Social entreprenuerial competences, social capital and perceived performance of social entreprenuers in selected NGOs and CBOs OF Lira and Tororo districts

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to find the relationship between social entrepreneurial competencies, social capital and perceived performance of the social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurial competencies were split into technical competencies and key personal competencies. The research was carried out in the districts of Lira in Northern Uganda and Tororo in Eastern Uganda. The researcher used convenient sampling method to select a sample of 470 respondents. Questionnaires were administered to them, were collected after 1 month and were analyzed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) software. The results indicated that there’s a significant relationship among the study variables. Pearson’s correlation revealed (r = 0.85**, p < 0.01) between technical competencies and perceived performance, (r = 0.84**, p < 0.01) between key personal competencies and perceived performance and(r = 0.80**, p < 0.01) between social capital and perceived performance. This revealed a significant relationship amongst the variables. Regression analysis showed that 79.2% of the variance in perceived performance can be attributed to technical competencies and social capital. In addition, it was noted that technical competencies can independently predict perceived performance. From the findings, the researcher suggested that if technical competencies, key personal competencies and social capital were to be combined with other factors like it was established by the study findings, they would consequently boost perceived social entrepreneurial performance. The researcher recommended that social entrepreneurs need to gain technical competencies and to enrich their social capital so as to perform. The researcher concluded that social entrepreneurs require sufficient social entrepreneurial competencies (Technical and Key Personal Competencies) and social capital if their perceived performance is to be felt.