The study aims to establish whether the three specific component factors of dynamic capability (DC) that demonstrate commonalities across successful firms - Adaptive capability (AC), innovative capability (IC) and absorptive capability (ACAP) - influence organisational knowledge creation (OKC) in manufacturing firms in Uganda. Following a positivist approach, the study employed a cross-sectional design with quantitative approaches. Data were collected from 107 manufacturing firms using a survey questionnaire, and analysed using SmartPLS 3 software. The results showed that, in contrast to ACAP, AC and IC significantly influence OKC. Further, a positive and significant relationship between DC and OKC was established. This paper therefore advances works on OKC by delineating the influence of the component factors of DC which are identifiable, concrete and measurable across successful firms on new knowledge production in manufacturing firms.

Purpose This paper aims to provide theoretical explanation to a story of a manufacturing firm in Uganda that produced new knowledge which enhanced its performance. Precisely, the paper suggests multiple theories that explain knowledge creation in that firm. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative approach. Based on a series of in-depth interviews, a story was developed providing practical experiences based on the themes of context, actions, results and lessons. Findings Findings reveal that interactional processes, learning, diverse knowledge sources make firms build dynamic capability and create new knowledge. Also, a combination of theories including organizational knowledge creation theory, experiential learning theory and the complexity theory help to explicate knowledge creation in manufacturing firms. Originality/value This paper constitutes one of the earliest works that use a positive story showing practical experiences to delineate firm level conditions and practices for new knowledge creation. Further, contrary to prior studies, multiple theoretical lenses have been used to explain the conditions and practices in the story which may be peculiar in this study context.

Public accountability is essential in ensuring proper utilization of public resources. Despite its key role, gaps continue to be observed at the global and local level in various countries which depict that public accountability has not been given adequate attention in the application of public resources. Some previous scholars have drawn attention to the role of oversight mechanisms in public accountability. On the other hand, however, some scholars have indicated that there are still limited studies especially in emerging economies that have given consideration to the role of oversight mechanisms in public accountability. This study therefore aimed at making a contribution to narrowing the gap in explaining public accountability. The study was conducted in municipal local governments using a quantitative cross-sectional research design, collecting data using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between the oversight mechanisms and public accountability. The findings also validated the agency theory on which it was anchored. The study suggests that public managers should consider the recommendations of the oversight mechanisms in order to ensure enhancements in accountability in the entities they are responsible for.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether individual adaptability mediates the relationship between psychological capital and psychological well-being (PWB) of Ugandan small enterprise employees. Furthermore, the paper examines whether psychological capital and individual adaptability also affect PWB.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design using a quantitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected from 726 employees of small enterprises in Uganda using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists and uploaded into AMOS version 23. The hypotheses were tested using the structural equation modelling technique.FindingsResults confirm that individual adaptability partially mediates the relationship between psychological capital and PWB. Findings further indicate that psychological capital is positively related to individual adaptability and that individual adaptability is positively related to PWB.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the sample of this study consisted of employees working with small enterprises in Uganda with different demographic characteristics; thus, the generalizability of these findings to other sectors or contexts needs to be established. Secondly, the study was quantitative in nature. This study has managerial implications in a way that managers should have people management skills that support their employees to develop psychological capital and individual adaptability.Originality/valueThis study may be among the first to demonstrate that individual adaptability partially mediates the relationship between psychological capital and PWB in the context of small enterprise employees of Uganda, an African developing country. Consequently, this study contributes to both theory and literature via the broaden-and-build theory and the complex adaptive systems theory, hence adding to the scant existing literature on psychological capital, individual adaptability and PWB.

The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a study carried out to examine the mediating effect of collectivist orientation in the relationship between psychological ownership and risk governance in Financial Institutions (FIs) in Uganda. The study was based on cross-sectional survey data. Closed ended questionnaires were distributed to 112 Risk Managers in financial institutions in Uganda. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS and SmartPLS version 3.3.0. The results generated from the study show that both psychological ownership and collectivist orientation positively and significantly influence risk governance. Results further indicate that collectivist orientation partially mediates the relationship between psychological ownership and risk governance of FIs. This study only focused on risk governance in FIs, it is highly possible that the results may not be equally applicable to risks in other sectors. Secondly, our study used a cross sectional and quantitative research design, which means that changes in behavior over time may affect the study findings. The study offers initial evidence on the relationship between psychological ownership and risk governance using evidence from a developing economy. In addition, earlier literature has not tested the mediation effect of collectivist orientation in the relationship between psychological ownership and risk governance in FIs.

