International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge

INVESTIGATING THE DETERMINANTS OF BRAND EQUITY AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON CONSUMER PURCHASING BEHAVIOUR IN EMERGING MARKETS

2025-06-19T09:39:58+02:00

This study aims to investigate the key drivers of brand equity and examine their influence on consumer purchase behaviour in emerging markets. Specifically, it examines how brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand associations, and perceived quality, grounded in the consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) framework, influence consumer perceptions and purchasing decisions. Empirical data were collected from students at technical universities via purposive sampling, yielding 372 valid responses. The study employed Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyse the relationships between brand equity drivers and consumer purchase behaviour. All hypothesised relationships were supported, confirming that brand awareness, brand loyalty, brand associations, and perceived quality significantly influence consumer purchase behaviour in emerging markets. The findings highlight practical implications for marketers, emphasising the need to adapt branding strategies to local consumer preferences and to leverage both global and local brand strengths. Marketers should focus on enhancing all dimensions of brand equity to foster stronger consumer engagement and drive purchase decisions. This research enriches the understanding of brand equity dynamics in emerging markets, providing actionable insights for academics and practitioners. It underscores the importance of context-specific strategies for building and sustaining brand equity, thereby improving brand performance and consumer loyalty in dynamic market environments.

DETERMINANTS OF ENTREPRENEURIAL INTEREST WITH FINANCIAL PLANNING SKILLS AS A MEDIATION VARIABLE

2025-02-14T09:52:26+01:00

One cause of unemployment among college graduates is their low interest in becoming entrepreneurs. College graduates tend to look for jobs or not create jobs. This phenomenon has prompted various studies to identify the factors that contribute to low interest in entrepreneurship among university students. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of individual student factors, social support, and the external environment on entrepreneurial interest, with financial planning ability as a mediating variable. This study uses primary data obtained from the distribution of questionnaires to students of the Faculty of Economics. A total of 381 samples were obtained from the purposive population. Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS-SEM) was used to test the research hypothesis, based on a model framework built in SmartPLS3. The results of the study simultaneously indicating that all of these factors work together and interact with each other in influencing the extent to which an entrepreneur can make effective financial planning and also show that the variable of financial planning ability can mediate the causal relationship between the variables of capital adequacy, urgency of entrepreneurial knowledge, the role of technology and market opportunities on the variable of entrepreneurial interest. The results of this research can serve as scientific considerations in developing academic programs to foster student entrepreneurship, especially at universities.

CROSS-EXAMINING ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS TRAITS ACROSS ENTREPRENEUR GROUPS IN A COMMON ECOSYSTEM

2025-08-19T12:39:55+02:00

Six key characteristics provide a strategic competitive advantage to Somali entrepreneurs in South Africa, enabling them to attain superior entrepreneurial performance. This explanatory research employed empirical validation through systematic benchmarking and assessment of these traits within a carefully stratified cohort of South African entrepreneurs operating in a comparable entrepreneurial ecosystem, aiming to determine the extent to which these traits are inherent. A sample of 257 was surveyed through a one-on-one approach using a 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. The results from the One-Sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicate that. The results from the One-Sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicates that, while the examined entrepreneurs generally are adaptive to their business environment and customer-oriented, the notable lack of collaborative venture orientation, informal networks, and sense of community, likewise resilience traits, consistent with a neutral stance, may hinder their ability to compete with their foreign counterparts in similar entrepreneurial typologies, given equal market opportunities. The findings provide valuable insights for recalibrating entrepreneurial development strategies and enhancing the competitiveness of South African enterprises, ultimately benefiting policymakers, stakeholders, and local business owners. It outlines strategies to enhance local guidance on building localised resilience, market competitiveness, and innovation. A relative increase in these attributes will contribute to improved business survival rates and effectiveness among local enterprises by supporting South Africa’s broader developmental objectives. Success traits are considered essential for inclusion in South Africa's entrepreneurship development framework. Further empirical research is recommended to explore the receptiveness of these observed factors among local entrepreneurs.

