Systemic lean intervention: enhancing lean with community operational research

This paper discusses how the theory and methodology of Community OR can enhance Lean initiatives. We argue that Lean practice can benefit from going beyond just the involvement of organizational stakeholders: local communities can be swept into the process too, with the aim of achieving an environment that is (as far as possible) pollution-free, for the benefit of organizations and their local communities. Our only proviso is that, in the spirit of Community OR, such an initiative must facilitate the meaningful involvement of community representatives, so change is agreed through stakeholder engagements that respect the inputs and framings of these representatives. Organizations should not impose ‘solutions’ on communities. An example of an intervention with a food production company in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria is provided. The paper ends with some reflections on the added value that Community OR can offer Lean practitioners

Enhancing Lean Interventions through the use of Systems Thinking in the food production industry : a case in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria

This research discusses how Lean Thinking (Lean), can be enhanced through the use of Systems Thinking (ST) tools and methodologies. While Lean has emerged as a process improvement philosophy aiming to enhance value by identifying and eradicating waste through the use of various tools, Systems Thinking seeks to recognise the impacts of different parts that function together in an operational process, paying attention to boundaries, interrelationships, perspectives and how systems function as whole.However, the extant literature shows that Lean tends to focus on narrow stakeholder input, leaving out the impact of the operational process on other affected stakeholders who may be affected by the system but are not directly involved. Such a narrow view can have an impact on Lean implementation and adoption among practitioners in modern businesses, and on its success in improving processes and sustaining changes. There can be challenging impacts on stakeholders, such as ‘end to end’ effects, which pose an issue to the general acceptance of the approach by affected stakeholders.To address this gap, the application of Systems Thinking alongside Lean was adopted, as Systems Thinking seeks to explore impacts on the affected. This led to the development of a Systemic Lean Intervention (SLI) methodology, involving the combination of Lean and Systems tools, to form an approach to identify and address the issues of waste and value development from the perspective of wider stakeholders.The research looks at a case of a commercial live-stock farm in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Qualitative data was collected from the identified stakeholders who participated in the research process.One of the findings was that SLI can assist in securing wider stakeholder acceptance of Lean and Systems improvements. However, the research also highlighted constraints on the SLI application, including the autocratic leadership style adopted on the farm and boundary rigidities in decision making, which hindered effective team play. Finally, among other limitations highlighted in the research, it was noted that the SLI approach would require significant time to be learned in the particular context of the Niger Delta Region, where the practice of both Lean and Systems were found to be relatively new

BUSINESS INCUBATION AND STUDENT IDEA VALIDATION: A FOCUS ON NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

This study critically examined the role of university business incubation initiatives in fostering business idea validation of university students in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, a total of 362 students drawn from covenant university Ogun State, Nigeria, were sampled. The data were analysed using regression analysis. The result showed that business incubation activities have positive significant influence on validating business ideas generated by university students. Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that business incubation activities should be an embedded policy in Nigerian universities to motivate business idea validation potentials of undergraduate students. Hence, the provision of the necessary and relevant facilities and infrastructure should be prioritize

THE LEGAL REGIME ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AS ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY IN NIGERIA’S POWER SECTOR: THE IMPACTS AND THE POTENTIALS

Background/Aim: Fossil fuel has been the mainstream of energy supply and a major source of foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government of Nigeria, despite being an unrenewable and unsustainable source of energy which has led to emission of greenhouse gases which are unsustainable in Nigeria’s power sector. There is severe challenge of power irregularity over the years such that most industrial organizations and upper income family circles install exorbitant electricity generators set due to incessant power outage in the country. Methods/Materials: The study adopts a doctrinal legal research with library based legal research method with comparative legal approach. The study reveals that lack of coherent legal framework with incentives for utilization of renewable energy is the key factor causing slow utilization of renewable energy as alternative source of energy in Nigeria. Results: The country is yet to tap into the full benefits of renewable energies after privatization of its power sector inspite of the new global evolvement in energy sector and the growing demands for renewable energy sources, which is cheaper, environmentally friendly compared to fossil fuel and its allied products. Energy security has been a challenge to social economic development due to over dependency on fossil fuel despite the obvious indicators that fossil fuel will soon become an alternative forgone in the power sector as energy has evolved from meeting household needs and industrial demands to preserving energy sources for longevity and sustainability. This would apparently have some implications for Nigeria’s oil sector due to the current global dwindling in crude oil price. This development has led to the formulation of new energy policy around the world to serve as a vehicle for translating this to reality. The study evaluated resource curse and sustainable development theories due to their impacts on renewable energy in Nigeria’s power sector. The aim of the study is to end the concern for poor energy utilization to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Conclusions/Recommendations: the study recommends among other reforms, the need for coherent legal framework on renewable energy and advocates stringent enforcement of energy regulatory policies with incentives for utilization of renewable energy sources in Nigeria

ACHIEVING ZERO WASTE OPERATION IN A PRIVATE ORGANISATION THROUGH EXTENDED STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION: A CASE IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION, NIGERIA

This paper focused on addressing the effects of operational issues on the stakeholders to a private organisation. The findings show that the implementation of stakeholders’ involvement lent support to effective zero waste practice in this research. It is an action research, carried out in a case study of a commercial livestock farm, using workshop and interviews as key data collection methods. The research considered the interest of the affected and involved stakeholders in identifying and deliberating on key operational issues such as live-stock waste management and mortality. Suggestions and decisions result in effective approach to addressing stakeholders’ marginalisation through a participatory research process, which led to a zero-waste operational practice. The research concludes with the suggestion for a mixed method to explore the topic in future research in a private sector organisation

LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR OF SUB-SAHARA AFRICA (2010 – 2017): A DATA ENVELOPMENT AND PANEL REGRESSION APPROACH

