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
Email: sendawulakasimu@gmail.com/skasimu@bams.mak.ac.ug
Muhammed Ngoma
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, Makerere University Business School
Makerere University, Kampala
Uganda
Juma Bananuka, 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
DOI: 10.1108/WJEMSD-04-2020-0030
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.
Originality/value: 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: Internationalization; Business networking; Organizational learning; Small and medium-sized enterprises; Uganda.
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
