Browsing by Author "Mayanja, Samuel"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Critique does not equate to rebellion: Positive deviance and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises in Uganda
    (African Journal of Business Management, 2019) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, J. C.; Wasswa, Balunywa; Kibirango, Moses M.
    This paper examines the relationship between positive deviance and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Using a mixed method approach combined self-administered questionnaires and interview guide covering 228 SMEs in Uganda, the cross-sectional nature of this study revealed key nuances about SMEs. The research findings confirmed a significant positive relationship between positive deviance and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs in Uganda. The findings also revealed that: SME owner/ managers should create enabling environment for people with divergent views to interact with each other to innovate new practices, such as accessing resources from the networks; managers should initiate new policies for error management to allow employees room to learn from mistakes; managers should acquire new skills of leadership skills to manage and utilize the knowledge and skills of positive deviants. This research therefore contributes to existing scholarship by providing nuances in the study of positive deviance and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs in Uganda through employing a complexity approach that transcends previous academic focus on social network theory.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Ecologies of innovation among small and medium enterprises in Uganda as a mediator of entrepreneurial networking and opportunity exploitation
    (Cogent Business & Management, 2019) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, J. C.; Kagaari, James R. K; Waswa, Balunywa
    Researchers have noted a significant body of knowledge on the role of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in both advanced and transition economies. Previous studies on opportunity exploitation have explored a range of predicator variables, including: information asymmetry, prior knowledge, experiential learning, personality traits, and social networks, while ignoring ecologies of innovation (Dimov, 2010; Kuckertz, Kollmann, Krell, & Stöckmann, 2017). Ecologies of innovation (EoI) involve the interaction of individuals in creating the knowledge needed for value creation in any business. Ecologies of innovation transform emergent, tacit knowledge at their boundaries so that employees on all sides can appreciate the collective enterprise of innovation, and how their different knowledge fits in (Schmidt, Müller, Ibert, & Brinks, 2018). Knowledge workers in ecologies of innovation can generate intense, often intuitive ways of opportunity exploitation (Acton, Foti, Lord, & Gladfelter, 2019). This study intends to bring out this oversight into view that ecologies of innovation were left out as a mediator, yet there is no way you can exploit an opportunity without ecologies of innovation. In this study, we posit that ecologies of innovation mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and opportunity exploitation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Ecologies of innovation as a mediator between nexus of generative influence and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises in Uganda
    (10.1080/08276331.2020.1764731, 2020) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, J. C.; Wasswa, Balunywa; Kagaari, James R. K.
    This paper examines the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between nexus of generative influence and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. A cross sectional survey design using quantitative approach was employed in this study. Data were collected with the help of self-administrated questionnaire from 228 SMEs. Systematic random sampling technique was used. Multiple regression data were analyzed with the help of SPSS software. The results indicated that ecologies of innovation fully mediates the relationship between nexus of generative and entrepreneurial networking. The data was cross sectional in nature, thus limiting monitoring changes in resources accessed from entrepreneurial networks by entrepreneurs over time. The implications are that, policy makers and managers of SMEs should pay more attention to the role of nexus of generative influence in creating ecologies of innovation, conducive environment for employees to interact with mutual influence to advance creativity and innovation that enhance increased access to resources from entrepreneurial networks. The study of nexus of generative influence, ecologies of innovation and entrepreneurial networking using complexity theory among SMEs in Uganda is a contribution to literature.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises in Kampala, Uganda: The mediating role of ecologies of innovation
    (Cogent Business & Management, 2019) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, J.C.; Balunywa, Waswa; Sserwanga, Arthur; Kagaari, James R.K.
    This paper examines the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kampala, Uganda. To empirically validate the conceptual model and test the hypothesised relationships, the authors collected data from a sample of 228 SMEs in Kampala district, Uganda purposefully selected for this study. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were analysed using SPSS/20 and AMOS version 23. The findings exhibit a full mediation of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs. Besides, informational differences and entrepreneurial networking are insignificantly related. There were, however, some limitations: as the study was cross-sectional in nature, it was difficult to trace the process of interactions among employees especially, how they attach meaning to information and entrepreneurial networking patterns over time;—the study was conducted in Kampala district among trade, manufacturing, and services sectors only. The implication is that entrepreneurial networking can only be explained and predicted through ecologies of innovation. The study recommends that SME owners/ managers need to fully understand and facilitate ecologies of innovation for employees to interact and attach meaning to information. This research contributes to the literature on mediation of ecologies of innovation between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking through its empirical findings of the hypothesised relationships. It theoretically contributes to existing knowledge by integrating complexity systems leadership theory.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises in Kampala, Uganda: The mediating role of ecologies of innovation
    (Cogent Business & Management, 2019) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Munene, J.C.; Balunywa, Waswa; Sserwanga, Arthur; Kagaari, James R.K.
