Ekom Etim Akpan
@unn.edu.ng
Department of Management
University of Nigeria
EDUCATION
University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Nigeria.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Management of Technology and Innovation, Multidisciplinary, Information Systems and Management, Strategy and Management
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
EKOM ETIM AKPAN, Anthony Aniagbaoso Igwe, Waribugo Sylva, and Ben Etim Udoh
Universitas Gadjah Mada
This study empirically examines the correlation between service system innovation and competitiveness in Nigeria, an emerging market, by focusing on the country’s mobile telecommunications sector. The moderating effect of managerial competencies was also tested. Due to the contribution of the telecommunications sector to the economic well-being of Nigeria and the world’s economy at large, the sector witnesses a high level of competition among its players, resulting in unsustainable price wars, negatively impacting the telecommunication firms and their ability to invest in service improvements. Thus, there is a need for a study into the factors affecting competitiveness in the telecommunications sector. A cross sectional survey was used because the study explored the relationships between service system innovation, managerial competencies and competitiveness. The study used a survey instrument, which was sent to 450 respondents using Google Forms, out of which 230 responded. The 230 returned copies represented a 51.1 percent return rate, which satisfied the minimum required return rate for a cross sectional study. The study’s hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM). The finding revealed that service system innovation (idea development, service development and commercialization) enhances the competitiveness of mobile telecommunication firms. Thus, an increase in idea development, service development and commercialization is essential for a competitive advantage. Also, managerial competencies were found to significantly moderate the relationship between service system innovation and competitiveness. The study provides a new insight into how service system innovation affects the competitiveness of telecommunications companies, particularly in emerging markets, with Nigeria as the focal point. It also shows the role managerial competencies play in the telecommunications sector. This study offers proof of the traits of service system innovation, managerial competencies, and competitiveness in the telecommunications sector. It also developed and tested a scale for measuring these variables, which future studies could adopt.
Ekom Etim Akpan, Eluka Johnny, and Waribugo Sylva
SAGE Publications
The study examined the relationship between dynamic capabilities and organizational resilience of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The dynamic capability was decomposed into sensing capability and reconfiguration capability, while organizational resilience had adaptability and agility as it measures. A cross-sectional survey research design was followed, while primary data was collected via the administration of a structured questionnaire. Copies of the questionnaire were randomly handed over to 86 respondents, comprising foremen, supervisors and managers in 11 manufacturing firms that are clustered around Trans Amadi Industrial Area, Port Harcourt. Two research objectives with a corresponding number of research questions and research hypotheses were formulated. Descriptive statistics were analysed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0, while the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was deployed to test the hypothesized relationships via SmartPLS 3.2.7. The results of the analyses affirmed the alternate hypotheses, which stated that dynamic capabilities are positively correlated with the measures of organizational resilience. This shows that dynamic capabilities amplify the manufacturing firms’ resilience. It was recommended that managers of the firms should encourage quick response to environmental changes, by enhancing their employees’ capability to detect, monitor and respond to environmental volatilities. Likewise, management of the manufacturing firms should strategically position the firms to be among the first to identify and acquire external knowledge about their market trends, technology and industry. This will help the firm to adapt quickly to disturbances from the environment and be more resilient. It was suggested that similar studies be conducted in other sectors of the economy.
Ekom Etim Akpan, Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan, and Jeremiah Favour Iromaka
Informa UK Limited
Abstract Previous studies on the effect of corporate governance on firm innovation shows mixed outcomes, while some reveal statistically significant effects, others show non-significant effects. Hence, this study aims at shedding more light on this unresolved phenomenon and fill this gap in literature by empirically examining the effect of corporate governance on firm innovation with special interest in indigenous oil firms in Nigeria, a Sub-Saharan country. The study adopted a cross sectional research design, while data were collected from respondents using a structured questionnaire and administered at a single period in time. Hypotheses were formulated for the study and tested using partial least square—structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS 3.2.9. The results demonstrated that corporate governance dimensions of board effectiveness, board commitment and board involvement have positive and statistically significant effects on firm innovation measures of process and product/service innovation. This study was limited to only indigenous oil firms in Nigeria, hence may not be generalized to other sectors of the economy. However, this study has far reaching implications to the industry. Most importantly, the study recommends ways to boost the level of innovation among indigenous oil firms which will enable them to remain competitive and sustainable. This study broadens literature on corporate governance and firm innovation especially in the Sub-Saharan African perspective. The study reveals that corporate governance through board effectiveness, commitment and involvement is essential for process and product/service innovation among indigenous oil firms.
Marian Mukosolu Okobo, Robinson Onuoha Ugwoke, and Ekom Etim Akpan
LLC CPC Business Perspectives
Nigeria has a serious food crisis, which can be attributed to poor management of tangible non-current assets by food manufacturing companies, which leads to low productivity, product wastages, and ineffective processing and distribution of products culminating in low return on assets. Therefore, this study examined the effects of changes in tangible non-current assets on return on assets of food manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study employed an ex-post facto research approach with data obtained from top food manufacturing companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange from 2008 to 2020. The finding revealed that tangible non-current assets play a very important role in the return on assets of food manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Specifically, the study revealed that changes in investment in land and buildings, plants and machineries and motor vehicles have a statistically significant influence on return on assets (ROA) of quoted food manufacturing companies (FMCs). It was concluded that an increase in tangible non-current assets enhances the return of assets of food manufacturing companies. In line with the findings of this study, it was recommended that considerable attention should be paid by the management of FMCs to efficient utilization of tangible non-current assets because it is only when non-current assets are efficiently utilized that they would have significant contributions to or implications for the return on assets of the business.
Ndaghu Julius Tumba, Vincent A. Onodugo, Ekom Etim Akpan, and Gbenga Festus Babarinde
LLC CPC Business Perspectives
The poor performance of female entrepreneurs, exemplified in their inability to realize their full potential and compete fairly with their male counterparts owing to financial illiteracy, motivated this study. Therefore, this study examined the effect of financial literacy on business performance among female micro-entrepreneurs. Using the survey research design, data were collected from 247 female entrepreneurs from six states in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria. The hypotheses developed for the study were tested using path modeling-structural equation modeling with the aid of SmartPLS software version 3.2.7. The result revealed that all proxies of financial literacy (financial education, cash forecasting, and bookkeeping have significant effects on business performance of female entrepreneurs. Additionally, the paper revealed that financial education contributed more to the variance in business performance of the female micro-entrepreneurs, this was followed by bookkeeping practices, while cash-forecasting has the least effect on the variance in business performance. This implies that financial education is essential for the success of female micro-entrepreneurs. Thus, this study advocates the need for continuing trainings and workshops for female micro-entrepreneurs on financial concepts such as bookkeeping, cash forecasting, and market volatilities.