Exploring Marketing Strategy as a Catalyst for Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Nigerian Manufacturing Sector: A Theoretical Review

Manufacturing firms are key initiators of innovation and economic growth but fail in attempt to gain sustainable competitive advantage. Achieving competitive advantage in any organization through various marketing strategies is pertinent to achieving organizational success. The formulation of theories that help explain how organization can achieve sustainable competitive advantage has increased in recent time. Through the lens of theoretical review, this paper aims to explore the key theories in literatures that best explain how sustainable competitive advantage is achieved through marketing strategies. The review exclusively makes use of systematic sampling in reviewing existing literatures on marketing strategies and sustainable competitive advantage from 1960s to 2019. The finding reveals four major normative theories that are distinctively competitive and marketing oriented: resource advantage theory, organizational capability theory, industrial organization theory and theory of competitiveness. Although there is no consensus that one theory is the best practice considering the future and turbulent nature of business environment, the paper further singled out resource advantage and capability theory as the best theory that can help organization achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Hence, business owners should put in place adequate resources and capabilities to help them gain sustainable competitive advantage over their competitors

A REVIEW ON MARKETING STRATEGIES AND SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SMES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR

The problems associated with marketing strategies have assumed multifarious dimensions with wide implications in achieving business competitiveness, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector in Nigeria. This therefore calls for the adoption of marketing strategies in order to achieve successful competition and growth. This paper explores marketing strategies as a paradigm for sustainable competitive advantage for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. This paper is based on resource advantage theory which focuses on the control and ownership of distinctive quantity of competitive resources that foster sustainable competitive advantage and growth. Three major forms of marketing strategies were identified: cost leadership, product differentiation and market segmentation. The review exclusively makes use of systematic sampling in reviewing existing literatures on marketing strategies and sustainable competitive advantage. The findings reveals that good marketing companies win, sustain and grow customers by understanding customers need and designing customer-driven marketing strategies. Marketing strategies such as cost leadership, product differentiation and market segmentation are now widely used and practiced by established firms in a highly competitive market as a panacea for future competitiveness and long-term sustainability. Thus, this suggests that marketing strategies are good tools in achieving business competitiveness. Hence, business owners should put in place effective marketing strategies to help them gain sustainable competitive advantage over their competitors

Exploring Marketing Strategy as a Catalyst for Sustainable Competitive Advantage in Nigerian Manufacturing Sector: A Theoretical Review

Manufacturing firms are key initiators of innovation and economic growth but fail in attempt to gain sustainable competitive advantage. Achieving competitive advantage in any organization through various marketing strategies is pertinent to achieving organizational success. The formulation of theories that help explain how organization can achieve sustainable competitive advantage has increased in recent time. Through the lens of theoretical review, this paper aims to explore the key theories in literatures that best explain how sustainable competitive advantage is achieved through marketing strategies. The review exclusively makes use of systematic sampling in reviewing existing literatures on marketing strategies and sustainable competitive advantage from 1960s to 2019. The finding reveals four major normative theories that are distinctively competitive and marketing oriented: resource advantage theory, organizational capability theory, industrial organization theory and theory of competitiveness. Although there is no consensus that one theory is the best practice considering the future and turbulent nature of business environment, the paper further singled out resource advantage and capability theory as the best theory that can help organization achieve sustainable competitive advantage. Hence, business owners should put in place adequate resources and capabilities to help them gain sustainable competitive advantage over their competitors

COMMUNICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS AND THE LEARNING PREFERENCES OF END USERS

The importance of effective communication of researcher findings to the end users in advancing teaching, researcher and practice is well understood. However, there is an apparent gap between the methods used by researchers in reporting their findings and the learning preferences of the users of such findings. This is evident in the field of architecture, where there is a gap between researchers, the students and practitioners, who are the intended beneficiaries of the research findings. This study investigated the predominant learning preferences of postgraduate students and the methods used by the faculty in the Department of Architecture, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria, in communicating their research findings. Questionnaire surveys of 55 postgraduate students and 20 research active faculty members in this department were conducted in the last quarter of 2016. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. The result shows that the students, who are mainly kinesthetic and visual learners, preferred videos as opposed to text based formats used by researchers in presenting their research findings. Although both the students and faculty were found to have preference for the Internet and electronic media for the purpose of exchanging research findings, the students relied mostly on websites as the main source of information for their academic work, while the faculty disseminate their research findings mainly through journals. The paper concludes that a reconciliation between the modes of communication used by researchers and the learning preferences of students will result in a better communication of research findings and promote effective teaching and learning in architecture

