Browsing by Author "Orobia, Laura A."

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    Board Member Age Diversity and Financial Performance of Manufacturing Firms: A Developing Economy Perspective
    (Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2016) Akisimire, Richard; Salim, Muhsin; Mutahyoba, Masoud; Baisi, D.; Orobia, Laura A.
    This paper examines the relationship between board member age diversity and financial performance of manufacturing firms in Uganda. A cross section survey research design was employed using 78 manufacturing firms across the country. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis and point bi-serial correlation. The results showed that majority of the boards had members with an average age of 35-44years, followed by 25-34 years. In addition, boards comprising of majorly young board members registered low performance level, compared to the boards comprising of majorly older members. Further, the results indicated that board member age diversity is significantly associated with financial performance of manufacturing firms. Like any other research study, this study is limited in the following ways. Since only a single research methodological approach was employed, future research could undertake a mixed approach and triangulate to validate the current findings. Further, a longitudinal approach should be employed to study financial performance trends among manufacturing firms over years. Finally, board member age diversity was studied and by virtual of the results, there are other factors that explain the financial performance of the Uganda’s manufacturing sector that were not part of this study
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    Competitive advantage: mediator of managerial competence and financial performance of commercial banks in Uganda
    (African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, 2017) Kamukama, Nixon; Kyomuhangi, Diana S.; Akisimire, Richard; Orobia, Laura A.
    This paper examines the mediating role of competitive advantage in the relationship between managerial competence and financial performance of commercial banks in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey was employed using 22 fully licensed and operational commercial banks in Uganda. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, zero order correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses. Further, the bootstrap method was used to test the mediation effect of competitive advantage. All the analyses were performed using SPSS v21. Findings – The findings reinforce the important position of managerial competence on financial performance of commercial banks. First, managerial competence enhances firms’ competitive advantage. Second, managerial competence has an indirect effect on financial performance through competitive advantage. Overall, managerial competence and competitive advantage are strong predictors of financial performance of commercial banks. Research limitations/implications – The study employed only a single research methodological approach, therefore future research could be undertaken using a mixed approach and triangulate to compare findings. Furthermore, the findings from the present study are cross-sectional, considering the limitations there in, a longitudinal approach should be explored.
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    Entrepreneurial Framework Conditions and Business Sustainability among the Youth and Women Entrepreneurs
    (Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 2020) Orobia, Laura A.; Tusiime, Immaculate; Mwesigwa, Rogers; Ssekiziyivu, Bob
    This study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial framework conditions (EFCs) and business sustainability among youth and women entrepreneurs using the institutional theory. This study is cross-sectional and follows an explanatory research design using 390 youth and women entrepreneurs in Mbarara district (Uganda). A principal factor analysis was conducted to single out the particular constructs of business sustainability and EFC. Inferential analysis was conducted to test the relationships. First, the constructs of business sustainability are stakeholder engagements, people and skills, ecosystem management, market and sales and innovation. Second, the constructs of EFC are education, government program and policies, IT infrastructure, market openness and finance. Finally, finance and IT infrastructure are significant predictors of business sustainability among the youth and women entrepreneurs.
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    Gender differences in Working Capital Management amongst Small Business Owners in Uganda
    (Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2013) Orobia, Laura A.
    The purpose of this study is to examine gender differences on the effect of individual attributes on working capital management amongst small business owners. Based on a sample of 360 owner-managers of small businesses in the central business district of Kampala, the results show as follows. There are significant gender differences in perceived usefulness and attitude. Secondly, males and females do not statistically differ in terms of impulsivity. Thirdly, perceived usefulness significantly influences working capital management for females but not males. Fourthly, attitude significantly influences working capital management for males but not females. Lastly, the effect of impulsivity on working capital management is stronger for females than males. However, paucity of studies on the input perspective of working capital management limited cross-validation of the findings with previous research. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the results. At policy level, understanding gender differences on the effect of the identified driving forces should be of interest to practitioners and policy makers in their effort to enhance small business management through developing appropriate gendered policies. This study contributes to the dearth of evidence of working capital management literature by investigating the effect of individual attributes as opposed to the conventional financial ratios.
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    How Do Small Business Owners Manage Working Capital in An Emerging Economy? A Qualitative Inquiry
    (Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management., 2013) Orobia, Laura A.; Byabashaija, Warren; Munene, John C.; Sejjaaka, Samuel K.; Musinguzi, Dan
    The purpose of this study was to examine the actions owner-managers of small businesses undertake in managing working capital. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted an exploratory research design. The point of saturation was achieved after ten owner-managers were interviewed. Data were analyzed using content analysis technique with the aid of NVivo software. Verbatim texts were used to explain the emergent themes. Findings - The findings indicate that in the absence of systems, structures and procedures, small business owner-managers intuitively plan, monitor and control their working capital. The activities undertaken include; reliance on memory and oral agreements, informal planning, assuming inventory limits, unconventional record keeping, cash flow based information management and giving credit to close associates. Research limitations - A more detailed investigation of the steps in the action sequence may advance our understanding of the process. Future studies need to test the effect of personal characteristics on working capital management process. Practical implications – Owner-managers of small businesses do not require the same degree of sophistication employed in planning, monitoring and controlling working capital.
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    Inventory management, managerial competence and financial performance of small businesses
    (Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 2020) Orobia, Laura A.; Nakibuuka, Joweria; Bananuka, Juma; Akisimire, Richard
    The purpose of this study is twofold (1) to establish the relationship between inventory management, managerial competence and financial performance and (2) to test whether inventory management mediates the relationship between managerial competence and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach – We employed cross-sectional and correlational research designs. A questionnaire survey of 304 small businesses in Uganda was utilized. Hypotheses were tested using a bootstrap analysis technique with the aid of Analysis of Moments Structures (AMOS) software. Findings – Results indicate that inventory management and managerial competence are significantly associated with financial performance of small businesses. Further, inventory management partially mediates the relationship between managerial competence and financial performance. Originality/value – Rather than focusing on only the direct effects of managerial competence and inventory management, moreover independently, the indirect effect of inventory management is tested. Further, the behavioral perspective of inventory management, as opposed to financial ratios, is utilized.
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    Why some small businesses ignore austere working capital management routines
    (Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 2016) Orobia, Laura A.; Padachi, Kesseven; Munene, John C.
    The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors explaining take-up rate of working capital management routines in small-scale businesses. Design/methodology/approach – A cross-sectional survey research was employed using a sample of 450 small-scale businesses in the central business district of Kampala, Uganda. Common working capital management routines and activity rates were analyzed using descriptive statistics. While binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to discriminate between businesses that engage in working capital management frequently and those that do so less frequently. Findings – The results show that on average, the most frequently performed routines relate to safeguarding cash and inventory, and credit risk assessment. Payment management routines are least performed. Second, business size, perceived usefulness and attitude explain high take-up rate of working capital management routines in small-scale businesses. Business age, level of education and financial management training are inconsequential in determining the likelihood to undertake working capital management frequently. Research limitations/implications – Paucity of studies world over on the input perspective of working capital management limited comparison of the findings with previous research. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the results. Practical implications – The study findings imply that policy makers should develop work-based training programs that take into account the business size effect. Originality/value – This study contributes to existing working capital management literature by explaining activity rate in a developing country perspective