| 1 |
Author(s):
Christabel D. Brownson.
Page No : 1-10
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Factors Affecting Women Entrepreneurs in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria
Abstract
Globally, entrepreneurial activities offer tremendous opportunities across the world. However, despite the positives from entrepreneurial activities, the number of women entrepreneurs cannot be compared to their male folks. Findings from extant research has revealed that women are constraint by some factors in their efforts of becoming entrepreneurs yet the contributions of women as entrepreneurs are needed to better the economy. Although such studies have been carried out in various contexts; there still exists a gap in the context of AkwaIbomState. As such, the aim of this paper was to examine the factors affecting women entrepreneurs in AkwaIbom State, Nigeria which is a new context in this study. Using a purposive sampling method, 195 respondents were examined. Though extant literatures have severally posited that Economic and Socio-Cultural factors among other factors affect women entrepreneurs adversely, Findings from this study points in the opposite direction. Instead of Economic and Socio-Cultural factors being impediments for Women entrepreneurs in AkwaIbom State, the results indicate that to a large extent women entrepreneurs in AkwaIbom State face positive Economic and Socio-Cultural factors implying that the Context of the study could be a major determining factor in a research of this nature. The study recommends that more support be given to women entrepreneurs to continue to strive in their businesses as research findings shows that women entrepreneurs contribute greatly to the development of the world economy. This study thus contributes new knowledge to the entrepreneurship literature by bringing new contextual knowledge to the entrepreneurship field.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Dr. Nwukamaka Nwankwo, Prof. Michael O. Mojekeh, Prof. Peace A. Eze.
Page No : 11-36
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Social Media Characteristics and Consumer Purchase of Mobile Phones in South-East Nigeria
Abstract
The advent of the electronic world has facilitated the social media for quick, easy and communal groupings and sharing of information among members, friends and followers. This study has investigated the effect of social media on consumer purchase of mobile phone users in Federal Universities in the South East Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study were to examine influences of social media accessibility, interactivity, connectedness, conversation and communality on consumer purchase of mobile phones. The study was anchored on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) for its relevance to a study that aims to find out the extent to which behavioral control innovation can influence the behavioural performance of a consumer. Five research questions and null hypotheses were formulated in line with the specific objectives of the study. The framework for methodology was based on survey design. The Taro Yamani formula was adopted to obtain a sample size of 398 from the 68,392 population of all the students in the five Federal Government-owned Universities in South East Nigeria. The method for data analysis was percentage frequencies, bar charts, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that all the social media characteristics jointly influence about 93% consumer purchase of mobile phones. The specific findings showed that: Social media accessibility has a positive and significant (coef = 0.358, t=13.228; p < 0.00) influence on consumer purchase of mobile phones; Social media interactivity has a positive and significant (coef = 0.678, t=26.911; p < 0.00) influence on consumer purchase of mobile phones; social media connectedness has a positive and significant (coef = 0.034, t=6.321; p < 0.00) influence on consumer purchase of mobile phones; social media conversation has a positive but insignificant (coef = 0.034, t= 1.537; p < 0.125) influence on consumer purchase of mobile phones; and social media communality has a positive and significant (coef = 0.050, t= 2.227; p < 0.027) influence on consumer purchase of mobile phones. The study posits that improved involvement with social media characteristics have a positive influence on consumer purchase. Based on the findings, the study recommended that marketers should build and maintain a proper mechanism through social media for enhanced consumer patronage. As social media characteristics have a high impact on consumer purchase experiences, manufacturers of mobile phones and other volition controlled production should engage the social media as a veritable e-marketing channel.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Ikegwuru Mac-Kingsley (PhD), Olomi Progress Ovunda (PhD).
Page No : 37-46
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Supportive Leadership Style and Supply Chain Performance of Retail SMEs in Rivers State of Nigeria
Abstract
This study examined the effect of supportive leadership style on supply chain performance of retail SMEs in Rivers State of Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design and quantitative method to allow for descriptive and inferential analysis. The population for the study was 377 registered SMEs in Rivers State of Nigeria. The convenience simple technique was used to select one respondent each from the 377 retail SMEs studied. The convenience sampling of respondents was used to ensure that those employees found at their workplaces were the ones used for the study. Subsequently, 377 copies of questionnaire were distributed to 377 employees crosswise the identified retail SMEs. Of the 377 respondents contacted, 258 contributed to the study, resulting to a response rate of 68 The 258 respondents produced a total of 249 working response deposit. Data were subjected to correlation and regression analysis using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Version 22.0). The study’s findings showed that, the influence of supportive leadership style on order fulfillment was statistically positive and significant at 0.05 significant level. This implies that a well packaged supportive leadership style can increase the chance of boosting order fulfillment in retail supply chain. The study therefore, concludes that, there is a positive and significant influence of supportive leadership style on supply chain performance of retail SMEs in Rivers State of Nigeria, and recommends that, managers who are driven by the desire to achieve efficiency in operation should emphasis more on exhibiting added supportive leadership style in their organizations to boost order fulfillment to enhance supply chain performance.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Uju Evans Akpunonu (PhD), Ugochukwu Paul Orajaka (PhD).
