Women Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria: the Effect of Environmental Factors

Women's involvement in economic development has been recognized as important especially, in the area of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship as the centra/force for economic change requires more women to be involved in its operations. Environmental factors have been identified for having the tendency of affecting entrepreneurial development. This study is aimed at examining the effect of environmental factors on women entrepreneurship development (WED) in Lagos State, Nigeria. Primary and secondary sources were used for the data collection The results revealed that government policy as an environmental factor has negative correlation with women entrepreneurship development and this affects other factors. To encourage women's participation in the economic development, the Government should make policies that will positively enhance the accessibility of women entrepreneurs to the required funds and other resources

Motivation to become an entrepreneur: a study of Nigerian women's decisions

Purpose – The paper aims to draw on rational choice theory (RCT) to explore factors underpinning the decision by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria to enter self-employment. Design/methodology/approach – A survey research design involving the use of questionnaire and structured interviews to obtain primary data was adopted. Primary data pertain to 300 female entrepreneurs currently engaged in their businesses in three states within the south-west of the country. A model developed from reviewed literature and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse data. Findings – Findings suggest the significance of “educational” and “family” capital, an “internal” orientation to social recognition as well as an “external” environment characterised by deregulation of the economy. Results broadly conform to RCT theory postulates of rational behaviour. Research limitations/implications – Inter-regional variances could not be addressed since the data are analysed in aggregate. Analysis of disaggregate data are required to study these differences and also those at the inter-sector (manufacturing/services, etc.) levels. Practical implications – Results from the study indicate that the government measures such as de-regulation which may as yet be in small measures have started to work and that these should be continued. The government can go a step further and identify entrepreneurs with characteristics described in this paper and provide them with the requisite help to get them started on the entrepreneurship route. Originality/value – The study makes a theoretical contribution by applying the lens of rational choice to this specific context. It also makes an original empirical contribution by focussing on an under-researched group by examining the influence of personal, social, market and environmental factors on the probability of females becoming entrepreneur

Corporate Social Responsibility and the Legal Regulation in Nigeria

This study examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria in the light of legal regulations, case laws and governmental policies. It will examine the existing role that the Nigerian law plays for the sustenance of the practise of CSR among its companies. A review of the literature on CSR reveals a dearth of knowledge on CSR policies and practices in Nigerian organisations. The study identifies how Nigeria views CSR, the growing importance of the CSR and the sources of CSR in Nigeria. The study also examines the range and scope CSR provided for by the laws and the emerging patterns of CSR in organisations operating in Nigeria. Lastly the article explores what are the forces driving or constraining or helping to shape the forms of CSR practices and policies. The findings reveal that there is diversity in terms of how CSR is understood and experienced in Nigeria. In addition, the study shows that environmental institutions affect how CSR is appreciated and utilised. The article suggests some policy implications in the form of support for CSR policies in this context

Reviewing Gaps in Work-Life Research and Prospecting Conceptual Advancement.

Within various organisational, behavioural and management studies, work-life balance is still a discursive subject. Focal themes and implications of most research findings on this social concept often discloses the need for working adults to consolidate efforts in finding the right balance between their work and non-work roles while organisations are scrutinised on implementing a variety of work-life practices and policies that can foster workplace well-being. However, gaps in accentuating its meaning, the dominance of role conflict realities and continuous emphasis on negative work-life outcomes still proliferates studies of this nature. Thus, the modest ambition of this paper is to assess trends in research evidencing gaps in work-life literature and what prospects are available to overcome such hiatus in work-life theory, practice and policy development. This review concludes by stimulating scholarly minds on potential collaborative solutions and proactive changes that human resource managers and employees’ alike can capitalise on for a more sustainable and fulfilling enactment of a win-win work-life situation

The Nature and Outcomes of Emotion Work in Customer Service Management

The purpose of this paper is to explore views of call centre employees working in Nigeria on the nature and consequences of emotional labour management during customer service interactions. Literature reveals lack of knowledge of this research area in an African context while a significant number of similar studies exist in Anglo-Saxon countries. Thus, this study was conducted in one of the Nigerian call centres. Using a social constructivist paradigm for the research analysis, semi-structured interviews were carried out among 50 Nigerian call centre agents. Findings revealed differences in terms of how affective delivery experiences was conceptualised and also perceived as a predictor of work stress when emotions are excessively regulated. In addition, organisationally-based solutions that can extenuate the negative after-effects of affective delivery that impairs well-being were suggested. In essence, the implication of the study is to unveil how call centre organisations existing in non-Western regions can better target and improve emotion work intrinsic of these frontline job

Work-Family Balance and Coping Strategies among Women: Evidence from Commercial Banks in Nigeria

changing family and work structures in Nigeria makes coping with work and family roles a challenging one for women to handle even with organizational interventions. The study specifically examined the determinants of work-family balance experience among women in the banking sector. A review of literature was carried out while the study was anchored on two theoretical platforms: Role Theory and Social Exchange Theory. The research employed both qualitative and quantitative research techniques. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested for the study. The first hypothesis revealed that age of the respondents, children ever born (parity), marital status, staff category and religion are significant determinants of work-family balance. Women with children in parity ratio of 1-2, 3-4 and 5 and above are 1.654, 1.455 and 1.235 times more likely to be unable to balance work-family roles compared to those with zero parity (i.e. the reference category). The third hypothesis estimated significant influence of work status on the work-family balance; this is statistically significant at pvalues of 0.005, 0.003, and 0.01 for senior staff, supervisors and junior staff respectively. The study concludes that if work demands become heavy, marital roles cannot be shelved or neglected and tension between the two boundaries will require a compromise. In this instance, women will prefer to stake the job rather than losing their families. The study suggests effective policy intervention from organisation and effective family support from the family-base to reduce the complexities of balancing work and family demands