The Role of Firm Resources in Strategy Execution. Evidence from Uganda's Road Transport Firms

Abstract

This paper provides evidence on the role of different firm resources in strategy execution using
evidence from Uganda's road transport firms. Data were collected through a survey
questionnaire from a sample of 76 transport firms. Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation
Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that financial, human and
physical resources have a positive and statistically significant contribution to successful
execution of strategies. Centrally to previous thinking, physical resources lead to more
variations in strategy execution followed by financial and then human resources. Hence,
transport firms must be quick, flexible, and innovative in acquiring and utilizing relevant
resources to survive in the volatile environment. This study is unique since it explored strategy
execution from a landlocked country Uganda, which relies more on road transport to connect to
the neighbouring borders in the East African Community for most of its imports and exports.
Additionally, the study examined the individual contribution of different firm-specific resources
on strategy execution in a developing country with less formalized transport system.

Keywords: firm resource, strategy execution, transport firms, Uganda