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.

Acceptance and Use of Information Technology by Senior Executives

It is becoming increasingly imperative for managers to track the process that ultimately leads to the adoption and effective use of new technology. The study explores an extension of technology adoption model (TAM) for senior executives. The TAM is modified with additional constructs of Perceived Enjoyment (PE), Perceived Risk (PR) and Self-Efficacy (SEf.). An addition of Cultural Influence (CI) and Social Influence (SI) is also being made as a direct determinant of Behavioral Intention (BI). The study is empirically validated using a field survey through a questionnaire. Employing a sample of 431 senior executives it develops and tests a modified TAM within the Pakistani culture. Regression as well as Partial Least Square (pls) is used for data analysis. Regression analysis is done using SPSS version 12.0 while pls analysis is done using Visual Parital Least Square (VPLS) version 1.04. The results indicate that the modified TAM works well. The findings are important because they are different and distinct from Western cultures. The modified TAM shows that dependent variables attitude toward using computer has explained 63% variance while BI has explained 54% variance. Key Words: Senior Executives and Information Technology, Information Technology acceptance, Information Technology Use, Technology Acceptance Model, Culture and Information Technology, Information Technology and Social Influence, Perceived Enjoyment, Perceived Risk, Self-Efficacy, Information System, Attitude toward technology.