Driving SMEs performance through digital transformation: the mediating role of competitive strategy and adaptive capability

The study investigated the relevance of entrepreneurial orientation on the performance of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Delta State. Other specific objectives are to determine the relationship between proactiveness and SMEs performance; to assess the connection between competitive aggressiveness and SMEs performance; to ascertain the connection between risk-taking and SMEs performance. A cross sectional research design was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire was developed to elicit data from respondents for the study. This study specifically focused on relationship between proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, innovativeness and the relationship between risk-taking and SMEs performance. All the staff of selected SMEs were sampled. The analytical technique used for hypotheses testing was the chi-square, using Stata version 13. Findings revealed that, all variables used in this study had a significant and positive relationship with performance of SMEs. Thus, the study concludes that entrepreneurial orientation has a significant relationship with performance of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs). This study therefore recommends amongst others that more intensive entrepreneurial training and practice be done by students in tertiary institutions as there seems to be no job waiting for graduates among the teeming youths we have in Nigeria today.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are undeniably playing a significant role in the economic development of many countries globally. This role performed by the SMEs has been distracted by the global pandemic COVID-19 (Coronavirus). The pandemic brought about lockdown, movement restrictions, market closure, social distancing, etc. Thus, these restrictions and controls of the movement have particularly affected small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. This study aims to examine the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the small and medium scale business in Yobe State, Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research design. Data were obtained through a questionnaire administered to 278 SMEs in Yobe State. The data were analyzed using descriptive and regression analysis using SPSS. The findings of the study indicate owners/managers of SMEs that participated in the study rated the variables of COVID-19 (lockdown, movement restriction, market closure, and social distancing) on a high level. The result further revealed that all the variables in the study correlate with SME's performance. Interestingly, the findings indicate three variables have a significant positive effect on SME's performance, the highest among is the market closure, followed by movement restriction and lockdown accordingly. While social distancing shows no significant effect on SME's performance. Therefore, it is recommended that proactive plans should be put in place for SMEs in anticipation of events such as COVID-19 that can hurt businesses. Finally, future research should consider other related variables that have not been considered in this study.

The role Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) can never be overemphasised in the has economic drivers in either developed and developing countries of the world. However, contract to immense contribution of SMEs to nation economic growth, most SMEs in Nigeria struggle to survive beyond five years due to poor performance. The major challenge SMEs in Nigeria include developing creative ways of acquiring resources in non-traditional ways cum cost of doing business which to greater extent affect SMEs performance. Thus, this study investigated the effect of Bootstrapping dimension moderated by cost of doing business on the performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in South-West, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design and the population of the study comprised 14, 527 owner/managers of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) enterprises in Lagos and Oyo States. The study utilized stratified simple random sampling technique with a sample size of 750 owner/managers of SMEs determined using Cochran’s (1977) formula and data were analyzed using regression analyses. The findings revealed that cost of doing business (β = 0.003, ΔR2 = 0.021, ΔF = 14.820, p < 0.05) significantly moderated the effect of bootstrapping measure by owner’s financing, subsidy financing, delayed payment, joint utilization, and social capital on the performance of SMEs in South-West, Nigeria. The study concluded that bootstrapping improved performance of SMEs in South-West, Nigeria, cost of doing business significantly moderated effect of bootstrapping on the performance of SMEs in South-West, Nigeria. It was recommended that management of small and medium scale enterprises in South-West, Nigeria should pay more attention on subsidy financing, delayed payment, social capital with less attention on joint utilization in order to improve their performance. Keywords: Cost of Doing Business, Delayed Payment, Joint Utilisation, Owner Financing SME Performance, Social Capital, Subsidy Financing

Nigeria's unfledged physical as well as social infrastructure has hampered SMEs growth of the country. Many small and medium-sized businesses supply their own basic infrastructure; those that cannot do so are forced out of business or rely on inefficiently provided public infrastructure. As a result, this study investigates the influence of a business control system on SMEs performance in the Ilorin metropolitan area. The study specifically; (i) investigate the influence of cultural control on SMEs sustainability in Kwara State; and (ii) investigate the impact of administrative control on SMEs growth in Kwara. Descriptive design was used. A straightforward random sample strategy was used to get the study's data. 278 of the 313 questionnaires that were given to the chosen SME owners or managers were completely filled out, recovered, and utilized in this investigation. The data gathered was experimentally and statistically assessed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics, and the hypotheses were tested using Statistical Products and Services Solutions (SPSS) version 23. Findings revealed administrative control variables have a substantial influence on SMEs' development (Belief [β=.360, p=.000], Values [β=.214, p=.000], and Norms [β=.494, p=.000]; with overall R2 of 86.5%,) and cultural control has a considerable impact on SMEs' sustainability (Organizational structure control [β=.189, p=.000], Vision/Mission Control [β=.218, p=.000], and Governance System Control [β=.491, p=.000]; with overall R2 of 82.6%). The study indicated that business control systems had a beneficial impact on the performance of SMEs. It was suggested, among other things, that SME owners use cultural control in their enterprises to guarantee that their employees share the same perspective and focus, norms, and values as the organization's aims, since this contributes to the sustainability of SMEs.

