International Research and Academic scholar society

IRASS Journal of Economics and Business Management

Issue-10(October), Volume-2 2025

1. RELEVANCE OF EMPLOYEES' INNOVATION ON SELECTED SMEs' PERFORMANCE IN AK...
6

Dr. Akinyombo Durojaye Segun*, Babatimilehin Olanipekun Ezekiel, Batimehin Odunayo Gideon, Adedeji Funmilola Esther
Geography Department, Adeyemi Federal University of Education Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria
1-10
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17244291

This study investigates the relevance of employee innovation on the performance of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Akure Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria. While the criticality of SMEs to economic growth is well-established, their performance in developing nations like Nigeria is often hindered by a lack of innovation. This study addresses a significant gap in the literature by focusing specifically on employee-driven innovation as a key determinant of firm performance. The research aims to empirically examine the effect of four distinct dimensions of employee innovation, creativity, collaboration, risk-taking, and intrapreneurship on SME performance. Adopting a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 384 respondents across 180 registered SMEs using a structured questionnaire. The relationships between the variables were analyzed using simple linear regression with SPSS version 26. The findings reveal that all four dimensions of employee innovation have a strong, positive, and statistically significant impact on SME performance. Employee risk-taking emerged as the most influential predictor (R2=.678, p < .001), followed by employee intrapreneurship (R2=.658, p < .001), employee collaboration (R2=.637, p < .001), and employee creativity (R2=.551, p < .001). Consequently, all four null hypotheses were rejected. The study concludes that fostering an environment that encourages and empowers employees to be creative, collaborative, risk-tolerant, and intrapreneurial is a critical driver of success for SMEs in Nigeria. This research contributes valuable empirical evidence to the entrepreneurship literature within a developing country context and offers practical recommendations for SME owners and policymakers to cultivate an innovative culture, thereby enhancing organizational performance and economic contribution.

2. ENHANCING THE NUMERACY SKILLS OF GRADE 7 STUDENTS USING THE DEVELOPED...
11

Elenita L. Nocidal*
Master Teacher II, Malabog National High School, Salvacion, Daraga, Albay Region V Philippines
11-20
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17247861

The developed Strategic Intervention Materials (SIM) for Numbers and Number Sense are designed to simplify concepts in Grade 7 Mathematics through varied activities that will enable the students to gain better understanding of the concepts especially those whose numeracy skills level needs major support as revealed by the results of the numeracy assessment conducted during its implementation to the Grade 7 students of Malabog National High School. Numbers and Number Sense is a strand which includes concepts of numbers, properties, operations, estimation, and their applications. The concept along this strand is being discussed in the first quarter of a school year and for Grade 7. It includes sets, integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, and real numbers. The researcher developed strategic intervention materials for Grade 7 Mathematics along Numbers and Number Sense. The developed SIM was subjected to jurors’ evaluation in terms of its Instructional Design and Organization, Language, Content and Format before it was tried out to 15 randomly selected Grade 7 students from different sections who were not respondents of this study and to five teachers handling Grade 7 subjects at Malabog National High School. An evaluation form was provided to the jurors to determine if the indicators for Instructional Design and Organization, Language, Content and Format were evident in the developed SIM. The guidelines and processes for LRMDS assessment and evaluation in the form of a rating sheet for print resources were also used by the jurors in evaluating the SIM. The final copy of the SIM was prepared, incorporating the suggestions of the jurors and the teachers. The Strategic Intervention Materials were then distributed to the fifteen (15) identified Grade 7 students enrolled at Malabog National High School for School Year 2020-2021 who were given permission by their parents to participate in the study. After using the materials, the respondents were again given the numeracy assessment for Grade 7 Mathematics. The answers were encoded in the eNumerALS template to generate the report cards of the respondents. The results were analyzed and were compared to those of the results during the implementation of the numeracy assessment prior to the use of the SIM. Only the results for Numbers and Number Sense were considered in this study. A questionnaire was used to determine the students’ and teachers’ level of acceptability on the developed SIM. The responses of the students and teachers revealed that the developed strategic intervention materials are very acceptable, as they suit the level of the learners and that they can be one of the effective and functional instructional materials to use when simplifying the teaching-learning process on abstract and difficult concepts. The students were also provided with guide questions as they were asked to write their journals about their experiences, and insights as they work on the developed SIM. To find out if there is significant difference between the numeracy skills level of the students before and after the use of the SIM, their scores were subjected to t-test. The results revealed that there is a significant difference between the numeracy skills level of the students after the utilization of the SIM. Based on the results, it was concluded that the developed SIM was very acceptable for the use of the students and teachers and that the use of the SIM for Grade 7 Mathematics along Numbers and Numbers Sense helped the students to enhance their numeracy skills in the said strand. It is also an effective and functional material to use when students need major support, particularly on understanding abstract and difficult concepts. The results of the task analysis imply that the Strategic Intervention Materials were of help to the students in enhancing their numeracy skills.

