208 research outputs found

    Nascent Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy, Perceptions about Entrepreneurship and Observational Learning: Exploring the Link

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    The emerging relevance of Student Entrepreneurship (SE) as a growing phenomenon for research has developed from the international, national, and regional necessity for economic development and the demand placed on universities to contribute to creating an awareness of SE in students. This has led to research into the Entrepreneurial Activities (EA) of student entrepreneurs while actively engaging in academic studies at the undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) level at universities. To further the advancement of SE, this research therefore sought to investigate the entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) of student entrepreneurs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study, their perception of entrepreneurial opportunities and capabilities while they carry out their entrepreneurial activities at the nascent (early-stage) level of entrepreneurship. The unique focus of this research on the nascent level of SE is driven by the correlation between the stage in life that the student entrepreneur is consciously engaging in academic study as part of career actions on their career journey and the stage of developing their entrepreneurial consciousness and entrepreneurial career while engaged in entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, to advance SE contextually through the lens of the entrepreneurial activities of the Nascent Student Entrepreneur (NSE), this research sought to identify the degree of impact that ESE, Perceived Opportunities (PO), and Perceived Capabilities (PC) have on UG and PG students in the UK while engaged in EA simultaneously. The research then sought to explore the presence of their Observed Learning while engaging in EA, though they may not be aware that such learning was taking place. To achieve the above, this research reviewed relevant literature (leading to developed hypothesis) and gained insight into existing understanding of SE, nascent student entrepreneurs, their perception to entrepreneurship (opportunities and capabilities) and observational learning (OL), which has formed the basis of this research and thus sought to advance current research in this field. Adopting mixed methodology, this research went further to administer online questionnaires, with 298 undergraduate and postgraduate students in UK universities eligible for analysis, with focus on those engaging in EA as the underlying factor for defining the student entrepreneurs required for this research while carrying out academic studies. This is a departure from previous research on university students engaged in entrepreneurial education, to ensure that data from student entrepreneurs are captured from student entrepreneurs engaged in EA as against the stereotype of gathering data from those engaged in entrepreneurial education. Additionally, this was complemented by forty-three semi-structured interviews, interviewing undergraduate and postgraduate student entrepreneurs engaged in entrepreneurial activities while studying at UK universities. Upon analysing the quantitative research data using regression analysis and the qualitative data using thematic analysis, it was discovered that, ESE, PO, PC had varying degrees of impact on the NSE, with varying moderating impact from their levels of education, years of EA, and gender. Another finding from this research was that nascent student entrepreneurs exhibited more entrepreneurial behaviours like seeking collaboration, joining networks & communities, looking for constructive feedback and referrals, as well as seeking to add value to their customers as they add value to themselves. These entrepreneurial behaviours are just a few discovered in the research (see Appendix IV for more). This research also found out that the degree of ESE, PO, and PC impact on the nascent male or female student entrepreneur, whether as an undergraduate or postgraduate varied depending on the years of entrepreneurial activity exhibited by the nascent student entrepreneur. This implies that years of entrepreneurial activities was having more moderating impact on the NSE when compared to the moderating impact of the level of education and gender. This research also discovered that perceived capabilities impacted differently on the nascent postgraduate and undergraduate student’s entrepreneurial self-efficacy depending on the moderating impact of the years of entrepreneurial activities involved. This was the outcome both in the female and male categories. Complementing findings from the quantitative analysis, the qualitative analysis discovered that the student entrepreneur was exhibiting attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation unknown to them, through observed learning, leading to the finding that knowledge relevant to their activities has been acquired. Accordingly, the conclusion points to the fact that if conscious attention is paid to SE and NSE within contexts of EA, ESE, PO, PC, and OL it will be of more benefit to the NSE and their EA going forward

    EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS COMPETENCIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

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    Abstract' This study examines the relationship between business competencies and entrepreneurial performance among the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owners in Lagos State, Nigeria. Thus, to achieve the research objectives this study employed cross-sectional research. design with the adoption of survey method. The collected data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to show the degree of correlation between the multiple variables under study. The structural path reveals statistical insignificant of human resource competency on entrepreneurial performance at (p=.049, .CR = . 741, p = .459). The financial competency on entrepreneurial performance is insignificant (p = -.023, CR · = -.356. p = . 722) while operational competency did not contributed significantly to entrepreneurial performance (p = .008, CR = .122, p = .903). However, the structural model further indicated that marketing competencies has contributed significantly to entrepreneurial performance (p = .148, CR = 2.181, p = .029). The researcher concludes that there is a partial significant relationship between business competencies and entrepreneurial performance. The study recommended that the individual-organisation characteristics such as knowledge, skills, and abilities are required to perform a specific job perfectly at the organisational level (e.g. human resource competency, marketing competency, financial management competency, and operational management competency). Therefore, the entrepreneurial training agencies ·can take a clue from this study finding when designing entrepreneurial training curriculum with effective state-of-the-art facilities by taking into consideration functional business competencies

