Effect of Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Business Management in Selected Firms in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), FCT-Abuja (Published)
The current seminar paper focused on the impact of entrepreneurship and innovation on the management practices of certain businesses in AMAC, FCT, Abuja. Given the dynamics of modern business environment, with its constant technological advancements and stiff competition among companies, entrepreneurial mind-set and innovations have become two vital factors that promote effective organizational operations. With reference to recent research findings and theoretical frameworks, the research paper investigated how the integration of entrepreneurial skills like: taking risks, proactivity, and identifying business opportunities affects the efficiency of management and decision-making processes in companies, while interacting with innovation strategies. From the results, firms characterized by entrepreneurship and innovation are more adaptable and efficient in their operations than other businesses. Recommendations have been outlined in the conclusion where it is advised that firms within the AMAC should adopt innovation systems and encourage entrepreneurship within their organizations.
Keywords: AMAC Abuja, Business Management, Entrepreneurial Orientation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Organizational Performance
Innovative Start-Ups and Economic Development in Nigeria: Entrepreneurial Eco-System in Perspective (Published)
Innovative start-ups have become significant drivers of economic growth, technological advancement, job creation, and social transformation across the world. In developing economies such as Nigeria, innovative start-ups contribute to solving socio-economic challenges through digital solutions, product innovation and service delivery improvements. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population comprised founders, managers, and key personnel of innovative start-ups operating in Nigeria. Using Startup Blink’s ecosystem database, Nigeria has approximately 1,475 active start-ups. The sample size of 315 was determined using the Taro Yamane (1967) formula: A stratified random sampling technique was employed and the population was stratified according to Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: The sources of data were both Primary and secondary data. The validity of instrument was ascertained by subjecting the questionnaire to face validity and content validity where the experts in entrepreneurship, management and research methodology assessed the instrument and made necessary corrections. The reliability of instrument was established using the Cronbach Alpha method and a reliability coefficient value of 0.75 was obtained and considered acceptable. The study employed both descriptive and inferential statistics. This study examined the concept, characteristics, importance, challenges and prospects of innovative start-ups, with emphasis on the Nigerian entrepreneurial ecosystem. The study also discussed innovation strategies, funding sources, government policies, and factors influencing start-up success. Findings reveal that innovative start-ups stimulate productivity, attract investment, encourage entrepreneurship and enhance competitiveness. However, they face numerous challenges including inadequate funding, infrastructural deficiencies, policy inconsistencies and market uncertainties. The study, therefore, recommended stronger government support, improved access to finance, entrepreneurial education and favorable regulatory frameworks to promote sustainable growth of innovative start-ups in Nigeria.
Keywords: Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, innovative start-ups, start-ups, venture capital
The Role of University Managerial Staff In The Process Of Implementing the Concept of Entrepreneurship and Innovation by Jordanian Universities (Published)
The purpose of this paper is to explore the dimensions of the university managerial staff role in the process of implementing the concept of entrepreneurship and innovation by Jordanian universities. A questionnaire was used as a tool for data collection where 320 questionnaires were distributed to a random sample from seven Jordanian universities managerial staff. The collected data were refined and statistically analyzed. The obtained results clearly denote that the three independent variables (university managerial staff capacities, the university supporting policy and the nature of the general environment) all together have positive impacts on both dependent variables (the university general performance and the expansion of education and professional opportunity for university entrepreneurship graduates, with a correlation coefficient values of 0.908 and 0.890 respectively at 0.01 level of significant.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Managerial Staff, entrepreneur graduate and general performance.
Attitudes of Undergraduate Students towards Self-Employment in Ethiopian Public Universities (Published)
With the rapid population growth and expansion of higher learning institutions unemployment of university graduates is a major socio- economic problem in Ethiopia. The main purpose of this paper is therefore, to investigate the attitude of Ethiopia public university undergraduate graduating class students towards self-employment. The population was composed of graduating class students of one government universities in Ethiopia. The data was collected through questionnaire from randomly selected 80 students of Assosa University. The data obtained through questionnaire was statistically analyzed through statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 20. The research result reveals that significant number of graduating class students’ job preference right after graduation was government or private employment and majority of students do not have short- term self-employment plan in the foreseeable future after graduation. Therefore, it’s advised that universities entrepreneurship course should focus practically on development of competencies related to entrepreneurship and cultural awareness.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Public University, Self-employment
PROFESSIONAL AND SOCIAL LIVES OF CAREER WOMEN: STRIKING THE BALANCE (Published)
This research work sought to examine the job demands of women. It sought to analyze the work-life balance of women in selected business entities in Ghana. A quantitative method was employed and data were collected using questionnaires. In all the three firms, 150 questionnaires were distributed but only 100 responses were used for the analysis because some were incomplete. The questionnaires were administered to employees in the banking and insurance sector comprising of those in managerial and non-managerial positions. With the support of statistical tools (crosstabs and chi square) the data was analyzed. The findings suggest that increases in the employment rates and relative earnings of women have increased the opportunity costs of child care and domestic responsibilities which were common to womanhood some years back. It was observed that all the women who worked for more than 8 hours were experiencing work-family conflicts.
Keywords: Behaviour, Career, Discrimination, Entrepreneurship, Human resource
DRIVING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES (Published)
The objective of this paper is to discuss issues and challenges driving entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Since entrepreneurship education remain vital in the real sector and the sustenance of economic development, it has become necessary for Nigerian Government to pay attention to this sector. This paper, therefore, argues that entrepreneurship education will equip the unemployed youths with the skills with which to be self-reliant. Also, the paper recommended that educational programmes at all levels of education should be made relevant to provide the youths the needed entrepreneurial skills. It also recommended that the Nigerian Government should give adequate attention to full blown entrepreneurial education in Nigeria.
Keywords: Challenges, Education, Entrepreneurship, Issues, Strategies.
Impact of Entrepreneurship Training on Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises (Mses) in Kenya: A Case Study of Embu Municipality (Published)
Since independence, the Kenyan government has developed strategies and promotion programs aimed at promoting the micro and small enterprise sector. Entrepreneurship training has been cited as one of the most important of these. The purpose of this study was to examine the components of the entrepreneurship training program and their impact on performance of entrepreneurs. The conceptual framework takes the form of a structural equation model where entrepreneurial behaviour is seen as a product of the training program. The research method was mainly explanatory though elements of descriptive and exploratory strategies were incorporated. A survey targeting 68 beneficiaries was done. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. Pearson’s correlation matrix was used to show the relationship’ between the dependent and the independent variables. Entrepreneurship training was found to have had a substantial impact on performance of entrepreneurs. However, constant monitoring was found necessary to make the skills learnt be translated into more practical work. Equally important is financial assistance as it is due to lack of necessary capital that most training beneficiaries are not practicing their learned kills in business.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship training Institution; Management University of Africa, Micro and small enterprises (MSEs)