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PurposeThis qualitative research aimed to explore the relationship between adaptive dynamic capabilities and resident loyalty formation among African-ethnic restaurants (AERs) during COVID-19 in East Africa.Design/methodology/approachAnchored on the dynamic capabilities perspective, the study uses eight case studies to obtain data based on restaurant owner-managers' lived experiences.FindingsThe paper presents six factors: (1) sensory quality promise, (2) service personalization declaration, (3) openness of technology adoption, (4) healthy food and safety assurance, (5) authenticity pledge and (6) diversity provision as prerequisites for resident loyalty formation. The findings suggest adaptive capacity as an appropriate alternative for stimulating resident loyalty formation during difficult times.Practical implicationsThe findings help managers in formulating strategies that facilitate residents' display of willingness to revisit and/or recommend others. The local restaurants can now keep modifying and adjusting their practices and processes so as to exhibit the ability to handle customer unique demands during difficult times.Originality/valueThrough this work, a model of adaptive capabilities as enablers of resident loyalty formation is proposed, hence contributing the existing body of knowledge.

The study investigates measures of vicarious experience and examines the relationship between vicarious experience and the career identity of Ugandan hospitality graduates. Questionnaires were administered to indigenous hospitality graduates (n = 248). Phenomenological findings on the concept of vicarious experience were obtained from 10 respondents. The results showed that among indigenous hospitality graduates, vicarious experience comprises two factors: professional functional excellence and social welfare construction experiences. Both factors are significant predictors of career identity among Ugandan hospitality graduates. When hospitality graduates engage in observational learning, then their career identity is enhanced. The findings thus suggest observational learning (vicarious experience) as an alternative route to stimulating a particular form of career motivation (career identity). Therefore, hotel managers who wish to build career identity may foster an atmosphere in which vicarious e...

The study analyzes the relationship between dynamic capabilities and the degree of inward internationalization of African-ethnic restaurants in East Africa. A qualitative approach using ten case restaurants assessed adaptive, absorptive and innovative capabilities and, how they relate with degree of inward internationalization. The study establishes that food quality assurance, food authenticity, personalized service and security assurance are used by ethnic restaurants to increase food tourist inflows. The study further found that knowledge absorption capacity helped ethnic restaurants to attract and retain food tourists. The study also found that innovative capabilities including adoption of new technology, adopting eclectic approaches and the ability to provide a wide assortment of dishes and regular menu updates was very instrumental in enhancing the level of inward internationalization. As such, the study through three models provides a theoretical explanation for the degree of inward internationalization of African-ethnic restaurants, and presents its theoretical, methodological, policy and managerial implications.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways of improving performance of agricultural projects through stakeholder engagement and knowledge management in a Sub-Saharan context. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 342 agricultural projects in Mukono and Wakiso districts in Uganda. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used in the analysis. Findings – The results reveal that stakeholder engagement and knowledge management are valuable intangible resources that significantly influence performance of agricultural projects. The findings, managerial and policy implications are fully discussed in this paper. Originality/value – The authors empirically show that a model that synchronizes stakeholder engagement, knowledge management and performance of agricultural projects is a requirement for promoting sustainable agricultural performance outcomes. This study makes a contribution by providing information that is relevant for filling the practical gap that exists in agricultural projects of Sub-Saharan Africa as well as contributing to the theoretical development of project management discipline.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine relationship between teacher competences and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) with empowerment as a mediating factor.Design/methodology/approach– The study took a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical design. Using cluster and random sampling procedures, data were obtained from 383 usable questionnaires. Data were analyzed through SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structures.Findings– Results indicated that planning, continuous assessment and initiating as operant teacher competences were significantly and positively related to empowerment. Also, empowerment was significantly and positively related to OCBs. Similarly, empowerment came out as a full mediator of the relationship between the teacher competences and OCBs.Practical implications– The study is relevant in that heads of schools will ensure they set up and implement human resources policies and practices that are favorable to building empowerment and OCB. School heads will be able to closely adhere to planning, initiating and continuous assessment rules in order to promote teacher empowerment and OCB. Government could appraise school heads based on whether they can successfully implement operant competence related rules on the employeesOriginality/value– The findings theoretically reconceptualize competences from the objectivist to the constructivist perspective. Planning, initiating, continuous assessment and empowerment make significant variations in OCB. The study demonstrates that empowerment translates the inputs of teacher competence into OCB.

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine, empirically the relationship between organizational rationality, knowledge management (KM), risk management and successful implementation of donor-funded projects in Uganda.Design/methodology/approach– Data were obtained from 195 project managers of donor-funded projects both managed within government systems and those outside government using a questionnaire. Zero-order correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were employed to analyze the data.Findings– The paper has two major findings: all the predictor variables are positively and significantly related to successful project implementation; and the relationship is strong enough to cause a 23 percent (R²) increase in the explanatory power in the presence of control variables.Research limitations/implications– The study focussed on selected donor-funded projects in Uganda and this limited the generalization of the findings. Moreover, there was also limited availability of local empirical literature with respect to implementation and performance of donor-funded projects.Practical implications– The results suggest that organizations that embrace organizational rationality, risk management and KM succeed in project implementation.Originality/value– There are many studies that investigate the practices adopted by organizations that implement donor-funded projects, however, this is the first study to the authors’ knowledge that examines the relationship between KM, rationality, risk management and successful implementation of donor-funded projects in Uganda.

This paper empirically tests the link between cultural orientation, market orientation, service innovation capabilities of owner-managers and the level of inward internationalisation of African-ethnic restaurants. Data were obtained from 201 African-ethnic restaurants. A twostep approach was used, i.e. (i) a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to generate a measurement model; and (ii) a structural equation model (SEM) to test the hypotheses. All the predictor variables are positively and significantly related to the degree of inward internationalisation and the relationship is strong enough to cause a 41 per cent variance. Since it is cross-sectional in design, the study cannot be fully relied upon to draw inferences regarding causality among the variables. The results suggest that owner-managers who develop the three capabilities succeed in enhancing inward internationalisation. The current study could be among the very few to propose a framework that brings together major managerial (dynamic) capabilities that are presumed to be vital in enhancing inward internationalisation.