Tope S . Abiodun

This study reexamined the previous research conclusion regarding the appropriateness of adopting export market orientation's components and the potential impact of reconfiguring capability using PLS-SEM Path Modeling on data collected from 201 exporting SMEs' in Nigeria. Export intelligence generation, export intelligence dissemination and responsiveness were significantly and positively related to export performance. Reconfiguring capability mediates the relationship between export intelligence dissemination, export intelligence dissemination and export performance. Above all, this study synthesizes basic streams of research, empirically establishes direct relationship between export market orientation' components and export performance and evaluates the mediating impact of reconfiguring capability on export performance of SMEs.

Building on prior researches on learning capability, research and development, resources allocation, manufacturing capability, organizational management and planning as innovation capabilities; this paper provides a deep understanding on general barriers of internationalization and export development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Having developed a conceptual model linking different dimensions of general barriers of internationalization and export development, the paper provides insight into how innovation capabilities integrate with efficient and productive SMEs sector and affect export performance and growth.

Resources Based View perceives firm specific resources such as assets and capabilities as the drivers of firm business strategy, this study identified market orientation (MO) as a rare, valuable, non-substitutable and inimitable market based resources which can secure sustainable competitive advantage. Previous research conclusions on the relationship between market orientation and firm performance are explored and highlighted through the lens of RBV and future empirical enquiry is suggested.

This paper examined the relationship between the level of accounting staff recruited, preparation of final accounts, and meetings with accounting staff and the perception of entrepreneur of SMEs towards proper accounting standard. Having employed questionnaire survey to gather quantitative data from owners/managers of SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria and used multiple regression analysis on collected useable questionnaire, the results of the study shows that there is significant relationship between SMEs entrepreneurs perception on the importance of good accounting standard with the level of professional accounting staff recruited. In contrast, no significant relationship is found with regard to the preparation of final accounts of the SMEs, frequency of meeting with accounting staff and the perception of entrepreneur of SMEs towards proper accounting standard. By implication, the paper suggests recruitment of Professional accounting staff could culminate to adequate and proper maintenance of accounting standard and consequently improve SMEs' performance.

A firm's constant pursuit of the renewal, reconfiguration and recreation of resources, capabilities and core capabilities to address environmental change of capabilities that are conducive to longterm performance rather than simply a subset of the capabilities would enhance and sustain competitive advantage. The major preoccupation of this paper was to consider the antecedents, roles and importance of SMEs in less developed economies (i.e. Nigeria) and employ dynamic capabilities' perspective as therapy to be used and overcome SMEs' poor performance.

This study examined the effect of service quality on customer satisfaction in Nigerian banks. Based on the theoretical paradigm, relationships were delineated between service quality dimensions (delivery of quality service, reliability, tangible of quality, quality assurance) and customer satisfaction of banks. Having collected data from a sample size of 387 customers of Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and Unity Bank Plc in Jalingo metropolis, and analyzed the data with the inferential statistical tool using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), the results of the study show there is a significant and positive effect of banks tangibles of quality service delivery on customers’ satisfaction. It also depicts that there is a significant and positive effect of service responsiveness of banks on the delivery of quality service on customers’ satisfaction. Moreover, the results show there is a significant and positive effect of the reliability of banks in the delivery of quality service on customer satisfaction and there is also a significant and positive effect of quality assurance of delivery of quality service on customers’ satisfaction. Thus, the study recommends among others that banks should strive to be reliable; there should be uniformity in the performance and trustworthiness. Banks should also be keeping promises, resolving customers’ complaints, and timeliness in service responsiveness.

This study examined the influence of risk-taking as one important dimension of entrepreneurial orientation on export performance of SMEs in Kano, Nigeria. A survey design was conducted and structured questionnaire was used in the data collection. A total of 110 usable responses were received from the owners /managers of exporting manufacturing SMEs in Kano. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed in the data analysis. The result of the analysis showed that risk-taking has significant effect on export performance of manufacturing SMEs. The managerial implication of this study indicated that risk-taking is a significant internal determinant of export performance. Thus, the study recommends that management of SMEs should take calculated risk by always investigating the result of various prospective investments and predicts scenario of likely outcome and thus, recognize key risk factors and their causal sources and then tries to manage or reduce these factors in international arena. While the extreme risk that involves reckless decision making that management identified should be avoided.

