Lean Accounting Techniques and Competitive Advantage of Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria (Published)

This study explored lean accounting techniques and the competitive advantage of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The main objective was to determine how the adoption of lean accounting techniques such as value stream, target costing, kaizen costing, Box score reporting and visual reporting enhances firms’ strategic competitiveness within Nigerian’s dynamic manufacturing sector. A quantitative research design was employed, using structured questionnaires administered to accounting and managerial personnel of selected listed manufacturing firms. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression analysis to test the hypothesized associations. The findings revealed that value stream costing has a significant effect on quality improvement and operational efficiency of the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria, target costing has a significant effect on quality improvement and operational efficiency of the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria, kaizen costing has a significant effect on quality improvement and operational efficiency of the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria, box score reporting has a significant effect on quality improvement and operational efficiency of the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria and visual reporting has a significant effect on quality improvement and operational efficiency of the listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study concludes that the implementation of lean accounting techniques significantly enhances the competitive advantage of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Policymakers and regulatory bodies are encouraged to promote training, awareness, and supportive frameworks for lean practice implementation.

Keywords: Competitive Advantage, Manufacturing Firms, Nigeria, lean accounting, target costing, value stream

Sense-Making, Entrepreneurial Orientation and Their Influence on Firm Performance in Kenya (Published)

Manufacturing firms constitute an integral part of the economic rubric of developing countries. In Kenya, they contribute 14% of gross domestic product, and train and employ 30% of the workforce. However, they exhibit low organization capacity, and struggle to survive as competitive enterprises. The purpose of this study was to establish how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) influences the relationship between sense-making and firm performance in Kenya. Anchored on the resource-based view and strategic entrepreneurship concept, the study used a self-administered questionnaire to survey owners/managers of 83 small and medium enterprise (SME) food-manufacturing firms registered by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling, employing Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 20 and SmartPLS 3. The study found that EO fully mediates the relationship between sense-making and firm performance. This study concludes that EO is a critical strategy that firms should exploit to maximize their performance. The study recommends that, manufacturing SMEs should encourage employee entrepreneurial behaviours, and the government should support policies that promote entrepreneurial business management capabilities in manufacturing firms.

Keywords: Manufacturing Firms, Uncertainty, market diversity, new products portfolio, sense-making, technology variety