3. Local Administrative Systems: Analysis of Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Ge...
1

Tyodzer Patrick PILLAH*, Chukwu Oluchukwudiebube Chukwukadibia
Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, Veritas University, ABUJA
21-44
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17283160

The study examine the local government administrative systems in Tazania, Malawi, Rwanda and Germany including their functions, policy and institutional framework in the advent of multiparty democracy signalled administrative and political affairs. Malawi‟s and others countries commitment towards consolidation of local democracy through District Councils also called local government authorities. The dedication and function of District Councils and their Councillors are called into doubt, nevertheless, given the fifteen-year absence of Councillors and the shifts in policy direction. Finding important structural and functional components of local government administrative systems in Tanzania, Germany, Rwanda, and Malawi, as well as how their efforts are directed toward efficient service delivery within their locales, is the specific goal of this study. The main events and elements that affect District Council performance under the multiparty system are examined in this study, which is based on documentary research and enhanced by interviews with top local authority officials and chosen members of the public. Additionally, the study gathered information from primary and secondary sources, including newspapers, journals, theses, and unpublished books. Inconclusion, It was discovered that the central argument is that enhancement of local governance largely depends on multi-dimensional strategies that will be affected particularly capacity building and financial support backed by political administrative heads of each local government. The study further recommends; that it will also be of advantage to address challenges facing District Councils and it administrative system within it defined geographical territories.

4. Decentralization of Local Administration in Japan, China, South Korea,...
1

Tyodzer Patrick PILLAH*, Agbogo Kingsley Chigozie
Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, Veritas University, ABUJA
45-73
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17283262

This study evaluates how decentralization can enhance service delivery in Asia provided appropriate political and financial institutions are in place. Stated differently, decentralization presents both a challenge and an opportunity. After outlining the key features of decentralized governance in Asia, the paper analyzes the key problems that lead to "partial decentralization," which is a feature of most models. Examining the role of local governments in decentralizing the authority and power of the federal or state governments and bringing development to the grassroots level is the specific goal of this study. The descriptive study was based on efficiency and democratic-participatory theories and used both primary and secondary sources of data. The new issues that most Asian systems face are also taken into account. The paper concludes by discussing the problem of decentralization in the field of education. Although it is challenging to evaluate the effects of decentralization, this is an important sector in terms of costliness, impact on national growth, and individual prospects. In addition to ensuring effective public goods and services delivery and active democracy at the local level, it was suggested that State Governments give Local Governments administrative and budgetary autonomy.

