THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION ON SMEs PERFORMANCE IN GHANA: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT POLICIES

The primary purpose of this study was to propose a conceptual framework on the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on SMEs performance in Ghana: The role of social capital (SC) and government support policies (GSPs). The study re­viewed existing literature pertaining the five dimensions of EO and used measures of SC, and GSPs in relation to SMEs performance in Ghana. This study would be anchored on two theories thus the resource-based view and the social capital theories stressing the need for SMEs to focus more on their unique resources that existed with­in their social network relations. The study would further provide new insight to prac­titioners to understand and appreciate the role of SC and GSPs on SMEs performanc

Brand awareness, word-of-mouth and willingness-to-pay (WTP) high price: The role of herbal brand image in Ghana

A high level of brand awareness and brand image enhances customers` favourable word-of-mouth referrals which in turn, strengthens their WTP a high price for a brand. Despite the increasing importance of brand awareness and brand image to customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, there are limited studies on the mediated role of brand image in the influence of brand awareness on customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, particularly in the herbal industry. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the mediated role of brand image in the impact of brand awareness on word-of-mouth referrals and WTP a high price in the herbal industry. Using a systematic sampling strategy, data were collected from 265 samples of customers in the Cape Coast herbal market. The research hypotheses were statistically tested via structural equation modelling with the help of smart PLS 3.3.3. The study establishes that the relationship between brand awareness, word-of-mouth and WTP a high price is partly attributed to the influence of brand image. Besides, the study found that word-of-mouth contributes partially to the influence of brand awareness and brand image on WTP a high price. The study confirmed that brand image is critical in developing brand awareness to strengthen customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price in the herbal industry

Brand awareness, word-of-mouth and willingness-to-pay (WTP) high price: The role of herbal brand image in Ghana

A high level of brand awareness and brand image enhances customers` favourable word-of-mouth referrals which in turn, strengthens their WTP a high price for a brand. Despite the increasing importance of brand awareness and brand image to customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, there are limited studies on the mediated role of brand image in the influence of brand awareness on customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price, particularly in the herbal industry. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the mediated role of brand image in the impact of brand awareness on word-of-mouth referrals and WTP a high price in the herbal industry. Using a systematic sampling strategy, data were collected from 265 samples of customers in the Cape Coast herbal market. The research hypotheses were statistically tested via structural equation modelling with the help of smart PLS 3.3.3. The study establishes that the relationship between brand awareness, word-of-mouth and WTP a high price is partly attributed to the influence of brand image. Besides, the study found that word-of-mouth contributes partially to the influence of brand awareness and brand image on WTP a high price. The study confirmed that brand image is critical in developing brand awareness to strengthen customers` word-of-mouth referrals and their WTP a high price in the herbal industry

Achieving entrepreneurial intention through entrepreneurial orientation, social network ties, and market intelligence generation perspectives

Entrepreneurial orientation (ENO), social network ties (SOT) and market intelligence generation (MIT) are independently modeled as distinct antecedents of entrepreneurial intention (EIN). However, the intervening variables for such models are typically under-explored in their applicability to university students in sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the present study argues that ENO impacts EIN, primarily explained by SOT and MIT. Using cross-sectional data gathered from university students in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country, our findings reveal that ENO has both direct and indirect relationships with EIN. Thus, this relationship is mainly mediated when students build and develop social network ties (SOT) instead of gathering marketing intelligence (MIT)

Achieving entrepreneurial intention through entrepreneurial orientation, social network ties, and market intelligence generation perspectives

Entrepreneurial orientation (ENO), social network ties (SOT) and market intelligence generation (MIT) are independently modeled as distinct antecedents of entrepreneurial intention (EIN). However, the intervening variables for such models are typically under-explored in their applicability to university students in sub-Saharan Africa. Accordingly, drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the present study argues that ENO impacts EIN, primarily explained by SOT and MIT. Using cross-sectional data gathered from university students in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country, our findings reveal that ENO has both direct and indirect relationships with EIN. Thus, this relationship is mainly mediated when students build and develop social network ties (SOT) instead of gathering marketing intelligence (MIT)

Antecedents of corporate entrepreneurship behaviours among SMEs and competencies of the employees: A triangulation approach