The basic objective of this study was to assess the effects of innovativeness, risk-taking, and pro-activeness on the performance of exporting manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kano, Nigeria. Based on a theoretical consideration a model was proposed and three hypotheses were formulated. Survey questionnaires were used in the data collection and a total of 110 useable responses were received from the owners/managers of exporting manufacturing SMEs in Kano. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed in the data analysis. The results of the analysis depict that pro-activeness; innovativeness and risk-taking have a significant effect on the export performance of manufacturing SMEs. The managerial implication of this study indicates that EO is a significant internal determinant of export performance. Exporting SME managers could take complementary advantage of pro-activeness, innovativeness, and risk-taking resources to perform more than their competitors. The study recommends leveraging renewal strategy on incentives given to SMEs and reconfiguring innovativeness; revamping all old Industrial Development Centres and establishing new ones (IDCs); establishing SME clusters; upgrading rural-urban roads, introducing entrepreneurial studies; and emphasizing science among others

The fourth industrial revolution has great influence on entrepreneurial development and economic growth since the revolution is gathering new jobs with new skills, and a majority of the senior workforce will probably have a lot of problems with those kinds of changes and challenges. The objectives of this paper are to present the features components of Industry 4.0, the relationship between Big data and sustainable business performance, the relationship between the Internet of a Thing (IoT) and sustainable SMEs’ performance, and the relationship between smart factories and sustainable SMEs’ performance. Based on the conceptual model, the explanatory research design was employed; the model indicates there would be a significant relationship between 4.0 components (Big data, IoT & smart factory) and sustainable SMEs’ performance. The paper concluded with the recommendation that government and SME owners/managers should avail themselves of 4th industrial revolution’s advantages and leverage big data, the Internet of Things, and smart factories to promote information technology (IT), and implementation, which contributes to sustainable SMEs’ performance

The central objective of this study was to assess the effects of innovativeness on the performance of exporting manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kano, Nigeria. Based on a theoretical consideration a model was proposed and a hypothesis was formulated. Survey questionnaires were used in the data collection and a total of 110 usable responses were received from the owners/managers of exporting manufacturing SMEs in Kano. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed in the data analysis. The results of the analysis depict that innovativeness has a significant effect on the export performance of manufacturing SMEs. The managerial implication of this study indicates that innovativeness is a significant internal determinant of export performance. Exporting SME managers could take complementary advantage of innovativeness resources to perform more than their competitors. The study recommends leveraging renewal strategy on incentives given to SMEs and reconfiguring innovativeness; revamping all old Industrial Development Centres and establishing new ones (IDCs); establishing SME clusters; upgrading rural-urban roads, introducing innovative studies; and emphasizing science among others.

This paper demonstrates the Implication of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The main objectives of show the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs; laid-off workers, halted operations, reduction in production, reduction in sales, and disruption in the supply chain, and to highlight multiple areas of facilitation required for government intervention. Having conducted a questionnaire survey on SMEs in Kano, Nigeria, and collected 238 useable responses, the results of our study show that SMEs have reduced sales; 17% to a considerable extent, 27% to a great extent, and 36%  reduced sales to extreme manner;  Similarly, the reduction in production, 29% of SMEs reduced production to a great extent, 35%  reduced production in an extreme manner while 40%  to a considerable extent;  the result of the study revealed disruption in supply chain of SMEs, 17%  to a considerable extent disruption, 29% to a great extent disruption and 38% in an extreme manner. In addition, the result of the study also shows laid-off workers; 16% of SMEs have moderately laid off workers, 17% to a considerable extent, 21% to a great extent; our findings also show that SMEs halt operations, 17% to a considerable extent, 29% to a great extent and 35% operation has been halted in an extreme manner; while highlighting multiple areas of facilitation required, 61% of enterprises demands financial schemes while 29% solicits special packages. The study recommends adequate SME financing, wage support to retain employees, reduction of rental costs and utility bills, and Infrastructure Support among others.