INTER-SPOUSAL COMMUNICATION AS A DETERMINANT OF CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN NIGERIA: A MIXED METHOD

The need for understanding the level of communication among couples is important in reproductive health. Agreement by couples on contraceptive adoption is a major consideration if population growth will be reduced. Therefore this paper tests the hypothesis that there is no significant relationship between interspousal communication and contraceptive use in Nigeria. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative method of data collection. The quantitative data employed the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey Couple recode dataset, while the qualitative data was collected using Focus Group Discussion. Data was analyzed using Stata13 and the qualitative data was analyzed using NVivo 11 software. The result of the logistic regression model showed that there is a significant relationship between inter-spousal communication and contraceptive use (P<0.001). The result of the unadjusted model showed a Log-likelihood ratio [LLR] = 2335.0875, R2 = 27.05% and Chi-square= 1731.32 on 29 degree of freedom while, the adjusted model showed a [LLR] = 435.0011, R2 = 38.20%, Chi-square= 268.36 on 32 degrees of freedom, p<0.05. The reduction of 1296.3189 in the Log-likelihood ratio and an increase of 11.15 % in the R2 indicate a very good fit. In the qualitative study the findings showed that majority of the couples using contraceptives discussed with their spouses and more than half of them received their husband’s maximum support. We conclude that couples communication will improve the uptake of contraceptives and reduce the increasing population growth in Nigeria

Estimating the prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background There is not yet a comprehensive evidence-based epidemiological report on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Nigeria. We aimed to estimate country-wide and zonal prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality rates of T2DM in Nigeria. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, Africa Journals Online (AJOL) and Google Scholar for population and hospital-based studies on T2DM in Nigeria. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis on extracted crude estimates, and applied a meta-regression epidemiological model, using the United Nations demographics for Nigeria in 1990 and 2015 to determine estimates of diabetes in Nigeria for the two years. Results 42 studies, with a total population of 91 320, met our selection criteria. Most of the studies selected were of medium quality (90.5%). The age-adjusted prevalence rates of T2DM in Nigeria among persons aged 20–79 years increased from 2.0% (95% CI 1.9% to 2.1%) in 1990 to 5.7% (95% CI 5.5% to 5.8%) in 2015, accounting for over 874 000 and 4.7 million cases, respectively. The pooled prevalence rate of impaired glucose tolerance was 10.0% (95% CI 4.5% to 15.6%), while impaired fasting glucose was 5.8% (95% CI 3.8% to 7.8%). Hospital admission rate for T2DM was 222.6 (95% CI 133.1 to 312.1) per 100 000 population with hyperglycaemic emergencies, diabetic foot and cardiovascular diseases being most common complications. The overall mortality rate was 30.2 (95% CI 14.6 to 45.8) per 100 000 population, with a case fatality rate of 22.0% (95% CI 8.0% to 36.0%). Conclusion Our findings suggest an increasing burden of T2DM in Nigeria with many persons currently undiagnosed, and few known cases on treatment

Are Men’s Reproductive Health Problems and Sexual Behavior Predictors of Welfare?

The study examined men’s reproductive health problems and sexual behavior and their implications for men’s welfare in Nigeria. It used the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data set of 2013. The analysis used only male recode files, representing 17,359 males. The dependent variable is the computed wealth index, which was selected as proxy for welfare condition. Analysis involved univariate and multivariate levels. The findings indicated that 49.3% of the respondents currently have more than one sexual partner. The total lifetime sexual partner index identifies 70.2% of the men interviewed have had at least two sexual partners in their lifetime. It revealed that men who experience reproductive health challenges, such as sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcer, are 44% and 93%, respectively, less likely to enjoy good welfare condition. It also indicated that men in urban area are 7.256 times more likely to enjoy good welfare condition compared with their rural counterparts. There is a negative association between total lifetime sexual partnerships and exposure to good welfare. The study concludes that social workers, marriage counselors, other health personnel, and policy makers need to focus on the practice of multiple sexual partnership and reproductive health diseases as major determinants of men’s welfare. The authors suggest that the index of welfare should include reproductive health issues and indicators of sexual behavior. Also, there is need for the establishment of specialized reproductive health care services and centers that are accessible to all men for effective servicing of reproductive health needs of men in the country

