Browsing by Author "Baluku, Martin M."

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Does personality of owners of micro enterprises matter for the relationship between startup capital and entrepreneurial success?
    (African Journal of Business Management, 2016) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Kibanja, Grace M.
    Following the devastating effects of the recent global economic and financial crisis, both developing and developed countries are desperate to boost economic development and reduce unemployment rates. Consequently, entrepreneurship is being promoted. The resulting enterprises contribute to economic development and create employment opportunities. However, the contribution to economic development can only be realized if the enterprises themselves are growing. Whereas the contribution of both startup capital and personality to entrepreneurial success is well researched, the interaction between the two leading to entrepreneurial success has not been investigated. Using a sample of 384 owners of micro-enterprises from a cross-section of industry sectors in Uganda, The study examine the moderating effect of Big Five personality factors on the relationship between startup capital and entrepreneurial success. The study observes that startup capital, agreeableness and extraversion positively predict entrepreneurial success. Neuroticism, on the other hand, negatively predicts entrepreneurial success. Extraversion is the only factor in the Big Five model that moderates the relationship between startup capital and entrepreneurial success, highlighting the importance of interpersonal skills in microenterprises. The study also discusses implications for research, entrepreneurial education and support in relation to startup capital, specific personality factors.
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    Entrepreneurial Socialization and Psychological Capital: Cross-Cultural and Multigroup Analyses of Impact of Mentoring, Optimism, and Self-Efficacy on Entrepreneurial Intentions
    (Entrepreneurship Education and Pedagogy, 2019) Baluku, Martin M.; Matagi, Leonsio; Musanje, Khamisi; Kikooma, Julius F.; Otto, Kathleen
    This study demonstrates that psychological capital is essential in the process of developing and strengthening entrepreneurial intentions. We specifically investigate the mediating roles of optimism and self-efficacy facets of psychological capital in the relationship between entrepreneurial mentoring and intentions. The study was conducted among 1,272 young persons from Germany and East Africa (Uganda and Kenya). These included 784 final year university students and 488 wage employed. A multigroup analysis was applied to test for the effects of employment status and country differences. Results indicate that mentoring, optimism, and self-efficacy are positively correlated with entrepreneurial intentions. Findings also supported the hypothesized-mediated mediation model that mentoring impacts on entrepreneurial intentions through optimism and self-efficacy. The association of entrepreneurial mentoring on intentions was higher among the Germany participants than in the East African sample as well as among the students compared with employed individuals. Practical and theoretical implications of our findings are discussed
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    Impact of personal cultural orientations and cultural intelligence on subjective success in self-employment in multi-ethnic societies
    (Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 2019) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Bantu, Edward; Onderi, Peter; Otto, Kathleen
    The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of personal cultural orientation and behavioral aspect of cultural intelligence on subjective success in self-employment in a multi-ethnic context. Based on Sharma (J Acad Mark Sci 38: 787–806, 2010) taxonomy of personal cultural orientations, the paper examines the impact of interdependence and social inequality orientations on subjective success in selfemployment (measured in terms of job satisfaction). Self-employed individuals working in multiethnic communities in East Africa (Uganda and Kenya) were compared with their counterparts in Germany operating in a less culturally or ethnically diverse context. Moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS macro model 8 is applied to measure the direct and indirect effects. Interdependence and social inequality cultural orientations were positively related to subjective success in self-employment for the East African sample, but not for the Germany sample. The results revealed that the impact of these cultural orientations on subjective success is mediated by behavioral cultural intelligence. However, these indirect effects vary between Germany and East Africa. Similar to cross-cultural settings, multiethnic business settings involve doing business with people from various ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. This requires the entrepreneur to behave in a manner that demonstrates appreciation and respect of other people’s cultures.
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    Policy Brief on Refugee Entrepreneurship and Skilling in Uganda
    (RES, 2021) Baluku, Martin M.; Nansubuga, Florence; Nantamu, Simon; Musanje, Khamisi; Kawooya, Kenneth
    Uganda is one of the refugee hosting nations, ranking 4th in 20201 behind Turkey, Colombia, and Parkistan (UNHCR, 2021a). This situation is not new to Uganda. Emigration history indicates that Uganda has been a preferred destination for refugees since the 1940s (Mulumba, 2014). Since then, the number of refugees in Uganda has been gradually increasing. Currently, Uganda hosts over 1.48 million refugees and asylum seeks (UNHCR, 2021b) in about 11 locations including Bidibidi, Adjumani, Kyangwali, Nakivale, Kyaka II, Rhino camp, Palorinya, Kampala, Imvepi, Kiryandongo, Rwamwanja, Palabek, Oruchinga, and Lobule2 . Whereas Uganda has in the past hosted refugees from different parts of the world including Europe (Mulumba, 2014), majority of the current refugee population come from neighboring countries including South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Somalia (UNHCR, 2021b; Hakiza, 2014) who flee from war, poverty, hunger, and other forms of misery. Uganda’s attractiveness to refugees could be attributed to the country’s policies and culture that is friendly to foreigners. The present influx of especially South Sudanese refugees into the country starting from 2013 has given rise to the complex challenge of how to integrate the increasing number of refugees and ignited debate on feasibility of refugee policy (Hovil, 2018). Despite the attractiveness of Uganda to refugees, they face a number of unique psychosocial challenges including crowding in settlements, trauma of forced migration, and acculturation among others.
