Strategic Leadership and Organizational Performance in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation

This paper dealt with the activities of strategists in the behavioural implementation of strategy and stated that the future of strategy is leadership. It contended that the activities of the strategists in leadership positions should be rather seen and appreciated from the standpoint of the varied strategic leadership activities at the beck and call of strategic leaders during turbulent times. This study examined the relationship between strategic leadership and organizational performance in selected manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were sourced for this study. Primary data were collected through administration of questionnaire to employees of 31 purposively selected companies out of 45 quoted manufacturing companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Stratified random sampling technique was used in selecting respondents from these companies, using the three levels of management for stratification. The data generated was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study show that strategic leadership have strong significant relationship with the organization performance of some selected manufacturing companies in Nigeria (r = 0.733, p<0.05). Furthermore, the result also indicate a moderate linear relationship established between performance and:  ‘workforce understanding performance goals’ (r=0.386, p = .002); and, ‘rewards aligned with goals/creativity’ (r = 0.324, p = .002). The study recommends that boards of directors of organization should avoid high CEO turnover to allow for the minimum period of time required for implementation of strategic plans as well as manage new business strategies Keywords: Strategists, Strategy, Behavioural Implementation, Performanc

An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Globalisation on Performance of Nigerian Commercial Banks in Post-Consolidation Period

The study examined the impact of globalization on performance of Nigerian commercial banks between 2005 and 2010. It specifically determined the effects of policies of foreign private investment, foreign trade and exchange rate on performance of Nigerian banks. The study utilized panel data econometrics in a pooled regression, where time series and cross-sectional observations were combined and estimated. The results of econometric panel regression analysis confirmed that globalization, i.e. foreign private investment, foreign trade and exchange rate have positive effects on the profit after tax of banks but the magnitude of such effects remains indeterminable because we discovered that there are variations in the data for performance of banks understudied. Based on these findings, the study recommends that banks in Nigeria should not relent in their interaction with their foreign counterpart in doing business in order to increase their foreign earnings. Banks should also spend more on information and communication technology since this has the capacity of increasing their profit. This information technology (IT) should be used to localize all the branches to a single branch networking. In spending more on information and communication, they should make use of satellite communication and very small aperture terminal (VSAT) technology and internet banking VSAT technology apart from making possible voice and video banking. We further recommend that more banks should be opened in foreign countries in order to increase foreign participation in home country’s banking

Entrepreneurial Orientation and Market Share of Selected Quoted Consumer Goods Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria

Firm performance is fundamental to businesses considering its role in assisting organisations to realize their goals and achieve successes. Consumer goods manufacturing industry in Nigeria are experiencing decline in performance like profitability, market share, sales growth, competitive advantage, and productivity resulting from poor application of entrepreneurial orientation measures. This study examined the interaction between entrepreneurial orientation and market share of selected quoted consumer goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria.The study adopted cross sectional survey research design. The population of the study was 1,551of twelve (12) quoted consumer goods manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Total enumeration was used to sample the entire population. A self-developed structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach’s alpha ranges between 0.721 and 0.892. The response rate was 90.5%. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Multiple and Hierarchical regression analysis).Findings revealed that entrepreneurial orientation components had significant influence on market share of selected quoted consumer goods companies in Nigeria (Adj. R2 = 0.791; F (5,441) = 339.129, p= 0.000). The study concluded that  entrepreneurial orientation (innovativeness, competitive aggressiveness, proactiveness, risk-taking and planning flexibility) had significant effect on market share of selected quoted consumer goods companies in Nigeria and recommended that managers of selected quoted consumer goods manufacturing companies should practice entrepreneurial orientation ideologies to be able to be proactive and competitive enough to further boost the market portion of quoted consumer goods companies

Non-Monetary Motivation Strategies and Growth of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Ogun State, Nigeria

