Browsing by Author "Quaye, D."
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Item Are SME owner-managers entrepreneur? Evidence from Ghana(2013) Quaye, D.; Acheampong, G.,This study seeks to examine whether SME owner-managers are entrepreneurs. This is a particularly essential question in light of the term ‘entrepreneur,’ being ‘loosely’ used in most entrepreneurial studies to refer to SME owner-managers. The study adopts Covin and Slevin’s entrepreneurial orientation concept. The concept presents a good scale (comprising risk-taking, innovativeness and proactiveness) for measuring an SME owner-manager’s entrepreneurial ability. Using a systematic sampling approach the study interviewed 300 SME owner mangers in Accra, Ghana in various sectors such as services, trade, manufacturing and agro-processing. The study found that SME owner-managers are not innovative and do not take risks although very proactive. Consequently, this study concludes that SME owner-managers are not entrepreneurially oriented and as such cannot be labelled as entrepreneurs. Appropriately, they should be labelled as businesspersons.Item An Assessment of Entrepreneurial Disposition and Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Some Lessons from Ghana(Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 2018-04) Adom, K.; Chiri, N.; Quaye, D.; Awuah-Werekoh, K.This paper assesses the impact of Ghanaian culture on the entrepreneurial disposition of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates of Accra Polytechnic from 2007 to 2012. Since the turn of the millennium, there has been more attention given to job creation than job seeking, especially among the youth, to address unemployment in developing countries. This is because of governments’ inability to match the growing number of job seekers to job creation across the globe. One way to address this deficit in Ghana is the introduction of courses in entrepreneurship in almost all tertiary institutions, coupled with the setting up of institutions such as Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Development Agency (GYEEDA), National Youth Employment Program (NYEP), Youth Entrepreneurship Agency (YEA), Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES), among others. Reporting on 2015 data from Accra, the main finding was that collectivistic culture has negative effects on capital accumulation, human resource management and the urgency the unemployed graduates attached to self-employment. Therefore, this paper calls for some ways to address the issue of graduates’ inability to be enterprising. Keywords: Culture; entrepreneurial disposition; Ghana; Polytechnic; sub-Saharan Africa.Item Enterprise Formation by Pooling: The case of Ghana(2013) Andoh, C.,; Quaye, D.Item Enterprise Formation by Pooling: The Case of Ghana(2013) Andoh, C.; Quaye, D.Item Entrepreneurial Orientation and SME Growth: A Study of the Food Processing Sector of Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-06) Alembummah, A. B.; Buame, S.; Quaye, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Business School, Department of Marketing and Consumer ManagementThis study examines the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on the growth of SMEs in Ghana’s food processing sector. The importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to the well-being of an economy cannot be overemphasized. Many studies have been undertaken, both in developed and developing countries to indicate the major developmental role that SMEs play in an economy. However, despite their acknowledged contributions to the economy and series of interventions by government and non-governmental agencies, SMEs in Ghana are bedeviled with challenges that seem to stifle their growth. Many studies have sought to identify some of these challenges, however, it appears few of them have considered the extent to which SMEs entrepreneurial orientation will lead to growth. This study adopted Lumpkin and Dess’s (1996) multidimensional entrepreneurial orientation concept to examine the influence that the construct has on SME growth in the food processing sector in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. The study employed a survey research design using structured questionnaire while multiple regression and one tail test were used to analyze data. The study observed that even though SMEs in the food processing sector display some traits of entrepreneurial orientation, the business environment in which these firms fine themselves often acts as an impediment to their growth propensity. The findings also indicated that SMEs in the food processing sector often exhibits high levels of proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness whereas innovativeness, risk-taking and autonomy seem to be non-existent when the environment is unstable. The study, therefore, recommends that firms encourage employee creativity in the performance of assigned tasks and also invest in current technologies and R&D (research and development). The findings are subject to a limited sample size, thus, future studies are advised to use much larger sample size so as to test the robustness of these findings.Item Fuel Prices and Road Transportation Fares in Ghana(Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2015-07) Andoh, C.; Quaye, D.We develop a mathematical model for automatic adjustment of new transportation fares in terms of old transportation