Manufacturing Firms In Ghana Research Articles

Reverse logistics and financial performance in a developing country context: the moderating role of analytics capability

Purpose This paper aims to examine the financial outcome of reverse logistics among firms in a developing country. The authors draw on the organizational information processing theory to propose that analytics capability moderates the relationship between reverse logistics and financial performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors collected firm-level survey data from 200 manufacturing firms in Ghana, a developing country in sub-Saharan Africa. Partial least squares structural equations modeling is used to examine the proposed relationships, and the moderating effects are further probed using Hayes PROCESS. Findings The empirical results show that reverse logistics is negatively related to financial performance. However, analytics capability attenuates this negative relationship, such that firms with high analytics capability obtain a positive relationship between reverse logistics and financial performance. Practical implications Firms in developing countries should combine their reverse logistics strategies with developing analytics capabilities that help minimize uncertainties and increase the efficient collection and use of information to reduce the cost of reverse logistics. Originality/value This paper examines how reverse logistics relates to financial performance in low-resource contexts. Beyond the novelty of the context, it explores the information processing needs of reverse logistics systems and provides empirical data to support analytics capability. This has yet to be considered in prior studies.

Road Infrastructure, Supply Chain Costs Reduction, and Road Safety in Economic Geography Perspective

Purpose: While it is expected that road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction, the mechanisms and conditions under which road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction are less understood. Theoretical framework: Drawing insights from the economic geography perspective, and survey data from 359 senior managers of manufacturing firms in Ghana, we found support for the argument that road transport infrastructure is important in the quest to improve supply chain cost reduction. Methods: The hypothesized model was tested with survey data from beverage manufacturing firms in Ghana. The survey method is usually appropriate for strategic management studies. Results and Conclusion: Our findings also suggest that road safety does not just support supply chain cost reduction but serves as a transformative mechanism to reap superior supply chain cost reduction in a resource-constrained environment. Our findings make a contemporary contribution to the economic geography theory as well as important managerial guidance for managers in the supply chain management space in resource-constrained regions like SSA. Research implications: The outcome of this study offers an important extension to the frontiers of innovative literature in supply chain management. Originality/value: It also provides practical insight to practitioners in the manufacturing setting by emphasizing the need to pay crucial attention to road safety as well as invest in road infrastructure development in the quest to reduce supply chain costs.

Does proactive boundary‐spanning search drive green innovation? Exploring the significance of green dynamic capabilities and analytics capabilities

AbstractSuccessful innovation requires firms to search beyond their organizational confines for complementary knowledge resources ahead of their competitors. While such proactive boundary‐spanning search (PBS) provides relevant knowledge resources for green innovations, it can also lead to information overload that derails green innovation efforts. Therefore, there is a need to understand how and when PBS translates into green innovation. This study combines the dynamic capabilities theory with the organizational information processing theory to develop a moderated mediation model that espouses the role of green dynamic capability and analytics capability in the relationship between PBS and green innovation. The study's hypothesis is tested using firm‐level survey data from 200 manufacturing firms in Ghana. Partial least squares structural equations modeling (PLS‐SEM) and PROCESS were used to evaluate the research model. The results confirm a positive relationship between PBS and green dynamic capabilities, and also between green dynamic capabilities and green innovation. More importantly, PBS drives green innovation through green dynamic capability, particularly at moderate and high levels of analytics capability. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study are outlined in the text.

From high-performance work systems and resilience to employee well-being during crises: exploring the moderating role of employee ambidexterity

This study examines the moderating role of employee ambidexterity on how high-performance work systems and employee resilience relates to organisational resilience and employee well-being during crises. Additionally, it explores the influence of organisational resilience on employee well-being during crises. This study used a quantitative approach. Two-wave cross-sectional data were obtained from 324 employees of pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Ghana and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Squares. The findings indicated that a high-performance work system plays a crucial role in enhancing the link between organizational resilience and employee well-being. Although employee resilience was found to influence on organizational resilience and employee well-being positively, this effect is not statistically significant. The results also indicate that the role of exploitation ambidexterity is vital in strengthening the relationship between high-performance work systems, employee resilience, organizational resilience, and employee well-being, particularly during crises. This provides a comprehensive analysis of the influence of high-performance work systems, employee resilience, and employee ambidexterity on both organizational resilience and employee well-being. Additionally, using personal and organisational resources to examine how they promote employee well-being during crises empirically provides new insights into resilience and well-being literature.