MORE AGREEMENT, LESS COMMITMENT: A RASCH-BASED EXPLORATION OF ATTITUDES TOWARD AGRI-ENTREPRENEURSHIP

2025-09-01T08:07:02+02:00

Youth unemployment remains a significant issue in Ghana, despite agriculture’s potential for innovation, job creation, and economic growth. However, few youths view it as an attractive entrepreneurial path. Using a descriptive survey design, the study investigated university students' attitudes towards agri-entrepreneurship. The study comprised third and fourth-year agriculture students at the University of Cape Coast. The total population of third and fourth-year students was 352. The census method of data collection was used to ensure all students were included. Of the 352 questionnaires distributed, 210 were returned fully completed, yielding a response rate of 60%. Attitudes towards agri-entrepreneurship were analysed using the Partial Credit Rasch Model in Jamovi version 2.6.26. Overall, students held positive attitudes, valued agriculture, were willing to train, and sought information. However, items reflecting deep personal commitment were less endorsed, with threshold analysis revealing disordered upper categories, suggesting hesitation to strongly agree. Three latent trait groups emerged: low (basic awareness), moderate (practical understanding without strong commitment), and high (deep interest), suggesting complex interactions among attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, as per the theory of planned behaviour. The results highlight a gap between awareness and genuine motivation, highlighting the need for strategies to boost emotional engagement and providing valuable guidance for policymakers and higher education leaders in designing curricula and policies that encourage university graduates to pursue agri-entrepreneurship after graduation. The current study advances methodological practice by demonstrating the value of Item Response Theory in entrepreneurship research. It enriches the theoretical dialogue (Theory of Planned Behaviour) by demonstrating that the differences in students' latent traits or attitudes toward agri-entrepreneurship result from the interaction between attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norms in the Ghanaian context.

THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ENHANCING ORGANIZATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY AND INNOVATION

2025-09-01T08:26:53+02:00

This study examines the impact of employee training and human resource management practices on organizational productivity, emphasizing their role in fostering innovation and organizational adaptability. The analysis focuses on the roles of selection procedures, training design, delivery style, employee perceptions, and training exposure in driving performance outcomes aligned with strategic HRM objectives. Using a survey design with 248 respondents across multiple organizations, the study employed descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and chi-square tests to more precisely evaluate the strength and direction of the relationships among key variables. Results indicate that all five training-related factors significantly influence organizational productivity, with well-structured selection procedures, relevant training content, participatory delivery methods, positive employee perception, and consistent exposure enhancing both individual and organizational outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of equitable access to training, inclusive HR policies, and participatory decision-making in fostering industrial harmony, employee satisfaction, and innovation as core components of productive organizational climates. Policy implications suggest that organizations should prioritize merit-based selection, design contextually relevant training programs, adopt interactive delivery methods, and implement monitoring frameworks that continuously evaluate training effectiveness and organizational impact to optimize productivity gains. The study contributes to human capital theory, social exchange theory, and high-performance work systems literature by providing evidence that strategic HRM-aligned training is crucial for sustainable organizational competitiveness and long-term innovative capacity.

LEADERSHIP APPROACHES AND WORKFORCE ENGAGEMENT: ANALYZING THE LIMITS OF AUTOCRATIC, DEMOCRATIC, AND LAISSEZ-FAIRE MODELS IN MODERN ORGANIZATIONS

