Browsing by Author "Damba Nicholas"

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    The Mediating Role of Compliance on the Relationship Between Managerial Expertise and Firms’ Competitiveness: A Study of SMEs in Namanve Industrial Area, Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2025-10-24) Damba Nicholas
    The purpose of the study was to examine the mediating role of compliance in the relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs in the Namanve industrial area. The study was guided by three specific objectives. Firstly, the study examined the relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs. Secondly, the study examined the relationship between compliance and the competitiveness of SMEs. Lastly, the study examined the mediating role of compliance in the relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The study population consisted of registered SMEs by the Uganda Registration Service Bureau (URSB) involved in service, retail, manufacturing, construction, real estate, and fabrication. A sample size of 233 SMEs was selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The objectives of the study were examined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), following the steps and assumptions outlined by Hair et al. (2017). The results from the SEM revealed a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs in the Namanve industrial area. The SEM also revealed a positive and significant relationship between compliance and SME competitiveness. Furthermore, the SEM results indicated a mediating role of compliance in the relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs in the Namanve industrial area. The study concludes that compliance plays a crucial role in mediating the relationship between managerial expertise and the competitiveness of SMEs in the Namanve industrial area. The study recommends that, SMEs should prioritize training and capacity-building programs focusing on leadership skills, effective communication, and technical expertise. Through equipping managers with these essential competencies, SMEs can improve decision-making, employee morale, and overall competitiveness. Government regulatory bodies such as Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) should work towards simplifying compliance procedures especially for SMEs to reduce bureaucratic hurdles. This could include streamlining licensing, permitting, and tax compliance processes to make them more accessible and less time-consuming.