Road Transport Infrastructure and Supply Chain Performance in the Beverage Manufacturing Setting: Does Road Safety Compliance Matter?

Purpose: Despite the growth of literature on SC performance drivers, there is still limited attention on how road transport infrastructure may drive SC performance. This study is conducted to examine the mediating role of road safety compliance in the relationship between road transport infrastructure and SC performance among manufacturing firms in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing from the system and knowledge-based view perspectives, a framework was proposed and validated using survey data from the beverage manufacturing firms in Ghana. Data were gathered from 359 managers of firms in Ghana. The model was validated by PLS-SEM. Findings: The results showed a direct significant relationship between road transport infrastructure, road safety compliance, and SCP. The findings further revealed that the influence of road transport infrastructure on SCP is not just a bivariate relationship but also mediated through road safety compliance. The outcome of this study provides evidence that though road transport infrastructure remains crucial to driving SCP, superior SCP could be achieved in the presence of road safety compliance. Originality/value: The outcome of this study offers an important extension to the frontiers of literature on supply chain performance. It also provides practical insight to practitioners in the manufacturing setting by emphasizing the need to pay crucial attention to road safety compliance as well as invest in road infrastructure development in the quest to achieve efficient SC performance of firms.

Implementing Total Quality Management Principles in The Apparel Manufacturing Sector: Ghana in Perspective

This study focused on understanding the implementation of TQM in the apparel manufacturing sector. Due to the lack of TQM studies in Ghana and especially in the apparel manufacturing business, there was a need to conduct a study to reposition the operational strategies in the apparel sector in Ghana.A mixed-method approach was employed to attain valid, reliable and reproducible conclusions. The population focused on apparel manufacturing firms in Ghana. Questionnaires and interviews were employed to gather data.The key findings indicate that the fundamental obstacle to implementing TQM was the lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of TQM principles and their benefits by both owners and workers alike, as well as outdated technology and poor infrastructure. Again, in the context of Ghana, financial constraints posed a significant challenge.

Rippling effect of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility synergy on firm performance: The mediating role of corporate image

There is a lack of consensus on how corporate governance and CSR relationships manifest across different institutional contexts especially within emerging economies, despite the wealth of available studies on the two concepts. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between corporate governance and corporate social responsibility as well as their effect on the performance of manufacturing firms via corporate image. The quantitative approach was used to collect data from a sample of 328 top executives of selected manufacturing firms in Ghana using the purposive sampling technique. The data collected was analyzed using AMOS and Process Macro. The study found that corporate governance has a high tendency to catalyze corporate social responsibility performance. The study further revealed that good corporate governance practices enhance both corporate image and performance of firms. Corporate social responsibility was also found to have a significant positive relationship with both corporate image and performance of manufacturing firms. The study further illuminated that corporate governance and corporate social responsibility have an indirect effect on firm performance through corporate image. The study has demonstrated how corporate governance and corporate social responsibility synergistically impact the performance of manufacturing firms. The study helps advance knowledge on the synergy and convergence of CSR and corporate governance interfaces and offers rich insight into the corporate governance and CSR puzzles within the context of the emerging economy.

Social media integration: An opportunity for SMEs sustainability

The changing trend in the circular economy has pushed most firms to be competitive in their business activities using emerging technology. SMEs in recent times are increasingly leveraging technologies such as social media to enhance their interactions with their customers, increase their reach and become competitive. Despite this, SMEs in the manufacturing sector in developing economies are often underexplored in literature in their resolve to leverage social media to improve their performance and sustainability. This research explores the integration of social media in SME manufacturing firms’ activities toward their performance and sustainability in developing countries. Drawing on relevant literature and the social media engagement theory, we employed a questionnaire survey to collect data from 417 managers/staff of SME manufacturing firms in Ghana, using PLS-SEM techniques for the analysis. Research findings revealed that social media integration proved a direct positive correlation with SME manufacturing firms’ performance. Additionally, it was revealed that social media utilization has a positive and significant effect on SME manufacturing firms’ performance. The findings further show that social media usage assists SME firms’ performance and fosters their sustainability. It is concluded that SMEs should incorporate social media marketing strategies for firms’-customer relationships and internal and external collaboration. By implication, this study offers practitioners and researchers knowledge regarding social media integration among SMEs in emerging economies.