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    Positive mindset and entrepreneurial outcomes: the magical contributions of psychological resources and autonomy
    (Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 2018) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Otto, Kathleen
    This paper applies self-determination theory (SDT) and psychological capital literature to examine the impact of psychological capital and autonomy on a number of entrepreneurial outcomes including entrepreneurs’ income, satisfaction, meaning in life, and commitment to the entrepreneurial career path. The results from two studies reported in this paper support the proposition that a positive mindset (consisting of psychological resources) and a feeling of autonomy are essential for entrepreneurial success. We also found that entrepreneurs’ satisfaction mediates the effects of psychological capital, autonomy, as well as their interaction effects on commitment. In addition, the effects of psychological capital and autonomy on satisfaction were also moderated by level of income. The results have implications for entrepreneurship training and support interventions. The implications for research are also discussed
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    Positive Psychological Attributes and Entrepreneurial Intention and Action: The Moderating Role of Perceived Family Support
    (Front. Psychol, 2020) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Otto, Kathleen; König, Cornelius J.; Bajwa, Nida ul H.
    Recent research illustrates substantial gaps between entrepreneurial intentions and behavior. This is a challenge for entrepreneurship promotion interventions that have primarily focused on stimulating entrepreneurial intentions. However, extant literature suggests that implementation intentions enhance the likelihood of acting congruently to the behavioral intention. Furthermore, theory also suggests the condition effects of situations and the perceived control over them. We therefore hypothesized that implementation intentions mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and action, while perceived family support moderates the movement from implementation intention to entrepreneurial action. Using two-wave survey data from a sample of students at an African university, we measured two psychological attributes (proactive personality and psychological capital) as important precursors of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial intentions present before undertaking an innovations and entrepreneurship course. Implementation intentions regarding entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial actions, and perceived parental support for entrepreneurial activities were also measured 2 weeks after completion of the course
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    Psychological capital and entrepreneurial outcomes: the moderating role of social competences of owners of microenterprises in East Africa
    (Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 2018) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Bantu, Edward; Otto, Kathleen
    Business success arises out of the total investments in the venture. This is not limited to tangible inputs such as financial capital, but on intangible resources as well. Entrepreneurship is a highly stressing occupation involving undertaking risks and often demanding workloads; hence requiring mental inputs (psychological capital). Moreover, the entrepreneurial job also involves doing business with other people of different statuses including investors, partners, customers, and employees; hence requiring the entrepreneur to exhibit a great deal of social competence to relate with others. Using two independent studies, we assess the contribution of psychological capital and social competence, as well as their interaction to entrepreneurial outcomes including performance (Study 1), and entrepreneurs’ wellbeing, satisfaction, and commitment to their entrepreneurial career role (Study 2). Study 1 uses a sample of 102 owner-managers or managers of small companies in Uganda. In this study, entrepreneurs’ social competence is measured as the relationship between entrepreneurs and their employees. Study 2 uses a sample of 228 young self-employed individuals in Uganda and Kenya; and operationalizes social competence via social intelligence. The results were consistent with our assumptions, highlighting the relevance of both psychological capital and social competence to entrepreneurial outcomes. Yet their i
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    Psychological capital and the startup capital–entrepreneurial success relationship
    (Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 2016) Baluku, Martin M.; Kikooma, Julius F.; Kibanja, Grace M.
    Research has demonstrated that psychological strengths have important influences on entrepreneurial behavior. The current study explored the interaction between entrepreneurs’ positive psychological capital and startup capital in leading to entrepreneurial success. Focus is on how owners of small scale enterprises use their psychological strengths to achieve their business goals. Using a sample of 384 entrepreneurs selected from the two leading business districts in Uganda, we observe that optimism is the component of psychological capital that significantly moderates the relationship between startup capital and entrepreneurial success. Both startup capital and psychological capital are significant predictors of entrepreneurial success; however, psychological capital is the better predictor. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings on entrepreneurial behavior, success and entrepreneurship promotion interventions are discussed.