scholarly journals Business Innovation and Competitive Advantage in Nigerian Manufacturing Sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Moruff Sanjo Oladimeji ◽  
Olasunkanmi Akeem Amida ◽  
Ekong Akpan Essien

The study examined the impact of business innovation on competitive advantage in the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector.  The study was anchored on the theory of the resource-based theory and the dynamic capabilities theory. The descriptive survey design was employed. The population for the study comprised 496 staff of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Ogun State. A sample size of 217 respondents was selected through stratified sampling and a simple random sampling procedure. The questionnaire was administered to the respondents, out of which 207 were retrieved and subjected to further analysis. The stated hypotheses were tested using ordinal regression. The results showed that business innovation has a significant effect on the cost of the product (R2=0.729, F=11.237; p<.05), the sales of the product (R2=0.643, F=3.408; p<.05) and the quality of the product (R=0.845, R2=0.714, F=10.903; p<.05). The study recommended that multinational companies should pay more attention to customer satisfaction by increasing product quality. Emphasis should also be placed on innovation in order to cut a competitive edge. 

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norman Rudhumbu ◽  
Avinash Tirumalai ◽  
Babli Kumari

The purpose of this study was to determine factors that influenced decisions of undergraduate students’ choice of a university to study at. Botho University was used as a case study. Studies show that universities are currently confronted with both the decrease in student enrolments and high competition for those students between institutions. As a result of these twin challenges, it is of critical importance that factors that influence students’ choices of universities are investigated to enable effective planning of student recruitment strategies. The study employed a descriptive survey design that employed a structured questionnaire for data collection. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 300 participants from a population of 1240 Botho University undergraduate students. Collected data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results of the study showed that factors that include academic programmes offered, image and reputation of the institution, advertising, career fairs, quality of staff, employment prospects of graduates from the institution had a very high influence on the decision by students to choose Botho University as an institution to study at. Factors such as tuition fees, chance of getting scholarships and campus visits did not have a very high influence.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Albert Naiem Naguib ◽  
Eahab Elsaid ◽  
Abdel Moneim Elsaid

This study examines the relationship between dynamic capabilities (experience, routine, skills, firm characteristics, knowledge and technology) and competitive advantage sustainability in the Egyptian pharmaceutical sector. The data was collected using primary and secondary data sources. Primary data was collected from questionnaires distributed to 160 top managers in 20 pharmaceutical firms. The secondary data about pharmaceutical firms like rankings, revenues and market share was collected from external sources such as Intercontinental Marketing Service (IMS). The questionnaires examine six independent variables based on a five-scale Likert scale. The methodology used in the study is non-probability sampling (judgmental sampling), Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient and Chi-square tests. The results support the notion that there is a significant relationship between four of the six dynamic capabilities (experience, skills, firm characteristics and knowledge) and the competitive advantage sustainability for pharmaceutical firms in Egypt. Designing the questionnaire and formulating the questions to target the required field was challenging, given that the topic is dynamic and the business scene in Egypt has witnessed drastic political changes since January 2011. The study should assist pharmaceutical companies in Egypt in directing their investments properly and in determining the weaknesses in their dynamic capabilities that need to be addressed.


Author(s):  
Dasari Tejaswini ◽  
Suhas Kulkarni ◽  
Dolar Doshi ◽  
Adepu Srilatha

AbstractBackgroundAesthetic alterations in the face can be self-perceived and can affect quality of life in young adults.ObjectiveTo assess the impact of malocclusion on self- perceived oro-facial behaviour among young adults.MethodsA Cross sectional study was conducted among 638 young adults (aged 18–21 years) of Hyderabad city. One college from each of the five zones of the Hyderabad city (five colleges) were selected by simple random sampling procedure. A 21-item Oro-facial investment scale (OFIS) questionnaire assessing self-perceived oral health knowledge, attitude, practice and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) assessing the severity of malocclusion was used. Data were analysed with standard statistical software (SPSS, Statistical package for the social sciences, version 20.0). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsMales had higher mean scores for knowledge (2.90 ± 0.49) than females (2.73 ± 0.82) and was statistically significant (p = 0.002*). No statistically significant gender differences were found in relation to attitude and practice. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was a significant difference in all the three scores (knowledge, attitude, practice) with respect to age, with significantly high score for knowledge and practice among 18 year old subjects (p = 0.0001*; p = 0.0003* respectively) and attitude among 21 year old subjects (p = 0.0049*). No statistically significant age, gender differences were found in relation to DAI scores. Upon correlation, DAI significantly and positively correlated with knowledge (p = 0.03*) and attitude (p = 0.0001*).ConclusionThis study has shown significant impact of malocclusion on the self-perceived oro-facial behaviour.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1511-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Jou Chen

