Browsing by Author "Kibanja, Grace M."

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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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    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.
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    The Path to Persistence: How Conscientiousness and Social Integration Shape Academic Resilience in Higher Education
    (East African Journal of Education Studies, 2024) Kipuru, Moris Matembu; Kibanja, Grace M.; Matagi, Leon
    Research on academic persistence is foundational to higher education studies, as it directly impacts student success, retention, and graduation rates. Of the many factors influencing these outcomes, personality traits—especially conscientiousness—and social integration are particularly significant. This study examined the role of conscientiousness and social integration in promoting academic persistence among undergraduate students at Makerere University. Guided by a post-positivist perspective, the research employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, prioritizing quantitative data to assess relationships between conscientiousness, social integration, and academic resilience, followed by qualitative interviews to provide deeper insights. A sample of 754 final-year students was surveyed, with follow-up interviews conducted with 14 participants selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative findings revealed significant positive correlations between conscientiousness, social integration, and academic persistence, with conscientiousness emerging as a strong predictor of persistence (ρ = .261, p < .01). Additionally, findings showed that social integration significantly mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and academic persistence (b=.15, p=.22). Qualitative data provided further understanding of these results, illustrating how traits such as diligence and organization, alongside supportive peer and faculty interactions, foster a sense of belonging and commitment to academic goals. The study concludes that fostering conscientious behaviours and social connectedness within university environments can enhance students' academic persistence. Recommendations include institutional policies that encourage peer integration, mentorship programs, and support for personality development. These findings contribute to the literature on academic persistence by highlighting the critical interplay between personality and social factors in students' success and by offering practical strategies to support student retention and achievement