SMEs and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: Marketing Resources and Capabilities Implications

This article seeks to identify the mediating role of marketing resources and capabilities in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—poverty alleviation relationship. A qualitative approach of conceptualization of the interconnectedness of the major variables of the study is undertaken. Despite several development programs of SMEs and poverty alleviation, the poverty level of Nigerian SMEs has dragged with incidence of high SMEs failure. Marketing resources and capabilities are suggested as probable missing links between SMEs and profitable exchanges that lead to wealth creation, thus alleviating and eradicating poverty. While empirical study in this direction is vital, the current conceptual model shows that SMEs operators would help in the elimination of poverty by acquisition of necessary marketing knowledge, skills, and capabilities to identify the customers’ needs, establish vital relationships with them through requisite ego drive, empathy, and capability to change, and thus keep them sold. Prior research concerning SMEs and poverty alleviation in Nigeria has been limited to finance. The findings of the present research have implications for the role of marketing as the ultimate source of profitable growth through exchanges and wealth creation that will help in eradicating poverty

Strategic Planning and Performance of Nigerian SMEs: The Moderating Role of Entrepreneurial Characteristics

Studies that considered the moderating effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on the relationship between strategic planning and performance of SMEs are few. This research is aimed at investigating the relationship between strategic planning and SME performance while also considering the moderating effect of entrepreneurial characteristics on the relationship between these two variables. The study employed the use of survey research design using the owners/managers of 4,535 SMEs registered with SMEDAN as the target population.  Correlation analysis was used to establish the extent of the relationship between strategic planning and performance of SMEs while hierarchical regression analysis was used to establish the moderating effect of entrepreneur characteristics on the relationship. Findings showed that there exist a statistically significant positive relationship between strategic planning and performance of SMEs in Lagos State, the study also indicated that entrepreneurial characteristics significantly moderates the relationship between strategic planning and performance of SMEs. The study concluded that entrepreneurial characteristics being exhibited influenced the performance of the business. Policy implications and recommendations were made.&nbsp

Effect of Competitive Aggressiveness on Competitive Advantage of Selected Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ogun State, Nigeria

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are frequently under pressure at the local or domestic markets because of cheap importation and high level of competition. The inability of top management of SMEs to properly analyse the market is one of the leading causes of their not been able to enjoy competitive advantage  Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of competitive aggressiveness on competitive advantage of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Survey research design was employed for this study. Set of structured questionnaire on competitive aggressiveness and competitive advantage of SMEs were self- administered for the collection of the primary data. In order to get a valid sample, a group of 386 firms were analyzed.  A pilot study was carried out to test the validity and reliability of the research instrument using Cronbach Alpha reliability test. The data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study revealed that competitive aggressiveness has positive significant effect on competitive advantage of SMEs. (β=0.973; R2=0.294; t(385)= 12.636; p>0.05). It was concluded that competitive aggressiveness affected competitive advantage of SMEs in Ogun State, Nigeria, and recommended that entrepreneurs should employ appropriate price control mechanisms, invest heavily in marketing, advertisement, sales promotion and aggressive growth to enhance their competitive advantage which is critical for organizational performance, and that maintaining good relationships with clients is an important factor to be considered Key-Words: Competition, Competitive advantage, Competitive aggressiveness, Entrepreneurship, Small and Medium Enterprises

The Role of Organisational Capabilities in the Competitiveness of Hotels in Southwest Nigeria

Inadequate organisational capabilities have led to various problems for many hotels with a growing limitation in their ability to perform. Several studies relating to organisational capabilities and organisational performance have been conducted in the literature but none of these have investigated organisational capabilities as a predictor of competitiveness in the hospitality industry in Nigeria. This study therefore investigated the role of organisational capabilities in the competitiveness of selected hotels in South-west Nigeria. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design. The population was 2,750 management and supervisory staff of 37 selected hotels in Southwest Nigeria. The sample size of 450 was determined using the Slovin sampling formula. A proportionate stratified sampling technique was employed to select the respondents. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for all the constructs had an average of 0.728. The response rate was 77.3%. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential (multiple and hierarchical regression) statistics. Findings from the study indicated that organisational capabilities had significant and positive effect on competitiveness at (Adj. R2=0.337; F(6,340)=30.251; p<0.05) of selected hotels in Southwest Nigeria. The study concluded that corporate culture, managerial knowledge, human capacity and innovation management are key resources for driving competitiveness of hotels in Southwest Nigeria

