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1 – 4 of 4Hojops J.P. Odoch, Rehema Namono and Gorden Wofuma
Scientific knowledge is rich with literature on the antecedent role of social capital on resilience. However, empirical evidence has overlooked the role of the individual…
Abstract
Purpose
Scientific knowledge is rich with literature on the antecedent role of social capital on resilience. However, empirical evidence has overlooked the role of the individual dimensions of bonding and bridging social capital on its outcomes. This study aims to extend empirical research on the influence of social capital facets of bonding social capital and bridging social capital on financial resilience and more specifically in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic where women SMEs mostly need bonding.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses an explanatory research design to determine the hypothesized effect of social capital on financial resilience. The authors used regression to test the hypothesized relationship using a sample of three hundred and eight four women-owned SMEs in Kampala registered with Kampala City Traders Association.
Findings
According to the findings, the social bonding provides female entrepreneurs with emotive encouragement and inspiration through personal connections and responsibility sharing. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs bridging, which consisted of business networks, made it easier for them to identify new financial opportunities, which ultimately led to an increase in their financial resilience. The findings placed an emphasis on the significance of fellow business owners as sources of knowledge and assets that are crucial to maintaining one's financial resilience.
Research limitations/implications
Data were collected from women owned SMEs, and the application of the findings may be limited to women SMEs in Kampala District. Therefore, future research should replicate the current study findings using a sample drawn from other SMEs owned by both male and female from outside Kampala because of changes in operating environment. The study was cross-sectional, and financial resilience of a firm changes was periodical. This study paves the way for future longitudinal research in the same topic area, which will allow for a more complete comprehension of the financial resiliency of SMEs throughout a range of different time periods.
Practical implications
Research findings shape trajectory for current practitioners of SMEs to establish relevant social bonding and bridging as social capital in preparation for financial resilience in case of any pandemic.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to establish the antecedent role of social capital on financial resilience during an economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, using a sample of women-owned medium- and small-sized businesses in Kampala.
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Gorden Wofuma, Rehema Namono, Williams Munobe and Emmanuel Isiagi
Takaful insurance is gaining increasing popularity worldwide. However, the takaful industry is relatively new in Uganda and its research is still in embryonic stages. This study…
Abstract
Purpose
Takaful insurance is gaining increasing popularity worldwide. However, the takaful industry is relatively new in Uganda and its research is still in embryonic stages. This study aimed at exploring the contextual determinants for the uptake of takaful insurance in Uganda, a minority Muslim country.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a sequential exploratory mixed research design using qualitative and quantitative approaches and drawing data from the managers of insurance companies and a section of potential customers of takaful products in Uganda. The qualitative data were analysed using content analysis to determine the emerging themes, whereas quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics.
Findings
The findings revealed that informational, individual personality and demographic factors influences the customer’s choice to select takaful products in Uganda. The authors concluded that focusing on informational besides, individual personality and demographic factors would enhance the uptake of takaful insurance in a minority Muslim country like Uganda.
Research limitations/implications
This study was limited to establishing and classifying the contextual determinants of takaful insurance without establishing the degree by which each of the determinants especially informational, demographic and individual personality explains the penetration of takaful insurance. Hence, future studies can examine the causal relationship between each of the three highlighted determinants on the penetration of takaful insurance in the context of minority Muslim countries.
Practical implications
The study contributes to the insurance industry players and the insurance regulator in understanding the respective customers needs for them to subscribe to takaful products.
Originality/value
This study presents an opportunity to understand the takaful or Islamic insurance market in Uganda by exploring the factors that can determine the subscription of takaful products in the country.
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Hojops J.P. Odoch, Barbara N. Kayondo, Robinah Nabafu and Gorden Wofuma
The contemporary changes in learning institutions, such as new teaching methods like online teaching that emerged as a result of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic…
Abstract
Purpose
The contemporary changes in learning institutions, such as new teaching methods like online teaching that emerged as a result of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, require higher education institutions to activate employee creative behaviour to thrive. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a disruptor and catalyst for traditional teaching methods in universities, leading to the introduction of new teaching methods, which underscores the urgency of creativity research to generate new ideas for work execution. Despite the dynamic education environment that has resulted in new work practices that necessitate creativity, little empirical research stimulating creativity in higher institutions of learning following a pandemic has been done. This research seeks to determine the role of self-efficacy in enhancing creativity and the various types of creativity.
