Purpose: This paper addresses the mediating effect of structural infrastructure capability on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and SMEs performance in emerging economies, focusing on Nigeria. It addresses the need to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are able to overcome the inherent challenges in their external environment actively and, thus, contribute to economic growth through internal management variables.Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a survey design, utilising a sample of 377 SMEs covering the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. A questionnaire was used for data collection, and data analysis was conducted using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of SmartPLSv3.Findings: The study found that innovativeness and proactiveness, as dimensions of EO, have a significant effect on SMEs' performance. Risking-taking, however, showed no significant effect on performance. The study found that structural infrastructure capability significantly mediates the EO–performance relationship.Practical implications: The paper provides practical implications for society, as managers and SMEs' support agencies in emerging markets can be encouraged to focus more on internal management activities to support knowledge sharing within the organisation, given its relevance to improving performance, rather than focusing only on EO.Originality/value: The study further strengthens and validates the resource-based view (RBV) theory and contributes to expanding knowledge on the relevance of internal management variables (knowledge sharing) in managing small and medium-scale enterprises. The study further advances theories regarding knowledge management's role, as a function of internal management system in the EO–performance relationship, thus helping to close the research gap related to these relationships from an emerging-economy perspective.

Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation

The need to account for the direct and indirect influence of competitive intelligence and learning orientation on SMEs export performance given the poor export performance of SMEs in developing economies precipitated this study. This has become relevant in view of the need to ensure that SMEs remain an engine room for economic growth and development. Hence, we collected data from a sample set of 400 employees from SMEs that engage in export activities. Structural equation model (SEM) with the aid of AMOSv27, was used in analyzing the data. The study found that competitive intelligence affects export performance of SMEs. We also found that learning orientation has a positive link to SMEs’ export performance, and it mediates the relationship between competitive intelligence and export performance, though partially. Drawing insight from the resource-based view theory, we advanced competitive intelligence as a firm intangible resource that can affect export performance, even when channeled through learning orientation. Hence, manager’s ability to first gather and analyze reliable information about its firms’ readiness comparatively to that of their competitors and creating an enabling environment that supports information sharing and willingness to alter existing practices to replicate novel information from their competitive intelligence activities are fundamental in ensuring increased export performance.

The clear decreasing survival rate of nascent firms and their inability to compete favorably owing to increasing competition in their internal and external environment was the motivation for this study. Hence, the paper addressed fundamental issues on nascent firms’ competitiveness through examining the direct and indirect influence of social media usage and technological infrastructure capability, respectively. Sample data of 265 nascent firm managers in the agro-allied sector were collected and analyzed with the aid of Hayes Regression Process Macro. The results showed that social media positively affects the competitive advantage of nascent firms. Further, the study found that technological infrastructure capability significantly affects the competitive advantage of nascent firms. The study found that technological infrastructure capability positively mediates the relationship between social media usage and nascent agro-allied firms’ competitive advantage. The study advances the need for a change in the way nascent firms adopt social media and advocate that the use of social media can be supported through developing a gradual knowledge of technological innovation that is within the confines of the firms’ resources.

This article discusses shared experiences of receiving safety net benefits by research participants and whether such benefits help poverty alleviation. Towards that end, it suggests improving safety net schemes. By following a qualitative research approach and purposive and snowball sampling methods, 24 beneficiaries were interviewed in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. With the aid of Nvivo 12pro, content and thematic technique were used to analyse the data. Key themes that shaped the participants’ experiences were: Institutional framework, strategic plan and documentation, continuous improvement and follow-up, community targeting and reliance on state support. It argues that the adoption of safety net schemes towards poverty alleviation needs to have an institutional framework and local engagement. Overall, it reenforces the government’s role in human capacity development by unravelling the relevance of policy and institutional programmes as a guiding path towards ameliorating the poverty level not only in Nigeria but also in similar countries in Africa.

Purpose – The focus of this paper was on assessing the mediating influence of strategy alignment on the link between HRM practices and organisational performance. Theoretical framework – Relevant literature provided a theoretical and empirical basis for understanding the concept through the resource based view. Design/methodology/approach – Samples were drawn from 240 employees and HR managers from selected identity management firms in Nigeria. The data analysis was carried using partial least square structural equation modelling. Findings – The study found that skill enhancing, motivational, and opportunity enhancing practices have a significant influence on organisational performance. Strategy alignment was found to mediate the relationship between HRM practices and organisational performance. Though the mediation was partial, it was significant. Practical & social implications of the research – This study highlights the need for managers to focus more on improving the HRM practices in their organisations, while also ensuring that there is an organisational strategy fit that supports HRM practices in the organisation. Originality/value – First, the paper contributes to advancing the research that captures HRM as a bundle using the varying practices in an organisation as well as to providing a vivid explanation of the role of each individual HRM practice in ensuring increased performance through strategy alignment. The study validates the resource based view as a contribution to the knowledge. Keywords - HRM Practices; Strategy Alignment; Organisational Performance; Resource Based View.