Digital Financial Inclusion and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Growth in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State (Published)
Ondo State has witnessed growth in digital financial inclusivity especially among the Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs), therefore the need to determine whether the introduction of digital financial inclusion in the State has affected the growth of SMEs. The central objective of this study is therefore to assess the impact of digital financial inclusion on the growth of SMEs in Ondo State. In order to achieve this objective, the impact of digital financial accessibility, digital financial usage and digital financial service quality on sales growth, profit margin and customers’ growth were explored. In this study, a total of four hundred questionnaires were administered to the respondents who were SMEs owners/managers in Ondo State, the analysis was therefore conducted using 385 responses representing a response rate of 96.25%. The data collected were processed and analyzed using multiple linear regression through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v 26). The findings indicate that firstly: both digital financial usage and digital finance service quality have positive and significant impact on sales growth but digital financial accessibility showed otherwise. Secondly, that both digital financial accessibility and digital financial service quality have positive and significant impact on profit margin while digital financial usage indicate otherwise. Lastly, while digital financial usage showed negative and insignificant impact on customers’ growth both digital financial accessibility and digital financial service quality have positive and significant impact on customers’ growth. This study concludes that the digital financial inclusion of SMEs has led to the growth of the SMEs in Ondo State. This study therefore recommends business policymakers in Ondo State to adopt a comprehensive policy for digital financial inclusion in order to help the SMEs to develop and grow faster especially those in the rural areas.
Keywords: Digital, Financial Inclusion, Growth, SMEs
Les mécanismes de gouvernance des PME familiales en Afrique (Published)
The objective of this paper is to provide conceptual clarification of governance mechanisms based on a literature review applied to African family SMEs. The analysis of the literature review made it possible to understand the specificities of African family businesses through a better knowledge of their governance practices on the one hand, and by specific African management in the light of contemporary theories, on the other hand. The study analyses the cultural realities of the African field to propose an explanatory and interpretative framework in the context of African specific management.
Keywords: Africa, Chad, Culture, Family business, Governance, SMEs
Studying the Effect of Leadership Styles on the Business Performance of SMES in South-Eastern Region (Published)
This study aims to explore the effect of leadership styles on the business performance of SMEs in South-Eastern region. The research result is a science evident for managers to improve the business performance. The researcher surveyed 250 managers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and answered 12 questions but 212 samples processed. The primary sources of data collected from July 2017 to November 2018 in South-Eastern region. Simple random sampling technique. The Data analyzed Cronbach’s Alpha and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which used for multiple linear regression and using partial least squares method. Managers’ responses measured through an adapted questionnaire on a 5-point Likert scale. In addition, the findings of the study have two factors affecting the business performance of SMEs in South-Eastern region with significance level 0.05.
Keywords: BRVT., Business, Leadership, Performance, SMEs
MARKETING PRACTICES OF SMALL & MEDIUM SIZE ENTERPRISES: A CASE STUDY OF SME’S IN MULTAN DISTRICT (Published)
Small and Medium Size Enterprises are the backbone of every major economy and empirical studies prove that small firms are more efficient and innovative in their operation, product development and marketing strategies. The objective of this research study is to analyze marketing practices (strategies) of Small and Medium Size Enterprises running entrepreneurs in Multan.This study is qualitative in nature in which we have studied the major characteristics of selected Small and Medium Size Enterprises. Primary Data was collected through a structured questionnaire by having interviews with the entrepreneurs. At least thirteen Small Medium Size Enterprises operating in Multan District were selected as a sample of study and a formal questionnaire was prepared. A field survey method was applied and faced to faced interviews were recorded to analyze the marketing strategies of SME’s. The evidences show that SME’s under study achieved success and established their names and brands through innovations. Their innovations were in the shape of unique designs that not only meet the need of customers. Their services are innovative in a sense that they satisfy the customers. Thus our consistent with previous studies which pinpoint that small medium enterprise are innovative and more efficient than large firms.
Keywords: Entrepreneurs, Innovation, Marketing, SMEs
AN ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATION APPROACHES USED BY SMES IN ZIMBABWE (Published)
Literature highlights the importance of communication in the formulation and implementation of strategies. The level of communication has been seen to positively correlate with the overall performance of organisations. Unfortunately the level of communication in SMEs in Zimbabwe has not received much research neither have studies revelled the communication processes used by SMEs. This study sought to establish the communication approaches used by these SMEs and their contribution to the overall performance of these organisations. This was a qualitative study using the multiple case study approach involving eight organisations. In depth interviews and non-participant observations were used to collect data from owner/managers. The major findings were that SMEs used informal communication channels to share information with employees particularly the grapevine to gather organisational information. This tended to create organisational disharmony with each employee striving for favours from the owner. Employees were also given information on a need to know basis and this adversely affected overall organisation performance due to inadequate or delayed information
Keywords: Performance, SMEs, Strategy Implementation, communication