The ICT Usage Mediation of Management Proactiveness and Organisational Resilience: Empirical Evidence from SMEs in Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Resource-Based View (RBV), this study explores how management proactiveness and information and communication technology (ICT) usage enhance organisational resilience in Kampala’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A cross-sectional quantitative survey drew a systematic sample of 384 owners-managers from a population of 85,544 firms, using Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) table.  Validity and reliability tests were performed, and all study variables exceeded 0.7 on both tests. SPSS version 23 addressed descriptive and inferential statistics (frequencies, correlations, and regression analysis). A med graph by Jose was used to determine the mediation effect of ICT usage in the relationship between management proactiveness and organisational resilience. Findings show that both management proactiveness and ICT usage are positively associated with organisational resilience and, together, account for a significant share of its variance. ICT usage further emerges as a partial mediator between management proactiveness and resilience. Theoretically, the results extend resilience research by integrating behavioural (proactiveness) and technological (ICT) capabilities; practically, they inform policymakers and SME stakeholders seeking to strengthen firm adaptability. Recommendations for policy and future research are provided.