PurposeThis study aimed to examine the relationship between ethical work climate and accountability in public sector organizations. The study was undertaken in municipal local governments due to their importance in the provision of public services to communities, yet they continue to face public accountability challenges, especially in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study applied a quantitative research methodology, collecting data using a structured questionnaire. Data were obtained from 521 respondents in 88 municipal local governments in Uganda. The data was analyzed first using Statistical Package for Social Scientists to ascertain correlations and later transferred to the smart partial least squares (PLS) analysis tool to test study hypotheses using PLS structural equation modeling.FindingsStudy results revealed a positive and significant relationship between ethical work climate and its three conceptualized factors namely, caring, law and code and rules and public accountability. The implication is that an ethical work climate that values the provisions of laws, codes and organizational rules, along with responsible staff, is likely to uphold public accountability. The study recommended that public managers need to take into consideration the role of each ethical work climate factor, to enhance and sustain public accountability. This includes factors such as nurturing the caring staff attitude, implementing the requirements of laws and codes to which the organization and its staff subscribe, as well as the requirements of internal organizational rules.Research limitations/implicationsThe current study has some limitations that can provide a foundation for further research. The study focused only on municipal local governments, excluding other types of public sector entities. It may be found necessary to carry out related studies in other types of public sector entities. The study applied a quantitative research design to investigate the association between ethical work climate and public accountability. Whereas the methodology was found suitable by the researchers, it is also probable that other studies can be undertaken applying a qualitative or a mixed methods approach.Practical implicationsFrom the practical perspective, the study has shown that an ethical work climate has the potential to influence accountable behavior at the individual staff level and consequently at the overall organizational level. Each of the three dimensions of ethical work climate examined in the study, which are caring, law and code and rules, positively and significantly contributes to ethical behavior and accountability in public sector institutions. The culmination of all these factors provides an ethical work climate within which organizational members are expected to conduct themselves as they perform their roles to enable government institutions to be accountable to the public.Social implicationsIt is paramount for managers in public sector entities to ensure that: (1) laws, regulations and codes that directly affect their public organizations are adequately reviewed to ensure that employees are fully informed of their requirements and trained for compliance, (2) key ethical requirements on staff behavior are well elaborated within the internal policies and guidelines and widely circulated within the public organization and all staff sensitized on how to adhere to such requirements, (3) penalties for non-compliance with laws, regulations and internal policies are clearly spelled out in the internal policies, manuals and guidelines.Originality/valueThe study makes a distinct contribution to explaining public accountability in public sector organizations with a focus on municipal local governments in developing countries, to complement existing literature that has majorly been from developed countries.

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether individual adaptability mediates the relationship between personal initiative (PI) and psychological well-being of Ugandan small enterprise employees. Furthermore, the paper examines whether PI and individual adaptability also affect psychological well-being.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional survey design using quantitative approach was used in this study. Data were collected from 726 employees of small enterprises in Uganda using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists and uploaded into AMOS version 23. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling technique.FindingsResults confirm that individual adaptability fully mediates the relationship between PI and psychological well-being. Findings further indicate that PI is negatively related to psychological well-being and that individual adaptability is positively related to psychological well-being.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, the sample of this study consisted of employees working with small enterprises in Uganda with different demographic characteristics; thus, the generalizability of these findings to other sectors or contexts needs to be established. Secondly, the study was quantitative in nature. This study has managerial implications in a way that managers need to create a climate that fosters individual adaptability among employees to help them enhance their Psychological well-being (PWB).Practical implicationsSmall enterprise employees with high levels of PI may benchmark on this study findings by ensuring that they adjust their thinking, emotions and behavior to navigate the challenges of the current working environment such that they can increase their psychological well-being.Originality/valueThis study may be among the first to demonstrate that individual adaptability mediates the relationship between PI and psychological well-being in the context of small enterprise employees of Uganda, an African developing country.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the impact of institutional pressures on risk governance, and second, to examine the contribution of the specific elements of institutional pressures on risk governance in financial institutions (FIs) in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a cross-sectional design where data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 112 FIs. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS).FindingsThe results indicate that institutional pressures are significantly associated with risk governance. The study also found that coercive pressures and normative pressures have a positive and significant effect on risk governance, while mimetic pressures do not have a significant effect.Originality/valueThis study offers initial evidence on the association between institutional pressures and risk governance using evidence from Uganda’s FIs. The results also show the impact of the individual elements of institutional pressure on risk governance in FIs. The study also further adds theoretical foundations to the risk governance literature.

