Dissertations and Theses (Master's & Doctoral)

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Browsing Dissertations and Theses (Master's & Doctoral) by Author "Nabirye, Barbara"

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    Cognitive Flexibility, Entrepreneurial Innovativeness and Entrepreneurial Action.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2023-11-16) Nabirye, Barbara
    This study examined the relationship between cognitive flexibility, entrepreneurial innovativeness, and entrepreneurial action among metal fabrication Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Makindye Division, Kampala, Uganda. The study was motivated by the high failure rate of SMEs, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, despite government interventions aimed at supporting the sector. Specifically, the study sought to examine the relationship between cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurial action, determine the relationship between entrepreneurial innovativeness and entrepreneurial action, and establish the combined effect of cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurial innovativeness on entrepreneurial action. The study was guided by the Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior and employed a quantitative cross-sectional research design. The study population comprised 3,450 metal fabrication SMEs in Makindye Division, from which a sample of 358 SME owners was determined using the Yamane (1973) formula. A total of 250 valid questionnaires were returned, representing a 72% response rate. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Version 21 through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurial action (r = 0.692, p < 0.01), indicating that entrepreneurs who demonstrate greater adaptability, awareness, and self-efficacy are more likely to undertake entrepreneurial actions. Entrepreneurial innovativeness was also found to have a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial action (r = 0.684, p < 0.01), suggesting that product, market, and technological innovations enhance entrepreneurial initiatives. Regression results further showed that cognitive flexibility (β = 0.411, p < 0.001) and entrepreneurial innovativeness (β = 0.385, p < 0.001) significantly predicted entrepreneurial action, jointly explaining 54.4% of the variation in entrepreneurial action (Adjusted R² = 0.544). The combined effect of the two predictors was also statistically significant (β = 0.843, p = 0.007). The study concludes that both cognitive flexibility and entrepreneurial innovativeness are critical determinants of entrepreneurial action among metal fabrication SMEs. It recommends that SME owners, business development agencies, and government institutions strengthen entrepreneurial training programs that enhance adaptive thinking, creativity, innovation, and opportunity recognition to improve entrepreneurial action, business resilience, and long-term competitiveness.