Analysis of how Strategic Planning Influences Crisis Management Styles in Manufacturing Firms in Ghana.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze how strategic planning influences crisis management styles in manufacturing firms in Ghana.
 Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research design. Relevant books references and journal articles for the study were identified using Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria entailed materials that were related to strategic planning and crisis management.
 Findings: The result of the findings revealed that strategic planning enhances management of crisis. Also, any crisis management style applied at a given catastrophe will determine if the destruction will be minor or major disaster. Lastly, organization that employs strategic approach to crisis management style will be pro-active in managing crisis.
 Conclusion: It is clear from literature that organizations that aim to handle crisis well be pre-planned to adapt to changing circumstances, have leaders able to inspire their people with a sense of hope and direction, have an organizational culture that values disciplined planning whilst fostering an ability to be creative and innovate, plan and make decisions carefully in a structured way, yet be responsive and able to move quickly and boldly, and have teams able to recognize patterns and integrate disparate information in order to make sense of a chaotic situation, while being sensitive and alert to subtle changes to the environment as the situation evolves.
 Recommendation: Organizations should incorporate strategic approach to crisis management and also put in place strategic/crisis management team that will be able to manage crisis within the shortest period of time. Also, employees should be trained on the positive and negative effect of crisis. Finally, employees should also be sensitized on how to adapt to changing circumstances that might occur before, during and after crisis.

The Extent of New Product Development Partnership between Universities and the Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

The importance of new product development in building both technological and technical capacity of university and firm cannot be overemphasized. Collaborations between HE and industry in NPD is conceived as mutual interaction for skills acquisition and economic improvement. The study was designed to determine the extent of new product development partnership between HEIs and the manufacturing firms. A survey was conducted, and a sample of 400 was drawn from both HE and industry; the data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) software of EQS version 6.2.The results revealed that there is weak interaction between HE and industry, also there is no formal partnership between the two on new product development. in order to strengthen the mutual relationship, a conceptual model had been developed after a careful examination and assessment of the key factors of NPD and after preliminary CFA analysis conducted to establish the determinants of the main construct. A nine-factor model was then developed for university and industry. The study therefore recommends that higher education and industry adopt this new model for effective partnership on NPD.

Related Party Transactions and Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

The paper ascertains the relationship between related party transactions (RPTs) and performance of manufacturing companies in Ghana. Firms on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) were sampled and secondary data was gathered from their annual financial reports spanning from 2013 to 2017. Considering the outcome of the Hausman test, random effects estimator was used in the regression analysis testing the link between RPTs and firm performance. The results of the study indicate that there exists a significantly positive relationship between the main variables, i.e. related party transactions and firm performance. This provides evidence that the magnitude of related party transactions that manufacturing firms carry out can enhance their performance. The policy implication here is that, regulatory institutions and key decision makers may have to look at the sector differently when it comes to rules to govern related party transactions as compared to say the banking sector. All the control variables used in this study turned out to be statistically and negatively related to firm’s performance. Leverage negatively affecting firm’s performance is possibly due to high interest rates, something which is common in emerging economies like Ghana. The negative influence of ownership concentration is an indication that when the concentration levels of firm ownership increases, it may affect good practices negatively thereby affecting performance in a likewise manner. Lastly, the size of firms being negative and statistically significant supports the school of thought that, the larger the firm, the more the inefficiencies leading to diseconomies of scale; hence, there is the need to improve upon efficiency of large manufacturing firms in Ghana.

