Entrepreneurial Orientation and the Performance of the Agro-allied Enterprises in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

It is widely recognized that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the major drivers of sustainable economic growth, sources of income generation and panacea for poverty reduction in developing countries. Unfortunately, they are faced with numerous challenges that threaten their existence and survival. This precarity of small entrepreneurial organizations in entrepreneurial ecosystem has prompted widespread attention by scholars and researchers. Hence, it is critical to take into consideration examining the performance of the enterprises. This study analyzed the effect of entrepreneurial orientation dimensions, personal and institutional characteristics on the performance of small and medium agro allied enterprises. Through the multistage sampling procedure, a total of 198 SMEs were selected for the study and data were collected with the aid of questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that among the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions, only risking taking and innovativeness significantly and positively affected the performance of SMEs agro allied enterprises. Furthermore, findings showed that except for size of business which was negatively related to the growth of SMEs, educational level of entrepreneurs, managerial and business experience positively and significantly impacted on the performance of SMEs. Policies to encourage SMEs invest in risky investments and create new product and services should be pursued.

A Study of Distinguishing Tqm Operative Factors in the Public-Sector Universities of Pakistan

The research study aimed to examine the Total Quality Management (TQM) role in the educational organizations and to study distinguishing operative factors in various publicsector universities of Pakistan within the orbit of Total Quality Management (TQM). As TQM is regarded as management function and strategic planning tool that assist organizations to maintain total quality and improve institutional performance by satisfying needs of all stakeholders through the continuous improvement of products, services and organizational processes. Seven factors were selected to study including vision and mission, leadership, leadership team, monitoring of programs process and performances, curriculum design and delivery, student selection support and assessment and continuous quality improvement. The objectives of the study were: 1). To identify TQM operative management factors in the public-sector universities of Pakistan, 2). To study Public sector universities of Pakistan that are committed towards TQM factors for sustainable growth of quality education and the organization, 3). To explore differences in opinions about distinctive TQM operative factors between male and female at the public-sector universities of Pakistan, 4). To find out the relationship among different distinctive TQM operative factors at public sector universities of Pakistan, 5). To explore the difference in opinions between sample groups with respect to TQM operative factors at the public-sector universities of Pakistan, 6). To prospect ways for continual improvement of the public-sector universities of Pakistan. The study following a quantitative approach was based on data collected through a questionnaire. The Cronbach’s Alpha for this instrument was .969 TQM operative factors considered in the study. After meeting its pre-requisites, the tool of Factor Analysis (FA) was used to check its reliability and construct validity of multidimensional factors to meet the objectives of this research. The study was delimited to the administrators, teaching faculty and the students from the publicsector universities of the Punjab, Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtoon Khawa, Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory and Azad Jammu and Kashmir only. Total (1174) respondents (VC’s, Deans, Registrars, Teachers and the students) provided complete response on all variables of the study. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 16 in the form of table and graphs. Formula of Pearson correlation coefficient, Independent Samples t-test, and One Way ANOVA and LSD Post hoc test were used to analyze and interpret the data. Overall response rate remained 87.61%. The study revealed that TQM operative factors have significant role to maintain quality and to organize whole organization, department and an activity at every level. This study identifies areas of improvement as far as Total Quality in Public Sector Universities of the Pakistan. Main conclusion of the study is that TQM is being adopted in higher education organizations but at a slower pace. Whereas, areas of improvement include Leadership, leadership team, Curriculum design and delivery, Monitoring of programs and processes, student support and assessment. Therefor it has been recommended that all the public-sector universities authorities and policy makers should take thoughtful steps to implement the TQM philosophy for organizational excellence and to eliminate the organizational, administrative and the teaching learning deficits. They can use the findings of this research study and opt for affirmative actions to bridge the gaps in TQM implementation and its operative factors.