PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether each level in international networking (network extension, network penetration and network integration) matters in the internationalization of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a cross-sectional and correlational research design. The data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 206 exporting SMEs in Uganda. The study employed a structural equation modelling (SEM) technique using partial least square (PLS) to test the hypothesis.FindingsThe findings revealed that network extension and network integration do matter in SMEs’ internationalization, while network penetration does not.Practical implicationsSMEs in developing countries need to concentrate on network extension and network integration levels to successfully internationalize their operations.Originality/valueThe study provides initial evidence on whether network extension, network penetration and network integration matter in SMEs’ internationalization in developing countries like Uganda.

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Purpose The purpose of this paper was to examine the difference in the effect on external marketing effectiveness of gender similar boards and gender dissimilar boards in the agro-manufacturing industry in Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/approach Based on a multi-item construct of external marketing effectiveness, data were gathered from 56 agro-manufacturing firms. The significant differences in the effect of marketing activities designed by male, gender-diverse and female boards on the level of external marketing effectiveness of the firms were examined using MANOVA. Findings The results suggest significant differences on the levels of external marketing effectiveness between all female boards and all male and gender-diverse boards. Female boards indicated high levels of external marketing effectiveness on customer-perceived value, loyalty, satisfaction, brand performance and symbolic meaning. The study concludes that marketing effectiveness will only be achieved by firms that develop relevant marketing strategies for the female consumer market. Research limitations/implications The sample for this research was drawn from agro-manufacturing firms in Zimbabwe. Therefore, the applicability of these findings to other countries should be done with caution. In addition, the sample for the research was rather small, with only a few female boards. If conducted with a larger sample, the results could be different. The developed scale to measure external marketing effectiveness may require to be tested by other researchers in different settings to confirm its applicability in measuring the construct in multiple settings. Originality/value Prior research shows that corporate board effectiveness has tended to be measured in terms of corporate financial performance. This research measures board effectiveness from the extent to which its gender composition has an effect on the ability of manufacturing firms to serve emerging needs of female consumers.

Uganda is one of the LDCs in Africa whose economy is heavily dependent on agriculture for exports, GDP and domestic employment. However, Uganda has implemented a liberalised agricultural trade regime since the 1990s, and by 2005, Uganda was considered one of the most liberalised economies in Africa. Yet Uganda's experience seems to contradict recent evidence regarding import liberalisation, economic growth and effective integration in the global economy, which suggests that liberalisation, should follow rather than precede sustained periods of economic growth and should be gradual and sequenced. Uganda seems not to have followed that approach. This paper reports the findings of a study on Uganda's experience with import liberalisation of agricultural products and how this has impacted on agricultural value addition potential. The results show that liberalisation of the agricultural trade regime in Uganda has resulted in phenomenal growth in imports of agricultural products particularly the processed ones. The scope of the tariff lines has also expanded sharply. Secondly, almost all potential agricultural value addition possibilities were being supplied by competing imported products with import levels likely to increase. The locally produced value-added agricultural products had very limited competitive space and in many cases were already swamped by imported ones. Last but not least, agro-processing ventures seemed to have experienced declining competitiveness due to increased competition from agricultural imports resulting in declining demand and sales, market share and profitability. To reverse this trend, the study observes the need to accord additional protection to the agricultural sector and to implement specific measures to boost the competitiveness of agro-processing investments.

The purpose of the study was to compare the action learning approach with the traditional didactic learning and establish the relationship between problem-based learning and action learning. We employed a quasi experiment where the Marquardt Action Learning model was combined with the constructivist theories of learning. The quasi experiment was composed of three groups, namely the treatment group (action learning group), the traditional group and the control group. To stimulate participant thought and reflection, a community of practice environment was created and just-in-time classes were conducted, based on the constructive theories of learning. Although the study involved various constructivist theories, the article concentrates on problem-based learning; hence, it is quiet about other constructivist theories. The results indicate significant differences between the action learning and traditional didactic learning. Furthermore, a significant relationship between problem-based learning and action learning was established. The robust strength of reflective practice and self-directed learning in the prediction of action learning is also highlighted. The findings can be utilised to design future training programmes in universities and other workplaces in order to equip workers with reflective practice and self-directed learning skills that are vital in solving workplace problems.