Page No : 47-60
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Effect of Monetary Policy on Industrial Growth in Nigeria
Abstract
Monetary policy is one of the regulatory measures of the government to checkmate the money supply in the economy in order to achieve the desired level of prices, employment, output, and boost the industrial sector growth. Industrialization has always constituted a major focus of development strategy and government policy. One of the engines of industrialization is enhancing manufacturing sector capacity; this study adopted manufacturing sector output to examine the effect of monetary policy on industrial growth in Nigeria between 1986 and 2019. Data for the study were collected from the CBN Statistical bulletin, 2019 edition. A multiple regression model was developed and the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression technique employed for data analysis. The results showed that Open Market Operation (OMO) measured by Treasury bill rate had positive and significant effect on the Nigerian Manufacturing Domestic Sector Gross Product; Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) has a positive and significant effect on the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector Gross Domestic Product; and Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) has a negative and significant effect on the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector Gross Domestic Product. The study concludes that monetary policy is a veritable tool for enhancing industrial sector growth in Nigeria. It was recommended that the monetary authority should ensure a lower MPR that can drive up investment and thus boost growth of the industry.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Ele Augustine Augustine, Enya Francis Ejeje, Dr. Okongo Nsor John, Eja Basil Richard, Mbam John Nwuguru.
Page No : 61-81
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Correlation Between Job Analysis and Corporate Performance of Business Organizations in Nigeria: A Study of Niger Mill Plc Calabar
Abstract
This study focused on the correlation between job analysis and corporate performance of business organizations in Nigeria. The study adopted both descriptive surveys as well as correlational survey designs. The population of this research work was 400, the entire staff of Niger Mill Plc Calabar, Cross River State. The sample size was 200 respondents determined through Taro Yamane's formula of 1964. The data was collected using both primary and secondary sources. A structured questionnaire was used using a 4-point Likert scale of strongly agreed, agreed, strongly disagreed and disagreed. The study adopted the Pearson Product Moment of Correlation Coefficient to test the hypotheses and analyzed data at 0.05% significance. The study revealed that was a significant relationship existing between job analysis and corporate performances of business organizations in Nigeria. It was also discovered that significant relationships existed between job description, specification as well as job evaluation, and corporate performance of business organizations. It was recommended that the management of business organizations should incorporate a well-established job analysis programme into their human resource planning during recruitment and training of existing and prospective employees to boast its overall corporate performance continuously. Human resource managers should also endeavour to describe organizational jobs and specify the person who is to carry out the tasks with the basic knowledge, skills, competency, ability, and other job characteristics for the corporate performance to be enhanced steadily.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Giami Isaac Baribefe, Iwo Sotonye Richard.
Page No : 82-95
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Cost of Staff Welfare and Financial Performance of Listed Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria
Abstract
This paper investigated the relationship between the cost of staff welfare and the financial performance of listed manufacturing pharmaceutical firms in Nigeria from the year 2011 to 2019. Cost of staff welfare was used as a dependent variable while growth in sales and return on assets were used as the independent variables. Secondary data was obtained from the published annual reports of the firms understudied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including, mean, standard deviations and inferential statistical methods including correlation coefficient and Anova. Two hypotheses were tested with the aid of linear regression using SPSS pack version 22 as the tool for analysis. The research findings showed a significant positive correlation and statistically significant positive relationship between the cost of staff welfare and both growth in sales volume and return on assets respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that pharmaceutical firms should continue to increase the welfare needs of the staff as at when due since this contributes to the firm’s growth in sales volume and return on assets positively.
| 7 |
Author(s):
Oby Blessing Osuagwu, Ananaba Ugwunwanyi, Udoka Stephen Otika, Samuel Ngozichikanma Nwosu.
Page No : 96-108
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Retail Channel Services and Customer Retention in Physical Chain Stores in Nigeria
Abstract
Extant literature indicates that despite the growing importance of retailing to the development of nations, it is imperative to ask; to what extent does retail channel service relates to customer retention in chain stores in Nigeria. The main objective of the study is to examine the significant relationship between retail channel service and customer retention in chain stores in Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative research design using a survey method. The study population comprised 65 retail chain stores registered with the Enugu Branch of Pillars Association of Nigeria as of July 2020. The questionnaires were pretested for comprehension, relevance and validity through ten operators of retail superstores and three scholars in the field of distribution channel management. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient analysis in order to ensure the internal consistency and reliability of measures. The reliability coefficient obtained was 0.85. The findings of the study show that bulk breaking, spatial convenience, waiting time and product variety are positively related to customer retention. We conclude that retail channel service has a positive and significant influence on customer retention of retail chain stores in Nigeria. The retail chain stores, if effectively coordinated, and their marketing channel service properly managed, is capable of enhancing the tendencies of these retail stores in retaining their existing customers.