Objective This study aimed to examine the mediating role of meal planning in the relationship between role modeling and snack choice. Methods and Measures The study was correlational and quantitative in nature. The study selected a sample of 403 university students. We collected data through interviews using a questionnaire. We analyzed the data using SPSS 23.0.0.0 (IBM Corp; 1989, 2015) (Build 1607) and AMOS 23.0.0 (IBM Corp; 1983, 2015) (Build 1607) software for correlational and Confirmatory factor tests. We used the bootstrapping technique to test for the mediation effect of meal planning. Results Meal planning had a full mediation effect between role modeling and snack choice. This means that Role modeling had a significant influence on meal planning, meal planning had a significant influence on snack choice, and role modeling had no significant influence on snack choice. Conclusion when young people admire other people’s eating habits it leads them to plan their meals and choose similar snacks to their role models. Future studies should consider studying the effect that role models’ proximity has on snack choices among young people in other contexts.

Purpose This paper aims to suggest a multi-theoretical explanation using a success story to explain psychological well-being (PWB) among employees of K.C, a small enterprise found in Uganda, a developing country in Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study used qualitative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews with K.C employees, a story was developed describing the practical experience, focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons learnt. Regarding the sample size, the saturation point was attained on the seventh participant. Findings Findings reveal that employees that possess psychological capital set targets and generate avenues that allow them to achieve set goals, with personal initiative that makes them proactive to accomplish work tasks and individual adaptability that enables them to adjust their emotions and behavior to fit in a complex working environment, which makes them to think, feel and act positively. Furthermore, several theories, including broaden and build, personal initiative and complex adaptive systems theory, explain the manifestations of PWB of employees in small enterprises. Research limitations/implications The study was limited by focusing on the context of a small enterprise. Future research may investigate other study contexts whose findings might be different. In addition, the study being hypothetical lacked statistical testing. It would be a meaningful effort if future studies statistically tested the suggested model. Irrespective of the limitations, the findings of this study remain significant. Practical implications In practice, employees may replicate these findings to nurture PWB which eventually contributes to enterprises’ success. This could provide answers to the psychological challenges experienced by employees of small enterprises, especially in the African developing countries like Uganda where this is a major challenge. Specifically, the workers of K.C enterprise may depend on their PWB to deal with workplace challenges and sustain the enterprise’s performance. Social implications Socially, there is need to embrace positive social relationships among employees at the work place which will translate into well-being of society. Originality/value This paper is exceptional because it uses a success story showing practical experiences of how PWB of employees in small enterprises is nurtured in Uganda. In addition, a multi-theoretical perspective is used to explain the manifestations in the story, which is the greatest contribution of this paper. Further, a conceptual model is still proposed, depicting psychological capital, personal initiative and individual adaptability as antecedents of PWB.

