Business process reengineering in developing economies Lessons from microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Uganda

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between organizational adaptability, institutional leadership and business process reengineering performance using the tested complexity theory in a developing economy setting. Design/methodology/approach – This study is correlation and cross-sectional and adopts institutionallevel data collected via questionnaires from reengineered microfinance institutions in Uganda. Cluster analysis as data mining technique was used to classify cases based on respondents’ opinions into homogeneous clusters. Nvivo was used to understand the perceptions of business process reengineering performance based on qualitative data. The authors used structural equation modeling to derive the predictive model of business process reengineering performance in a developing world setting. Findings – The authors find that organizational adaptability and institutional leadership are key predictors of business process reengineering performance. Results reveal a predictive model of 61 per cent based on structural equation modeling for the study variables. Cluster analysis as data mining approach explored complex patterns of reengineered business processes. Research limitations/implications – The use of cluster analysis is susceptible to problems associated with sampling error and absence of fit indices. However, the likelihood of these problems is reduced by the interaction with the data, practical implications and use of smart partial least square to generate structural equations based on derived measurement models of each study variable. Practical implications – Policymakers of Bank of Uganda, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, should develop sound policies in relation to knowledge management, institutional leadership and adaptive mechanisms to enhance business process reengineering performance to take advantage of new knowledge opportunities for the improvement of their businesses. Social implications – Given the results from structural equations generated, managers need to consider institutional leadership and organizational adaptability as key drivers of business process reengineering performance in microfinance institutions. The results confirm the significant role of institutional leadership, organizational adaptability in determining business process reengineering performance outcomes. Originality/value – Unlike most of the business process reengineering literature, this study contributes to literature by domesticating and testing complexity theory to explain business process reengineering performance in developing economies

An Evaluation of Legal, Legislative And Financial Factors Affecting Performance of Women Micro Entrepreneurs In Kenya

Women owned enterprises in the Micro and Small Enterprise sector have been identified as the engine for economic growth and technological innovations in developing countries. Consequently, the Kenyan government has put in place interventions geared towards improving the business environment through appropriate policy frameworks. However, these businesses continue to be dodged with myriad of constraints which include lack of appropriate technology, access to market information, credit, business management skills and rigid legal and regulatory framework among others. This paper aimed at determining the effect of Legal, legislative and financial factors on performance of women enterprises in the micro and small enterprise sector of Kenya. The study specifically focused on two main issues; (a) Determining impact of legal and legislative factors on performance of women micro entrepreneurs and (b) Investigating how the financial sector influences performance of women micro entrepreneurs. The study was based on Embu County of Kenya. A descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. Snowballing technique was employed to select a sample of fifty interviewees. An interview schedule was the main instrument for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.   The main findings were twofold: (1). There was a very strong negative correlation between legal and legislative factors and performance of women entrepreneurs which suggested that these factors have been too harsh on women entrepreneurs and (2). Financial sector had very high positive correlation with performance of women entrepreneurs implying that the sector had been very instrumental in supporting women enterprises. Major recommendations from the paper is that local councils should reduce license fee as they also listen to women grievances, most of which are very genuine. Likewise, women entrepreneurs need be encouraged to save their earnings however little they are and finally, women entrepreneurs should be allowed to own property and make crucial decisions regarding their business operations. To boost women owned enterprises, further studies have been suggested on effect of mushrooming Business Development Services (BDS) geared towards women entrepreneurs.   Keywords: MSE, women entrepreneurs, micro finance institutions Institution: Management University of Africa Gel classification; kpp

Monitoring Mechanisms And Task Participation: The Mediating Effect Of Personal Responsibility

This study investigates the mediating role of personal responsibility on the link between monitoring mechanisms and task participation. Design/methodology/approach – The proposed hypotheses were tested on a sample of local government employees in Uganda. Using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS), research from the monitoring mechanisms, personal responsibility and task participation literatures was analyzed and integrated to put forth a new theoretical lens, represented by the structural equation model developed in this paper that helps to explain local governments’ employee task participation. Findings – Development of the model reveals a relationship between monitoring mechanisms, personal responsibility and task participation among local government employees. This model also highlights the importance of personal responsibility in mediating the relationship between monitoring mechanisms and task participation. Originality/value – The study findings enrich organizational behavior studies by confirming that monitoring mechanisms and personal responsibility are key antecedents of task participation. Secondly, the study is one of the pioneers to demonstrate that the presence of personal responsibility helps to extend the positive effects monitoring mechanisms have on task participation

