Title: The dynamics of Leadership influence and behavior practices in small and medium enterprises in Greater Kibaale Region of Uganda
Authors: Mark Kiiza EdD, Prof Salvatore Fava,
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
Pages: 136-154
Publication Date: 2025/06/28
Abstract:
Over the ages, there has been an increasing concern about the silent dynamic leadership skills and office behaviour practices of small and medium enterprises in the greater Kibaale region of Uganda. Three objectives guided the study. The study adopted a mixed methodology that enabled the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. They used a cross-sectional design and a mixed-method study methodology. The survey, interviews and documentary reviews were administered to 340 employees and 54 owner-managers in SMES in Uganda. It was hypothesised that promotive follower voice behaviour has influence over leadership competencies of SME owner-managers (hereinafter in Uganda whereas prohibitive voice behaviour has no influence over leadership competencies with Leader-Member-Exchange (hereinafter quality playing a moderating role.The evidence obtained indicates that followers, through their voice exertion behaviour indeed have influence over leadership competencies of SME owner-managers in Uganda. Further, quality moderates the relationship between follower voice and leadership competencies. The results advance research on leadership competencies by helping to highlight the powerful role follower voice behaviour plays in influencing leadership competencies, and also advance organisational literature on SMES by introducing voice behaviour as a vital source of learning for SME owner-managers. The study concludes Social Constructivism theory, exit-behaviour voice and loyalty theory and leader-member exchange theory. This study contributes to current research on voice behaviour and leadership competencies by investigating how follower voice behaviour plays in polishing leadership competencies of Small and Medium Enterprises owner-managers in Uganda. The study recommends that there is a need to revitalise leadership and good governance practices to support the small-scale and medium enterprises. It also recommends having good financial management and internal control measures in small-scale and medium enterprises in Uganda.