Entrepreneurial Capabilities and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya: Moderation Role of Information and Communication Technology

Authors

  • Paul Muruga Wachira Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Patrick Karanja Ngugi Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Samson Nyang’au Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Keywords:

Information and communication technology, performance, small and medium enterprises

Abstract

The performance of most SMEs in Kenya is declining, as evidenced by the increasing number of closures after operating for a short time. This study assessed the moderating influence of information and communication technology on the relationship between entrepreneurial capabilities and performance of small and medium enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and target population was 2400 small and medium enterprises in Thika town’s light industrial area. The study sampled 331 small and medium enterprise owners using stratified random sampling. The study found that the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and performance of small and medium-sized businesses is moderated significantly positively by information and communication technologies. The study recommended that SME owners embrace the use of information and communication technologies in managing their businesses. Entrepreneurs should strengthen aspects relating to information and communication technology such as infrastructure, skills, and experience.

Author Biographies

Paul Muruga Wachira, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

Patrick Karanja Ngugi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

Samson Nyang’au, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

References

Ahmed, K. A. (2017). The Influence of Development on Managerial Capabilities and Performance: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Southeast Asian Research, 20, 1-12

Akinwale, Y. O., Adepoju, A. O., & Olomu, M. O. (2017). The impact of technological innovation on SME's profitability in Nigeria. International Journal of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, 1(1), 74-92.

Awiti, L., Imbambi, R. M., Mande, W., & Machuki, V. N. (2020). Moderating effect of technology on the relationship between change management and performance of companies listed in the Nairobi securities exchange in Kenya.

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120.

Bennett, B., Bettis, J. C., Gopalan, R., & Milbourn, T. (2017). Compensation goals and firm performance. Journal of Financial Economics, 124(2), 307-330.

Chege, S. M., Wang, D., & Suntu, S. L. (2020). Impact of information and communication technology innovation on firm performance in Kenya. Information and communication technology for Development, 26(2), 316-345.

Dijkhuizen, J., Gorgievski, M., van Veldhoven, M., & Schalk, R. (2016). Feeling successful as an entrepreneur: a job demands-resources approach. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 12(2), 555-573.

Ferraris, A., Mazzoleni, A., Devalle, A., & Couturier, J. (2019). Big data analytics capabilities and knowledge management: impact on firm performance. Management Decision.

Ghezali, F., & Boudi, A. (2020). The moderating effect of information and communication technology capabilities on the relationship between marketing mix and corporate entrepreneurship. PSU Research Review.

Greef, A. M. (2014). Entrepreneurial leadership and its effect on the social performance of the organization (Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente).

Jonas, Y.D. (2017). Role of Entrepreneurial Capability in the Performance of Private Universities in Kenya, International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 5(9)

Karabulut, A. T. (2015). Effects of innovation strategy on firm performance: a study conducted on manufacturing firms in Turkey. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 1338-1347.

Kogo, P. K., & Kimencu, L. (2018). Organization Capabilities and Performance of Insurance Companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya. International Journal of Human Resources and Business Admiration, 3(1), 126-149.

Musambayi, N. J. (2018). Leadership and firm entrepreneurial performance in county governments in Kenya. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 8(1), 31.

Okwemba, E. M., Senaji, E. T. A., & Odhiambo, R. O. (2018). Influence of Strategic Marketing Capabilities on Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Kenya.

Osborn, D., Cutter, A., & Ullah, F. (2015). Universal sustainable development goals. Understanding the Transformational Challenge for Developed Countries.

Penrose, E. (1959). The theory of the growth of the firm. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Peteraf, M. A., & Barney, J. B. (2003). Unraveling the resource‐based tangle. Managerial and Decision Economics, 24(4), 309-323.

Prahalad, C. H., & Hamel, G. (1990). The Core Competence of the Corporation. Harvard Business Review, 68(3), 295-336.

Rabah, K. (2015). Effects of competitive advantage on organizational effectiveness in higher education institutions: a case of Kabarak University. Unpublished Thesis.

Rahim, H. L., Zainal Abidin, Z., Mohtar, S., & Ramli, A. (2015). The effect of entrepreneurial leadership towards organizational performance. International Academic Research Journal of Business and Technology.

Rehman, N., Nor, M. N. M., Taha, A. Z., & Mahmood, S. (2018). Impact of information and communication technology capabilities on firm performance: Understanding the mediating role of corporate entrepreneurship in SMEs. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 24(3), 1-19.

Ringim, K. J., Razalli, M. R., & Hasnan, N. (2016). Moderating effect of Information and communication technology (IT) capability on the relationship between business process reengineering factors and organizational performance of Bank. African Journal of Business Management, 6(16), 5551-5567.

Sar, A. K. (2017). Competitive Advantage and Performance: an Analysis of Indian Downstream Oil and Gas Industry. Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal.

Setiowati, R., Hartoyo, H., Daryanto, H. K., & Arifin, B. (2016). Understanding ICT adoption determinants among Indonesian SMEs in the fashion subsector. International Research Journal of Business Studies, 8(1).

Wernerfelt, B. (1984). A Resource-based View of the Firm. Strategic Management Journal, 5(2), 171–180.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-27

How to Cite

Wachira, P. M. ., Ngugi, P. K. ., & Nyang’au, S. . (2023). Entrepreneurial Capabilities and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya: Moderation Role of Information and Communication Technology. Journal of Entrepreneurship &Amp; Project Management, 3(2), 9–18. Retrieved from https://edinburgjournals.org/journals/index.php/journal-of-entrepreneurship/article/view/183

Issue

Section

Articles