Social Resources and Enterprise Success among Micro and Small Women Entrepreneurs in Uganda

The purpose of the study is to explore micro and small enterprise (MSE) women understanding of enterprise success, and how among other factors social resources are related to enterprise success. The paper explores what MSE women entrepreneurs perceive as success along with rationale for such perceptions. The paper tests four hypotheses, and uses SEM to elicit interesting findings. These are complemented by qualitative results to shed light into the relationship between social resources, entrepreneurial competence and enterprise success. The study combines both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse data collected from MSE women entrepreneurs in Uganda, East Africa. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews and detailed discussions with the entrepreneurs. Findings indicate that MSE women entrepreneurs perceive enterprise success both in financial and non-financial terms. Entrepreneurial competence plays a mediating role between social resources and enterprise success. Social resources are negatively related to enterprise financial success but positively related to enterprise non-financial success. Keywords: social resources, women entrepreneurs, financial success, non-financial success, entrepreneurial competence, Uganda, resources, trust, emancipation, micro enterpris

Lessons from Uganda’s Successful Combat of Ebola Scourge: The Strategic Communication Approach

This case focuses on how Ugandan health sector players (both public and private) under the leadership of the ministry of health managed to combat the Ebola scourge that hit the nation in the year 2000 in comparison to the Ebola scourge in West Africa in 2014. The case starts with a brief background of the then state of health in Uganda that comprised of a relatively weak health system with inadequate health and wellbeing promotion campaigns. This challenge has continued to the extent that up to date, 75% of the disease burden in Uganda is preventable through health awareness campaigns. The case study shows that with the weak health system in 2000, the health sector managed to use strategic communication approaches like relational cohesion, information adequacy and interaction quality to combat the Ebola scourge that had spread to nearly the whole country within only 144 days, claiming over 224 lives. The case ends with a discussion of the lessons that can be drawn from Uganda’s successful combat of Ebola basing on the understanding of social network theory and a conclusion that sets direction for future studies. Keywords: management, communication, strategy, strategic communication, Ebol

Leveraging Farmer Field Days to Provide Family Planning and Other Health Services in Rural Kenya

Background: Access to family planning (FP) and other reproductive health (RH) services is difficult in much of rural Africa. Distance to health facilities, staff shortages, stock-outs, and other barriers impede the uptake and continued use of contraception. One way to improve FP access in rural areas is to deliver FP services at non-health events. FHI and Land O’Lakes collaborated to assess a model for providing health services through existing farmer-education events.  This study examined the introduction of Family Planning/Reproductive Health services through Land O’Lakes-supported dairy cooperatives. Methods: The study was conducted at seven events in Central and Rift Valley provinces between August and December 2010. Typical field days draw attendees from across the dairy sector: farmers, processors, development partners and officials from the Ministry of Livestock Development and the Kenya Dairy Board. At each study site, local Land O Lakes and dairy cooperative staff helped to incorporate a “family health camp” where attendees could consult with clinicians. The package included FP services, child immunizations, antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, and HIV counseling and testing. All women, 18 to 49 years old, who received services from an on-site provider, were invited to participate in a survey about the health camp and the offered services. A total of 319 women were interviewed. Key findings: Use of health services at the seven field days was high; more than 80% of the 2,344 attendees received consultations. The services provided most frequently during the field-days were non-reproductive health exams (66%), FP counseling (18%), and HIV counseling and testing (13%). Of the women interviewed, 40% were affiliated with a dairy cooperative. One-quarter of current FP users acquired additional supplies of contraceptives at the event.  Knowledge contributions: This study contributes to the scant data regarding the provision of health services in the non-health sector. . This model provides a convenient way for rural people to access health services. Key Words: FP services, non-health sector, rural area, farmer

