Intellectual Capital and Business Performance: Evidence from Nigeria

The impact of intellectual capital (IC) on the general performance of the organisation has become a very important issue now than ever, this is due to the level of globalisation of whose outcomes are privatization and deregulation of markets, aggressive competition and the ever-rising expectations of customers. As a result of this, there is need for organisations to be at their best in order to be relevant in the environment. This paper focuses on developing economies and on Nigeria specifically. Using a sample of thirty-two audited financial statements of quoted companies in Nigeria, the paper examines the impact of IC components on business performance measured with Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA). The results show that intellectual capital has a positive and significant relationship with the performance of business organizations in Nigeria. These results reinforce the accumulating body of empirical support for the positive impact of Intellectual capital on business performance. Based on the findings, the study recommends that corporate entities in Nigeria should invest in Human, Structural and Customer Capital in order to increase their performance

An Empirical Examination of the Relationship between Capital Structure and the Financial Performance of Firms in Nigeria

This paper basically investigates the relationship between capital structure and the financial performance of listed firms in Nigeria. The study considered a total sample of 31 listed firms on the floor of the Nigerian stock exchange. The annual reports for the period 2005-2009 were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique of model estimation to test the research propositions stated in this study. The study observed that two of the explanatory variables in this study (i.e. short-term debt and shareholders’ funds) have a significant positive impact on the financial performance of listed firms in Nigeria. In addition, the study observed that long-term debt has a significant negative impact on the financial performance of firms. To this end the study concludes that employing high proportion of long-term debt in firms’ capital structure will invariably result in a low financial performance of a firm

An Empirical Examination of the Relationship between Capital Structure and the Financial Performance of Firms in Nigeria

This paper basically investigates the relationship between capital structure and the financial performance of listed firms in Nigeria. The study considered a total sample of 31 listed firms on the floor of the Nigerian stock exchange. The annual reports for the period 2005-2009 were analyzed using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique of model estimation to test the research propositions stated in this study. The study observed that two of the explanatory variables in this study (i.e. short-term debt and shareholders’ funds) have a significant positive impact on the financial performance of listed firms in Nigeria. In addition, the study observed that long-term debt has a significant negative impact on the financial performance of firms. To this end the study concludes that employing high proportion of long-term debt in firms’ capital structure will invariably result in a low financial performance of a firm

The influence of blockchains and internet of things on global value chain

Despite the increasing proliferation of deploying the Internet of Things (IoT) in global value chain (GVC), several challenges might lead to a lack of trust among value chain partners, e.g., technical challenges (i.e., confidentiality, authenticity, and privacy); and security challenges (i.e., counterfeiting, physical tempering, and data theft). In this study, we argue that Blockchain technology, when combined with the IoT ecosystem, will strengthen GVC and enhance value creation and capture among value chain partners. Thus, we examine the impact of Blockchain technology when combined with the IoT ecosystem and how it can be utilized to enhance value creation and capture among value chain partners. We collected data through an online survey, and 265 UK Agri-food retailers completed the survey. Our data were analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM). Our finding reveals that Blockchain technology enhances GVC by improving IoT scalability, security, and traceability when combined with the IoT ecosystem. Which, in turn, strengthens GVC and creates more value for value chain partners – which serves as a competitive advantage. Finally, our research outlines the theoretical and practical contribution of combining Blockchain technology and the IoT ecosystem

The influence of blockchains and internet of things on global value chain

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Despite the increasing proliferation of deploying the internet of things (IoT) in the global value chain (GVC), several challenges might lead to a lack of trust among value chain partners, for example, technical challenges (i.e., confidentiality, authenticity, and privacy); and security challenges (i.e., counterfeiting, physical tampering, and data theft). In this study, we argue that blockchain technology (BT), when combined with the IoT ecosystem, will strengthen GVC and enhance value creation and capture among value chain partners. Therefore, we examine the impact of BT combined with the IoT ecosystem and how it can be utilized to enhance value creation and capture among value chain partners. We collected data through an online survey, and 265 U.K. Agri-food retailers completed the survey. Our data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Our finding reveals that BT enhances GVC by improving IoT scalability, security, and traceability combined with the IoT ecosystem. Moreover, the combination of BT and IoT strengthens GVC and creates more value for value chain partners, which serves as a competitive advantage. Finally, our research outlines the theoretical and practical contribution of combining BT and the IoT ecosystem

Understanding maternity waiting home uptake and scale-up within low-income and middle-income countries: a programme theory from a realist review and synthesis

