IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ibn/ijbmjn/v18y2023i3p92.html

Innovation Climate and Attraction and Retention of Human Capital Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya: The Moderating Effect of Founder Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Mbadi Olila
  • Jackson Maalu
  • Florence Muindi

Abstract

Past studies on the effect of innovation climate on the attraction and retention of human capital produce mixed results. For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the impact of founder characteristics on the correlation between innovation climate and the attraction and retention of human capital. Criterion sampling was used to select the top 100 SMEs in Kenya. Targeted respondents included founders of SMEs. Out of the targeted 100 SMEs, 59 responded, giving a response rate of 59%. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect data and the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique to analyze the collected data. Since previous researchers have found mixed results on the influence of innovation climate on the attraction and retention of human capital, the current study aimed to ascertain this and thus the moderating variable, founder characteristics. It established that the variable had an insignificant effect on the link between innovation climate and human capital attraction and retention (βeta = 0.230, t = 1.855, p = 0.064). Since talented employees usually desire to work in a conducive workplace environment, SMEs need to create a supportive innovation climate that can assist in attracting, maintaining and retaining human capital. Future scholars can investigate the influence of other moderating variables on the link between innovation climate and the attraction and retention of human capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Mbadi Olila & Jackson Maalu & Florence Muindi, 2023. "Innovation Climate and Attraction and Retention of Human Capital Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya: The Moderating Effect of Founder Characteristics," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 18(3), pages 1-92, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ijbmjn:v:18:y:2023:i:3:p:92
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/download/0/0/48639/52382
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/view/0/48639
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lars Kolvereid, 1996. "Prediction of Employment Status Choice Intentions," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 21(1), pages 47-58, October.
    2. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1991. "A Conceptual Model of Entrepreneurship as Firm Behavior," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 16(1), pages 7-26, October.
    3. Martin, Bruce C. & McNally, Jeffrey J. & Kay, Michael J., 2013. "Examining the formation of human capital in entrepreneurship: A meta-analysis of entrepreneurship education outcomes," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 211-224.
    4. repec:eme:mrn000:01409179910781823 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Neumark, David & Johnson, Hans & Mejia, Marisol Cuellar, 2013. "Future skill shortages in the U.S. economy?," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 151-167.
    6. Shivani, Shradha & Mukherjee, S.K. & Sharan, Raka, 2006. "Socio-cultural influences on Indian entrepreneurs: The need for appropriate structural interventions," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 5-13, February.
    7. Penrose, Edith, 2009. "The Theory of the Growth of the Firm," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, edition 4, number 9780199573844.
    8. Lee, Cheng-Wen, 2007. "Strategic alliances influence on small and medium firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 731-741, July.
    9. Dimov, Dimo P. & Shepherd, Dean A., 2005. "Human capital theory and venture capital firms: exploring "home runs" and "strike outs"," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 1-21, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bernard Kwamena Cobbina Essel & Faizal Adams & Kwadwo Amankwah, 2019. "Effect of entrepreneur, firm, and institutional characteristics on small-scale firm performance in Ghana," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Fayolle, Alain & Liñán, Francisco, 2014. "The future of research on entrepreneurial intentions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 663-666.
    3. Mohammad Tahlil Azim & Md. Mazharul Islam, 2022. "Role of religiosity, social factors, and perceived subjective norms on entrepreneurial intention: a study on tertiary level students," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 341-356, December.
    4. Richter, Nicole Franziska & Hauff, Sven & Schlaegel, Christopher & Gudergan, Siegfried & Ringle, Christian M. & Gunkel, Marjaana, 2016. "Using Cultural Archetypes in Cross-cultural Management Studies," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 63-83.
    5. Meqbel M. Aliedan & Ibrahim A. Elshaer & Mansour A. Alyahya & Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, 2022. "Influences of University Education Support on Entrepreneurship Orientation and Entrepreneurship Intention: Application of Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Syed Zaheer Abbas, Kazmi & Andras, Nabradi, . "New Venture Creation – The Influence Of Entrepreneurship Education On Students’ Behavior (A Literature – Review Based Study)," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 11(01-2).
    7. Shirokova, Galina & Osiyevskyy, Oleksiy & Bogatyreva, Karina, 2016. "Exploring the intention–behavior link in student entrepreneurship: Moderating effects of individual and environmental characteristics," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 386-399.
    8. Marina Solesvik & Paul Westhead, 2019. "Fostering of Entrepreneurship Competencies and Entrepreneurial Intentions in a Weak Ecosystem," Foresight and STI Governance, National Research University Higher School of Economics, vol. 13(4), pages 60-68.
    9. Marie-Noëlle Albert & Marie-Michèle Couture, 2013. "The Support to an Entrepreneur," SAGE Open, , vol. 3(2), pages 21582440134, June.
    10. Gabriela Boldureanu & Alina Măriuca Ionescu & Ana-Maria Bercu & Maria Viorica Bedrule-Grigoruță & Daniel Boldureanu, 2020. "Entrepreneurship Education through Successful Entrepreneurial Models in Higher Education Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-33, February.
    11. Pi-Shen Seet & Janice Jones & Lloyd Oppelaar & Graciela Corral de Zubielqui, 2018. "Beyond ‘know-what’ and ‘know-how’ to ‘know-who’: enhancing human capital with social capital in an Australian start-up accelerator," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(2), pages 233-260, March.
    12. Maresch, Daniela & Harms, Rainer & Kailer, Norbert & Wimmer-Wurm, Birgit, 2016. "The impact of entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial intention of students in science and engineering versus business studies university programs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 172-179.
    13. Anglin, Aaron H. & Short, Jeremy C. & Drover, Will & Stevenson, Regan M. & McKenny, Aaron F. & Allison, Thomas H., 2018. "The power of positivity? The influence of positive psychological capital language on crowdfunding performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 470-492.
    14. Pérez-Fernández, Héctor & Cacciotti, Gabriella & Martín-Cruz, Natalia & Delgado-García, Juan Bautista, 2022. "Are interactions between need for achievement and social networks the driving force behind entrepreneurial Intention? A trait activation story," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 65-76.
    15. Nuscheler, Daniela & Engelen, Andreas & Zahra, Shaker A., 2019. "The role of top management teams in transforming technology-based new ventures' product introductions into growth," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 122-140.
    16. Jeffery S. McMullen & Katrina M. Brownell & Joel Adams, 2021. "What Makes an Entrepreneurship Study Entrepreneurial? Toward A Unified Theory of Entrepreneurial Agency," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 1197-1238, September.
    17. Dawn DeTienne & Melissa Cardon, 2012. "Impact of founder experience on exit intentions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 351-374, May.
    18. Ivona Vrdoljak Raguz, 2017. "Comparative Analysis Of Intentions Towards Self - Employment Among Business Students At The University Of Dubrovnik, Croatia," Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics, SOUTH-WEST UNIVERSITY "NEOFIT RILSKI", BLAGOEVGRAD, vol. 13(2), pages 105-120.
    19. Quang-Huy Ngo, 2023. "The Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation on SMEs’ Performance in a Transitional Economy: The Mediating Role of Differentiation Advantages and Innovation Capability," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    20. Jorge Arteaga-Fonseca & Matthew W. Rutherford & Curt B. Moore & Jeffrey M. Pollack, 2025. "Human Capital Theory and Venture Capital Firms: Exploring “Home Runs†and “Strike Outs†—A Replication and Extension of Dimov and Shepherd (2005)," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 49(5), pages 1470-1495, September.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ibn:ijbmjn:v:18:y:2023:i:3:p:92. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Canadian Center of Science and Education (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cepflch.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.