This study examines self-efficacy and subjective norms (moral obligation, empathy, and perceived social support) as moderators of the effect networking competence has on social entrepreneurial intentions. Using Nigeria as a study area, a survey was conducted on 541 budding entrepreneurs, which were students with a high entrepreneurial propensity. With the use of Andrew Hayes’s PROCESS macro, a simultaneous regression analysis was performed to establish the interaction effect of the selected moderators. The results show a positive main effect of networking competence on social entrepreneurial intentions, statistically significant interaction effects of empathy and perceived social support, no interaction effect of moral obligation, and a poor self-efficacy fit. This study extends theories of entrepreneurial intentions and the mediation (additive) models of Mair & Noboa, Krueger, and Hockerts. Suggestions are that other studies should be carried out using self-efficacy among actual early-level entrepreneurs, with a likelihood that results could explain what role self-efficacy could have in predicting social entrepreneurial intentions.

Aim/Purpose: Facebook has made it possible for organisation to embrace social and network centric knowledge processes by creating opportunities to connect, interact, and collaborate with stakeholders. We have witnessed a significant increase in the popularity and use of this tool in many organisations, especially in the private sector. But the utilisation of Facebook in public organisations is at its infancy, with many also believing that the use of Facebook is not a common practice in many public organisations in Nigeria. In spite of this fact, our discernment on the implications of Facebook usage in public organisations in Nigeria, especially organisations at the local level, seem to be remarkably limited. This paper specifically sought to ascertain if Facebook usage influenced inward and outward knowledge sharing in the selected local government councils in Delta State, Nigeria Methodology: The qualitative method was adopted. The study used interview as the primary means of data gathering. The study purposively sampled thirty-six employees as interviewees, twenty from Oshimili South and sixteen from Oshimili North local government councils respectively. The thematic content analysis method was used to analyse interview transcripts. Contribution: This research made distinct contributions to the available literature in social knowledge management, specifically bringing to the fore the intricacies surrounding the use of Facebook for knowledge sharing purposes in the public sector. Findings: The local government councils were yet to appreciate and utilise the interactive and collaborative nature of Facebook in improving stakeholders’ engagement, feedback, and cooperation. Facebook was used for outward knowledge sharing but not for inward knowledge sharing. Recommendations for Practitioners: Local government councils should encourage interaction via Facebook, show willingness to capture knowledge from identifiable sources, and effectively manage critical knowledge assets in order to build trust, cooperation, and confidence in the system. To gain strategic benefits from the use of Facebook for synchronous communication of knowledge, local government councils should ensure that the use of such technology is aligned with strategic plans and that directional change is in line with the new knowledge economy, where interaction and collaboration through technology are seen as strategic imperatives for continued success and sustainability. In addition, local government councils need to train stakeholders on effective use of Facebook for knowledge sharing, with special emphasis on how, why, who, when, and where to use such tool for knowledge sharing activities.

The objective of the study is to ascertain the mediating role of entrepreneurial alertness (EA) on the prior entrepreneurial exposures (PEE) and entrepreneurial intentions (EI) relationship of fresh graduates in Nigeria. Research Design & Methods:We conducted a survey on fresh graduates in Nigeria (n = 387). The data gathered were analysed using Hayes' simultaneous entry on SPSS 23.0 and PROCESS 3. Findings: We found that PEE leads to an entrepreneurship career intention. We concluded that EA improves the PEE-EI relationship amongst fresh graduates in an emerging economy. Implications & Recommendations:The theory of EA is a good predictor of EI and a good mediator in the PEE-EI relationships, therefore further studies should consider EI models, especially those that involve EA and fresh graduates instead of students. Contribution & Value Added:We advance the understanding of PEE-EI relationship by utilizing the EA theory as a mediator while also testing this on a fresh graduate population in an emerging economy. Article type:research article

The study aimed at establishing the impact of structure on organizational performance. Organizations today are becoming more automated and complex, hence, the need to maintain and improve performance by structuring and restructuring based on changing strategy. The study was conducted using the survey approach. The geographical scope of study was Innoson Nigeria Ltd, and Etisalat, Enugu Regional Office. Two sources of data were utilised in the study: they included primary and secondary sources. The primary source was the administration of copies of designed questionnaire to a total of eighty (80) respondents that made up the sample for the study. Out of the eighty (80) copies administered, seventy eight (78) were completed and returned. Simple percentage (%), chi-square (*a) and correlation were used in analysis of the data and in testing the three hypotheses. Findings revealed that decentralization enhanced better and more informed decision making in technical and service firms in Nigeria; that task routine affected staff productivity both positively and negatively; and that a significant positive relationship existed between narrow span of control and efficiency in organizations. The study concluded and recommended among others that managers of organizations should adopt more decentralized forms of structures as means of improving the decision making process; that managers should combine both task routine and variety in organizing employees for carrying out task in order to reap the advantages of both systems of task assignment; and that employees should be empowered to be more innovative in carrying out tasks, whether routine or not.

This paper examined the impact of social entrepreneurship on sustainability of business development in Nigeria. The objectives of the study include: to identify major evolution experienced by social enterprise in Nigeria, to identify key challenges in social entrepreneurship in Nigeria, to identify current trends in social entrepreneurship in Nigeria, and to carry out an analysis on sources of funds for financing the social entrepreneurs. Survey approach was the research design used with particular reference to selected small and medium enterprises (SME) in Nigeria. It was observed that political factors, economic factors, socio-cultural factors, cross country factors and technological factors are the major evolution experienced by social enterprise in Nigeria. It was also observed that lack of education in entrepreneurship, lack of financial assistance, comparative disadvantages to business, lack of government support and lack of skilled manpower are the key challenges in social entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The current trends in social entrepreneurship in Nigeria are social media and the role of technology, rise of decentralized micro-giving opportunities, cross-sector partnerships and government drive for an all-inclusive economic growth and development through SME. The analysis carried out on sources of funds for financing the social entrepreneurs are contributions from social entrepreneurs, subventions from government, donor supports, loans and advances and retained earnings/reserves.