Purpose Developing agility and innovativeness as dynamic capabilities are important for firms to sustain their competitive advantage in today’s global economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how the supply chain agility and innovativeness are achieved through IT integration and trust in members of supply chain and how these, in turn, can enhance firms’ competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a survey method and data are collected from senior managers working in the supply chain or IT area. The model and hypotheses are tested utilizing data from 204 usable Taiwan manufacturing firms via structural equations modeling methodology. Findings The study demonstrates that both IT integration and trust in supply chain members significantly enhance supply chain agility and innovativeness, which in turn positively affect firm’s competitive advantage. The results indicate that IT integration and trust are antecedents and major joint partnership resources for improving supply chain agility and innovativeness. Research limitations/implications Data are collected from manufacturing industry in Taiwan and single respondent from each firm, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries should require additional investigation. Practical implications The study suggests that a firm should focus on IT integration and trust in supply chain members to achieve supply chain agility and innovativeness. To take advantage of supply chain agility and innovativeness, through maximizing firm’s competitive advantage, firms should continually adapt to the fast changing business environment and search for creative ways to satisfy new market needs. Originality/value Given the attention paid to supply chain agility and innovativeness in terms of importance to responding to business uncertainty and competitiveness, and more recently, as important capabilities in managing supply chain management, this paper investigates how IT integration and trust can contribute to supply chain agility and innovativeness. Provide evidence regarding the impact of IT integration and trust on agility of supply chains, innovativeness and competitive advantage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Adzrolo ◽  
Kenneth Asamoah-Gyimah ◽  
Andrews Cobbinah ◽  
Ruth Annan-Brew

<p>This paper investigated the causes and possible strategies to minimize examination malpractices in Senior High Schools (SHSs) in Ghana. A descriptive survey design with a quantitative approach was used for the study. Proportional stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of 335 respondents which comprised 302 students and 33 teachers. Frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were used to analyse the data gathered. The findings revealed that the leading cause of examination malpractices was ‘insufficient students’ preparation for WASSCE and Public education on effects of examination malpractices has also emerged as the number one strategy to minimize the menace. It was concluded that in schools where a conducive environment and teaching/ learning materials are not provided for effective academic work, performance falls below what is expected, to achieve academic success, students and teachers engage in examination malpractices to raise the academic image of the school. It was recommended that school authorities provide a conducive teaching and learning environment to ensure effective academic work in schools to minimize the menace.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0896/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 28-32
Author(s):  
Nsikak E.U. ◽  
Timothy E.E. ◽  
Sylvanus E.N.

The expansion from the domestic market to the international market has become increasingly important for construction business including that of Nigerian Contractors amidst saturated local market, more patronage to foreign Contractors by the sector, stiff competition, political rivalry, insecurity and dwindling economic situation in the country. These factors have left most Contractors vulnerable for years without contract awards thereby resulting in retrenchments, inability to remit value-added tax (VAT), unsustained company’s profitability, heavy financial risk, practice and technology drain, bankruptcy, merging of companies as well as redundancy. Thus, the aim of the paper is to evaluate sound prospects for economic boost by the involvement of indigenous Contractors in oversea’s projects. The research was built on the foundation of stage growth theory which postulated that countries should modernize and model themselves after wealthier and economical viable ones to climb the upward ladder for development. The paper adopted a survey design method in which a total of 150 questionnaires were administered representing the sample size and 120 copies filled and submitted completely was achieved through a simple random sampling technique from the target population of 240 Federal Government-registered Indigenous Contractors in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria. Data analysis was done through simple percentages, frequencies, mean as well as statistics tools-analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) to test the effect of one variable on another. The results showed that high profit and revenue, expansion of subsidiaries, foreign direct investment (FDI), new technological strength, the local and foreign government supports, amongst others were ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively as key prospects that will be achieved for the economic recovery of the nation. Also, competing in a foreign contract will lower the cost of the project in the country. The paper tested a hypothesis: whether there is value addition on the nation economy via indigenous contractor participation in the foreign project. The alternative hypothesis H1 was accepted since the f-calculated value of 64.24 was greater than the table f-value of 5.29 at 4/20 degree of freedom tested at 0.01 level of significance. It then concluded that Indigenous contractors has not been involved significantly in the overseas project, hence; it recommended an integrated approach, developing external wings, good industry practices, technical and dynamic capabilities, collective championing and depoliticizing construction contract for maximum participation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
John M. Mbunde