    Optimised intake stroke analysis for flat and dome head pistons

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    This research exerts are suitable for the automobile industry in understanding the performance characteristics optioned between flat head and dome head pistons in engine design. This study was carried out to analyze the optimization parameters for effective and efficient flow characteristics of air-fuel mixture at the intake port of the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. A unique and industrial standard CFD software, STAR-CCM V8, was used to model both geometry for flat head and dome head pistons which was developed with precise dimensions of a 1.8L gasoline engine. A planar 3-D model approach was adopted for simplified static CAD modeling and also to reduce the solver processing time. The piston models were meshed using tetrahedral mesh of base size 0.001m. The boundary and physics conditions were applied to simulate the actual intake stroke process for normal operating conditions and initial conditions. The extracted results were validate and comparisons developed to analyze the various optimization parameters for performance characteristics of the two pistons.Keywords: optimized intake stroke, CFD analysis, flat and dome head pistons, internal combustion engine, CAD modellin

    Impact of Climate Change on the Design Parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Systems for Manned Spacecraft

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    Climatic design information has been published for several locations in the world by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) but there has not been data for Nigerian cities in these publications. Therefore, this study was embarked upon to bridge the gap in knowledge. The study of impact of climate change on the design parameters of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for spacecraft cabin environment is presented with particular focus on Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria. Firstly, the characteristics climate parameters such as outdoor dry-bulb temperature, coincident wet-bulb temperature, relative humidity, pressures, air composition, among others as it affects manned spacecraft were discussed. The data for climatic parameters for Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria, for a period of fifteen years (1995-2009) were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Oshodi-Lagos. Statistical data and Microsoft excel were used for evaluation of variation trends of the climate parameters for departure city. This is very important in determining thermal human comfort in spacecrafts on ascent. Results obtained from this study are hereby presented. The Ikeja-Lagos dry-bulb temperature average results obtained were 33.81°C, 32.98°C, 32.3°C, 22.1°C, 21.19°C, 20.43°C, 23.84°C and 31.65oC.at 0.4%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 97.5%, 99.0%, 99.6%, median of extreme lows and median of extreme highs, respectively. The Ikeja-Lagos relative humidity average results were 116.3, 112.65, 109.14, 99.83 and 49.42 at 0.4%, 1% and 2.0% occurrence as well as at median of extreme highs and median of extreme lows, respectively. Ikeja-Lagos had mean coincident dry bulb temperature of 33.81°C and 32.98°C at 0.4% and 1% percentile respectively. The dry bulb temperature for Ikeja-Lagos was determined to be an average range from 20.43°C to 22.1°C between January to December, in the period of 1995-2009, at 97.5% 99% and 99.6% percentile respectively. These results provide values of design parameters which are useful in the design of HVAC for space crafts with climate change adequately taken into consideration as it applies to Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeri

    COVID-19 Experience: Taking the right steps at the right time to prevent avoidable morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and other nations of the world

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    The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic has caused countless governmental and societal challenges around the world. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has been exposed in recent years to a series of epidemics including Ebola and Lassa Fever. In this paper we document our perception of the national response to COVID-19 in Nigeria. The response to the pandemic is with a healthcare system that has changed as a result of previous infectious disease outbreaks but in the context of scarce resources typical of many low-middle income countries. We make recommendations regarding what measures should be in place for future epidemics

    NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF VOLTERRA INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS BY AKBARI-GANJI’S METHOD

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    In this study, Akbari-Ganji’s Method (AGM) was applied to solve Volterra Integro-Differential Difference Equations (VIDDE) using Legendre polynomials as basis functions. Here, a trial solution function of unknown constants that conform with the differential equations together with the initial conditions were assumed and substituted into the equations under consideration. The unknown coefficients are solved for using the new proposed approach, AGM which principally involves the application of the boundary conditions on successive derivatives and integrals of the problem to obtain a system of equations. The system of equation is solved using any appropriate computer software, Maple 18. Some examples were solved and the results compared to the exact solutions
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