Business Ethics, Corporate Philosophy and Regulatory Challenges in the Confectionary Industry: An Evaluation of the Bread Market in Nigeria

This study sets out to identify why - in the process of “doing business”- most organizations in Nigeria resort to offering sub standard products to the public, particularly as regards food products. This approach allows businesses to make excess profit without recourse to best ethical practices, the supposed corporate philosophy of their organizations, and to the detriment of the customers. Indiscriminate profit maximization” mentality is now on the increase within the confectionary industry in Nigeria; thus the paper considered the theory of public interest and gives an insight to Kant’s ethical philosophy with a view to critically evaluate the role of The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); the agency charged with the responsibility of upholding best ethical practices among confectionary and related industries in Nigeria. The study also identified some lapses in the discharge of NAFDAC’s regulatory functions which have contributed to the incidence of unethical practices among Nigerian business organisations. The paper therefore recommends that NAFDAC operations be re-evaluated for better operational performanc

EXAMINING THE LINK BETWEEN UNIVERSITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND INNOVATION: A FOCUS ON NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

The objective of this study was to examine the role of university policy environment in motivating knowledge sharing and innovations among students of Nigerian universities the data for this study was collected from university students of four selected institutions in Nigeria offering a degree programme in entrepreneurship. The selected universities are Joseph Ayo Babalola in Osun State, Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta Ogun State, Federal University of Technology Akure Ondo State and Lead City University Ibadan Oyo State. This study adopted descriptive cross sectional survey research design in which the research questionnaire was administered to respondents. It was recommended that university support systems in Nigerian universities should motivate entrepreneurial related knowledge sharing among students to motivate innovations. The policy environment should be characterized by initiatives such as technology patenting and commercialization, seed funding, business mentoring and business incubators. It is also recommended that engagement of students with entrepreneurial development initiatives provided by institutions should involve students across all levels. Recent findings in entrepreneurship research have shown that early exposure to practical oriented entrepreneurship activities can increase the likelihood of expression of entrepreneurial behavior by undergraduate students

PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP CURRICULUM CONTENTS AND OPENMINDEDNESS: IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS IDEA GENERATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The main objective of this study was to ascertain the effects of entrepreneurship curriculum contents on students’ critical thinking and generate business ideas. This study focused on the perceptions of Nigerian university students. Emphasis was laid on the first four universities in Nigeria to offer a B.Sc./B.Tech degree programme in entrepreneurship. Consequently this study involved students and entrepreneurship educators at Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo state, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta Ogun state, Joseph Ayo Babalola University Osun state and Lead City University Ibadan, Oyo state. The study adopted quantitative approach with a descriptive research design to establish trends related to the objective of the study. Survey was be used as quantitative research method. The population of this study included all students in the selected universities. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed which included stratified sampling and simple random sampling. Data was analysed with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Hierarchical multiple regression was used as statistical tool of analysis to show the incremental contribution to the prediction of the dependent variable. The findings of the study showed that the design of an entrepreneurship curriculum can motivate critical thinking abilities in students to generate creative business ideas. Thus it was recommended that practical activities such as brain storming, mind mapping and similar activities can be used to stimulate idea generation potentials in entrepreneurship students

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGIC ORIENTATION:IMPLICATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE

Strategic orientations are widely required and considered for the survival and sustainability of small businesses. This study reports the comparative analysis of small business strategic orientations based on the presence of aggressiveness, futurity, riskiness, proactiveness and analysis and defensiveness for performance. For proper projection, four hypotheses were formulated. Survey research design, purposive and simple random sampling technique were adopted for the study. Data were collected from selected Covenant University strategic business Units through the administration of questionnaires were sorted and analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression and Pearson correlation analysis. The study revealed a positive effect between the various variables; product innovation and revenue turnover; research development and customer patronage; technological innovation and return on investment. Therefore it was recommended that SMEs need be innovative and proactive as possible to enable their optimal navigation and improved productivity in whatever business environments they operate and also to foster more strategic improvisational actions that can bring out change, enhance operational efficiency and contribute to organizational performance and competitive advantage

A Review of the Challenges Militating Against Women Entrepreneurship in Developing Nations

The study adopted a conceptual method of research to explore the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in developing nations. The study featured an introduction, and literature review which involved a conceptual and theoretical framework. This was followed by a discussion of the challenges of women entrepreneurs as reviewed from extant literature. The study concluded with recommendations for tackling the challenges discussed as well as implications for policy makers

EXPERIENTIAL PEDAGOGY AND SHARED VISION: A FOCUS ON IDENTIFICATION OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BY NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The goal of this study was to determine the effects of entrepreneurship pedagogy on students’ shared vision and identification of business opportunities. The study adopted quantitative approach with a descriptive research design to describe the effects of entrepreneurship on university students based on the objective of the study. Survey was be used as quantitative research method which enhanced the determination of statistically significant results. The population of this study included all students in the four selected universities in Nigeria. Data was analyzed with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Hierarchical multiple regression was used as statistical tool of analysis to show the distinctive predictive effect of students’ shared vision over and above the effects of entrepreneurship pedagogy on students’ identification of business opportunities. The findings of the study revealed that the pedagogical approach adopted can stimulate a shared vision in students to identify business opportunities. Thus it was recommended that experiential pedagogical approach can be used to stimulate business opportunity identification potentials in entrepreneurship students

Contribution of small and mediumenterprisesto economic development: Evidencefroma transitingeconomy

The focusofthisresearchwastopresentadataarticleonthe contribution ofSMEstoeconomicdevelopmentinatransiting economy.Descriptiveresearchdesignwasadoptedinthisstudy. Data wereobtainedfrom600respondentsin60small-scale enterprises locatedindifferentpartsofthecountry(20small-scale enterprises locatedinLagosState,20inAnambraStateand20in Kano StateofNigeriarespectively).Dataanalysiswascarriedout using tablesandpercentagesandthenullhypothesesofthestudy wastestedusingchi-square(X2) inferentialstatisticalmodelat5% level ofsignificance. The findings revealedthatthereisasig- nificant relationshipbetweentheoperationofsmallandmedium- scale enterprisesandeconomicgrowthindevelopingnations

Stress Arising from Work Roles and Impediments to Organizational Performance

This study reviewed literature on stress arising from work-roles and its implications to organizational performance. This featured an introduction to the study followed by conceptual and theoretical framework as well as a section for empirical evidences of work role stress and organizational performance. This was followed by a highlight of work-role stressors and recommendations of possible antidotes. The study concluded with a brief discussion of implications of the study to employee and organizational wellbeing as well as a section for conclusion

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGIC ORIENTATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR PERFORMANCE

Strategic orientations are widely required and considered for the survival and sustainability of small businesses. This study reports the comparative analysis of small business strategic orientations based on the presence of aggressiveness, futurity, riskiness, proactiveness and analysis and defensiveness for performance. For proper projection, four hypotheses were formulated. Survey research design, purposive and simple random sampling technique were adopted for the study. Data were collected from selected Covenant University strategic business Units through the administration of questionnaires were sorted and analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression and Pearson correlation analysis. The study revealed a positive effect between the various variables; product innovation and revenue turnover; research development and customer patronage; technological innovation and return on investment. Therefore it was recommended that SMEs need be innovative and proactive as possible to enable their optimal navigation and improved productivity in whatever business environments they operate and also to foster more strategic improvisational actions that can bring out change, enhance operational efficiency and contribute to organizational performance and competitive advantage