TITLE:
Unified Capacity Building Model for Enhancing the Capacity of SMEs in Emerging Economies
AUTHORS:
Michael Atanga Nyaaba, Francis Lanme Guribie, Joyce Twumwaa Akubah, Nongiba Alkanam Kheni
KEYWORDS:
Capacity Building, Framework, SMEs, Emerging Economies, Project Management, Keynesian Theory of Job Creation, Scientific Management Theory, Resource Based View, Ghana
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.13 No.5,
September
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study develops and empirically tests a unified model for enhancing the capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the construction industry of emerging economies. Using data from 120 Ghanaian construction professionals analyzed via PLS-SEM, the research integrates the Keynesian job creation theory, scientific management theory, and the Resource-Based View (RBV) to explain how the capacity of SMEs in emerging economies can be enhanced. The findings confirm that job creation policies, improved business management practices, and enhanced resource capabilities are significant predictors of SME capacity. These predictors were found to be significantly linked to increasing the technical/HR capacity, operational efficiency, social capital, financial capabilities and business management capabilities of SMEs. The ultimate outcome would be enhanced performance of the SMEs in terms of time, cost and quality delivery, and the competitiveness of SMEs in terms of revenue and profit margin, productivity, and growth and expansion. The findings of the research offer a useful policy to transform construction SMEs in developing economies.