Abstract Background Certain diseases are associated with individual eating habits. Eating habits of the youth are at times copied from other people and replicated throughout a lifetime. Despite this, the influence of role modeling on food consumption among the youth seems to have received scant attention in the extant literature. Previous studies appear to largely focus on children and adolescent populations within Europe and the United States of America. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the influence role modeling has on food consumption among the youth in Uganda. Methods Utilizing an exploratory qualitative methodology, we conducted nine in-depth interviews of University students aged between 20–29 years in central Uganda. Discussions covered a range of issues related to how role modeling influenced the youths’ food consumption. Results Using thematic content analysis found that role models influence the youth’s food consumption in three ways; live demonstration, abstract shows, and instructional guidance. This means an individual may influence a youth’s eating habits through physically eating in the same social setting, through digital screen platforms, and through advice that may also include written literature. Conclusion Parents should, thus, repeatedly eat healthy foods as a way of training their child’s nutrition habits. In addition, health professionals designing screen media campaigns for the youth should consider using healthy foods in their image-related content. Written literature with healthy eating messages should also be prepared to target the youth.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: to examine the relationship between institutional pressures and risk governance in financial institutions (FIs) in Uganda and to establish mediational role of collectivist orientation in the relationship between institutional pressures and risk governance in financial institutions in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a cross-sectional and quantitative research design. The authors employed Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (SmartPLS 3.3.0 for professionals) to test hypotheses. Findings The results indicate that institutional pressures is significantly associated with risk governance in FIs. The study also finds collectivist orientation partially mediates the relationship between institutional pressures and risk governance in FIs in Uganda. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides initial empirical evidence on the relationship between institutional pressures, collectivist orientation and risk governance using evidence from a developing African country – Uganda. Additionally, this study provides an initial evidence of the mediating role of collectivist orientation in the relationship between institutional pressures and risk governance in FIs.

PurposeThis paper seeks to provide a multi-theoretical explanation of the living practice of a public entity found in Uganda, an African developing country, which successfully enhanced public accountability.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative narrative enquiry through storytelling was used to portray the practices of public accountability. The perceptions of various individuals were obtained using in-depth interviews, from which a coherent story structured under the themes of context, actions, results and lessons was obtained.FindingsFindings show that public entities that put in place oversight mechanisms and management structures, involve stakeholders and create an ethical work climate enhance public accountability. The results further show that the integration of theories (agency, stewardship, stakeholder and ethical work climate) promotes public accountability.Research limitations/implicationsIn terms of limitations and areas for future research, the study has been conducted on a single city authority to explain public accountability. Perhaps there is a need to conduct similar studies with other city authorities or a combination of organizations. The study has used a qualitative methodology through narrative enquiry to explain public accountability. Future studies can use a quantitative methodology, more so to test the proposed conceptual model of public accountability. Despite the study limitations, the results of this study remain relevant.Practical implicationsThis study uses the positive story of a public entity from a developing country that successfully practiced public accountability. Consequently, from a practical perspective, the findings of this study can be used as a benchmark for promoting effective public accountability practices, especially in developing countries across the globe, where public accountability has proven to be a challenge. Furthermore, governments in developing countries can also use the study findings to strengthen public accountability policies in their respective countries.Social implicationsThe study suggests that enhancement in public accountability practice requires an approach that brings together a multiplicity of factors. The study affords public accountability practitioners an opportunity to replicate the successful accountability practices from the story. When public accountability is enhanced, service delivery in terms of social services by the public organizations is likely to improve, leading to better quality of life in the communities served.Originality/valueThe study is novel in its use of a positive story that depicts an entity from a developing country that successfully enhanced public accountability. To explain this phenomenon, the study uses a multi-theoretical approach, unlike prior studies.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the relationship between tool adoption and information literacy within smallholder farmers (SHFs).Design/methodology/approachA structured questionnaire was used to gather data for this quantitative study from 225 SHFs. Structural equation modelling was done to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe findings established that tool adoption dimensions (Information and communication technologies (ICT) acceptance, language use and information culture) positively and significantly influenced information literacy. Information culture had the strongest impact.Research limitations/implicationsThe study enriches the situated learning theory (SLT) literature by introducing tool adoption as a predictor of information literacy in a new context of SHFs. Use of tools as independent variables is a positive deviation from previous studies that have used them as mediating variables. Despite the contributions, the cross-sectional design study undermines the ability to solicit more detailed perspectives from the lived in experience of the respondents.Practical implicationsManagers should promote usage of context-specific tools like local radio stations and mobile phones, but also use language tailored to farmer contexts when disseminating information. Policymakers should leverage on social and cultural settings when designing information interventions.Social implicationsThe study highlights critical factors that significantly promote information use for improved productivity for SHFs, cumulatively increasing the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Socially, findings may reduce on their poverty levels of farmers.Originality/valueThis study offers a novel perspective in information literacy domain by using the SLT to delineate contextual tools that are paramount in predicting of information literacy in an under research informal context of SHFs.

