The impact of training on innovation and enterprise competitiveness in Uganda

Abstract

This study focused on establishing the impact of training on innovation and enterprise Competitiveness in Uganda. The study was guided by the following study objectives namely; analyzing the extent of the impact of training on innovation, determining the impact of innovation on business competitiveness and developing a mathematical model relating training, innovation and business competitiveness. The study was guided by a cross-sectional design conducted in forty graduate Food Technology Related Business Enterprises selected randomly from four Incubation Centres namely FTBIC, UIRI, UWEAL and Enterprise Uganda. The respondents were managers/CEOs of these business enterprises. Regression analysis was used to achieve the objectives of this study. The study found out that training has a positive impact on the overall innovative performance (at p<0.01) of business enterprises in Uganda. The study also found out that the number of new branded products produced through innovation has a positive impact on the overall business competitiveness (at p<0.05) of business enterprises in Uganda. However, the study also proved that other factors such as the firm’s support for innovation and the establishment of the business enterprise also have a positive impact on innovation. The following recommendations were therefore made; Business managers should emphasize the training for a given duration not less than one week in order to achieve innovative performance. Business managers in Uganda should also ensure product innovation (through an increased number of new branded products) in order to achieve their firms’ competitiveness. The business should enlarge their establishments in terms of production capacity and market bases in order to boost innovative performance.