STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF SMALL SCALE INDIVIDUAL ENTREPRENEURS IN AWKA SOUTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study evaluated the strategies for improving business performance of small scale individual entrepreneurs (SIEs) in Awka South LGA in Anambra State. Data were collected from 80 respondents from a population of 97 small scale individual enterprise operators in Awka South LGA. Descriptive and inferential were applied to collected data. The study applied descriptive statistics such as simple percentage, mean and frequency distribution to analyze the specific objectives of the study. The inferential statistics was used to test the formulated hypotheses. Hypotheses one to four were tested using Pearson Correlation Analysis at 0.05 levels. Test of hypotheses were accomplished through the application of Pearson Product Moment Correlation at the 5% level of significance. It was found that there is a significant positive relationship between finance strategy and performance of SIEs in Awka South LGA: (r=0.325; p=0.000); there is a significant positive relationship between production strategy and performance of small business in Awka South LGA (r=0.626; p=0.000); and that there is significant positive relationship between marketing strategy and performance of SIEs in Awka South LGA (r=0.642; p=0.000). The study recommends among others, that the government should take up the responsibility of initiating, formulating and coordinating policies, incentives and support for small businesses promotion and development in Nigeria.