Browsing by Author "Ranwala, R.S."

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Do Supply Chain Management Practices Contribute Firm Competitiveness? A Study based on Medium Scale Entrepreneurial Firms in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Wijetunge, W.A.D.S.; Ranwala, R.S.
It is evident that supply chain management (SCM) practices are widely practiced by large scale and established business organizations as benchmark. Not only large firms but also small and medium scale businesses are required to follow these practices to achieve the growth. Further, present business environment is very competitive and organizations should face this as a challenge. This study empirically investigate the impact of supply chain management on competitiveness. Sample consists of 327 production managers of medium scale entrepreneurial firms (manufacturing sector) in Colombo district. The analyzed data supports the hypotheses revealing that higher the level of involvement in SCM practices higher the competitiveness. Further, it found that except level of information quality and lean practices, other practices of SCM (strategic partnership with suppliers, customer relationship, level of information sharing and internal supply chain process are significant factors that affect firm competitiveness.
Entrepreneurial inclination and big five personality traits
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Ranwala, R.S.; Dissanayake, D.M.N.S.W.
Family Background, Entrepreneurship Specific Education, Gender and Venture Creation Knowledge: An Empirical Analysis of Sri Lankan Graduates
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Ranwala, R.S.
This study is to prove that entrepreneurs can be shaped through education and their family background. Therefore the study focuses on identify the impact of family background and entrepreneurship specific education on venture creation knowledge while it is examining the mediation effect of entrepreneurship specific education on the relationship between family background and venture creation knowledge as well as the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between entrepreneurship specific education and venture creation knowledge. As study is based on the entrepreneurship graduates of University of Kelaniya, a population consisting of 78 graduates and all elements were considered as the subjects of the sample at the beginning but the final sample was shortlisted to 65 subjects. A Questionnaire developed by the researcher was used to collect data from the sample. In order validate the hypothesis and make inferences, regression analysis was used by the researcher. Further Regression analyses proved that relationship between Family Background & Venture creation knowledge is mediated by Entrepreneurship Specific education and gender moderates the relationship between Entrepreneurial Specific Education & Entrepreneurial Knowledge in Venture Creation. With the inferences of the study it can be understood that entrepreneurship can be stimulated through education and family background.
Financial mismanagement of small businesses: a study based on the hotel industry in nuwara eliya district
(Faculty of Management Studies & Commerce, University of Jaffna, 2023) Kariyakarawana, K.I.P.; Panditharathna, K.M.; Ranwala, R.S.; Nimeshi, G.K.S.
The purpose of the study was to identify the financial mismanagement of small businesses and their effect on the business’s success. This research used the qualitative approach and continued the study through the general qualitative method. Sample were selected based on the purposive sampling method. Accordingly, data collection was done through in-depth interviews with owners of six small businesses in the Talawakele - Lidula Municipal Council area in the Nuwara Eliya District. The data were analysed, and themes were derived using thematic analysis. The main mismanagement identified from the study was mismanaging start-up capital, cash flows, budgetary system, personal spending, retained earnings, and working capital. Due to these mismanagements, businesses cannot run with a proper plan. The findings of this study will enable small businesses to identify their financial mismanagement. These findings will also help policymakers to identify the areas that are required to improve the financial management literacy of small business owners.
Impact of Entrepreneurship Education on Entrepreneurial Intention of Undergraduates in Sri Lankan Government Universities
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2021) Sewwandi, H.A.D.; Ranwala, R.S.
The aim of this research is to find out the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention. Entrepreneurs play a major role in Sri Lanka’s economic development. As Sri Lanka does not have enough entrepreneurs to fuel the economy and less than 5% of graduate entrepreneurs can be found in Sri Lanka. It is important to produce entrepreneurs through university education to take advantage of the education and to have contribution to the economy of Sri Lanka. A person to become an entrepreneur the entrepreneurial intention is very important. Previous studies on entrepreneurship education had found that the entrepreneurship education has positive impact on entrepreneurial intention. In conducting the present study, the quantitative research approach was followed, and the data was collected through a questionnaire. The sample of 151 entrepreneurship undergraduates in government universities have responded to the survey. The sample was selected using the stratified random sampling technique and the multiple regression analysis was used to measure the hypothesized relationship between the constructs. The results of the study confirmed the proposed hypothesis, and it was proved that the entrepreneurship education has positive impact on entrepreneurial intention and the attitudes towards entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention. The outcomes of this research will serve as a support for government and other parties to increase entrepreneurship education in the country and make proper policies and regulations regarding the Entrepreneurship Education.
Impact of Work Overload and Semester Based Work on Job Stress of Academic Staff in the State Universities in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Ranwala, R.S.; Jayatilake, L.V.K.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Sri Lankan university sector has undergone large-scale organizational change including semester based work. At the same time, literature from across the globe reports an alarming increase in the occupational stress experienced by university academic staff. This research study seeks to examine the impact of work overload and semester based work on job stress of academic staff in state universities in Sri Lanka. The research questions are, “whether the semester based work and work overload are affect for academic staff job stress? And what are the most influencing factors on job stress?” The questionnaires were used in data collection. The statements of questionnaire were measured using Five Point Likert Scale. Proportionate random sampling was used and the data were collected from 100 respondents and they were extensively used to derive conclusions. The data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analysis. All hypothesis were substantiated and it was found that job stress was affected by work overload and semester based work. Work overload and semester based work was provided by the highest contribution to the job stress. Increasing work overload and semester based work resulted in less academic time spent on research, publishing and professional development, decreasing teaching and research standards, increasing interpersonal conflicts in academic staff relationships, negative impact on the physical and emotional health and family relationships and leisure activities of both general and academic staff. The recommendation for reducing staff stress emphasized the need for improve promotion and recognition and reward process and source more funding to increase staff numbers and improve facilities.
Personality and Undergraduate Performance: An Assessment of the Big Five Personality Model
(Department of Commerce and Financial Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Gunarathna, M.A.S.Y.; Gunewardana, W.N.N.; Gunewardana, W.N.N.; Imalka, K.D.S.P.; Nimeshi, G.K.S.; Ranwala, R.S.; Sarathchandra, K.S.H.; Silva, A.R.; Silva, M.T.M.
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between Personality and Job Performance. In order to construct the above mentioned relationship with related to job performance we have used the dimensions of the big five personality model dimensions which are Extroversion, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Open to Experience and Agreeableness. As the methodology, a questionnaire was used as the research instrument.Particularly, the study was conducted in the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, among the undergraduates of the Faculty of Commerce and Management studies. Multiple regression analysis of the study was used to prove the stated hypothesis of the study and the researcher concludes that the dimensions in the big five personality model make an impact on the job performance of the undergraduates. Finally, the researcher suggests the Job performance levels varies among high and low categories of Open to experience, Emotional Stability, Agreeableness, Extroversion and Conscientiousness.