fares, the number of litres of petrol/diesel a vehicle requires, the quantum of adjustment, the number of trips a vehicle makes on a specified route and the number of passengers a vehicle carries. We recommend that any adjustment to existing fares should be exactly the loading and that any additional amount to the existing fares differing from the loading leads to either overcharging or undercharging of passengers. We also show that any negotiation about the quantum of adjustment to existing fares reduces to the proper assignment of the number of trips a vehicle plies on a specified route. We tested our models on privately operated commercial vehicles using data from major lorry stations in Accra, the National Petroleum Authority and Drivers and Vehicular License Authority in Ghana. The results indicated that passengers are undercharged on some routes whereas they are overcharged on others. The model should be useful to transportation planners, coordinators and administrators in setting and adjusting road transportation fares. It should assist in settling disputes about new transportation fares between passengers and drivers that arise when there is adjustment in fuel prices.Item Impact of demographic factors on technological orientations of BOP entrepreneurs in Ghana(2014) Acheampong, G.; Manama, B.; Quaye, D.; Buame, S.,The study explores relationship between technological orientations and demographics of bottom of the pyramid (BOP) entrepreneurs in Ghana. The study reviewed literature on the BOP concept. Based on the reviewed literature, hypotheses were developed for testing. Data was collected from 287 micro-entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. The study found some relationships between technology acceptance, connectivity to networks and entrepreneurial demographics. This provides the information necessary for information communications technology (ICT) and technology companies seeking to expand to these new markets as top of the pyramid markets saturate. Read More: http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0219877014500370Item Impact of Fraud on Ghanaian SMEs and Coping Mechanisms(Journal of Financial Crime, 2018-03) Andoh, C.; Quaye, D.; Akomea-Frimpong, I.Purpose Small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of growth of most developing countries, as they employ a large number of people as opposed to large firms. Consequently, these enterprises should succeed in expanding to become significant employers and producers. However, what seems obvious at least through cursory observation is that the current state of SMEs betrays an economic loss with respect to the benefits that ought to be forthcoming from their potential. This loss can be triggered by a number of factors. The study determines the drivers of internal fraud and their impact on Ghanaian SMEs and prescribes coping mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach Primary data collected on 250 SMEs collected from various sectors across Accra, the capital of Ghana, are used for this study. Using a cross-sectional regression, the authors identify the key drivers of internal fraud that hamper the growth of Ghanaian SMEs. Findings The regression results show that although several fraud variables impact negatively the growth of the SME sector, it is only accounting fraud which is significant. This study also revealed that stealing, fake currency issued for the payment of goods or service and non-payment of goods or service account for almost 83 per cent of fraud cases experienced by SMEs. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to the SMEs located in the Accra, the capital of Ghana. Practical implications The study will offer SMEs owners methods that will assist in their determination to fight fraud in the business that they manage. Social implications The survival of SMEs is paramount to job creation. Consequently, combating fraud that stifle the growth of SMEs will allow SMEs to grow to their full potential and create more job opportunities for the unemployed. This will minimizes the social vices such as robbery, stealing, drug trafficking and prostitution that confront nations. Originality/value This study should be useful to managers of SMEs, auditors and the security agencies in developing economies in particular, in their quest to combat fraud within SMEs.Item Investigating Electronic Marketing and Hotel Performance in Ghana: The Customers’ Perspective(University of Ghana, 2015-06) Akaba, S. K.; Hinson, R. E.; Quaye, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Business School, Department of Marketing and Consumer ManagementThe purpose of the study is to investigate E-marketing and hotel performance with emphasis on three E-marketing tools namely; website, e-mail and social media. Previous studies that have looked at electronic marketing and hotel focused on adoption of the internet and electronic use in hotels. Others focused on the financial performance of electronic marketing: that is, return on investment, profit and loss and sales margin, to the neglect of other relevant issues such as the effect E- marketing tools such as website, e-mail and social media have on the non-financial performance of hotels. This study therefore seeks to address this gap in research from the Ghanaian contest. To address this gap the study employed a quantitative approach specifically a survey and an adapted framework to carry