Business Characteristics and Entrepreneurial Management Practices of Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

Purpose: The study employed the behavioural theory of entrepreneurship to assess the relationship between entrepreneurial management practices and the business characteristics of SMEs in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 202 SMEs were sampled from the service, industry, and agricultural sectors in Ghana. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using Weighted Mean, ANOVA, and Independent t-tests with Minitab 17.0 software. Findings: the study revealed that business characteristics such as business size and sector of operations significantly affect the SMEs’ management decision-making in strategic orientation, resource orientation, management structure, and entrepreneurial culture. However,  Business size and sector of operation are not necessarily significant factors influencing the SMEs’ reward philosophy and growth orientation. Research limitations/implications: This study recognizes the need for providing SMEs with management intervention programs that train the skills of entrepreneurial management to improve their competitiveness at the global level. The study is beneficial to policymakers in Ghana such as the Ministry for Business Development, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), and Higher Educational institutions for the development of entrepreneurship programs. Originality/value: The findings of the study contribute to inventive knowledge in entrepreneurial management strategies and in terms of size and business industry. Paper type: a Research Pape

The Influence of Family Business and Social Capital on Entrepreneurial Intentions among Female University Students in the Philippines

Purpose: Female entrepreneurs play a significant role in the socio-economic development process, particularly through job creation, innovation, leadership, and poverty alleviation in the Philippines yet the forces that drive their entrepreneurial intentions have received the least attention in recent studies. The present study unveils how social capital and family business influence the development of entrepreneurial intention among females using the case of undergraduate university students in the Philippines. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the total sample of 227 female undergraduates who participated in the study and a multivariate regression technique was employed for the data analysis.    Findings: The findings unveil the significant role of bonding and linking social capital in the development of entrepreneurial intentions among female undergraduate students in the Philippines. The findings further suggest that female students whose families own businesses are more likely to form entrepreneurial intentions and behavior compared to their counterparts. Research limitations/implications: The findings from the study provide a new direction for entrepreneurship education and contribute to the theory and practice of female entrepreneurship. Originality/value: This paper is original Paper type: a Research Pape

Entrepreneurial Management as a Predictor of Business Performance in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Objective: This study used the Behavioural theory of entrepreneurship as the theoretical foundation, and correlation research design to examine the impact of the entrepreneurial management practices (strategic orientation, resource orientation, management structure, reward philosophy, growth orientation, and entrepreneurial culture) on business performance in Ghana. Research Design & Methods: 500 businesses in the Greater Accra Region were selected for the data analysis. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyse the data. Findings: After controlling the business profile, the result showed that four out of the six entrepreneurial management practices – resource orientation, strategic orientation, reward philosophy, and entrepreneurial culture significantly predicted business performance. However, growth orientation and management structure did not. Implications & Recommendations: The study concludes that entrepreneurial management practices improve business performance in Ghana. The researcher recommends that approaching the study with a mixed-method will help provide a holistic understanding of the management decision-making of the entrepreneurs and its impact on their business performance. Contribution & Value Added: This study contributes to the entrepreneurial management literature in Ghana