WJEMSD · Vol 17, No 2 · 2021

Business networking and internationalization: testing the mediation role of organizational learning, Kasimu Sendawula, Muhammed Ngoma, Juma Bananuka, Saadat Kimuli and Frank Kabuye

Kasimu Sendawula
Department of Marketing and Management
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Muhammed Ngoma
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Makerere University Business School
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Juma Bananuka
Department of Accounting, Makerere University Business School
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Frank Kabuye
Department of Accounting, Makerere University Business School
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Saadat Nakyejwe Lubowa Kimuli
Department of Entrepreneurship, Makerere University Business School
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Purpose

The purpose of this study was to establish the mediation role of organizational learning in the relationship between business networking and internationalization of manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using evidence from Uganda.

Design/Methodology/Approach

This study is cross sectional and correlational. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 96 manufacturing SMEs. Data were analyzed through correlation coefficients, hierarchical regression and mediation analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and MedGraph - Excel Version.

Findings

Findings indicate that organizational learning partially mediates the relationship between business networking and internationalization of SMEs. Results further reveal that business networking and organizational learning significantly predict internationalization of SMEs.

Original/Value of the Paper

This study contributes to the already existing literature on internationalization of SMEs as it provides initial empirical evidence on the mediating role of organizational learning in the relationship between business networking and internationalization of SMEs using evidence from a developing country – Uganda.

Keywords
InternationalizationBusiness networkingOrganizational learningSmall and medium-sized enterprisesUganda
Citation

Sendawula, K., Ngoma, M., Bananuka, J., Kimuli, S.N.L. and Kabuye, F. (2021), "Business networking and internationalization: testing the mediation role of organizational learning", World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 246-259. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-04-2020-0030