out the research. Data was collected from 200 customers of Ghanaian hotels. Data was analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regressions. The findings from the study indicated that Website and Social media were the most significant of the three tools analyzed. In addition, E-mails were found to be insignificant, that is, it was rarely used among Ghanaian hotel operators in communicating with customers. The study recommends that, hotels should update and interact with customers on their online sites regularly since customers are becoming more technology savvy. Future studies should consider budget hotels, guest houses and hostel because this study was based on star rated hotels in Ghana.Item Market Orientation Practices and Customer Satisfaction in the Ghananian Banking Sector(University of Ghana, 2016-06) Muumob, D. D.; Mahmoud, M. A.; Quaye, D.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities, Business School, Department of Marketing and Consumer ManagementAs competition intensifies in the Ghanaian banking industry, understanding the concept of market orientation is critical for effective design and implementation of customers’ satisfaction. Staying top always demand that organisations must be market-oriented to be able to deliver superior customer services. Market orientation as a strategies focuses on discovering and meeting the express and latent needs of customers. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between market orientation and customer satisfaction of Ecobank and GCB bank in Ghana. The study adopted the cross sectional research design to ascertain whether there exist any association between market orientation and customer satisfaction of the banks. The study population comprised the managers and employees’ of the two banks in Greater Accra region. A sample size of 150 were targeted out of which 120 were contacted for the data collection. A structured, and self-administered questionnaire were designed in collecting the data. The data collected from the study respondents were analyzed with the aid of the (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were used and the relationships between market orientation strategies and customer satisfaction were explored using regression analysis and exploratory factor analysis. The study established that there was a significant positive relationship between market orientation practice and customer satisfaction in the Ghanaian banking sector. The study also revealed strong relationship between the components of MO and CS. The study recommended that banks should make conscious effort to recognize and take into consideration their customers' needs as well as competitors moves and actions. Banks in Ghana should effectively analyze their competitor strengths and weaknesses and make efforts to counter the actions by providing superior products and services to their customers. The bank managers and employees also need to identify what their institutions would do well if they develop inter-functional coordination capabilities, which will support the competitive behavior of service quality and innovation.Item Marketing innovation and sustainable competitive advantage of manufacturing SMEs in Ghana(Management Decision, 2018-10) Quaye, D.; Mensah, I.Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries can sustain or improve their competitive advantage by integrating specific resources and capabilities. The paper seeks to offer an alternative framework “resource capability-based view (RCBV)” that provides a strategic marketing direction for SMEs regarding how innovative marketing practices and dynamic marketing capabilities integrate to create sustainable market advantage. Design/methodology/approach – This current paper employed a quantitative survey design with a positivist methodological research paradigm. The paper used a multi-stage stratified and simple random sampling technique to collect data from 591 manufacturing SMEs in Ghana. SMEs in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries were sampled for the study. A structural equation model was employed to test the study hypotheses to arrive at the findings. Findings – The study found that product design and packaging innovations, promotion innovations, retail innovations and pricing innovations provide sustainable market advantage for water, beverage, detergent and metal fabrication SMEs. The paper also found that new product designs and packages are the major drivers of sustainable market advantage followed by innovative retail outlets. The paper further originated that integrating marketing competence (marketing resources and marketing capabilities) and innovative marketing activities provides a marginal improvement in competitive advantage. Physical resources may result in market advantage but integrating physical resources with dynamic marketing capabilities provides sufficient competitive sustainability in a competitive market. Practical implications – SMEs in water, beverage, soap, detergent, metal fabrication, wood and furniture manufacturing industries should prioritise their key marketing resources and capabilities in product designs, promotion, pricing and retailing innovations in order to sustain market advantage. Old products should not be faded from the market but rather SME managers should employ innovative retail strategies, such as eco-friendly advertising, product re-branding and