Enhancing financial resilience of women-owned SMEs in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic: the antecedent role of social capital

Purpose - Scientific knowledge is rich with literature on the antecedent role of social capital on resilience. However, empirical evidence has overlooked the role of the individual dimensions of bonding and bridging social capital on its outcomes. This study aims to extend empirical research on the influence of social capital facets of bonding social capital and bridging social capital on financial resilience and more specifically in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic where women SMEs mostly need bonding. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses an explanatory research design to determine the hypothesized effect of social capital on financial resilience. The authors used regression to test the hypothesized relationship using a sample of three hundred and eight four women-owned SMEs in Kampala registered with Kampala City Traders Association. Findings - According to the findings, the social bonding provides female entrepreneurs with emotive encouragement and inspiration through personal connections and responsibility sharing. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs bridging, which consisted of business networks, made it easier for them to identify new financial opportunities, which ultimately led to an increase in their financial resilience. The findings placed an emphasis on the significance of fellow business owners as sources of knowledge and assets that are crucial to maintaining one's financial resilience. Research limitations/implications - Data were collected from women owned SMEs, and the application of the findings may be limited to women SMEs in Kampala District. Therefore, future research should replicate the current study findings using a sample drawn from other SMEs owned by both male and female from outside Kampala because of changes in operating environment. The study was cross-sectional, and financial resilience of a firm changes was periodical. This study paves the way for future longitudinal research in the same topic area, which will allow for a more complete comprehension of the financial resiliency of SMEs throughout a range of different time periods. Practical implications - Research findings shape trajectory for current practitioners of SMEs to establish relevant social bonding and bridging as social capital in preparation for financial resilience in case of any pandemic. Originality/value - To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to establish the antecedent role of social capital on financial resilience during an economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, using a sample of women-owned medium- and small-sized businesses in Kampala.