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Bottom-line mentality and abusive supervisory behaviour in MSMEs: how do they affect employee outcomes?

Charles Hanu (Faculty of Business Studies, Takoradi Technical University, Takoradi, Ghana)
Albert T. Agbenyegah (Department of Entrepreneurial Studies and Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa)
Gifty Kumadey (Department of Public Management and Economics, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa)
Robert Amankwaa (Department of Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa)
Samuel Ofosu-Appiah (Department of Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa)

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies

ISSN: 2053-4604

Article publication date: 18 May 2023

165

Abstract

Purpose

Grounded on trait activation and social learning theories, this study aims to examine the effects of bottom-line mentality (BLM) and perceived abusive supervisory behaviour on proactive employee work behaviour and employee bottom-line mentality (EBLM) in micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana. The moderating effects of relational attachment on how abusive supervisory behaviour relates to employee proactive work behaviour (PWB) and BLM were examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on a quantitative approach. An online questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional survey to elicit data from 643 conveniently sampled employees. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results support the proposition that owner-manager bottom-line mentality (OMBLM) positively and significantly predicts abusive supervision. The findings also revealed that owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour significantly predicts employee PWB and EBLM. While the moderating effect of relational attachment on the relationship between perceived owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour and EBLM is positive and significant, its effect on perceived owner-manager abusive supervisory and proactive employee work behaviour relationship was positive but insignificant.

Originality/value

The authors studied owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour to understand how OMBLM relates to proactive employee work behaviour and EBLM among MSMEs in Ghana. The study sets the tone to investigate further the impact of OMBLM and the functional effect of owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour on manager–employee relationships and outcomes among MSMEs in emerging economies.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Disclosure statement: The authors declare no competing interests or funding for this study.

Citation

Hanu, C., Agbenyegah, A.T., Kumadey, G., Amankwaa, R. and Ofosu-Appiah, S. (2023), "Bottom-line mentality and abusive supervisory behaviour in MSMEs: how do they affect employee outcomes?", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-07-2022-0215

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited

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