‘Weathering the storm’. Resilience and small and medium-sizedenterprises in Uganda

Abstract

the survival of small and Medium-sized Enterprises (sMEs) is crucial to globaleconomies, particularly for developing countries, due to their significant contributionsto development and the well-being of their societies. When sMEs develop resilience,they are better equipped to evolve and adapt their operations to changing environments,thereby increasing their survival prospects. this study aimed to investigate how sMEsurvival is enabled by resilience, focusing on the mediators that enhance thisrelationship. the study adopted a quantitative positivist approach, collecting data fromugandan sMEs selected through purposive sampling using descriptive statistics. thestudy found that resilience influences sME survival, the extent of which is mediated byaccess to finance, leadership and management, technology and innovation, and humancapital management. these mediators help sMEs translate resilience into effectivestrategies for adaptation, agility, and continuity across different contexts. overall, thisstudy provides a theoretical framework that demonstrates how mediators enhance theresilience and survival of sMEs, contributing to the ongoing discourse and offeringpractical insights, while identifying areas for future research.