Business Performance: Mediating Effect of Innovation

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of innovation in the relationship between knowledge management and business performance of SMEs in Rwanda. A cross-sectional survey and quantitative methodological approach were used to collect data used to carry out mediation test. The study results revealed that innovation had a positive effect on business performance. However, there was no direct effect of knowledge management on business performance, except through the full mediation of innovation. This implies that without innovation, Rwandan SMEs may not achieve an improved business performance. This study contributes to existing body of knowledge management on the improvement of business performance of SMEs through innovation. The results could help business owners to make use of the available knowledge resources by transforming them into new products, new processes and new markets to boost their business performance. This study used a cross sectional research design and was limited to investigate the effect of knowledge management and innovation on business performance. Future researchers could employ a longitudinal method to investigate any possibility for variations in the results. Qualitative studies could equally be used to supplement the quantitative findings. Lastly, this study focused on manufacturing SMEs only. Future research might focus on other types of businesses

Entrepreneurial mindset: Examining the contribution of deliberative and implemental mindsets to SME internationalization

The purpose of this study was to establish the contribution of deliberative mindset and implemental mindset to SME (small and medium enterprises) internationalization. This study employed cross-sectional and correlational research designs. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of exporting SME owners and managers. Data was analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS. Results suggest that implemental mindset significantly contributes to variances in SME internationalization unlike deliberative mindset. The findings in this study imply that increased levels of internationalization among SMEs in a developing country like Uganda can be achieved by those managers and owners who possess an implemental mindset. This study provides initial empirical evidence of the contribution of deliberative and implemental mindsets to SME internationalization using evidence from Uganda – a developing country

Mixed Goblet Cell Carcinoid-Adenocarcinoma: A Case Series

INTRODUCTION: Mixed goblet cell carcinoid-adenocarcinoma (GCC) tumors are a group of rare heterogenous neoplasms of the appendix accounting for \u3c 5% of all primary appendiceal tumors. They are characterized as an intermediate between classic carcinoid tumors and appendiceal adenocarcinomas, exhibiting both neuroendocrine and glandular/mucinous morphology that most commonly presents in Caucasian females in the fifth and sixth decades. We present three cases of mixed GCC presenting as acute appendicitis. CASE PRESENTATION: Case #1 A 65-year-old male presented with RLQ pain, nausea, emesis, and leukocytosis. CT of the abdomen revealed perforated appendicitis. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathology revealed a high-grade adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoid, signet ring type extending through the muscularis propria into the mesoappendix measuring \u3e3cm. The patient subsequently underwent a colonoscopy that revealed diverticulosis, but was otherwise normal. Patient then underwent a right hemicolectomy and partial omentectomy. Pathology revealed normal ileal, omental, and colonic tissue without evidence of carcinoma. 0/12 nodes were positive. Case #2 A 49-year-old male presented with periumbilical pain, nausea, emesis, and leukocytosis. CT of the abdomen revealed appendicitis. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathology revealed a high-grade, poorly differentiated, adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoid invading through the muscularis propria into the periappendiceal soft tissue measuring 1.5cm. The patient subsequently underwent a colonoscopy that revealed diverticulosis, but was otherwise normal. Patient then underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Pathology revealed normal ileal and colonic mucosa without evidence of carcinoma. 0/14 nodes were positive. Case #3 A 70-year-old female presented with periumbilical pain. CT of the abdomen revealed appendicitis. The patient underwent a laparoscopic appendectomy. Pathology revealed a high-grade adenocarcinoma ex goblet cell carcinoid extending through the muscularis propria into the mesoappendix measuring 4cm. Patient then underwent an exploratory laparotomy with a right hemicolectomy. Pathology revealed normal ileal and colonic mucosa without evidence of carcinoma. 0/21 nodes were positive. CONCLUSION: Mixed GCC tumors are rare tumors that tend to present at an advanced stage and most commonly spread via direct extension. Surgical resection with a right hemi-colectomy after an appendectomy has been shown to improve the prognosis. HIPEC and adjuvant chemotherapy are other therapeutic options, but have not been shown to improve survival. In the current age of increasing rates of managing acute appendicitis non-operatively we strongly encourage surgical appendectomy in patients older than 45 years of age to avoid missing this important diagnosis and the opportunity to treat it in a timely manner