Human Resources Management Practices (HRM) is recognized as being essential to the success of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The objectives of this research was to examine the effect of human resource management practices on SMEs growth in Ogun State and also to determine the adoption of human resource management practices on performance of SMEs. The primary data was gathered using structured questionnaire. The survey method was used and a cross-sectional design was adopted. Selected SMEs in the two local government area of Abeokuta (Abeokuta South LGA), and (Abeokuta North LGA) were object of the study. The data was analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences, (SPSS). It also made use of analysis of variance (ANOVA), Simple linear regression analysis was used to test hypotheses one and correlation analysis was employed to test hypothesis two. The study indicatesthat Human resources management practices is a significant predictor of SMEs in Ogun state and there is a significant effect between Adoption of HRM practices and SMEs performance in Abeokuta, Ogun state. The study recommended that Organization need to have an effective recruitment policy to promote scientific selection of prospective employees. The departments should participate in selection process as they have different preferences in the candidates. Candidates need to be selected based on requisite skills knowledge, attitude and qualification using appropriate selection techniques. Key words: HRM, SMEs Performance, SMEs Growth.

The study examined financial management practices using four components: working capital management practices, capital structure management, accounting information and financial reporting practice, and the use of capital budgeting techniques and fixed assets management. Performance of SMEs was examined from the context of profitability measured by Return on Assets and of growth. The study sampled 100 SMEs from Accra with data collected through the administration of a questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The results of the descriptive statistics revealed that working capital management practices had the highest mean score, followed by accounting information and financial reporting practices, capital structure management and finally, the use of capital budgeting techniques and fixed assets management, in that order. The Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive association between the four components of financial management practices and between SMEs profitability and growth. The results emphasize the need for SMEs to improve on their financial management practice to improve the profitability and growth of these firms. It is recommended that the use of capital budgeting techniques be improved, as this area of financial management, even though it impacts positively on the performance of SMEs had the least score. Most importantly, the managers of SMEs should use discounted cash flow techniques to evaluate investment and projects before committing the resources of the company. SMEs are encouraged to adopt IFRS for SMEs to enhance their financial reporting practices. This will also improve their decision making and access to capital which will allow these SMEs to expand.

This study was carried out to examine the effects of power outages on the performance of SMEs in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was carried out in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Data were collected through the use of questionnaire, copies of which were administered to 114 SMEs in the study area. The findings show that on average, SMEs in the study area had access to electricity for about two days weekly, and it was only stable for between 1 hour and 5 hours daily. Similarly, the average monthly cost of electricity from the national grid was between about N5000 and N10, 000, while it costs SMEs between N30,000 and N90,000 monthly on average to fuel alternative electricity generators. The effect of power outages is negative on SMEs’ turnover. The study recommends that the government needs to provide palliatives to SMEs that would help reduce the burden of the power outage on the SMEs’ operations. This can be done through giving them tax incentives or subsidies.

The role of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in the growth and development process of any economy can never be overemphasized. This is premised on the ground that, SMEs have recorded an unprecedented success in reducing unemployment, allocating resources efficiently, and making growth inclusive. However, the performances of SMEs tend to be relatively low and insignificant in developing economies like Nigeria owing to several factors inhibiting its growth and effective operation of which energy deficiency is conspicuous. Energy deficiency in Nigeria which involves incessant poor quality of electricity supplies, voltage fluctuation, and power outages has pervasively halted production, damaged equipment, and reduced profitability of SMEs. This paper analyses the roles of renewable energy in salvaging the incidence of energy deficiency embattling SMEs in Nigeria with particular reference to the metropolitan areas of Lagos State. A sample of 500 SMEs were selected using systematic sampling approach. Data were collected with a small enterprise structured questionnaire (SESQ)which centered on the effects of power fluctuation, unstable supply and high billing on the operations of SMEs, especially on the operating costs, profitability and its ensuing influence on the firms’ competitiveness. While the data collected was based on discrete analysis, the Logistic Regression was the main analysis. The study finds that renewable energy positively correlates with SMEs performance in terms of Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Investment (ROI) while energy deficiency negatively affects it. An incentive-based policy on adopting renewable energy is paramount for SMEs to thrive in Nigeria and favorably compete globally.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the interacting effect of market dynamism and strategic planning on the performance of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach This study has used quantitative approach in dealing with the interacting effect of market dynamic on strategic planning and SMEs’ performance in Ghana. Purposive sampling is used to select 200 small- and medium-sized manufacturing and service firms in Ghana. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis is performed to test the hypotheses. Findings This study finds that a consistent application of strategic planning methodologies contributes to the advancement of SME performance in Ghana. In addition, it was ascertained that market dynamism has a significant positive relationship with firm performance, although its effect is not significant. Finally, the study reveals that market dynamism only influences SME performance when there is strategic planning. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to the SMEs in Ghana. The study of market dynamism, strategic planning and performance is a very complex activity; therefore, to gather rich data on such research work may be best accomplished if the researchers adopt mixed method data gathering techniques. This will enrich the understanding on market dynamism, strategic planning and SMEs’ performance relationship. Practical implications The findings of this research work offer guidance to owners or managers considering how to develop market dynamics and strategic planning to enhance firm performance. Originality/value This study reports on an obvious gap in the prevailing literature that few empirical research works have explored on the possible impacts of market dynamism and strategic planning on performance of SMEs in a third world country.

