Purpose of the article: The role of microfinance banks (MFBs) in the growth and development of businesses in an emerging market such as Nigeria cannot be overemphasised. Implementing sound human resource practices can enable MFBs satisfy their employees and sustain competitive advantage. Methodology/methods: A purposive sample of 60 senior employees of 10 microfinance banks in Nigeria was used for this study. All the 60 questionnaires were returned but 59 were found usable for the analysis, accounting for 98.3% response rate. In analyzing our data, Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression techniques were used. Scientific aim: The goal of this study is to investigate HRM practices and employee satisfaction in microfinance banks in Nigeria. Findings: The result shows that a significant positive association exists between human resource planning, training and development, employee compensation and employee satisfaction. However, an insignificant positive relationship exists between work environment and employee satisfaction. Only three out of the four hypotheses are supported. Conclusions: HRM practices are tools used by organisations to get the best out of their workers, thus, achieve superior business performance. The authors, therefore, recommend that organizations that want to remain competitive must ensure that various stakeholders are satisfied (including employees) by implementing a robust HRM practices.

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PurposeThe purpose of this study was to enhance our understanding of the connection between religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the social exchange theory, a framework of hypotheses is developed that focusses on religiosity, employee empowerment and their impact on employee engagement. This research employed a quantitative survey and data obtained from 232 adults working in companies in Accra Ghana.FindingsThe results suggest that religiosity dimensions (extrinsic and intrinsic) have a counterbalancing effect on employee engagement dimensions (intellectual and affective). Employee empowerment predicts both intellectual and affective engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has some limitations which provide opportunities for more research. First, the study is cross-sectional and focusses on employees in selected companies in Accra Ghana. More so, the participants were a convenience, majorly men (only 28% were women). This limits the generalisability of the findings and our confidence in ascertaining the “cause” and “effect” in the relationship. The present paper used a quantitative research approach; mixed method may provide in-depth insight into the subject. The study examined the direct relationship between religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement. Future research should explore how the effect of religiosity and employee empowerment on a relevant outcome changes according to other organisational characteristics.Practical implicationsOrganisations must develop more interest in religion's relevance and its impact on their employees' engagement. This should be done by providing the necessary platforms for employees to practice their religion. There is the likelihood of lack of engagement when an organisation fails to consider employee religious orientation or attempts to unduly regulate employees' religiosity. Empowering work environment can promote a higher level of employee engagement. It is obvious that empowered employees are focussed, energetic, enthusiastic and have positive disposition to work. These positive attitudes lead to a higher level of engagement which fosters productivity and overall organisational performance.Originality/valueThis study could contribute to the literature on religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement in the Ghanaian context. Therefore, there is a need to keep employees engaged and enhance productivity. This study underpins the importance of religiosity and employee empowerment in fostering employee engagement and productivity in the Ghana work setting.

This study provides insights on entrepreneurial alertness (EA), risk-taking and profitability of micro-sized firms. The direct effects of entrepreneurial alertness on profitability, risk-taking on entrepreneurial alertness and the moderating mechanism of risk-taking are assessed. This research uses surveys completed by micro-sized firms in Ghana. Hypotheses were developed based on the literature review and were validated using data from 150 firms. It was observed that entrepreneurial alertness has significant influence on the profitability of microfirms. Similarly, risk-taking has a predictive impact on entrepreneurial alertness. The connection between entrepreneurial alertness and profitability is not enhanced when risk-taking is added as a moderator. Theoretically, our paper adds to the entrepreneurship literature by using the contingency theory to explain the moderating impact of risk-taking on the entrepreneurial alertnessprofitability relationship. Further, the study informs entrepreneurs in developing countries who operate in challenging and volatile business environments of the importance of alertness and risk-taking to profitability.

Understanding the impact of efficient utilization of firm resources and capabilities is important to achieve and sustain strategic performance. This paper examines firm resources, strategic analysis capability and the moderating role of organisational structure in the relationship between firm resources, strategic analysis capability and strategic performance. The study adopts a survey method to collect data from 105 employees on managerial levels of the four multinational firms operating in the mobile telecommunication sector in Nigeria. The results suggest that human resources, financial resources, strategic analysis capability has a positive and significant relationship with strategic performance.

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Purpose Integrated reporting (<IR>) promotes transparency in corporate reporting and communicate detailed information on how a firm creates value in the short, medium and long-term. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review <IR> to provide insights into theories, determinants, consequences, contingent variables and methods that have been used in previous studies. Design/methodology/approach The study was based on a systematic review of 17 articles published between 2017 and 2020. Findings Nine theories were used in prior studies. Board size, diversity, independence, level of activity of the board, the establishment of Higher Education Institutions (before or after 1992), adoption of IR framework, size, institutional ownership, sustainability committee and the use of non-financial performance measures in executives’ compensation contracts and separate risk management committees are determinants of <IR>. Further, the positive impact of <IR> on information asymmetry, market valuation of environmental, social and governance performance, financial performance, intellectual capital, sustainability embeddedness and organisational change, external sense of legitimacy and reputation, revenue growth, corporate environmental performance and circular economy-related information, with mixed findings for analyst earnings forecast accuracy, company value and market value. Only three studies used moderating and mediating variables to examine <IR>. Quantitative research approach and secondary data are most preferred by <IR> scholars. Research limitations/implications Some papers may have been omitted unintentionally, although the author did his best to include most of the prior published articles using a rigorous methodology. Practical implications This paper set out future research agenda on how <IR> research could be enhanced. Originality/value Contrary to prior systematic reviews that consider individual constructs/concept, the review herein adopts a comprehensive approach and considers moderating and mediating variables aside from theories, effects and determinants of integrated reporting.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of customer-focused mission statements on customer satisfaction in selected cell phone manufacturing companies in the United States. The study employed content analysis for the mission statement and data from America customer satisfaction index (ACSI). In analysing our data, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression techniques were used. The result showed that product and service, technology, philosophy, self-concept, and public image mission statement components are strongly positively correlated with customer satisfaction. Customer, survival, growth and profitability and market mission statement components are insignificantly negatively correlated with customer satisfaction. The study, therefore, recommends that companies that want to remain competitive by enhancing customer satisfaction should formulate mission statements from a customer perspective so that they include product and service, technology, philosophy, self-concept, and public image components. The main limitation of the study represents the sample size and structure. This study empirically investigated the correlation and association of nine mission statement components with customer satisfaction.