Laura Orobia

How do small business owners manage working capital in an emerging economy?: A qualitative inquiry

Purpose – 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/implications – A more detailed investigation of the steps in the action sequence ma y advance our understanding of the process. Future studies need to ...

Why some small businesses ignore austere working capital management routines

Purpose – 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 manag...

Personal initiative: Its power in social entrepreneurial venture creation

Abstract Social entrepreneurship literature bears a positive cast on poverty reduction and social problem-solving. Studies have shown that social entrepreneurial venture activities have far-reaching socioeconomic impact, especially in solving societal challenges. We argue that given the nature of social problems, certain personality traits are valuable. Individuals with personal initiative are capable of using their prior knowledge, proactive and innovative and experience to be alert as they create social ventures that create social impact. The study examined the role of personal initiative in social entrepreneurial venture creation among Community-Based Organizations (CBO) in a developing country. Scholars have examined a number of psychological traits underlying Social Entrepreneurial Venture Creation but less emphasis has been laid on the role of personal initiative in creating social entrepreneurial ventures. We used a sample of 243 Kampala Capital City Authority CBO owners and the results indicate that personal initiative in terms of proactiveness and innovation is positively and significantly associated with social entrepreneurial venture creation.

Isomorphic influences and voluntary disclosure: The mediating role of organizational culture

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to test the mediating effect of organizational culture in the relationship between isomorphic influences and voluntary disclosure. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire for the independent variables of coercive, mimetic normative isomorphism as well as organizational culture (mediating variable). The data for the dependent and control variable were obtained from content analysis of financial reports of 92 companies and was analysed using partial least squares PLSSEM. Findings: The results indicate that coercive and normative isomorphic mechanisms are positively related voluntary disclosure while mimetic mechanism is not. Organizational culture partially mediates the relationship between isomorphic influences and voluntary disclosure practices of listed firms in Nigeria. Research Limitation/implication: The cross-sectional nature of the study means that it does not capture changes in the Nigerian business environment overtime. Future research may consider a longitudinal study. The study is not industry specific as such may capture industry differences. However, the result is still considered valid since industry category was controlled for. Practical implication: the result has implication for a number of interested parties such as regulatory bodies, accounting professional bodies, external auditors academics, and mangers. Originality/value: The study, it has contributed to our understanding of the mediating effect of organizational culture on the relationship between isomorphic mechanisms and voluntary disclosure from the perspective of a developing country like Nigeria.

Self-employability Initiative: Developing a Practical Model of Disabled Students' Self-employment Careers

This study investigated the self-employability initiatives of disabled university students by presenting a model that would allow the concept to be explained and used easily as a framework for working with students to develop their self-employment careers. A cross-sectional survey with a quantitative method constituted the studys research design. A sample size of 254 university students was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size selection model. Data were analyzed using demographic statistics, correlation analysis and the structural equation model (SEM). The results revealed that entrepreneurship education, action mechanisms and university role have a positive influence on the self-employability initiatives of disabled students. The results also indicated that action mechanisms mediate the relationship between entrepreneurship education and the self-employability initiatives of the disabled students in this study. Universities that provide enabling premises for disabled students, foster the development of networks and provide them access to coaches, mentors and research results will trigger the self-employability initiative of disabled students. This study indicates a number of implications for tertiary institutions and policymakers, particularly that entrepreneurship education and the role the university plays make significant contributions to the self-employability initiative of disabled students. Policymakers need to design entrepreneurship curricula that will be appreciated by students with disabilities.