Internal Environmental Factors and Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria
Author: Asenge, Emmanuel Lubem
Department of Business Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Benue State University,
Makurdi, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study examines the effect of internal environmental factors on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. The study specifically examines the effect of human resource capabilities, technological capabilities and marketing capabilities on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopts a survey design and questionnaire was used for data collection. A sample of three hundred (300) was derived from a population 1,250 SMEs in Benue State using Taro Yamane formula. The primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts, mean scores and percentages) while regression analysis was used for test of hypotheses at 5% level of significance with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21). Findings of the study revealed that human resource capabilities, technological capabilities and marketing capabilities significantly affect the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Benue State. The study concludes that internal environmental factors are important to the growth and survival of SMEs. The study recommends amongst others that managers and owners of SMEs in Benue State should continually upgrade their local technologies so as to gain competitive advantage.