This study explored the antecedents of corporate entrepreneurship behaviors among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and employees’ competencies. The area of the study was Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana. The study was a cross-sectional survey design with a concurrent triangulation mixed methods approach. The study's sample size was 440 subjects, made up of 400 employees and 40 owners/managers of SMEs in the Metropolis. The employees and owners/managers were selected using random and purposive sampling techniques. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while the qualitative data were analyzed manually using a thematic approach. The study revealed that both employees and owners/managers of SMEs in the Metropolis perceived the operational attributes, processes, or conditions within the firms and the external business environment that affects the firms and the staff in favorable terms. Also, employees of the various SMEs are given a meaningful opportunity to acquire, develop and nurture higher-level characteristics encompassing personality traits, skills, and knowledge, which can be seen as the real ability of the entrepreneur to perform a job successfully. It was recommended that owners/managers of the firms ensure an attractive and conducive climate for intrapreneurial behavior within their firms by encouraging their employees to believe in their abilities and always try something new. Employees could also be encouraged to be confident in their ability to handle and solve problems creatively. This behavior will go a long way to help the firms grow and become competitive

Antecedents of corporate entrepreneurship behaviours among SMEs and competencies of the employees: A triangulation approach

This study explored the antecedents of corporate entrepreneurship behaviors among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and employees’ competencies. The area of the study was Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Ghana. The study was a cross-sectional survey design with a concurrent triangulation mixed methods approach. The study's sample size was 440 subjects, made up of 400 employees and 40 owners/managers of SMEs in the Metropolis. The employees and owners/managers were selected using random and purposive sampling techniques. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while the qualitative data were analyzed manually using a thematic approach. The study revealed that both employees and owners/managers of SMEs in the Metropolis perceived the operational attributes, processes, or conditions within the firms and the external business environment that affects the firms and the staff in favorable terms. Also, employees of the various SMEs are given a meaningful opportunity to acquire, develop and nurture higher-level characteristics encompassing personality traits, skills, and knowledge, which can be seen as the real ability of the entrepreneur to perform a job successfully. It was recommended that owners/managers of the firms ensure an attractive and conducive climate for intrapreneurial behavior within their firms by encouraging their employees to believe in their abilities and always try something new. Employees could also be encouraged to be confident in their ability to handle and solve problems creatively. This behavior will go a long way to help the firms grow and become competitive

Airport Self-Service Technologies, Passenger Self-Concept, and Behavior: An Attributional View

Airports are rapidly deploying self-service technologies (SSTs) as a strategy to improve passenger experience by eliminating operational inefficiencies. This places some responsibility on the passengers to shape their experience. As service coproducers, passengers’ self-concepts and attributional tendencies are deemed instrumental in their consumption processes. Accordingly, drawing on the tenets of attribution theory, this study explores the interaction effects of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this?) and causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance?) on SST performance and satisfaction with airport SST link. Additionally, the probable spillover effect of passenger satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is examined. The sample for the study consisted of 547 passengers departing from an airport in Shanghai, China. Structural equation modeling was utilized to test the study’s theoretical model. The findings indicate that airport SSTs’ performance influences passenger satisfaction with airport SSTs. The multiplicative effect of passenger self-concept (am I competent at this?) in the moderating role of passenger causal inference (who is responsible for SSTs’ performance?) in SST performance and satisfaction with SST link is demonstrated. Furthermore, the spillover effect of satisfaction with SST performance on satisfaction with airport and on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is illustrated. Given the current need for contactlessness, the findings proffer critical managerial and research insights

“I Am Here to Fly, but Better Get the Environment Right!” Passenger Response to Airport Servicescape

This study deploys environmental and positive psychology models to develop and test the influence of substantive and communicative staging of airport servicescape (i.e., SSoS and CSoS) on passengers’ emotional and subsequent behavioral responses. Furthermore, we examined the extent to which the strength of these associations is contingent upon passengers’ travel frequency (passengers’ familiarity with airport facilities and processes). The study’s sample (n = 387) was drawn from passengers departing from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). The results indicate that airport servicescape robustly engenders passengers’ positive emotion and satisfaction (with SSoS having more potent effects), facilitating intentions to repurchase, recommend, pay more, and partly, spend more. The interaction effects demonstrate that while pleasant CSoS induces higher satisfaction in frequent flyers, pleasing SSoS generates higher satisfaction in infrequent flyers. In addition, positive emotion appears more vital in predicting infrequent passengers’ behavioral intentions to repeat purchase, recommend, and pay more. Passenger satisfaction seems relevant for different passengers regarding their familiarity levels depending on the kind of behavioral response under consideration. Thus, satisfied frequent travelers are more inclined to repeat purchase and pay more; however, satisfied infrequent travelers are more likely to recommend and spend more at airport terminals. The summary, interpretation, and implication of the results conclude the study