Learning methods and entrepreneurial effectiveness of women-owned agri-small and medium enterprises: the mediating effect of entrepreneurial knowledge

Purpose The purpose of this study is to establish the mediating effect of entrepreneurial knowledge in the relationship between learning methods and entrepreneurial effectiveness of women-owned agricultural small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach This study is cross-sectional and correlational in nature and used a quantitative approach. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data from 380 women-owned agri-SMEs in Central Uganda. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS.25) and Medgraph (Excel Version) were used to support data analysis. Findings Study findings revealed that learning methods and entrepreneurial knowledge are significant predictors of entrepreneurial effectiveness. In addition, entrepreneurial knowledge significantly mediates the association between learning methods and entrepreneurial effectiveness of women-owned agricultural SMEs in Uganda. Originality/value The study confirmed that entrepreneurial knowledge significantly mediates the relationship between learning methods and entrepreneurial effectiveness of women-owned agricultural SMEs, unlike previous studies that focused on the direct relationship between the study variables in predicting the study phenomenon.