STRATEGIC ORIENTATION AND PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

This study focused on investigating the influence of strategic orientations on the performance of selected SMEs in South-West, Nigeria. There have been some arguments that one or two strategic orientation dimensions in a single study is prone to simplification and cannot be adopted be SMEs to improve their performance. Consequently, this study adopted a combination of strategic orientation measures such as market orientation, cultural orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, learning orientation and technology orientation in explaining the performance outcomes of SMEs in South-West, Nigeria. Mixed method (quantitative and qualitative approach) was adopted to proffer answers to the research questions as well as the research objectives. This study adopted a descriptive design because it sought to answer the why, how and when of the problem under study. Five hundred copies of questionnaire were distributed to SMEs operators across Six States in South-West, Nigeria, including: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti while the qualitative data gathering was carried out through semi-structured interviews that were conducted on three SMEs operators in each of the geographical locations covered by this study. The analyses of the quantitative data collected were carried out using Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression analysis and Structural Equation Modelling. The qualitative data was analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results of data analysis showed that there exists positive and significant relationship between cultural orientation and business effectiveness, market orientation significantly influenced business sales turnover, and the role of learning orientation on business efficiency was positive and significant. Also, the results from the Structural Equation Modelling showed that experience has the highest mediating effect on the relationship between strategic orientation and SMEs’ performance at 0.796. The study concludes that cultural orientation should be adopted as a key part of SMEs’ operations; that SMEs owners/managers should adopt market orientation as a strategic part of their firms’ operations. Specifically, market orientation should emphasize a drive for competitive advantage, customer service, customer experience management, customer satisfaction and customer focus

STRATEGIC ROLES OF BRANDING ON ORGANIZATION SALES PERFORMANCE

Branding according to empirical literature is the creation of three dimensional characters of a product. It is further described in terms of name, packaging, colours and symbols that help to differentiate the products from its rivals. And also helps the customer to develop a relationship with the product. The practice of product branding is very crucial in determining the degree of sales performance of business organisations. The purpose of this study is to find out the benefits of product branding and the impact on sales performance of manufacturing firms. This study adopts both secondary and primary sources of data collection to gather information. The primary source of data was collected through survey method with the use of structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were directed to 150 respondents who are members of staff of a Coca-cola Company plant located in Lagos, Nigeria as well as consumers of a particular Coca-cola brand. Secondary data was gathered from journals,conference articles, internet sources, textbooks and unpublished works

Nigerian Socio-Economic Development: The Roles and Challenges of Small and Medium Entreprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) A Descriptive Perspective

In recent time, no other sector has been given so much attention in Nigeria’s development plans as the small and medium industrial sector. There has been a conscious decision to de-emphasis the capital intensive, large scale industrial projects by the three tiers of government in Nigeria and put more emphasis on small scale enterprises. Small scale enterprises have been observed over the years to have immense potentials for socio-economic development of a nation. The objectives of the paper is to establish the immense potentials of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, to identify the challenges being faced by SMEs in Nigeria and the roles of Small and medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in addressing these challenges. This reviewed work revealed that SMEDAN is faced with a lot of challenges ranging from inadequate fund, tribalism, nepotism, lack of enlightenment/campaign amongst others. From reviewed of literature, it was found out that SMEDAN has not carried out its roles to a large extent to help alleviate the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises in Nigerians. It is recommended that there should be more awareness about the existence of the agency and it roles, there should be checks and balances to curb corruption etc. These will help the agency to carry out its roles efficiently and effectively so that the small and medium enterprises will have greater impact on the socio-economic development of Nigeria

ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITIES OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) ANO THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OTA-METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Tire purpose of this research work was to look at tire roles of entrepreneurship via SM£s in a developing economy like Nigeria. The study addressed the following: to find out whether the establishment of SMEs has comributed to infrastructural developmem; to examine tire impact of entrepreneurs/rip in employme111 generation; and to examine if the establishment of SMEs has led to improved standard of living. Two Hundred and eighteen (218) SME operators were administered questionnaire. Besides, four hvpotheses werefomwlared and tested. Data were analysed by regression analvsis; the findings indicate that emrepreneurslrip is a major contributor to infrastructural development, employmellt generation, and improvement of standard living. It was concluded that entrepreneurzal activities are significant predictors of economic developme/11 in Ota· metropolis, Nigerza. It is therefore recommended that policy makers should pay al/ention to the SMEs sector through the variou.f policies and programs, in form of assistance such as providing low interest funds and training programs. Consequently, po~·erry which is a threat to global prosperiTy and national economic development, Y>mdd bt' alleviate

ROLE OF LEARNING ORIENTATION ON SMEs’ PERFORMANCE: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM SMEs IN NIGERIA

This study set out to investigate the role of learning orientation and SMEs’ performance. A descriptive research design was adopted to gather information from registered SMEs as captured by Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria. The data gathered were sourced via the administration of structured questionnaire to 436 owner-managers of SMEs. The study employed the use of standard multiple regression analysis to test the hypothesis. The results from statistical analysis indicates that Among the diverse dimensions of learning orientation that were adopted for this study, the greatest and most significant influence came from new strategy, innovative products and new knowledge sharing. Consequently, the research results points to the fact that SMEs operators and managers should focus on continuous learning that emphasizes the capability of the firm and its members to understand and adapt to the competitions in its chosen product-market through dynamic strategies that can achieve and sustain their firms’ competitive position