    This paper examines the mediating role of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kampala, Uganda. To empirically validate the conceptual model and test the hypothesized relationships, the authors collected data from a sample of 228 SMEs in Kampala district, Uganda purposefully selected for this study. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were analysed using SPSS/20 and AMOS version 23. The findings exhibit a full mediation of ecologies of innovation in the relationship between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among SMEs. Besides, informational differences and entrepreneurial networking are insignificantly related. There were, however, some limitations: as the study was cross-sectional in nature, it was difficult to trace the process of interactions among employees especially, how they attach meaning to information and entrepreneurial networking patterns over time;—the study was conducted in Kampala district among trade, manufacturing, and services sectors only. The implication is that entrepreneurial networking can only be explained and predicted through ecologies of innovation. The study recommends that SME owners/ managers need to fully understand and facilitate ecologies of innovation for employees to interact and attach meaning to information. This research contributes to the literature on mediation of ecologies of innovation between informational differences and entrepreneurial networking through its empirical findings of the hypothesized relationships. It theoretically contributes to existing knowledge by integrating complexity systems leadership theory.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Informational Differences in Organizations
    (Research Gate, 2021) Mayanja, Samuel; Joseph, Ntayi M.; Omeke, Michael
    Organizations need information to support the key aspects of running their entities, such as communication, record-keeping, decision making, data analysis, and more. Organizations use this information to improve their business operations, make strategic decisions, and gain a competitive edge. Good information is essential for effective operation and decision-making at all levels in businesses. Management identifies and illustrates the different kinds of information by the complex internal and external communication links of different functions of an organization (Goldstein et al. 2010). Managers use information to clarify roles and tasks; decision-making processes (strategic and operational); rational and alternative behavior; and cognitive style and perception. The effective symbolic use of information is power. Information helps in avoiding the duplication of scarce resources. Information stimulates the thought process of the users, particularly top management and employees. Information about what is happening in the system
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The mediating role of the novelty ecosystem between personality traits, entrepreneurial networks and entrepreneurial ambidexterity among small and medium enterprises
    (Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 2021) Mayanja, Samuel; Omeke, Michael; Tibamwenda, Josue Vajeru; Mutebi, Henry; Mufta, Fredrick
    This paper examines the mediating effect of the novelty ecosystem in the relationship between personality traits, entrepreneurial networking and entrepreneurial ambidexterity. Three hundred eighty-two SMEs in Kampala, Uganda, were studied to explore the influence of the novelty ecosystem. The results show that novelty ecosystem mediates the relationship between personality traits, entrepreneurial networking and entrepreneurial ambidexterity. This suggests that novelty ecosystem is a conduit through which personality traits and entrepreneurial networking relate to entrepreneurial ambidexterity. Business owners/managers should, therefore, create an enabling environment for employees to interact, learn from others through constructive feedback and tolerate learning through slip-ups and putting in place flexible policies to allow creativity. In effect, business owners/managers should create environments that are conducive to opportunity exploration, tension and exploitation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Symbiotic Resonance, Nexus of Generative Influence, Ecologies of Innovation and Opportunity Exploitation among Small and Medium Enterprises
    (Journal of African Business, 2022) Mayanja, Samuel; Ntayi, Joseph M.; Omeke, Michael; Kibirango, Moses M.; Mutebi, Henry
    This paper used a quantitative cross-sectional survey design to collect data from 228 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda to test the mediating role ecologies of innovation in the relationship between symbiotic resonance, nexus of generative influence and opportunity exploitation, but also, the moderating role of firm size in the relationship between symbiotic resonance and ecologies of innovation. The mediated – moderated hypotheses were tested through Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS version 3.3.0. The study found that ecologies of innovation positively and significantly mediate the relationship between nexus of generative influence and opportunity exploitation. Additionally, we confirmed that firm size moderates the relationship between symbiotic resonance and ecologies of innovation. Managers of SMEs and policy makers should pay more attention to situations where the owner/manager can act as a leader to influence employees positively, create an enabling environment, provide feedback, allow employee to deviate from norms.