Design/methodology/approach
An explanatory research methodology was used to investigate the hypothetical influence of self-efficacy on creativity.
Findings
The findings of the study reveal that self-efficacy significantly enhances the different dimensions of creative behaviour. However, the magnitude of the influence varies significantly among the three categories of creative behaviour. The magnitude of influence of self-efficacy was highest on idea implementation, preceded by generation and championing of ideas.
Research limitations/implications
We collected data from employees in Uganda’s universities, which were public, and the application of the findings may be limited to public universities because of the difference in the work environment settings in private and public university settings, which may affect the efficacy of the employees. Given that the data were collected in a university setting, the results may be limited to universities. This research adopted a cross-sectional design and employees' efficacy and creative behaviour may change over time. The current study opens the ground for longitudinal research in a related field to establish the causal role of self-efficacy on individuals' creativity over time.
Practical implications
Organisations must enhance positive organisational behaviour like self-efficacy to enhance university employees' cognitive ability to manage uncertainty associated with creativity. While enhancing self-efficacy, organisations need to consider the strategic actions geared towards enhancing the required type of creative behaviour since findings reveal that the causal effect of self-efficacy significantly differs across the different types of creativity.
Originality/value
This research has both theoretical and empirical value. From an empirical perspective, this is a novel investigation to determine the direct effect of self-efficacy and the individual dimensions of creativity in a public university setting in a developing country like Uganda. By establishing the antecedent role of self-efficacy on creativity, the study provides new insights into how educational systems can maintain operational continuity and adaptability during unprecedented disruptions like the one of COVID-19. This research extends the applicability of social cognitive theory from a theoretical standpoint by affirming that the influence of personality characteristics on an individual (such as self-efficacy) varies with the type of creative behaviour. This is because the tasks involved in the various dimensions of creative behaviour are different and, as a result, are affected by self-efficacy in different ways.
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Rehema Namono, Peter Wanyama Obanda, Dan Ayebale, Emmanuel Isiagi and Gorden Wofuma
Scholars have emphasized the antecedent role of personal factors such as creative self-efficacy (CSE) in enhancing innovative behavior in work settings. Existent studies have…
Abstract
Purpose
Scholars have emphasized the antecedent role of personal factors such as creative self-efficacy (CSE) in enhancing innovative behavior in work settings. Existent studies have revealed that individuals with high CSE have the cognitive ability to resiliently exhibit innovative work behavior (IWB). Little is however known as regards the influence of CSE on innovative work behavior in service settings, more so in developing countries. This study sought to establish the antecedent role of CSE on IWB as a multistage process comprising creativity and IWB.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopted a cross-sectional research design to establish the hypothetical influence of CSE on innovative work behavior and collected data at one point in time. The researchers used regression analysis to establish the influence of CSE on IWB using a sample of teaching staff selected from Ugandan public Universities.
Findings
The findings reveal that CSE has a significant effect on creativity as the first step in the innovation process. The results further revealed that CSE has a statistically significant influence on IWB.
Research limitations/implications
The researchers collected data from public Universities, and the application of the findings may fall short when applied to a setting of private universities. Therefore, future research can consider a setting of private universities to replicate the current study findings. The study was cross-sectional, and yet employees' CSE and innovation behavior may change over time. This study opens grounds for longitudinal research in the same research area.
Practical implications
The study shapes direction for practicing managers to resiliently strategize for enhancing creative self-efficacy of employees to promote IWB. Specifically, our study indicates that organizations must enhance positive organizational behavior like CSE to enhance employees' ability to resiliently overcome the fear of uncertainty associated with innovation. While devising the intervention strategies geared towards enhancing CSE, organizations need to consider the stage of IWB required whether at creativity or innovation stage of the innovative behavior.
Originality/value
This research is empirically and theoretically valuable. This is an original study to establish a direct causal influence of CSE on creativity and IWB using a sample drawn from public Universities in the context of a developing Country. Theoretically, the study expands on the applicability of the social cognitive theory (SCT) by revealing that the influence of an individual's personality characteristics like CSE varies with the stage of IWB because the tasks involved in the various types of IWB differ and thus the magnitude of influence varies.
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