The challenge facing managers in the banking sector is how to get employees committed to their work and put in their best towards the accomplishment of banks’ goals and objectives. There was gradual and consistent decline in the performance of banks due to low level of motivation within and outside the banking organizations. It is therefore imperative for managers in the banking sector to design and implement strategies and policies that will adequately address issues relating to employees’ welfare so that it will help in achieving industrial peace which is a panacea to organizational growth. The general objective of this study was to establish the effect of non-monetary motivational strategies on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey and target population was 800 staff of the selected commercial banks in Ogun State and sample of 481 employees was used in this study. A stratified sampling technique method was used and data was collected through the use of questionnaire. A pilot study was conducted to pretest the validity and reliability of instruments for data collection. The data was analyzed by use of quantitative method with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The study established that work environment, leadership style, training and career advancement have positive and significant effect on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State, Nigeria. The regression analysis showed that work environment plays the most significant role on the growth of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State at 5% level of significance. Based on these findings, the study recommended that management of selected deposit money banks in Ogun State should plan very well when considering motivational strategies aimed at increasing overall productivity of the workers so as to achieve growth. Keywords: Motivation strategies, Leadership style, Training, Work environment, Growt

EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF NETWORKING ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

This study was on the networking and organisational performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The purpose was to determine how networking capability influences organisational performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The design of the study was a survey and the population was 2,413 low, medium, and senior-level managers of five selected deposit money banks in Nigeria licensed by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for commercial banking. The sample was 463 determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula in addition to an attrition rate of 40%. The study used the stratified proportionate random sampling technique. Primary data were collected using the structured validated questionnaire from the specified units of measurement with instruments assessed for reliability using the Cronbach alpha coefficient. Results demonstrated all constructs to be highly reliable, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.783 to 0.842. The response rate was 86.9%. Data collected were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. The finding revealed that networking through ATMs, branches, phones, and the Internet as introduced by Nigerian deposit money banks improved organisational performance (β = 0.139, t = 3.281, p < 0.05). The study recommended that It is also recommended that executive management should spend more on current technology and financial innovation. This will improve bank efficiency and cut expenses. Through financial innovations, the bank may expand its products and services, improving sales and bank performance.  Article visualizations

A Numerical-Computational Technique for Solving Transformed Cauchy-Euler Equidimensional Equations of Homogeneous Type

This work considers the solution of Transformed-Cauchy-Euler differential equations via Differential Transform method (DTM). For illustration and application of the method’s efficiency and reliability, two examples of order 2 and 3 are solved. The results agreed with the exact solution obtained via Laplace transform method

A Novel Approach For Solving Quadratic Riccati Differential Equations

In this paper, a numerical technique-differential transform method (DTM) is presented for the solution of Riccati differential equations. Three illustrative examples involving both constant and variable coefficients are solved. The DTM applied provides results that converge rapidly to the exact solution. To see the accuracy of this method, the results are compared with the exact solutions

Numerical Solution of Two-Point Boundary Value Problems via Differential Transform Method

This paper considers the solution of two-point boundary value problems by the application of Differential Transform method. Two examples are solved to illustrate the technique and the results are compared with the exact solutions. The numerical results obtained show strong agreement with their corresponding exact solutions, and as such demonstrate reliability and great accuracy of the metho

QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SELECTED FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

The performance of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms is important to the development of the economy and this has been considered by researchers. In Nigeria, the decline in the performance of this sector in terms of competitive advantage has been noticed which could be as a result of a lack of quality management practices such as leadership behaviour, strategic quality planning, supplier quality management, process management and customer focus. The study investigated the effect of quality management practices on the competitive advantage of selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 14, 591 top, middle and low-level management employees of the selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. A sample size of 491 was determined using the research advisor table. A simple random sampling technique was used. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.866 to 0.954. The response rate was 100%. Data were statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple and hierarchical regression). Findings revealed that quality management practices had a significant effect on the competitive advantage of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, (Adj.R2 = 0.117; F (5, 485) = 14.025, p < 0.05). The study concluded that quality management practices affected competitive advantage in Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommends that Food and Beverages manufacturing firms should encourage the adoption of quality management practices to enhance competitive advantage.  Article visualizations

Microstructure and mechanical properties of metal powder treated AISI- 430 FSS welds

Abstract: An innovative yet simple technique for the inoculation of the weld pool of commercial AISI 430 Ferritic Stainless Steel (FSS) with metal powders for grain refinement is discussed. Aluminum or titanium powder in varying amounts introduced into the weld pool via powder preplacement technique was melted under a tungsten inert gas (TIG) torch. This strategy of inoculating the welds offers dual benefits of grain refinement and constriction in the weld geometry. The addition of the metal powders constricts the HAZ by as much as 50% of the conventional weld providing a grain refinement index (GRI) of about 0.8 in titanium powder treated welds. It equally emerged that weld property is not influenced by the grain size alone but equally by the amount of delta ferrite in the microstructure