Purpose: This study focused on investigating labour productivity in the agricultural sector of sub-Sahara Africa countries between the periods of 2010 – 2017. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted descriptive design. The sample size for this research include thirty-seven sub-Sahara African nations. Measuring SSA nation’s agricultural productivity in this study was based on input and output factors relating to the labour resource utilization between the periods of 2010 - 2017. Data Envelopment Analysis and panel regression analysis were carried out to examine labour productivity within the set periods. Findings: The findings from the study suggests that labour productivity in the agricultural sector of Sub-Sahara Africa countries can be improved from its presently low state of productivity. The statistical analysis showed that between the periods of 2010 – 2013, only about 34.9 percent of countries in the region were technically efficient in the utilization of labour resources for productive use. More disturbing was that, from 2014 – 2017, labour productivity dropped to 11.6 percent. Meanwhile, employment of labour in the agricultural sector revealed as low as 1.58 percentage to crop production index in the region. Notably, there is the potential of labour employment to derive as high as 80 percent yield to the Gross Domestic Product of economies in the SSA region. Practical Implications: Considering the strategic role of labour to the agricultural sector of SSA countries, there must be a stakeholders approach to stimulating the interest of the populace of these countries and getting them actively involved in the agricultural sector. This imply that government, investors, support agencies from developed economies and populace of the SSA nations must support the drive towards agricultural productivity of the SSA nations. Originality/Value: This study established a research agenda that involved a paradigm shift from the more rampant literature on foreign investments, agricultural research, rural livelihood and well-being, among others to focusing on issues that pertain to labour productivity for sustainable agricultural yields in Sub-Sahara Africa countries. Also, the methodology adopted in the study, such as application of Data Envelopment Analysis and regression analysis to panel data, shows a departure from single units of analysis adopted by existing studies

Application of systems approach to achieving cleaner and sustainable environment: a study of waste dumping issue on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

This research explores waste management activities and the strive to achieve a cleaner environment for man’s habitation. The work applies a case study approach, and the use of observation method was applied in the data collection along with a description of the case of waste dumping issue on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. This study suggests the application of systems approach to enhance a participatory waste management practice that embraces the involvement and active consultation of the concerned stakeholders for effective and sustainable waste management practice. The research also highlights the need for further research to consider the application of other data collection tools such as interview and workshop to have a broader data needed to further explore the research area

Impact of the Commercial Law on E-Commerce Practices and Business Sustainability in Nigeria

With the advent of global market interdependence and interaction, coupled with the consistent spread of the internet facilities across geographical boundaries, businesses engage in e-commerce practices either to augment existing on-ground businesses or as independent outfits. This study focused on the law on e-commerce practice and business sustainability in Nigeria. The study applied a conceptual review focusing on the trends of development of ecommerce practice and the supportive effects of the legal system in facilitating business sustainability in Nigeria. The study relied on extant literature sourced from various outlets, relevant to the topic of this study. The key findings highlighted and discussed factors for improved e-commerce practices in Nigeria. These included access to legal services, effective government policy and institutional support, time and fair interpretation of the law governing e-commerce, continuous evaluation of the ecommerce processes in Nigeria, increased awareness and familiarity with e-commerce facilities, and the adoption of suitable technology. The study provides valuable insight into the support of the Nigerian commercial sector on e-commerce practices. The adoption of systems theory enhances the promotion of fairness across the entire ambience of e-commerce practice and the support of the law. This implied focusing on the continuous evaluation of legal support and a flexible process of developing the needed approaches to address emerging changes in e-commerce that can enhance business sustainability in Nigeria

MARKETING CAPABILITY AS A MODERATOR BETWEEN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS

The usefulness of extant literature in guiding entrepreneurial firms in making decisions on strategic marketing with which marketing capability is to augment the adaptability of the firm to new challenges from markets in order to improve entrepreneurial success still remains an empty space in the literature. Consequently, by adopting marketing capability, which is the ability of the organization to explore its understanding, resource and technology to suit the needs of its market or its customers. Thus, This study looked at moderating effect of marketing capability on the relationship between of Schumpeterian forms of innovation and entrepreneurial success in the dessert and confectionery firms. A survey of one hundred and twenty three (123) respondents from dessert and confectionery firm provide support for the study. The data was analysed using the hierarchical regression. The results of the analysis showed that the Schumpeterian forms of innovation significantly affect entrepreneurial success of an organization and marketing capabilities moderates the relationship between innovation and entrepreneurial success. These findings bring about managerial implications that conclude the paper

National debt management and business sustainability in Africa’s largest economy: A focus on the private sector

In many developing economies, high and increasing public debt profile constitutes an essential means of financial risk. An appropriate debt management is germane for survival of business and good international reputation though its effect on private sector credit mobilization had been seldomly investigated. This study seeks to know whether strategic debt management approach exacts a significant effect on the Nigerian private sector and Africa at large resulting to higher credit availability for sustainable enterprise establishment. The study used a time-series observation spanning from 1981–2021. The method of data analysis employed the unit root test for stationarity. Johansen cointegration and vector error correction approach. The result of the unit root test indicates the series were all stationary after first difference and thus were integrated of order1. The Johansen cointegration test support the existence of a cointegrating series between the private credit and its determinants. More empirical evidence from the study shows that proper debt management and increase revenue generation through net taxes on products accounted for 0.93 and 1.32% increase in private sector credit mobilization, while total external debt stock was responsible for a significant negative influence of 0.60% on private sector credit mobilization. The study recommends that the government should always be proactive in their strategic and innovative approach to debt management, revenue generation and sources of funds. This will help not only to avoid crowding out of the private sector but will enhance adequate credit mobilization for effective operations of the private sector