Product Innovation, A Survival Strategy For Small And Medium Enterprises In Nigeria

The study investigated how product innovation, as a strategy, enhances the survival of the small and medium enterprises in Nigeria, using Prodco Foods Nigeria Limited as a study. Among the objectives set out were the relationship between product innovation and the survival of Small and Medium Enterpries (SMEs), changes in tastes and preference of consumers necessitating product innovation, and whether product innovation increases sales volume of SMEs. The research study was developed around the product innovative and dynamic capability innovative theories. The theoretical model of the product life-cycle was used in developing the three hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 significant levels; through the survey of one hundred and forty respondents. Copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents sampled. The validity and reliability of the instrument were measured at Cronbach’s alpha of 0.63 and alternative form validity of 0.59. The findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between product innovation and the survival of SMEs, also, that changes in tastes and preference of consumers necessitate product innovation, and that product innovation increases sales volume of SMEs. The conclusion from the research findings showed that there is need for SMEs to carry out research on product innovation; in other to meet and fulfill the demand and expectations of all consumers and the market. It was recommended that adequate finance, condusive environment, and public policy framework should be developed by the Nigerian governments to support and encourage the SMEs

INVESTIGATING THE EFFICIENCY OF INDIVIDUAL-EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION’S SECTOR OF AN EMERGING ECONOMY

This study investigated efficiency in the utilization of the individual-explicit knowledge of a firm. The sample included 42 customer service centers (CSCs) of the four most active Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) organisations in Lagos State and FCT, Nigeria. The research adopted the input-oriented data envelopment analysis model to determine the extent to which individual-explicit knowledge, as a vital input resource to telecommunications firms, is efficiently utilized by the CSCs to improve the firms’ values. The study revealed that 10 CSCs, representing 23.8 percen of those studied, were technically efficient using the constant returns to scale model. In contrast, the variable returns to scale model showed that 22 CSCs, or 52 percent of them, were technically inefficient. The results suggest that, with less than 50 percent of the total number of CSCs in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry being inefficient, there is a large volume of operational inefficiency, especially concerning the utilization of individual-explicit knowledge. As such, the telecommunications industry could benefit from managerial intervention, especially in building the capacity of the customer desk officers in the CSCs to attend promptly and accurately to customers’ queries. Also, the study established that a viable strategic direction would be that organizations in the telecommunications industry renew their focus on a balanced mix of supervisor-subordinates in each CSC. This study contributes to operations management and the organizational knowledge management literature by showcasing the data envelopment analysis methodology as a legitimate tool for improving understanding of the investigations into the efficiency of individual-explicit knowledge. This study offers practical implications for firm managers about specific activities and units of their firm that contribute the most to the organization, and other specific units/activities that are less productive. The study also provides directions for future studies

ORGANISATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND ORIENTATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED NIGERIAN TELECOMMUNICATION FIRMS

The role of individuals’ and group tacit and explicit knowledge in driving performance of telecommunication firms, especially in Nigeria, has received very little empirical research attention in existing literature. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between organisational knowledge, orientation and performance of telecommunication firms in Nigeria. Mixed method approach was employed using the structured questionnaire and semi-structured interview as the instruments for data collection. Copies of questionnaire were administered to the employees of telecommunication organisations both at MTN headquarters and customer service centers of MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat; and customers in Lagos State and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria. A total of 980 copies of the questionnaire was administered to the employees in the four Telecommunication firm, while 600 copies of questionnaire was administered to customers. The analyses of the quantitative data collected were performed using Pearson’s correlation, simple linear regression analysis, hierarchical multiple regression and Data Envelopment Analysis. The qualitative data was analyzed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results of data analysis showed that there exists positive relationship between individual-tacit knowledge and customer satisfaction (r2 = 0.015, p ≤ 0.1). Group-tacit knowledge also had significant influence on organisational effectiveness (r2 = 0.28, p ≤ 0.001). Moreover, the results from data envelopment analysis showed that 20 decision making units achieved operational efficiency with the individual-explicit knowledge of employees in the firm, while the results from 15 decision making units showed that groupexplicit knowledge enhanced the firms’ productivity. More so, dimensions of organisational orientation, such as: entrepreneurial, learning and market orientation had first order (r2 = 0.033, p ≤ 0.01) and second order (r2 = 0.051, p ≤ 0.01) moderating influences on the relationship between organisational knowledge and performance. Based on the findings, the study recommended that employees should be encouraged at regular intervals to document their experiences about their most prominent challenges encountered on the job and how they were able to resolve it. It was also recommended that employees of telecommunication firms should be encouraged to use their individual-tacit knowledge, such as intuition and experience, where possible to resolve customer complaints. This would save time, costs and efforts involved with long hours of solving customers’ queries

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATOR'S COMPETENCEON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ COMMITMENT TO LEARNING AND BUSINESS PLAN WRITING

