Strategic decisions like supply chain integration and interfirm value co-creation are significant to SMEs’ performance. Therefore, this paper aims to find out the relationships between supply chain integration, interfirm value co-creation, and firm performance in Ghanaian SMEs. We employed a structural equation model (SEM) to estimate the responses of 473 SMEs registered with the Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI) to find the nexus between supply chain integration, interfirm value co-creation, and the performance of Ghanaian SMEs. Further, we test for the mediating role of innovation capability and stakeholder pressure in the relationships between supply chain integration and firm performance and the relationship between supply chain integration and interfirm value co-creation, respectively. We found a positive significant relationship between the variables. Innovation capability mediates the positive relationship between supply chain integration and firm performance. Interfirm value co-creation has a negative relationship with the innovation capabilities of SMEs. Therefore, Ghanaian SMEs can invest in technologies, which promote collaborations with external parties to create value while minimizing cost.

It is well-documented in literature that one major challenge facing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is resource constraints. This affects SMEs’ potential for innovation, as innovation is resource-intensive. To survive the competition, it is expedient that SMEs find more creative and innovative ways to operate. This present study sought to ascertain how SMEs could adopt a bricolage strategy to achieve a competitive advantage. The study also sought to determine the mediating role of new product creativity in this relationship, which formed a key contribution. Data was gathered from 334 SMEs using a simple random sampling technique. The data was analyzed using the covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) approach in Amos (v.23). Various validity and reliability tests were run before testing the significance of the various hypotheses of the study. It was concluded that bricolage had a direct positive effect on SMEs’ competitive advantage. Bricolage further had a direct positive impact on new product creativity, whiles new product creativity had a direct positive effect on SMEs’ competitive advantage. It was also realized that creativity had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between bricolage and SMEs’ competitive advantage. Although this study did not directly assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on business operations, the data for the study was gathered during the pandemic period, as such, the results of this present study could offer some practical clues on how firms could achieve competitive advantage during the outbreak of pandemics.

The study examines the relationship between stakeholder pressure and innovation (Technological and non-technological) in Ghanaian SMEs. Further, it explores the moderating role of firm size in this relationship. This is in response to the ongoing debate on the role of innovation in the performance and survival of small businesses in Ghana. Using the survey response of 523 registered SMEs, the SmartPLS model estimate reveals that; stakeholder pressure influences both technological and non-technological innovation in Ghanaian SMEs. Further, the size of the SMEs has no significant moderation in the positive relationship between stakeholder pressure and innovation in Ghana. Consequently, SMEs in Ghana can take advantage of the pressure from internal and external stakeholders to innovate for sustainable growth. Again, the government should provide avenues for innovative collaborations between universities, government agencies, and SMEs. Finally, studies should focus on inexpensive innovation channels capable of transforming the SME industry of Ghana.

The Effect of Value Co-creation on Innovation Performance: The Mediating Role of Customer Perceived Value

The study examines big datas role analytics ininterfirm value co-creation in selected service businesses in Ghana by focusing specifically on the heterogenous big data characteristics. This is in response to the ongoing debate on value co-creation and big data nexus. Using data from 61 purposively sampled service businesses in Accra-Ghana, the structural equation model provides that; big data analytics positively influences interfirm value co-creation in the selected businesses. Further, aside from big data volume, all the other big data characteristics (velocity, veracity, value, and variety) also individually influence value co-creation. Therefore, this challenges businesses of all sizes to invest in the application of big data for strategic decisions like value co-creation. Again, although businesses should be willing to collaborate with others, big data teams should be fully equipped for optimal analytics.

The study aims to assess the impact of terrorism activities on foreign direct investment in a panel study of 33 Sub-Saharan African countries. In order to achieve the objective of the study, it employed panel data methodologies such as GLS random-effect, ML random-effect, fixed effect regression, generalized linear model and multivariate regression methods to enable it make statistically and robust inference or conclusion. However, the study found that there is an inverse linear relationship or impact on foreign direct investment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, the study found out that economic growth and foreign direct investment are inversely related and corruption control has positive and direct linear relationship with foreign direct investment. As the study focused on the linear relationship of terrorism activities and foreign direct investments, it recommends further studies into the subject-matter by employing the non-linear approaches to ascertain the non-linear relationship between the two.