The impact of ethical practices on work performance of small and medium sized enterprises in Uganda. A case study; Wholesale computers and electronics shops in Kampala

Abstract

This study aims at analysing the impact of ethical practice on the work performance of SMEs. This study makes use of Small and medium sized shops of wholesale computer and electronics as research sample. The study was based on the following research objectives; to assess the impact of ethical practices on the work performance of SMEs in Kampala, to establish a relationship between trust and work performance, to establish the relationship between Accountability and work performance and to establish the relationship between Equity and work Performance. The study used a Purposive sampling survey technique while administering questionnaires to the respondents. A total of 92 questionnaires was administered and all 92 were answered and returned thus a response rate of 100% for the study. The data was analysed using SPSS software where univariate analysis was done using tables and frequencies and bivariate analysis was done using Pearson correlation to determine the relationship between two variables at a 0.01 level of significance. Where p <0.01, the relationship was significant and the null was rejected. Findings revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between Accountability and work performance where p=0.000 and r=0.610. There was also a positive significant relationship between Trust and work performance where p=0.001 and r=0.326. The study also revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between Equity and Work Performance where p=0.000 and r=0.705 Therefore, the results in the findings have proved that businesses that incorporate ethical practice in their operations has positively impacted their work performance and thus business can no longer afford to disregard business ethics