The objective of this research was to examine the role of an educator’s competence in enhancing students’ commitment to write business plans as expression of entrepreneurial aspirations and intentions. 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 participants based on purposive, stratified and simple random sampling techniques. A total of six hundred (600) students from the selected universities participated in this study. In developing the survey questionnaire instrument, questions were adapted from existing literature that relate to the study. Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis was used in validating the hypothesis postulated in the study using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The findings from the analysis implied that the experience and skill of an entrepreneurship educator impacts on entrepreneurship students’ commitment to learning particularly in writing feasible and viable business plans. It was recommended that entrepreneurship educators should ensure to utilize their experience and skill to motivate students’ commitment to entrepreneurial related learning with particular emphasis on business plan writing. This is hinged upon the fact that angel investors, partnering financial institutions and other stakeholder support systems mostly favor business plan competitions as basis for supporting business start-ups

ICT Integration in Accounting Education: Evidence from Two Private Higher Institutions in Nigeria

This study examined the role of ICT integration in accounting education on the value adding capacity of accounting students in Nigeria. The study adopted the Survey research design involving the collection of data from accounting students in selected private universities in Nigeria. Copies of Questionnaire were administered to 147 respondents out of which 111 were gathered. Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression were employed in the analysis of the data collected with the use of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that integration of ICT (accounting software packages and IT knowledge and skills) into accounting education (curriculum) would help accounting graduates fulfill their responsibility of adding value to organizations. Consequently, it was recommended that the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant educational bodies should compulsorily integrate (in all higher institution) into accounting curriculum at all level a practical course on accounting packages and IT knowledge and skills

INNOVATION CULTURE, KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND PREPAREDNESS OF BUSINESS EDUCATION STUDENTS FOR THE WORKPLACE

Innovation culture in higher institutions has the capacity to impede or facilitate teaching innovation by business educators. Similarly, knowledge sharing among business students can strongly instigate passion and foster quality reasoning that can ensure the intellectual, psychological and emotional preparedness of the students for the world of work. Taking, these factors together, this research investigated the influence of higher institutions’ innovative culture, and knowledge sharing practices among business students on their preparedness for the workplace. Using a sample size of 214 business education students drawn from 6 programmes, the hierarchical multiple regressions was used to show relationships based on the stated hypothesis. The statistical analysis showed that only sex of the students had a significant relationship with the variables. However, there was no direct relationship between innovation culture and preparedness of students for the workplace. More so, the interacting effect of knowledge sharing between innovation culture and preparedness for the workplace was not statistically established. Based on the findings, the study recommended that management and staff of higher institutions to keep abreast of best practices and engage more time into practical research that enhance industry and societal values. Moreover, students of higher institutions should be encouraged to engage actively in in-class and outside-the-class knowledge sharing activities that are necessary to add value to the future endeavours after schoo

Effects of Human Resource Waste on Productivity in Nigeria

Human Resource attitudes and commitment towards work goes a long way in determining the nation’s level of economic productivity. The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of human resource waste on productive in Nigeria. A descriptive research method was adopted for this study using two hundred and thirty two valid questionnaires which was completed by in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria using simple random sampling technique. The data collected were carefully analyzed using percentage supported by descriptive statistics to represent the raw data in a meaningful manner. The results show that strong relationship exists between human resource waste and productivity. The summary of the findings indicates that there is strong relationship between the tested dependent variable and independent construct. However, government, employers of labour and decision makers should endeavour to create enabling environment where business can thrive and encourage young graduates to set up their business rather than looking for jobs that are not available

ICT Integration in Accounting Education: Evidence from Two Private Higher Institutions in Nigeria

This study examined the role of ICT integration in accounting education on the value adding capacity of accounting students in Nigeria. The study adopted the Survey research design involving the collection of data from accounting students in selected private universities in Nigeria. Copies of Questionnaire were administered to 147 respondents out of which 111 were gathered. Pearson Correlation and Linear Regression were employed in the analysis of the data collected with the use of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that integration of ICT (accounting software packages and IT knowledge and skills) into accounting education (curriculum) would help accounting graduates fulfill their responsibility of adding value to organizations. Consequently, it was recommended that the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and relevant educational bodies should compulsorily integrate (in all higher institution) into accounting curriculum at all level a practical course on accounting packages and IT knowledge and skills

ICT and accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between ICT and Accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design, which involves the collection of data from the Accounting department of SMEs in Nigeria. Primary data was employed and copies of questionnaire were administered to respondents for the purpose of this study. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested using Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at a significant level of 1%. Findings revealed a significant relationship between ICT knowledge (Microsoft tools) and accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria also, the study further reviewed significant relationship between ICT adoption (accounting packages) and Accounting system of SMEs in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended that Management of SMEs must periodically send employees on training in the use of ICT

Assessing the link between service innovation and performance in telecommunication industry

Literature search has revealed that despite the dominance of services in modern economies, and their rapid growth worldwide, there are limited researches in the area of service innovation. This study attempted to bridge the gap by ascertaining the nature of relationship between innovation and firm performance. The study adopted a mixture of expost-facto and survey research design. The sources of data for the study were both primary and secondary. The research instrument was developed and it was subjected to both validity and reliability measures and was found to be valid and reliable for the study. Simple random sampling technique was adopted for the study. Three hypotheses were formulated and subjected to inferential statistical tests such as correlation and regression. It was discovered that service process innovation, service modification and service innovation structure are significantly related to firm performance. It was recommended that firms should put in place service innovation structure that is coupled with quality improvement practices in order to sustain and enhance its competitive advantage and customer patronage