Drivers of innovation in the agro-food micro, small and medium enterprises of Uganda

Abstract

PurposeWith focus on Uganda, this study assessed the factors influencing agro-food micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) innovations. Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Jinja districts were the locations of the research.Design/methodology/approachPrimary cross-sectional data was collected using structured questionnaire for a sample of 521 agro-food MSMEs in Uganda. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to examine the data in SPSS.FindingsThe findings indicate that MSME innovation levels were usually high, at roughly 80%. The presence of rules that encourage innovation and reward creative people would enhance innovation that is customer-focused. On the other hand, policies and principles that encourage innovation and the conduct of internal product and process improvement research would promote system-focused innovation.Research limitations/implicationsEncouraging agro-food MSMEs to develop policies that support innovation would improve the overall level of innovation, while building the capacity of agro-food MSMEs to conduct product and process improvement research would increase the level of systems-focused research.Originality/valueThis study assessed the drivers of innovation in agri-food MSMEs in a developing country. The uniqueness of this study is in assessing the effects of innovation support services on customer-focused and systems-focused innovations.

MSMEs' innovation: a barrier approach

“…The inclusion of rules that encourage and reward creativity would improve customer-focused innovation. Policies and principles that foster innovation and the conduct of internal product and process improvement research, on the other hand, would promote system-focused innovation (Ajer et al, 2023). Moreover, MSMEs should have collaborative and collective problem-solving culture as it contributes more towards innovation (Candra et al, 2021).…”

Customer’s orientation, show-rooming Behavior, and Sales Performance: Mediated Moderation model of Taiwan's services industry

“…Customers believed brokers were primarily concerned with closing agreements and didn't care about knowing what their clients needed, based on their research. Numerous studies have examined the connection between client orientation and performance (Abdarpoor & Pakseresht, 2023;Ajer et al, 2023). Empirical study has demonstrated the bene􀅫icial effects of customer orientation on sales performance (Park & Hur, 2023;Varela-Neira et al, 2023;Yousaf et al, 2020) .…”

“…Consumer satisfaction and loyalty Kopalle, Kumar, and Subramaniam (2020) and C. M. J. Lee et al (2021) consumer attitudes toward products and salespeople Charoensukmongkol and Pandey (2023), customer repurchase intention Ajer et al (2023), and customer-perceived service quality Mei Jyin et al (2020) are some examples of these outcomes.…”

“…Technology-driven companies, especially those in sectors like telecom, frequently share the most recent advancements and information on technology. They continue to give research and development (R&D) processes top attention in order to become more innovative (Ajer et al, 2023). Businesses involved in technology, such as telecoms, constantly seek out fresh information, allocate substantial funds for research and development, and make direct investments in emerging technologies (Heubeck & Meckl, 2022).…”

“…Customer service is an essential component of the promises that companies and organizations make to their customers, and it goes beyond simply responding to their inquiries. Consequently, it plays a pivotal role in ascertaining the triumph of any enterprise (Ajer, Ngare, & Macharia, 2023).…”