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ABSTRACT. In this study, we seek to examine the prevalence and relationships between constructs of mindfulness, task autonomy, Interfunctional coordination, teamwork, contract implementation and monitoring which have been largely ignored or not fully explored in previous empirical research; and attempt to use them to predict contract performance. The paper uses descriptive and analytical research designs guided by multimethods qualitative and quantitative research approaches to collect and analyze data predicting contract performance in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member states. Data was collected from a representative sample of 10 countries and subsequent sampling was done at the government ministries. Contracts were the unit of analysis as suggested by Brousseau and Glachant (2002).The study findings reveal that deontology, mindfulness procurement task performance, competence of the procurement staff, inter-functional coordination and teamwork, mindfulness, task autonomy, Inter-functional coordination, teamwork, contract implementation and monitoring for contract implementation and monitoring significantly and positively predict contract performance. Contrary to our expectation, teleology ethical orientation and autonomy of procurement staff significantly and negatively predicted contract performance. These findings have both policy and managerial implications which we present. Lastly, we recognize the virtue of ethical orientation of PDE leadership which resides in deontology and teleology that has been largely ignored in previous contract performance research. Paralleling previous empirical studies, the study brings together constructs of mindfulness, task autonomy, Inter-functional coordination and teamwork, contract implementation and monitoring in predicting contract performance in a large regional sub-Saharan market of the common market for eastern and southern Africa (COMESA).

PurposeEnterprise growth drives competitiveness, innovations, employment creation, income generation and social inclusion in societies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of networking on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and enterprise growth of financial cooperatives.Design/methodology/approachThis is a cross-sectional survey and quantitative study of 269 financial cooperatives based on structural equation modelling and bootstrapping techniques analysis.FindingsThe results reveal that dynamic capabilities are vital in promoting the growth of financial cooperatives. In addition, networking partially enhances the contribution of dynamic capabilities to the growth of financial cooperatives. Therefore, dynamic capabilities and networking play a key role in promoting the growth of financial cooperative enterprises.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a cross-sectional survey. It did not trace the changes in behavioural and attitudinal aspects of enterprise growth over time. A longitudinal approach is recommended.Practical implicationsIt is imperative that managers of financial cooperatives enhance their coordination, learning and competitive response capabilities through consultation, exchange and sharing of information among staff and other stakeholders, to increase the membership, capital and income volumes, depicting growth of financial cooperatives.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight on the mediating effect of networking on the enterprise growth of financial cooperatives in developing countries founded on networks theoretical framework. Unlike previous studies that modelled direct relationship of enterprise growth.

The public procurement and disposal of Assets Act (PPDA Act 2003), provides the institutional framework under which public procurement in Uganda is undertaken. The PPDA Act requires all Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs) to ensure the application of fair, competitive, transparent, non-discriminatory and value for money procurement and disposal standards and practices. The Act further creates and mandates the Ugandan Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to monitor, administer and enforce compliance with the procurement law, regulations and guidelines [Section 7[r] of the PPDA Act 2003 Regulation 6 (e), (i), (ii), (iii) of the PPDA Regulations 2003]. Despite this provision, since 2005, Ugandan procurement audit reports have consistently reported failure by the PDEs to comply with the procurement law. Procurement personnel continue to complain about the cumbersome and lengthy, unfair procurement procedures. They assert that their procurement and disposal units (PDUs) have been downgraded to the level where they are regarded as mere secretariat to the contracts and evaluation committees with little power to make procurement related decisions. Although logically defensible, many procurement personnel detest the decision to legislate the procurement profession (Ntayi et al., 2010). Additionally, there is a general feeling that the PPDA is impartial and morally indefensible and ineffective. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions and effects of social value orientation, expected utility, fairness in procurement procedures, the legitimacy of the procurement law and the procurement law enforcement authority on compliance with the procurement law, guidelines, procedures and regulations. Empirical research in this area is relatively sparse. Data were collected from a sample of 110 procurement and Disposing Entities (PDEs) and analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results of the fit indices between the model and the observed data were generally good for both CFA and SEM. Results reveal that social value orientation, expected utility, legitimacy of the procurement law enforcement agency and perceptions of procedural justice were significant predictors of PPDA regulatory agency. Findings have both policy and managerial implications for key public procurement stakeholders which we present.