Entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management orientation and participation in public procurement market: a case of women owned smes in Ugandan central region.

Abstract

This study focused on establishing the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, knowledge management orientation and participation of women owned SMEs in public procurement markets in Ugandan Central region. It was carried out because women SMEs still get 1% of the public procurement contracts and yet public procurement is a tool that can promote gender equality. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional survey design and selfadministered questionnaire to collect data on a sample size of 123 women owned SMEs extracted from the PPDA registered list of providers for the year 2020. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) with focus on descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, regression analyses and Sobel Test for the mediation. The findings of the study indicated a partial mediation of knowledge management orientation on entrepreneurial orientation and participation in public procurement by women owned SMEs. The results also revealed positive and significant relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and participation in public procurement, knowledge management orientation and participation in public procurement; and entrepreneurial orientation and knowledge management orientation. Furthermore, regression analysis was used to examine the predictive power of the independent variables on participation in public procurement. It was established that both entrepreneurial orientation and knowledge management orientation were significant predictors for participation in public procurement accounting for a variance of 24.2%. Finally, the study offers some recommendations for women owned SMEs, particularly related to enhancing their entrepreneurial and knowledge management orientations.