2025-09-01T08:29:06+02:00

This paper explores the extent to which leadership styles influence employee engagement, with particular attention to autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire approaches. Employee engagement has been recognized as a critical driver of organizational performance, yet evidence suggests that leadership styles may not uniformly foster positive outcomes. Autocratic leadership, while effective for control and discipline, may suppress innovation and commitment. The research highlights the nuanced ways in which leadership practices intersect with engagement dynamics. The study uses quantitative data from employees at a large Nigerian utility firm, integrating regression models to assess the relationship. The methodological approach employed descriptive statistics, reliability diagnostics, and multiple regression techniques to ensure robust empirical inferences. The findings reveal that all three leadership styles are significantly related to engagement, suggesting that contextual, demographic, and organizational factors shape how employees interpret and respond to different leadership behaviours. The results show that while democratic and laissez-faire leadership exhibit strong positive influences, autocratic leadership demonstrates a positive association in high-structure, high-certainty work environments. These results enrich debates by illustrating that leadership effectiveness is highly contingent and may diverge from traditional assumptions in emerging-economy contexts. The study offers practical implications for managers seeking evidence-based leadership strategies to enhance engagement, while highlighting the need for balanced approaches that integrate autonomy, participation, and strategic direction. Future research should explore moderating variables, such as institutional quality, organizational culture, and workforce digitalization, to deepen understanding of leadership–engagement dynamics. Future research should examine moderating variables such as institutional quality, organizational culture, technological change, and workforce digitalization to extend understanding of leadership–engagement dynamics across diverse settings.

HARNESSING ENTREPRENEURIAL KNOWLEDGE FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SUCCESS

2025-10-06T16:17:39+02:00

The construction industry across emerging economies faces persistent volatility, exposing small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to risks of reduced project success, declining income, and even closure. In South Africa, these challenges are particularly evident in the City of Tshwane, where construction SMMEs are under pressure to maintain performance in a competitive market. This study, therefore, explores how entrepreneurial knowledge, expressed through entrepreneurial orientation and customer satisfaction, contributes to project success in this critical sector. Adopting a quantitative descriptive design, data were collected from 251 construction project managers through a structured questionnaire. Analysis was conducted using SmartPLSv4, incorporating measurement model evaluation and structural equation modeling to test hypothesised relationships. The results reveal that two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, innovativeness and proactiveness, have significant positive effects on project success, while risk-taking shows no significant impact. Further, mediation analysis indicates that customer satisfaction does not significantly mediate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and project success. These findings highlight that entrepreneurial knowledge in the form of innovativeness and proactiveness plays a crucial role in driving construction outcomes, whereas reliance on risk-taking may not yield similar benefits in volatile markets. The study thus contributes to entrepreneurial knowledge by clarifying how orientation dimensions influence project success in an emerging economy context, while also addressing the limited empirical research on this relationship within the construction sector. The insights offer both theoretical implications and practical guidance for SMME construction firms seeking sustainable performance amid uncertainty.

ECOSYSTEM RESOURCES, ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES, AND STARTUP SUCCESS: A MEDIATION ANALYSIS

2025-09-22T13:31:44+02:00

Startup ecosystems across emerging economies, particularly in Nigeria, are increasingly recognized as engines of innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth. Yet, how ecosystem resources such as finance, policy support, infrastructure, and networks actually translate into startup success remains an open question. This study addresses that gap by examining the role of entrepreneurial competencies as a bridge between resources and performance. Using survey data from 300 Nigerian startups and analysed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings show that ecosystem resources directly improve startup success (β = 0.32, p < 0.01) but exert a more substantial influence on entrepreneurial competencies (β = 0.45, p < 0.001). Entrepreneurial competencies—defined here as a collection of skills, aptitudes, knowledge, and experiences enabling individuals to perform entrepreneurial tasks—also strongly predict startup success (β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Mediation tests reveal that competencies partially mediate the relationship between resources and success (indirect β = 0.19, p < 0.01), accounting for 37% of the effect. Together, the model explains 46% of the variance in startup success. The study advances the literature by offering a context-specific definition of entrepreneurial competencies and highlighting their critical role in converting ecosystem resources into sustainable outcomes. For policymakers and ecosystem actors, the implication is clear: resources alone are not enough; they must be coupled with intentional capacity-building for entrepreneurial skills.