DETERMINANTS OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES BY MANUFACTURING FIRMS

The impact of the management accounting practices on manufacturing firms in the developing countries cannot be overlook. Management accounting practices adopts and put to practice by these firms has always yielded result, but before management accounting practices are adopted by these firms there are factors that determine their adoption. This paper purposely looks into factors that determine the adoption of management accounting practices by manufacturing firms in Ghana. Various literatures has brought to light that that both internal and external environmental factor such firm size, market rivalry (competition), level of qualification of accounting staff and advanced production technology as the major factors that affect MAPs adoption and want to make analysis with Ghanaian manufacturing firms does these factors affect their choice of MAPs This study gathered Data from 200 manufacturing firms in Ghana through questionnaires and regression analysis were done using SPSS to determine the impact these factors have on the adoption of MAPs by these manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study identified determinants such as, firm size, market rivalry (competition), level of qualification of accounting staff and advanced production technology has a positive significant impact on the adoption of management accounting practices by manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study recommends that it is important for organizations to identify the best MAPs which can be include in the firms operations to improve performance and longevity of the organization KEYWORDS: Ghana, Management accounting practices, firm size, market rivalry (competition), qualification of accounting staff and advanced production technology

The Extent of New Product Development Partnership between Universities and the Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

The Extent of New Product Development Partnership between Universities and the Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

Green warehousing, logistics optimization, social values and ethics and economic performance: the role of supply chain sustainability

PurposeThis study primarily explores the influence of green warehousing, logistics optimization and social values and ethics on supply chain sustainability and economic performance. The study further examines the mediating role of supply chain sustainability between economic performance and green warehousing, logistics optimization and social values and ethics.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a quantitative research approach where survey data are collected from 200 managers of manufacturing companies in Ghana. The dataset is analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling software (PLS-SEM) SmartPLS 3.FindingsThe results show that green warehousing and logistics optimization negatively influence economic performance but improves economic performance through supply chain sustainability. It is further discovered that social values and ethics have a positive influence on supply chain sustainability and economic performance.Originality/valueThis paper proposes and tests a theoretical model that explores the relationships between green warehousing, supply chain sustainability, economic performance, logistics optimization and social values and ethics through the resource dependency theory (RDT) in the manufacturing firms in Ghana.

Assessing the Impact of Relational Governance on the Supply Chain Performances of Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

Over the years, there have been many challenges in supply chain management across the globe especially in the developing countries. There were challenges of quality control, risk management, finding right distributors to handle distribution, fragmented markets and many others. The most challenging issue in the supply chain management is the unpleasant relationship between the firms and their partners leading to many inconsistencies, uncertainties and losses in their operations and transactions leading to the assessment of both the direct and indirect impact of relational governance on supply chain performance of the manufacturing firms in Ghana. The study sought to assess the impact relational governance has directly and indirectly on supply chain performance. Data were collected and gathered through a survey questionnaire responded by 147 manufacturing firms in Ghana. The structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesis and also validate the results. Findings indicate that the relational governance has a positive effect on supply chain performance and at the same time has an indirect effect on supply chain performance through both information sharing and quality of information. The study provides a hard evidence that the higher levels of information sharing and quality of information can lead to enhanced effect of relational governance on supply chain performance. Keywords - Relational Governance, Information Sharing, Quality of Information, Supply Chain Performance, Manufacturing Firms. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-12-01 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Types and Drivers of Innovation in the Manufacturing Sector of Ghana

The study sought to identify the type and drivers of innovation with special reference to the manufacturing sector of Ghana. This study employed Probit regression model on the 2013 Ghana Enterprise Survey and the 2014 Ghana Innovation Follow-Up Survey. The results showed that market innovation is the predominant type of innovation among the manufacturing firms in Ghana. Product innovation and process innovation were found to be driven by internal R&D. It was also discovered that organisational innovation is positively driven by the age of the firm, training of production staff and internally installed internet. We further found that female top managers, internal R&D, training of production staff and internally installed internet drive market innovation. In order to aid the innovation activities, government should subsidize internal R&D activities and companies should engage in constant training of production staff in the manufacturing firms.