Male reproductive health challenges: appraisal of wives coping strategies

Background: Systematic studies on the association between men’s sexual dysfunction (low sexual desire, ejaculation disorders, erectile dysfunctions, genital ulcers, testicular disorders, prostate cancer or sexually transmitted infections) and marital conflict are emerging. However, the coping strategies adopted by wives in such circumstances are not commonly reported in the literature. Male sexual functioning is vital to the marital relationship, lack of it can result in intolerable cohabitation or relationship breakdown, and could also cause infertility, infidelity, and arouse stigma in Nigeria. The understanding of coping strategies by female partners could guide in the counselling and treatment of men’s sexual health problems. Effective coping has the potential to lessen or prevent negative outcomes, and thereby could reduce marital conflict. Objectives: This study examined the coping strategies adopted by women whose husbands have reproductive health challenges in two of the five states with the highest proportion of divorce/separation in Nigeria. Methods: Four focus group discussions were conducted in two local government areas. The women were recruited from a quantitative couple-study for men with sexual health problems. Focus group responses were transcribed and analysed using systematic-content-analysis with thematic organisation of the summaries and systematic typologies of participants’ responses. Results: The results revealed the coping strategies employed by women in this environment: seeking guidance from their religious leaders and family doctors, physical-sexual-therapy, abstinence and concubinage. The participants indicated that they encountered difficulties in discussing their husbands’ sexual health problems with a third party. Conclusion: The study concludes that husband’s sexual ability is crucial to the sustenance of the marital relationship. Religious leaders and family doctors often serve as mediators to husband-wife conflict management. Counselling is recommended in cases of sexual health problems. Husbands should be encouraged to seek treatment and share their sexual challenges with their spouse. The medical officers and religious leaders could also be trained in family-conflict management

Biocatalytic Sensors: Potentials, Maxims and Mechanisms for Optimal Performance

Biocatalytic sensors are devices which consist of bioactive functionally grafted layers of catalysts or analytical pieces which are in contact with transducers that help to convert biological signals into electrical pulses. They are essentially distinct materials whose design, application, immobilization, and transducing capacities induce/infuse distinct properties that offer several advantages in science, engineering, and medicine. The essentiality of biocatalytic sensors cannot be overemphasized; however, for successful application, it is necessary to understand their origins, nature, mechanism of operation, as well as their behavioral activities in different media within favorable conditions. Hence, three categories of biosensors, whose mechanisms of operation would be discussed include the biocatalytic, bioaffinity, and microbial groups. In addition, the synthesis and mechanisms of immune, DNA, thermal, and piezoelectric biosensors, will be discussed in relation to their indispensable functionalities in multitudinous facets, such as the food industry, where quality checks are conducted to detect poisonous substances and glucose levels, in metabolic engineering, where in vivo assessments and monitoring of cell responses to metabolism are carried out and in medicine, where drugs, heart diseases, and the human papilloma virus can be X-rayed; biosensors also find application in defense/military technology and marine science, just to mention a few. In today’s world, a myriad of biosensors, assume the form of membrane-bound microorganisms/enzymes, antibodies, receptors, or multilayered (matrixenzyme) nanocomposites, all geared towards the maximization of the synergistic effect which these combinations offer in order to advance humanity. With the advent of newly discovered hyperthermophiles, it would be an interesting thing to consider their usage in biosensing especially at temperatures that can sometimes be twice above 50 °C, which may be unfavorable for most enzymes. However, the potentials of these biosensors are yet to be exploited maximally owing to the dearth in the understanding of the basic principles underlying the conditions within which they work best. To effectively optimize the potentials/performances of biosensors, a good understanding of the nature/characteristics of such systems, the principle on which they operate alongside the system’s pH, temperature, and type of medium, which either favor or mare their activities are required. Hence, this chapter’s discourse will essentially focus on the mechanisms and modes of operation of existing biosensors as well as recent/futuristic applications of potential bioactive materials, anchored on graphene and other potential substrates

Exploring anti-corruption capabilities of e-procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria

The use of electronic (e-) procurement to support the execution of supply chain management activities in the different industrial sectors is permeating all regions of the world. However, in countries in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a significant level of corruption and unethical practices in the procurement process, there is a need for a better understanding of how e-Procurement can help to check the incidence of corrupt and unethical practices in construction project delivery. This study relied on a cross-sectional survey of 759 respondents, including architects, builders, engineers, estate/facilities managers, contractors, construction/ project managers, quantity surveyors, supply chain managers and others to identify and analyse the anti-corruption capabilities of e-Procurement in construction project delivery in Nigeria. The results of the descriptive statistics, relative importance index and principal components analysis identified 18 anti-corruption capabilities in e-Procurement in construction project delivery with the three most important ones being the capability of e-Procurement to ensure good inventory management/record keeping; accountability by providing audit services trail