Browsing by Author "Okoche, Michael"

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    Contractor commitment and the delivery of road infrastructure projects in Uganda: A practitioner perspective
    (Africa Journal of Management, 2021) Emejeit, Andrew; Nagitta, Oluka Pross; Okoche, Michael; Mkansi, Marcia
    This study examined the relationship between commitment (specifically the affective, continuance and normative aspects of commitment) and the delivery of road infrastructure in Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 266 that was purposively selected from road project engineers related to the Uganda National Roads Authority, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors. A selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings indicate that all three indicators of commitment (affective, continuance, and normative) significantly affect the delivery of road infrastructure projects, though in varying degrees. The researchers recommend the implementation of mechanisms to enhance the three forms of commitment in the delivery of road infrastructure projects in Uganda. Notwithstanding other factors, the paper makes a contribution to the area of road construction in the developing country context by extending previous qualitative findings which focused solely on a case-based approach. This will enable policymakers and practitioners to gain an appreciation of the key dimensions of contractor commitment that may influence the delivery of road infrastructure projects in developing countries.
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    Public procurement and competitiveness of women-owned businesses: a structural equation model (SEM) for genderresponsive procurement in Uganda
    (World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2020) Nagitta Oluka, Pross; Okoche, Michael; Mugurusi, Godfrey
    Several intergovernmental organizations claim that the involvement of women in public procurement has a direct impact on sustainable development and growth, especially in the developing world, yet we know very little of such claim. This study aims to empirically examine how public procurement can contribute to women empowerment by boosting the competitiveness of women-owned businesses (WOBs) in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, a cross-sectional survey method is used. Quantitative data were gathered from a sample of 371 respondents in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and a section of women entrepreneurs in Uganda’s capital Kampala. From the literature review, six hypotheses were formulated and tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). A research model is developed and presented. Findings – All hypotheses, except for one, were supported. Procurement policy had a significant influence on evaluation criteria, contract management and most importantly, on the competitiveness of WOBs. Within the procurement process, evaluation criteria had a significant influence on the competitiveness of WOBs, while the influence of contract management on competitiveness of WOBs was not statistically significant. We, therefore, concluded that public procurement can indeed enhance women empowerment through a gender-responsive procurement policy. Above all, pre-contract award interventions such as streamlining evaluation criteria to ease access ofWOBsto public procurement contracts seem have the most significant impact to competitiveness of WOBs compared to post-ward interventions during contract management. Originality/value – This study offers a research-based model that articulates the role of procurement policy as an enabler for competitiveness of WOBs in developing countries. The model proposes a combination of both policy (a direct influence) and interventions in the supplier selection process (an indirect influence) to boost the competitiveness of WOBs.