the performance of their businesses.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaista Wasiuzzaman ◽  
Nabila Nurdin ◽  
Aznur Hajar Abdullah ◽  
Gowrie Vinayan

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of inter-firm linkages between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large firms on the relationship between an SME's creditworthiness and its access to finance.Design/methodology/approachSurvey questionnaire was distributed to 456 SMEs in the manufacturing sector in the Selangor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur regions and a total of 145 useable responses were gathered. Investigation into the possible differences in the effect of creditworthiness – and its dimensions – on access to finance for SMEs with and without linkages are examined using Partial Least Squares-Multi Group Analysis (PLS-MGA).FindingsIt is found that the relationship between creditworthiness and access to finance is significant for both SMEs with and without links to large firms. However, no significant difference is found in the effect of creditworthiness on access to finance for both types of SME. Further analysis on the five different dimensions of creditworthiness shows statistically significant differences between SMEs with links and those without for the dimensions of collateral and condition. This implies that alliances formed between SMEs and large firms do not have much of an influence on the overall creditworthiness but do influence the collateral and condition of the SME.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the understanding of the effects of interfirm linkages on SME creditworthiness and access to finance. To the authors' knowledge no such study has been conducted on links between SMEs and large firms, especially in a developing country such as Malaysia.


2022 ◽  
pp. 231971452110685
Author(s):  
Ismail J. Ismail

This study aims to analyze the mediating effect of personality traits in the relationship between entrepreneurial start-up motivations and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) growth. A gap has been identified in the literature, particularly in the indirect association of critical factors that may be beneficial to the growth of SMEs. In this study, a cross-sectional survey design was used because data were collected once in a time. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze data obtained from 367 SMEs’ owners. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial start-up motivations such as a desire for achievement, financial rewards, social recognition and a desire for independence are positively and significantly related to SMEs’ growth. Also, entrepreneurial start-up motivations positively and significantly influence personality traits among entrepreneurs. It was found that there is a significant link between personality traits and the SMEs’ growth. Additionally, the findings indicate that personality traits mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial start-up motivations and SMEs’ growth. The study’s findings have implications for the practices and theories in the entrepreneurship context.


Author(s):  
Semukele H. Mlotshwa ◽  
Jabulile Msimango-Galawe

Background: Several studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between networking and performance, but unfortunately findings have been inconclusive. Nevertheless, networking has been recognised as a vital element for enhancing competitiveness amongst small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of different forms of networking, networking activities and the perceived importance of networking on SME performance.Setting: The study was conducted in South Africa, more specifically on entrepreneurs who have SMEs operating in the Gauteng province.Methods: This was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional research design on a sample size of 304. Multiple linear regression was employed as the core statistical technique to analyse the primary data.Results: It was evident that the more value entrepreneurs put on networking, the lesser their businesses performed, as the relationship became negative. However, the more they got involved in networking activities and maintained the relationships, the better their businesses performed. It was interesting to note that social, business and managerial network forms emerged as one form of networking, which we have named business networking. However, the importance and maintenance of networks were very distinct as networks were valued higher than what we saw from the maintenance and participation in networking.Conclusion: The study does not suggest that networking is irrelevant. However, it argues that this might be reflecting the risk of overvaluing networks. It is evident that networking influences performance of SMEs irrespective of whether it is social, business or managerial.


Author(s):  
Seemant Kumar Yadav ◽  
Vikas Tripathi ◽  
Geetika Goel

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of market orientation on performance and to figure out the mediator effect of incremental innovation on this relationship with an implementation on Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach Following a survey among 333 owners/managers of SMEs in Indian, six research propositions were framed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and regression analysis was used for the purpose of data analysis. Findings The outcome of the study demonstrates a significant effect of market orientation on SMEs performance. In addition, the mediating effect of innovation between market orientation and business performance was not supported in the context. Research limitations/implications This study uses cross-sectional research, which limits the ability to test the causality; hence, such studies should be replicated in other settings also to get more evidences about the relationship. Practical implications The research will help managers especially in manufacturing SMEs of developing countries to understand benefits of being market-oriented to improve performance. Originality/value The study attempts to enrich the market orientation literature especially in developing economies. It identifies the significant effect of interfunctional coordination on performance of small and medium enterprises working in more volatile environment. Further, the study also examines mediating role of innovation between market orientation and performance linkage.


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