Exploring Regulatory Constraints to the Growth of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises in Delta State (Published)
This study investigated the intricate landscape of regulatory constraints and their impact on SME growth in Delta State. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, empirical data analysis, and qualitative insights, this study seeks to identify, analyze, and understand the key regulatory challenges faced by SMEs operating in Delta State. The study explored a range of regulatory factors including bureaucratic procedures, taxation policies, access to finance, compliance burdens, and the interplay between formal regulations and informal practices. Furthermore, this study accessed the implications of regulatory constraints on SME performance, competitiveness, innovation, and overall economic contribution within the region. It also examined the effectiveness of existing government policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional mechanisms in addressing these constraints and fostering an enabling environment for SME growth. The theoretical frameworks of this study hinged on the institutional theory which provides valuable insights into the regulatory dynamics shaping the SME sector in Delta State. The findings of this study show that while regulatory constraints are a key challenge, they are not lethal. Despite the divergence in ratings, SMEs face significant challenges and should be given special consideration for development through targeted interventions and constraint removal. It was therefore recommended that streamline regulatory processes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to streamline registration, licensing, and financing. Government departments should introduce digital enablers to simplify compliance and expedite the start-up process
Keywords: Challenges, Constraints, Policy, SMEs, bureaucratic, regulatory
Status of the Implementation of Entrepreneurship Education in Universities in Delta State, Nigeria (Published)
The study assessed the status of the implementation of entrepreneurship education in universities in Delta State, Nigeria. Two research questions and corresponding null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive design. The population of the study comprised all the 65 lecturers and 5,000 students in the two public universities in Delta State. The sample size was 530 (lecturers 65 and 497 students) from the two universities using purposive sampling techniques. Assessment of the Implementation of Entrepreneurship Education Questionnaire (AIEEQ) was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by experts to ensure face and content validity, which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.87 using Cronbach Alpha. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while independent samples z-test was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance. It was found that entrepreneurship education was properly implemented in the undergraduate and post graduate levels in Delta State universities. However, the programme was bedeviled with conspicuous challenges. It was recommended among others that a monitoring team should be set up by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to monitor the progress and shortcoming of entrepreneurship education in the universities.
Keywords: Challenges, Entrepreneurship education, Implementation, Status
Growth Strategies of SME in Oman- Issues and Challenges (Published)
This research has been conducted to determine the Growth Strategies of SME in Oman-Issues and challenges. SMEs has its own importance for the economic success and economic performance of any country due to which all countries are focusing on the growth of their SMEs. After getting success in the local market, it is important for SMEs to grow their business towards international market or at large scale businesses but, in the case of SMEs, businesses face a lot of challenges and issues in the form of human resource management constraints, financial management constraints, operations management constraints, and marketing management constraints. The review of literature proved the same thing that SMEs of Oman are facing issues and challenges in developing and implementing their growth strategies. The major aim of this research is to answer the research questions by using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Questionnaires are used for the data collection of quantitative research data. The total 250 respondents are selected to answer the questionnaires. Use of quantitative research methods brings effectiveness, reliability, and validity in the research. SPSS is used for the quantitative data analysis. Descriptive tests and T-test are applied on collected data to check the issues and challenges that SMEs of Oman are facing while developing their growth strategies. Interviews are used for data collection of qualitative research data. The total 12 interviewees are selected to answer the interview questions. Use of qualitative research methods brings elaboration of issues and challenges that SME of Oman face in developing and implementing their growth strategies. This research will motivate different SMEs of Oman to develop their defensive strategies to overcome the risks of growth strategies constraints. Furthermore, research limitation, managerial implications and future indications are also discussed in the study.
Keywords: Challenges, Issues, Small & Medium Enterprise’s (SMEs), Strategies.
The Impact of Fall in Oil Price on SME’s Performance (Published)
After fall in oil prices a lot of sectors are affected in Oman. Oman is one of the country’s which fully was depending on income from petroleum products also the people were receiving subsidy from the government for many things. Suddenly, after the fall in oil prices government affected very badly and like the other GCC countries, they decided to remove the subsidy from the oil price also to cover the loss, the government increased the rates of a lot of services. SME’s are affected very badly by these decisions. A lot of SME’s started in delaying in the payment and not performing well. In my research, I will cover the challenges which they are facing it, the reasons of the low performance and suggestions which will help them to perform better.
Keywords: Challenges, Impact, Oil price, Small & Meduiem Enterprices (SMEs)
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED BY THE SMES OWNERS IN MUSCAT (Published)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) plays a decisive role in any developing economy. In Oman about 60 percent of the SMEs are the source of employment. Although there is an increase in the SMEs but there is also innumerable challenges associated with the growth, this research paper explores the specific challenges encountered by the SME owners. In this study simple random sampling was adopted with the data sample size of 35 SME owners and the data was collected with the help of structured questionnaire. The data was further analyzed by using descriptive statistics and ANOVA and represented through tables. It was found that the majority of SMEs face challenges in the form of policy and administrative challenges followed by the marketing and financial issues. It is suggested that the SMEs directorate should form a committee to prepare the SME framework, the rules and regulations associated towards that to avoid cumbersome policies and complexities for those who would prefer registering the business legally.
Keywords: Challenges, Directorates, Framework, Small and Medium-Enterprises (SMEs)
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED BY THE SMEs OWNERS IN MUSCAT BLOSSOM CHRISTINA (Review Completed - Accepted)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) plays a decisive role in any developing economy. In Oman about 60 percent of the SMEs are the source of employment. Although there is an increase in the SMEs but there is also innumerable challenges associated with the growth, this research paper explores the specific challenges encountered by the SME owners. In this study simple random sampling was adopted with the data sample size of 35 SME owners and the data was collected with the help of structured questionnaire. The data was further analyzed by using descriptive statistics and ANOVA and represented through tables. It was found that the majority of SMEs face challenges in the form of policy and administrative challenges followed by the marketing and financial issues. It is suggested that the SMEs directorate should form a committee to prepare the SME framework, the rules and regulations associated towards that to avoid cumbersome policies and complexities for those who would prefer registering the business legally.
Keywords: Challenges, Directorates, Framework, Small Anmedium-Enterprises (Smes)