The paper discussed Issues, Challenges and Prospects of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Port-HarcourtCity, Nigeria. This was informed by the high rate of unemployment in the society and the poor performance of SMEs in employment generation. While the research questions addressed the extent to which poor financing, inadequate social infrastructures, lack of managerial skills and multiple taxation constitute major challenges in the performance of SMEs between October 2012 and November 2013, it assumes that government intervention through the provision of financial assistance, social infrastructures and favorable taxation policies will reverse the trend. The paper adopted a descriptive research design using 120 randomly selected registered operators of SMEs in Port-Harcourt City. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics while formulated hypotheses were tested using z-test. Results from the data analysis indicated that poor financing, inadequate social infrastructures, lack of managerial skills and multiple taxation were major challenges confronting SMEs in Port-Harcourt City, thus recommended:provision of soft loans to SMEs operators, government guaranteeing of long-term loans to SMEs operators, establishment of SMEs funding agency, public/private sector partnership in infrastructural provision, capacity building for SMEs operators and provision of tax incentives for SMEs operators.

The paper examined the relationship between individual background (sex, age and social class) and the level of awareness, knowledge and practices of solid waste management in PortHarcourt city residents. It defines solid waste management as the process of collecting, storing, treatment and disposal of solid wastes in such a way that they are harmless to humans, plants, animals, the ecology and the environment generally. The objective of this research is to ascertain the relationship between individual background (sex, age and social class) and the level of awareness, knowledge and practices of solid waste management in Port-Harcourt city residents. The research question addressed the extent of relationship between individual background (sex, age and social class) and the level of awareness, knowledge and practices of solid waste management in Port-Harcourt city residents. This research is based on Ajzen (1991) theory of planned behaviour which states that attitude towards behaviour, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control, has influence in predicting the behavioural intention and actual behaviour of individuals when participatory decisions are voluntary and under an individual control. The research assumes that the background (sex, age and social class) of Port-Harcourt city residents influences their attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control thus determining the behavioural intention/actual behaviour i.e. level of awareness, knowledge and practices of solid waste management. 800 Port-Harcourt city residents were randomly surveyed from the two local government areas of the city (Port-Harcourt city and Obio/Akpor LGAs) using structured questionnaire. Data collected were subjected to percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test and chi-square statistical analyses. Findings revealed that Port-Harcourt city residents from the sampled zones are aware of solid waste management problems in their environment but possessed poor waste management practices. The study showed that the propensity for solid waste management practices differed by background (sex, social class and age) of residents. Significant relationships were observed between respondents' sex, age and social class and their level of awareness, knowledge and practices of solid waste management. This research therefore recommends among others: sensitization of Port-Harcourt city residents on the dangers of poor solid waste management, provision of near-by solid waste collection points, enactment of waste management laws with stiffer penalties on offenders, establishment of solid waste recycling plants, effective monitoring of waste contractors, provision of more waste evacuation equipment, provision of more solid waste dump sites and effective monitoring of monthly clean-up activities.

No abstract

Authors MOA and HEO designed, carried out the research, performed the statistical analysis, wrote, read and approved the final manuscript with the assistance of SDI reviewers' and editor's guides.

The paper discussed teamwork and employee performance in the bonny Nigeria liquefied natural gas plant. It views teamwork as work groups with a common purpose for the achievement of specific goals/tasks. It assumes that teamwork can expand the output of individual employees' through collaboration. The research question addressed the extent of the relationship between teamwork and employee performance (increased employee motivation/commitment and productivity) in the bonny NLNG plant. The place of study is the bonny NLNG plant while the duration of study is between September, 2014 and August, 2015. A descriptive research design was used in executing the study, using 370 randomly selected NLNG plant operators for questionnaire administration. The sample size of 370 was determined from a population of 4,895 plant operators using Yamane 1964 sample size determination formula at 5% level of significance for sampling error. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results from the data analysis indicated that significant relationship exists between teamwork and employee performance in the bonny NLNG plant thus recommends: sustenance of current team building efforts, regular appraisal of employees' job skill requirements, and regular staff training/development and regular improvement of employees' condition of service.