Healthy food consumption involves regular fruit intake. Inadequate fruit consumption is associated with disease burdens such as cancer, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes. As such, an individual may choose to avoid health repercussions by adjusting his/her lifestyle. Individuals with long-term healthy lifestyle habits are likely high fruit consumers. However, few studies seem to have focused on the relationship certain aggregated lifestyle factors i.e. screen time; physical exercise; work, and sleep have with fruit consumption. Thus, the study sought to investigate the relationship between these aggregated lifestyle factors and fruit consumption of university students in Uganda. The study used a correlational survey that was quantitative. The study population covered 59,998 university students. The researchers sampled 403 students using proportionate stratified random sampling. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. The questionnaire items included lifestyle factors and food frequency questions regarding fruits. The researchers analyzed the data using SPSS (V23) and AMOS (V23) software for correlational and Confirmatory factor tests. The results revealed that a university student’s lifestyle significantly influenced his/her fruit consumption (β = 5.470, t-value = 5.481, p-value = 0.000). The squared Multiple Correlation is 0.176. Considering the health benefits of fruit consumption and based on the study results, health educators need to encourage fruit consumption by adjusting one’s lifestyle (exercises, screen time, work life, and sleep time).

AbstractMany societies consider meat to be their favorite food choice. However, meat consumption is also associated with possible health complications. To minimize health complications, one may alter their meat consumption. A university student’s perceived severity of diseases may influence their meat consumption. However, few studies seem to have addressed this issue. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the perceived severity of diseases and meat consumption among university students in Uganda. This study used a correlational survey that was mainly quantitative in nature. The study population comprised 59,998 university students in 2022. We selected a total sample of 403 students using proportionate stratified random sampling. We collected data through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. We analyzed the data using SPSS (V23) and AMOS (V23) software for correlational and Confirmatory factor tests. The results revealed that perceived severity had no significant influence on the meat consumption of university students.

Purpose This paper offers a theoretical explanation to a positive story of a micro enterprise found in Uganda, an African developing country that has successfully managed workplace relationships, its survival and good performance. Specifically, the paper examines multiple theories to explain the practice in this enterprise. Design/methodology/approach The study uses storytelling, a form of narrative inquiry embedded in qualitative methodology. Based on in-depth interviews with the owner-manager and employees, a story was developed detailing their practical experience while focusing on the context, actions, results and lessons. Findings Findings reveal that micro enterprises that allow free generation of ideas across all levels with optimistic people who reciprocate and work together create a friendly work atmosphere with support for one another, with the ability to amicably resolve conflicts and build trust. More so, theories including social exchange theory, relational cohesion theory, complex adaptive systems theory and cultural historical activity theory help explain the manifestations of relational people management in micro enterprises. Originality/value This paper is unique in its use of a positive story showing a practical experience of how workplace relationships are managed in a micro enterprise found in Uganda. In addition, a multi-theoretical perspective is used to explain the manifestations in the story which may be novel in the study context. Thus, a conceptual model is proposed depicting generalized reciprocity, positive emotions, generative leadership and relational agency as antecedents of relational people management with relational agency again mediating the other relationships.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between Entrepreneurial Mindset and SME Internationalization in Uganda. The study conceptualized entrepreneurial mindset along three dimensions Deliberative mindsets, Implemental mindsets and Compulsive mindsets and each dimension was tested to see how it correlates with SME internationalization. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a correlation and cross-sectional research design targeting owners and managers on a sample of 197 exporting SMEs in Uganda. Hypotheses were tested using partial least squares- structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings: The findings reveal that among the three dimensions of entrepreneurial mindset, it’s only the implemental mindsets that are positively and significantly related to SME Internationalisation. Practical implications: Successful SME internationalization in a developing country like Uganda can be achieved by managers and owners who have thoughts that are more inclined to putting into action the pre-conceived ideas. Originality/value: The study ventured into a less studied area in SME Internationalisation and uncovers the reality that among the sub-domains of entrepreneurial mindset, it’s only the implemental mindsets that strongly predict SME internationalization. Keywords: Entrepreneurial Mindset, Internationalisation, SMEs, Uganda.