A Systematic Review of Cryptocurrency Scholarship

AbstractPurpose – The purpose of this paper was to conduct a systemic review of extant cryptocurrency research in order to identify important features of these studies and to provide directions for future cryptocurrency research. Methodology - The Systematic Quantitative Assessment Technique (SQAT) was used to identify and review relevant peer-reviewed journal articles that investigated various facets of cryptocurrency.Findings – 54 journal articles were identified from 12 high-quality databases. The findings of the review revealed that most of the studies took place in Europe, North America and Asia, while Africa has been largely ignored. The main focus of cryptocurrency articles has been on a call for regulation of cryptocurrency without much work done on how to mitigate its vulnerability to the financing of terrorism and as a tool for money laundering. Finally, most cryptocurrency articles adopted a single research method – survey. There is a need for future studies to combine a variety of methods so as to gain additional insight into the issues of cryptocurrency’s vulnerability, risk identification and mitigation, regulation and acceptability.Research limitations - The use of limited but high quality academic databases means that some articles were not considered for this review.Originality/value – This study is one of the few studies to conduct a systematic review on a phenomenon which has the potential to transform the global financial landscape. Keywords – Cryptocurrency, Systematic review, Regulation.JEL Classification – G23, G38

Impact of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure on Profitability of Hotels in Minna, Nigeria.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure (EI) on profitability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), focusing on hotels in Minna, Nigeria. Methodology: Sequential Explanatory Mixed research method was adopted. Purposive Sampling Technique was used to obtain a sample size of 51 out of a population of 70 hotels in Minna for collection of quantitative data via questionnaires, while Simple Random Sampling Technique was used to select 10 interviewees for collection of qualitative data via interviews. Descriptive statistics was employed in analysing the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. Findings: Quantitative findings revealed that the available EI in Minna had a negative impact on the profitability of hotels, while qualitative findings also revealed that interviewees generally felt a poor impact of EI on the profitability of their hotels. Practical implications: These findings would be useful to potential and practicing entrepreneurs in the hotel industry, policy makers and the academic community. It is recommended that government at all levels should formulate policies that will address challenges of the deplorable condition of EI in Nigeria. Paper type: Research pape

Determinants of Firm Growth: The Case of Sachet Water Firms in Minna, Nigeria

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure (EI) on the profitability of Sachet Water Firms (SWFs) in Minna. Design/methodology/approach: This was done through the use of personal interviews for the collection of qualitative data from owners/managers of SWFs. The population of the study included all the 165 SWFs in Minna and the sample size was 10 which was determined by interview saturation point. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing the transcribed audio recordings of the interviews conducted. Findings: Findings revealed that there is an EI deficit in Minna, which has led to increased expenses on the provision of alternative EI by SWFs and has increased their operational costs thereby reducing their profitability. Research limitations/implications: Firstly, with thirty-six states in Nigeria, the findings of this study, covering the Capital of only one of the States (Niger) cannot be generalized for the entire country, rather it must be taken within the context of the region covered. Secondly, only one industry out of many that make up the Nigerian economy is selected for investigation. Thirdly, the researcher was faced with the negative attitude of some respondents who were not willing to participate in the research or provide the needed data for analysis. Lastly, not all the SWFs in Minna were included in the study, only those that have operated for up to three years were included. Future studies can bridge these research gaps by carrying out research in other parts of Nigeria on the same subject matter. Practical implications: Findings of this study would be of help to the existing SMEs in Nigeria, particularly the SWFs in further understanding the complexities of the infrastructural challenges militating against their growth and how to overcome them. Originality/value: This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the nexus between EI and the general performance of SMEs. Paper type: Research paper