Understanding establishment mode choice of foreign manufacturing firms in Ghana

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies of manufacturing firms in Ghana using the eclectic model in order to understand how ownership, location and internalization factors impact FDI to developing countries like Ghana. Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a quantitative methodology in order to statistically explore the relationships between dependent and independent variables. The data comes from a sample of 75 multinational enterprises that invested in the manufacturing sector between 1994 and 2008. Findings – The results reveal that large firm size, extensive international experience and large market size lead to the choice of acquisition mode of entry, while high cultural distance, high country risk, high proprietary assets and incentives lead to the choice of greenfield mode in the context of Ghana. Research limitations/implications – The results imply that the different economic, business and legal (locational) conditions of developing countries create different FDI strategies and paths of companies compared to developed markets. Practical implications – Policy makers in developing countries should make efforts to improve market size, the institutional and regulatory environment, as well as the availability of human capital in order to attract FDI. Originality/value – FDI studies have mainly analysed establishment mode strategies of firms in advanced markets. There is an increasing amount of research on FDI in emerging markets but very little on developing countries and African markets. Therefore, this study enables the authors to develop implications for existing theory and generate practical implications for firms and policy makers related to African and developing country markets.

The Influence of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Productivity of the Industrial Sector in Ghana

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and its impact on the growth of host economies has been widely researched but yet to produce a conclusive empirical result. A number of researchers have therefore moved the analysis to sectoral level in terms of the heterogeneity in the way FDI affects the various sectors of the host countries’ economies. The industrial sector is one of the sectors that have received considerable attention in the sectoral paradigm. In the case of Ghana however, the studies on the impact of FDI on the industrial sector are limited and the only study available is restricted to the exporting manufacturing firms in Ghana. We therefore studied the impact of FDI on the performance of the entire industrial sector in Ghana. More importantly, our study of the industrial sector in Ghana which includes the mining & quarrying as well as the oil & gas sub-sectors makes our study more meaningful since FDI to Africa has been argued in the literature to be driven by extractive minerals. Our time series data cover the period 1980 – 2013 and we used the Johansen cointegration test for the estimation of our model. We found FDI, trade openness and gross fixed capital formation to have significant long run positive effects on the performance of the industrial sector in Ghana. We also found that exchange rage exerts significant negative effect on industrial sector performance in the long run. We recommend that policy makers should make foreign ownership of enterprises in Ghana in the industrial sector more appealing to potential and existing investors. The government should work at strengthening the Cedi against the major trading partners as the continuous depreciation of the currency hurts businesses in the planning of payments and receipts denominated in foreign currency. Companies should invest in high quality plants and machines to enhance productivity. Trade relations with other countries should also be improved and fortified as trade openness contributes to the growth of the industrial sector.

Organizational Climate a Tool for Achieving Employees Job Satisfaction in Ghanaian Manufacturing Firms

The working environment of employees has significant consequences for both individuals and organizations. It has the potential to affect the attitudes of employees. Considering the importance of human capital in the 21 st century, many researchers and human resource practitioners have explained that companies focus on how to achieve the satisfaction of their employees. The primary purpose of this research paper is to investigate employees’ perception of their working environment and how the different dimensions of organizational climate affect their job satisfaction. The study examines the following research questions: What are the perceptions of employees regarding their work settings? What are the sources of employees’ job satisfaction in the manufacturing industry and what organizational atmosphere contribute(s) to employees’ job satisfaction? To address these concerns, two hundred and five (205) employees are chosen from some selected manufacturing firms in Ghana through convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Correlations are run to generate the interrelationship existing among the dimensions of organizational climate and how each is related to employees’ job satisfaction. The results of the study show that certain dimensions of organizational climate such as identity, conflict management and rewards do have relationship with job satisfaction. Thus employees in the manufacturing sector are more satisfied with the organizations whose mission and objectives are in congruence with the employees’ personal beliefs. Managers are encouraged to focus on articulating the mission of the organization but also stimulate dynamic and high sense of employees’ identification. Fairness in conflict handling procedures as well as equity and transparency in compensation systems is equally recommended as strategies to adopt to foster and increase job satisfaction.

Factors Inhibiting Export Performance of Small Manufacturing Firms in Ghana: The Case of Juaben Oil Mills

Despite the benefits derived from exporting in this globalized world, many small manufacturing firms in Ghana have failed to avail themselves with this opportunity.The research was conducted to find out why Juaben Oil Mills, a family owned company has failed to take advantage of the export market. The major factor preventing the company from exporting was identified as granting credit facilities to foreign customers.Despite several efforts put in place by the government by establishing the export promotion council many small and medium size firms have failed to take advantage of the facilities this council offers.