This paper discusses the head teachers’ role in facilitating school facilities that influence pupils’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary School (KCPE). The objective was to establish the head teachers’ role in facilitating school facilities that influence pupils’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary School. The research was based on the Max Weber’s Theory of Bureaucracy. The target population was 612 head teachers, senior teachers and accounts’ clerks in Nairobi County. The sample size was 123. The research employed descriptive survey design. The schools selected were 14 from Westland and Dagoretti districts and 13 from Lang’ata district through simple random sampling. The head teachers and accounts’ clerks were selected by purposive sampling methods. The research instruments used were the interview and document analysis guides. Validation of both instruments was done by the expert judgment review by supervisors from the Department of Educational Administration and Planning of the University of Nairobi. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data which was presented in a table. The study established that all the 41 sampled schools had fairly adequate exercise books, buildings and furniture; inadequate textbooks, radios, equipment, computers, displays, charts and playgrounds. The study concluded that the head teachers had not facilitated adequate school facilities that influence pupils’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary School (KCPE). It was recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology should increase funding of schools to enable the head teachers to procure more school facilities to enhance pupils’ performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary School.


Author(s):  
Alyaha Daniel Felix Ohide ◽  
Rosemary Wahu Mbogo

<div><p>Teachers often find themselves frustrated at work because of conflicting expectations concerning their professional and social roles within the community. This paper looks at the effect of teachers’ perception of their profession on their satisfaction at job and performance. The authors employ a survey design in private schools in Yei Town, South Sudan to establish the impact of these perceptions. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents from ten private schools. The respondents’ therefore included 10 head teachers, 100 teachers giving a total of 110 respondents. Questionnaires were used for data collection. Data collected was analysed by the use of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 12.0 was and presented in frequencies and percentages and a regression analysis performed to establish the relationships among the variables. The study findings indicated that a considerable number of the teachers (38.9%) indicated that teacher’s own perception of their own profession does not affect the teachers’ job satisfaction and performance.</p></div>


Author(s):  
Violet E. Ikolo

The study focused on users satisfaction with library services at the Delta State University main Library, Abraka, Delta State. The objective was to find out if users are satisfied with the services, facilities, the library environment, information sources and staff of the library. Using the descriptive survey design the population for the study consisted of all registered library users in the Site II of the Delta State University, Abraka Campus. The study employed the simple random sampling techniques in selecting the sample size for the study, and with a questionnaire data were collected. The findings revealed that the services offered at the Delta State University are inadequate and below average. Most users were satisfied with the availability of information sources in the library but also registered that most of these information sources are not available for loan. The findings also showed that there is a significant relationship between the assessment of library collection by users and their satisfaction with information sources. The library environment is clean and the reading carrels are adequate but, there are no effective lightening and toilet facilities.


Economies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Shaianne T. Osterreich

Heterodox feminist scholars have argued that global trade patterns reflect patterns of competitive advantage—rather than comparative advantage—and that that competitive advantage is gendered. Further, they have suggested that we need more theoretical and empirical scholarship in this area. This paper assesses the state of the literature against this call to action for more feminist–heterodox work on trade, with an emphasis on the manufacturing sector. New strands on the impact of gender on global production have been developed, including (a) integrating gender relations into global value chain analysis, (b) empirical work examining possible trends in the de-feminization of industrial sectors with technological upgrading, and (c) conceptual and empirical work on the interplay between gender, social provisioning, informal work, and the informalization of formal work. The first two strands, although well developed, would benefit from more research that is better integrated with the third strand. Further, this whole range of scholarly work needs to contend more broadly with the causes and effects of persistent gender-based occupational segregation, which underpins all three strands of work. A lot of excellent work has been done, and yet, more scholarship is needed to best understand the extent to which employment in industrial exports can function as a means to gender equity, empowerment, and mobility.


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