digital platforms (social network sites and websites), which are important to sustaining market performance. Government must develop targeted policies to bridge the information gap between SMEs and research institutions such as universities through regular subsidised entrepreneurial training and creation of semi-annual industry-academic fairs. The main theoretical contribution of this current paper is the development of “RCBV” as a framework which shows how SMEs can integrate specific resources and capabilities to achieve sustainable market advantage. This framework offers an integrative view of conventional resource-based view and dynamic capability theory (DCT) which are independently examined in the literature. Originality/value – This current study has proposed an integrated and elaborative approach to the conventional resource-based view and DCT which does not provide a composite understanding in the literature. SMEs may lack the needed resources and capabilities to introduce new products or extant product lines but this paper has demonstrated that how SME can sustain market advantage of existing product(s) by synchronously using specific marketing resources and capabilities. The proposed framework offers a guide for SMEs to integrate their physical resources and capabilities to sustain their market advantage.Item Public Private Partnership as an Alternative Source of Financing Highway in Ghana,(2012) Andoh, C.,; Agyakwa, E.,; Quaye, D.This paper assesses the profitability of a private entity going into partnership with the Ghanaian government for the construction and management of highways. The paper derives the conditions under which public private partnership highway financing can be viable in Ghana. A mathematical model that can be used by a businessman or an organization (or a concessionaire) to determine the optimal profit, the optimal number of different vehicle sizes, and the optimal toll rates for a given concessionary period are developed. The model is a very good and useful planning and decision-making tool for any business man or organization interested in venturing into partnership with any government with regard to highway construction and management. Using the model and data from the Ghana Highway Authority, we show that public private partnership financing is applicable on a number of roads through the right mix of two variables, the concession period and the road toll rate. Our findings can be useful to investors interested in partnering with government in highway financing on the type of highway to choose and its accompanying cost. Furthermore, this paper will provide the government with better insight when partnering with the private sector in highway financingItem Social Marketing: The Use of Social Cognitive Theory to Influence Breast Cancer Screening in Ghana(University of Ghana, 2015-06) Arko, M.; Quaye, D.; Tweneboah-Koduah, E.Y.; University of Ghana, College of Humanities Business School Department of Marketing and Consumer ManagementBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in both high-resource and low-resource countries. According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, breast cancer accounts for 12% of all female cancers with the majority (60%) of breast cancer deaths occurring in less-developed countries. Despite the increasing rate of breast cancer deaths, there are a lots of women who do not examine their breast on regular basis and a lot more who do not seek medical assistance as early as possible. Currently, there is no national data available on breast cancer screening and the factors that influence screening behaviour among Ghanaian women. Although some literature about barriers to breast screening exist in Ghana, the factors which prevent women from screening their breast is under researched. There is therefore the need to investigate the factors which are likely to influence breast cancer screening among Ghanaian women so as to tackle this public health burden with effective preventive strategies. The goal of this study was to adapt the social cognitive framework to examine the factors that are likely to influence breast cancer screening in Ghana. A quantitative research was conducted among women at the Madina market, a Sub Metro within Accra Metropolitan area. Using non- probability sampling, a total of 300 respondents, made up of women from 18 years and above were contacted. A closed ended self-administered questionnaires were used to collect information on demographics, personal, immediate and wider environmental influences, and finally breast cancer screening behaviour. Finally, Pearson‘s correlation test was used to analyse the data collected. This study has contributed to new knowledge of breast cancer epidemiology in Ghanaian women. Immediate environmental factors, wider external environmental factors and personal characteristics were identified as having significant relationship with breast screening behaviour. This study revealed that the factors which influenced breast cancer screening among Ghanaian women included immediate environmental factors, wider external factors as well as personal characteristics. Further investigations are recommended, probably to replicate similar research in other countries in Africa and India which may share common characteristics with Ghana. Again, future research should focus on qualitative research since this study adopted quantitative approach.