Leadership Styles and Organisational Performance in Nigeria: Qualitative Perspective

Organizations in different sectors of the Nigerian economy continue to record high cases of misappropriation, embezzlement, immoral and unethical practices, gratifications, high labour turnover, inability to meet basic required obligations, and employees’ dissatisfaction, which have further resulted in poor performance. The theoretical paper dwelled on the concepts of leadership styles as opined by several scholars in the literature and used these as springboards to arrive at elaborate ones that encapsulated all and introduced a range of common and contemporary models and approaches, including an addition of a cutting-edge competitive list to help managers discover, devise and adjust their individual management practice and style for navigation towards a sustainable organizational performance

FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES AND PETROL CONSUMPTION IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

The sustained growth in the economic activities and re-emergence of the middle-level income people in Nigeria have led to general increase in the number of personal vehicles on the roads. However, a large number of these are imported, fairly used vehicles, popularly called 'Tokunbo' in Nigeria. These vehicles are fuel inefficient because they consume fuel intensively. This paper investigated the effect of driving fuel-efficient vehicles on petrol consumption in the transportation sector of Lagos State. Data was collected from a valid sample of 1565 respondents selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. The result of a correlation analysis showed that fuel-efficient vehicles can significantly reduce petrol consumption in the transportation sector of the state. This finding is instructive and the paper suggested the need for policy makers in Nigeria to enunciate appropriate policies that would encourage majority of motorists, currently driving used and fuel inefficient vehicles, to switch to new and more fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce their fuel consumption and carbon footprints in the state

Strategic Marketing and Competitive Advantage of Selected Petroleum Products Marketing Companies in Nigeria: The Moderating Role of Resource Capabilities

This study investigated the effect of strategic marketing on competitive advantage and how resource capabilities moderated the effect. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. Based on population of 1568 managerial staff of selected petroleum products marketing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria, Cochran’s formula was applied to determine a sample size of 564. Response rate of 497 respondents was achieved in the study. Data collected were analysed using multiple regression analysis. The findings established that strategic marketing has a positive and significant effect on competitive advantage (R = 0.594, Adj. R2 = 0.627, F (4, 491) = 208.685, p = 0.000 < 0.05) and that resource capability has no significant moderation on the effect of strategic marketing on competitive advantage (ΔR2= 0.000, ΔF (1, 493) = 0.0305, p > 0.05) of the selected petroleum marketing companies in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommended that the management of petroleum products marketing companies should be committed to adopting strategic marketing in order to improve competitive advantage

SELF-MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEE RESEARCH OUTPUT IN SELECTED PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The academic staff of universities plays a very important role in terms of the growth and development of nations’ economies. They make a positive contribution to the growth of a nation and are generally seen as the basis by which the needed high-level manpower or a country's development could be achieved. Despite the enormous contributions of the university sector, it is observed that their performance level especially in Nigeria is low compared to that of other nations. This is evident in declining research output. This challenge has been attributed to a variety of factors, including poor self-management. This study examined the interaction between emotional intelligence and employee performance in selected private universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. A research survey was employed in this study. The population was 1464 full-time academic staff of selected six private Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques were adapted to obtain a response from all the cadres of the academic staff. The sample size of 308 was determined using Raosoft calculator. A structured and adapted questionnaire went through validity and reliability tests with Cronbach Alpha ranges between 0.728 and 0.954. The inferential statistics employed Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient to test the hypothesis of the study. The study revealed that self-management had significant relationship with employee research output (r (296) = 0.803, p < 0.05). This study concluded that self-management affects employee research output in selected private universities in Ogun State, Nigeria. It was therefore recommended that private universities should continue to improve their academic staff’s personal development skills in order to help improve their organization's personal development. This can be achieved through sending their academic staff to conferences/workshop, seminars, and training programmes.  Article visualizations