This research is designed to examine the influence of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs). The study was carried out in the South-South Geopolitical Region of Nigeria. The proxies for EO were innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, autonomy and competitive aggressiveness. This study used a survey research approach and a sample size of 1308 SMEs was selected. Copies of an adopted questionnaire were administered to the respondents who were owners/managers of the selected SMEs using the stratified random sampling method. Pearson's correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data collected. The result of the research revealed that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) has significant influence on performance of SMEs in Nigeria. Consequently, it was recommended that SMEs' owners/managers should use the EO dimensions that best suit their firm's strategic emphasis, taking into account aspects such as the organization's age and/or size, industry influence, and the specific setting in which the firm works.

Here Comes the Bribe: The Relationship between Bribery and SME Performance

This study empirically examined the nexus between credit access and performance of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Oyo State, Nigeria. Also, the study aimed at exploring the relationship between deposit money banks’ credit related charges and SMEs performance in the study area. To accomplish these objectives, an empirical survey was carried out among a sample of 381respondents, out of seven thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven (7987) registered SMEs owners in the state (NBS, 2021). The study utilized a questionnaire as the instrument of data collection. The data collected were coded and analyzed using regression analysis through the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Findings reveled that the relationship between bank credit and SMEs performance is negaive but significant. In the same vein, bank credit related charges negatively but significantly affected SMEs performance in Oyo state within the period captured in this study. This implies that SMEs owners in the state did not enjoy the services of the deposit money banks and their related credit charges, thereby limiting their potentials. It is recommended, among other things that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) should make credit facility available at a lesser cost so as to keep SMEs thriving in the state.

Tax compliance is critical for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Benue State, Nigeria, significantly affecting their growth and sustainability. The SME sector is pivotal to the economic growth and development of any nation and Nigeria is no exception. As a result, this study examined the effect of cost of compliance and tax burden on tax compliance of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Benue State of Nigeria with the view to further provide empirical evidence on the factors affecting tax compliance. To achieve this, a survey of SMEs in the three senatorial districts of Benue state was conducted to collect data on the perceptions of SMEs on the effect of cost of compliance and tax burden on tax compliance in Benue State of Nigeria. The study’s population comprised the 25,913 registered SMEs in Benue state of Nigeria. The sample size was 552 SMEs. This study employed the use a cross-sectional survey and correlational research designs. The sampling technique adopted stratified proportionate random. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires and analyzed using Partial Least Squares -Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study found that the cost of compliance and tax burden showed a positive and significant effect on the tax compliance of SMEs in Benue State of Nigeria. The study recommends that tax authorities to work astutely towards making compliance more affordable and straightforward for SMEs while also strengthening enforcement measures to discourage non-compliance. Tax authorities should come up with a simple, sufficient, tax return system to help taxpayers to complete their tax returns accurately. Government should formulate policies that aim to reduce the cost of compliance while ensuring a balanced tax burden could enhance voluntary compliance, leading to a broader tax base and more sustainable public finance.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries especially in the Gambia are confronted with several drawbacks and challenges, principal which is lack of access to capital. They have not been able to perform the expected vital role in bringing about economic growth and development. The main aim of most small scale enterprise is to be self reliant but the smallness of capital is making this dream unachievable. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of microfinance banks provision of finance on SMEs performance. The study made used of primary source of data collection with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The research adopted a descriptive survey research design. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to test the hypothesis at 5% level of significance. Analysis of data showed that the correlation coefficients of all the independent variables were less than 0.05. Based on the findings of the study, the study concludes that microfinance finance services have significant impact on SMEs performance. The study holistically recommends that micro finance banks continually maintain, sustain and improve on their provision of finance and funding facilities to SMEs are pivotal instrument of economic growth and development and thus occupies a place of pride in virtually every country or state Keyword: Bank, Microfinance, Performance, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise, Sustainability

Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) add value to an economy by creating employment, contributing to Gross Domestic Production (GDP), making innovations, and minimising poverty. They are partnering with the development of the country. Most small and medium-scale enterprises face issues like lack of knowledge, outdated skills, fear of taxation, adoption of accounting standards, and accounting information records. Therefore, this study aims to identify the relationship between financial management practices and SMEs' performance in the southern province of Sri Lanka. This study measures financial management practices using financial reporting analysis, working capital management, fixed asset management, and accounting information systems. SME performance was measured by the profitability of SMEs using return on assets. Considering data constraints, time constraints, and the COVID-19 situation, 107 Small and Medium Enterprises operating in the manufacturing and service sectors were selected as samples. A questionnaire was chosen as the primary data-gathering method. The sample was chosen using a convenience sampling procedure, and the data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software. Multiple regression analysis was done to examine the hypothetical association. This study found that financial management techniques such as fixed asset management, working capital management, accounting information systems, and financial performance of SMEs have a significant association with performance. The findings support aiding investors, workers, and policymakers in making effective decisions.