From BMJ via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2022-05-13, ppub 2022-09, accepted 2022-09-01, epub 2022-09-30Peer reviewed: TrueAcknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge members of the advisory group including Anayda Portela, Denise Kouri, Jessie Forsyth, João Paulo Souza and Tami Waldron. We also extend sincere thanks to the 12 MWH implementers and policy makers who were interviewed during the PT refinement process, including, Abebe Mamo G/tsadik, Bwalya Misheck, Chipo Chimamise, Cristalina Mahumane, Esther Ngaru, Faith Akovi Cooper, Fernanda Andre, Gebeyehu Bulcha and Thandiwe Ngoma.Publication status: PublishedFunder: University of Saskatchewan; FundRef: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008920Funder: Mozambique-Canada Maternal Health Project; Grant(s): D-002085Introduction: Maternity waiting homes (MWHs) link pregnant women to skilled birth attendance at health facilities. Research suggests that some MWH-facility birth interventions are more success at meeting the needs and expectations of their intended users than others. We aimed to develop theory regarding what resources work to support uptake and scale-up of MHW-facility birth interventions, how, for whom, in what contexts and why. Methods: A four-step realist review was conducted which included development of an initial programme theory; searches for evidence; selection, appraisal and extraction of data; and analysis and data synthesis. Results: A programme theory was developed from 106 secondary sources and 12 primary interviews with MWH implementers. The theory demonstrated that uptake and scale-up of the MWH-facility birth intervention depends on complex interactions between three adopter groups: health system stakeholders, community gatekeepers and pregnant women and their families. It describes relationships between 19 contexts, 11 mechanisms and 31 outcomes accross nine context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOCs) which were grouped into 3 themes: (1) Engaging stakeholders to develop, integrate, and sustain MWH-facility birth interventions, (2) Promoting and enabling MWH-facility birth utilisation and (3) Creating positive and memorable MWH-facility birth user experiences. Belief, trust, empowerment, health literacy and perceptions of safety, comfort and dignity were mechanisms that supported diffusion and adoption of the intervention within communities and health systems. Examples of resources provided by implementers to trigger mechanisms associated with each CMOC were identified. Conclusions: Implementers of MWHs cannot merely assume that communities will collectively value an MWH-facility birth experience over delivery at home. We posit that MWH-facility birth interventions become vulnerable to under-utilisation when implementers fail to: (1) remove barriers that hinder women’s access to MWH and (2) ensure that conditions and interactions experienced within the MWH and its affiliated health facility support women to feel treated with compassion, dignity and respect. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020173595

Graphene and related materials in hierarchical fiber composites: Production techniques and key industrial benefits

Fiber-reinforced composites (FRC) are nowadays one of the most widely used class of high-tech materials. In particular, sporting goods, cars and the wings and fuselages of airplanes are made of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC). CFRC are mature commercial products, but are still challenging materials. Their mechanical and electrical properties are very good along the fiber axis, but can be very poor perpendicular to it; interfacial interactions have to be tailored for specific applications to avoid crack propagation– and delamination; fiber production includes high-temperature treatments of adverse environmental impact, leading to high costs. Recent research work shows that the performance of CFRC can be improved by addition of graphene or related 2-dimensional materials (GRM). Graphene is a promising additive for CFRC because: 1) Its all-carbon aromatic structure is similar to the one of carbon fiber (CF). 2) Its 2-dimensional shape, high aspect ratio, high flexibility and mechanical strength allow it to be used as a coating on the surface of fiber, or as a mechanical/electrical connection between different fiber layers. 3) Its tunable surface chemistry allows its interaction to be enhanced with either the fiber or the polymer matrix used in the composite and 4) in contrast to carbon fibers or nanotubes, it is easily produced on a large scale at room temperature, without metal catalysts. Here, we summarize the key strategic advantages that could be obtained in this way, and some of the recent results that have been obtained in this field within the Graphene Flagship project and worldwide

African Political Leaders\u27 Uneven Policies, Anemic Economic Growth, and Absorptive Market Demand for Foreign Direct Investment

This dissertation research paper summarizes the pertinent literature on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in emerging economies. It focuses on the impact of FDI on host economies, political leaders’ uneven policies, and absorptive market demand implications arising from this (potential) impact. The beneficial effects of FDI on emerging economies provide capital and finished products, materials, parts, generation of tax revenues, higher exports, and access to new technology. These benefits are more than ever a necessity for some Sub-Saharan African countries on the path of economic growth. However, the approach toward economic development comes with uncertainties. The purpose of this flexible design single case study is to add to and expand the understanding of the reasons behind African political leaders\u27 uneven policies in providing absorptive market demand for the consumer goods industry and its effect on economic growth. The literature review presents other perspectives that inhibit the studied participants of this research study, such as elements that embolden political leaders’ inaction, empirical theories, and anticipated discovered themes that impact economic growth in the selected participant countries in this research study

The Impact of Board Structure on Corporate Financial Performance in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of board structure on corporate financial performance in Nigeria. It investigates the composition of boards of directors in Nigerian firms and analyses whether board structure has an impact on financial performance, as measured by return on equity (ROE) and return on capital employed (ROCE). Based on the extensive literature, four board characteristics (board composition, board size, board ownership and CEO duality) have been identified as possibly having an impact on corporate financial performance and these characteristics are set as the independent variables. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to estimate the relationship between corporate performance measures and the independent variables. Findings from the study show that there is strong positive association between board size and corporate financial performance. Evidence also exists that there is a positive association between outside directors sitting on the board and corporate financial performance. However, a negative association was observed between directors’ stockholding and firm financial performance measures. In addition, the study reveals a negative association between ROE and CEO duality, while a strong positive association was observed between ROCE and CEO duality. The study suggests that large board size should be encouraged and the composition of outside directors as members of the board should be sustained and improved upon to enhance corporate financial performance

Earnings Management and Corporate Governance in Nigeria

Earnings management has received considerable attention in recent times. This is due to its linkage with the reliability of published accounting reports. Indication from the academic literature has shown that the practice of earnings management is quite extensive among publicly traded firms. In response to the demand for greater proportion of independent directors on corporate boards and the need for financial sophistication of audit committee members, this study examines the role of the board of directors and audit committee in preventing earnings management in Nigeria. Using a questionnaire survey, the study finds that board dominated by outside directors brings a greater breadth of experience to the firm and are in a better position to monitor and control managers, thereby reducing earnings management. It was also observed that audit committee whose members possess certain level of financial competencies would reduce the likelihood of earnings management. The study recommends that board composition should include greater proportion of independent outside directors with corporate experience. Audit committee members should be encouraged to possess a certain level of financial competencies in order to decrease the likelihood of earnings management