THE IMPACT OF NEUROTIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP ON BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES

The development of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) is paramount to the survival of many nations. The personalities of the entrepreneur are a major determinant for growth and improve business performance. Among the big five personality traits, understanding of the neurotic nature of entrepreneur’s portrait a fundamental negative effect on performance to so many. This paper investigates the impact of neuroticism entrepreneurship on business performance. 245 copies of questionnaire were retrieved from guild of entrepreneurs in their monthly meeting. Statistic package for social science (SPSS), regression and correlation analysis were used to analyze and measure the relationship and strength of the impact of neurotic entrepreneur and business performance. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used to confirm the model fit. The result shows a plethora and educative revelations about the inherent traits of the entrepreneurs and what implication it holds for the development of the entrepreneurial activities. The study recommended appropriately how the policy of the government should be all inclusive to promote continuous education and skill development to increase on personality traits of practising and would-be entrepreneurs

Assessment of Public-Private Partnership on Infrastructural Development in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

The era of government singlehandedly providing infrastructural facilities are long gone. Governments all over the world in this new dispensation cooperate with the private sectors in the provision and management of various infrastructural facilities in their respective countries. Based on archives of relevant literatures reviewed, this study focuses on Public Private Partnership (PPP) with respect to its effect on infrastructural development in Nigeria. It sets out to assess the role of this union of convenience on the growth of various infrastructures in Nigeria, with a view to evaluating in specific terms the challenges of the partnership on infrastructural development in Nigeria and to proffer solutions to them. Finding revealed that Public Private Partnerships in Nigeria are faced with challenges ranging from dearth of financing and when such is in place, it carries high interest rate. Another strong challenge hinges on lack of experience in project financing by bank officials and technical expertise. The findings further revealed lack of sound legal and institutional framework as a backing for Public Private Partnership in Nigeria. Despite these challenges, the study finds that the mutual relationship between the Public and Private sector had contributed immensely to the growth of infrastructures in the country as revealed by this reviewed work. The study recommends the establishment of the required regulatory framework for proper implementation of Public Private Partnership projects. Moreover, Nigerian banks through the CBN should be assisted to cope with the financing skills required for PPP

ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES’ PERFORMANCE

This study set out to assessing the influence of entrepreneurial orientation and SMEs’ performance. A descriptive research design was adopted to gather information from registered SMEs as captured by Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria. The data gathered were sourced via the administration of structured questionnaire to 436 owner-managers of SMEs. The study employed the use of structural equation modelling of AMOS 22 to test the hypothesis. The results from statistical analysis indicates a significant impact from all dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, such as business opportunity, inclusive innovation, dynamic operations, value adding activity, risk taking and innovative decisions have significant influence on SMEs performanc

EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF NEXUS AMONG MARKETING ORIENTATION, ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE

This study was carried out to ascertain the strength of the link among marketing orientation, entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance. The objectives of the study include: to examine the effects of entrepreneurial orientation on the performance of the firm, to examine the degree of the relationship between market orientation and performance of the firm, to determine the effect of entrepreneurial marketing on the performance of the firm, to examine the degree of the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation, to determine the effect of entrepreneurial marketing and market orientation, to determine the effect of entrepreneurial marketing and entrepreneurial orientation. The study is restricted to employees of the selected firms. While regression was used to test the four hypotheses for this study. The core findings from the result obtained revealed that entrepreneurial marketing implementation was found to be effective in increasing the company’s market share as well as improving their competitive position in the industry, it was found that entrepreneurial marketing plays a crucial role in achievements of the firm’s performance and marketing goals. It was recommended that entrepreneurial and marketing orientation should be inculcated by employees to promote employee performance thereby culminating into the overall firm performance

Sustaining Employees’ Work Fulfilment through Multigenerational Diversity and Emotional Communication in Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria

Emotional communication is gradually gaining the attention of various industries in Nige�ria, particularly on the issues and concerns of sustaining employees’ fulfilment. Multigenerational diversity is considered a contributing factor for the retention of employees at work, but the mecha�nism behind this relationship remains unclear. Thus, main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of multigenerational diversity and emotional communication on sustainable employee fulfilment in the Federal Civil Service Commission of Nigeria. Respondents (i.e., directors, managers, and supervisors) were randomly surveyed across the various civil services in Nigeria using a strati�fied and purposive sampling technique. With the use of an online google form 416 questionnaires were retrieved and analysed using partial least squares (PLS). The results supported the predicted mediating role of emotional communication, and various ages among Gen Y have no differences within the studied relationships. The implication and limitations of these findings and directions for future research are further discussed to sustain the retention and work fulfilment of employees in the workplace