Impact of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure on Profitability of Hotels in Minna, Nigeria.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure (EI) on profitability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), focusing on hotels in Minna, Nigeria. Methodology: Sequential Explanatory Mixed research method was adopted. Purposive Sampling Technique was used to obtain a sample size of 51 out of a population of 70 hotels in Minna for collection of quantitative data via questionnaires, while Simple Random Sampling Technique was used to select 10 interviewees for collection of qualitative data via interviews. Descriptive statistics was employed in analysing the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. Findings: Quantitative findings revealed that the available EI in Minna had a negative impact on the profitability of hotels, while qualitative findings also revealed that interviewees generally felt a poor impact of EI on the profitability of their hotels. Practical implications: These findings would be useful to potential and practicing entrepreneurs in the hotel industry, policy makers and the academic community. It is recommended that government at all levels should formulate policies that will address challenges of the deplorable condition of EI in Nigeria. Paper type: Research pape

Determinants of Firm Growth: The Case of Sachet Water Firms in Minna, Nigeria

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of Entrepreneurial Infrastructure (EI) on the profitability of Sachet Water Firms (SWFs) in Minna. Design/methodology/approach: This was done through the use of personal interviews for the collection of qualitative data from owners/managers of SWFs. The population of the study included all the 165 SWFs in Minna and the sample size was 10 which was determined by interview saturation point. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing the transcribed audio recordings of the interviews conducted. Findings: Findings revealed that there is an EI deficit in Minna, which has led to increased expenses on the provision of alternative EI by SWFs and has increased their operational costs thereby reducing their profitability. Research limitations/implications: Firstly, with thirty-six states in Nigeria, the findings of this study, covering the Capital of only one of the States (Niger) cannot be generalized for the entire country, rather it must be taken within the context of the region covered. Secondly, only one industry out of many that make up the Nigerian economy is selected for investigation. Thirdly, the researcher was faced with the negative attitude of some respondents who were not willing to participate in the research or provide the needed data for analysis. Lastly, not all the SWFs in Minna were included in the study, only those that have operated for up to three years were included. Future studies can bridge these research gaps by carrying out research in other parts of Nigeria on the same subject matter. Practical implications: Findings of this study would be of help to the existing SMEs in Nigeria, particularly the SWFs in further understanding the complexities of the infrastructural challenges militating against their growth and how to overcome them. Originality/value: This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the nexus between EI and the general performance of SMEs. Paper type: Research paper

Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) en las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMEs): una revisión sistemática

[ENG] This study aims to systematically review the key characteristics and issues in Corporate Social Responsibility among Small and Medium Enterprises (CSRS) research. The Systematic Assessment Quantitative Technique (SQAT) developed by Australian researchers, Catherine Pickering and Jason Antony Byrne, was used to identify and analyse 62 peer-reviewed CSRS articles from six high quality academic databases. Most of the studies took place in Europe and Asia while South America has been largely ignored. A significant number of CSRS research were empirical in nature, meaning that there is a need for more conceptual studies to aid the understanding of new CSRS norms and underlying factors. Additionally, CSRS articles focused mainly on identifying the various ways SMEs are implementing CSR. Finally, most CSRS articles adopted a single research method, with survey being the most dominant method. There is a need for future studies to combine a variety of methods so as to gain additional insight into CSRS related issues.[SPA] Este estudio tiene como objetivo revisar sistemáticamente las características y los problemas claves en la investigación de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa en las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (RSC). Empleando la técnica cuantitativa de evaluación sistemática (SQAT), desarrollada por los investigadores australianos, Catherine Pickering y Jason Antony Byrne, se identificaron y analizaron 62 artículos revisados por pares de seis bases de datos académicas de alta calidad. La mayoría de los trabajos se realizaron en Europa y Asia, mientras que América del Sur ha quedado ignorada en gran medida. Un número significativo de investigaciones fueron de naturaleza empírica, lo que significa que existe una necesidad de más estudios conceptuales para ayudar a comprender las nuevas normas y los factores subyacentes sobre RSC. Además, los artículos de RSC se centraron principalmente en identificar las diversas formas en que las PYME están implementando la RSC. Finalmente, la mayoría de los artículos adoptaron un único método de investigación, siendo la encuesta el método más dominante. Es necesario que los estudios futuros combinen una variedad de métodos para obtener información adicional sobre los problemas relacionados con la RSC