5. Integrating IoT to Improve Real-Time Visibility and Efficiency in Rwan...
3

Pascal Nkezabera*, Dr. Reetha Dinesh
Swiss International Management Academy (SIMA), IIBM scholar
74-80
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17299362

This study examined how Internet of Things (IoT) technologies affect real-time visibility and operational efficiency in Rwanda’s public health supply chain. Guided by Systems, TOE, and SCOR frameworks, we used a convergent mixed-methods design in Kigali across three strata: Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS), public hospitals, and primary health facilities. A stratified purposive sample of 100 professionals (pharmacists, logistics, IT, procurement, store managers) completed a structured questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.82) capturing stockouts, inventory accuracy, delivery lead times, and system integration; semistructured interviews, document reviews, and site observations provided qualitative depth. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics; qualitative data underwent thematic analysis, with joint displays used for triangulation. IoT adoption is meaningful but uneven: 58% of facilities report using IoT (primarily RFID/barcode and cloud dashboards). Where implemented, performance improves; facility records and perceptions indicate ≈25% fewer stockouts, higher inventory accuracy, 72% reporting improved real-time stock visibility, and 74% confirming real-time delivery tracking. Human factors are favorable: between 70% and 77% endorse usability and openness to new tools; 68% report at least moderate confidence. However, only 53% perceive adequate technical support. Training is pivotal: 62% received formal IoT training and most link it to higher efficiency (76%) and better data accuracy (73%). Educational preparedness correlates moderately with IoT proficiency (r ≈ 0.45), highlighting curriculum gaps. Equity remains the main constraint: 40% rate digital infrastructure as fair or poor, and effectiveness is perceived as lower in rural settings. The study concludes that IoT can measurably strengthen Rwanda’s health logistics, but scale-up requires sustained training, robust technical support, interoperability, and equity-oriented infrastructure investment. Future work should assess cost-effectiveness, long-term patient outcomes, and integration with national digital platforms to enable resilient, system-wide impact.

6. Enhancing Competitiveness of Livestock Markets in Arid Regions: Focus...
10

Ekiru Francis Anno*
Unicaf University (UUM), School of Doctoral Studies, Lilongwe, Malawi
81-90
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17339116

The study examined the performance of livestock markets in arid areas, specifically in Turkana, with an emphasis on competitiveness and determinants of market access within livestock production, marketing, and trade systems. The research study involved 168 livestock traders selected from operational livestock markets in Turkana, specifically Kerio (Turkana Central Sub County), Lokiriama (Loima Sub County), and Kachoda (Turkana North Sub County), with their performances also juxtaposed against other markets in arid regions of Kenya. The study results indicated that extreme competition is evident in the Turkana livestock marketing system, considerably affecting livestock production and marketing activities. This leads to the non-functionality of some potential markets, diminishes the competitiveness of several traders, and ultimately obstructs market access initiatives. Factors include inadequate legislation, insufficient research, informal marketing systems, resource –based conflicts and insecurity, restricted capital, market competition, exploitation of low-capital traders, and climate change intensify these consequences. The study advocates for comprehensive programming in livestock development in Turkana, emphasising stakeholder capacity enhancement, systems-oriented methodologies, knowledge and technology dissemination, legislative improvements, and the augmentation of competition and market access capabilities. This includes the transformation of Livestock Marketing Associations (LMAs) into Livestock Marketing Cooperatives (LMC) and the increase of capital resources for livestock businesses to enhance the competitiveness of local traders and diversify enterprises. These objectives are accomplished when national and county livestock plans incorporate the production and marketing potential of dryland regions.

7. Digital Transformation in Bangladeshi Culinary Enterprises: Blending H...
1

Faisal Mahmud*, Dr. Reetha Dinesh
IIBM Scholar, European Institute of Applied Science and Management (EIASM)
91-95
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17457444

Digital transformation is reshaping industries globally, but applying it in heritagerich, culturally rooted domains presents both opportunities and tensions. This paper explores how culinary enterprises in Bangladesh—restaurants, food startups, catering ventures, and heritage food houses—are adopting digital technologies and managerial innovations to balance modernization with culinary tradition. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Bangladeshi restaurateurs, case studies of digital pilot projects, and secondary literature, we develop a conceptual framework of ―Heritage-Anchored Smart Management.‖ We identify enablers, barriers, and transformation pathways across four domains: digital marketing & storytelling, supply chain traceability & IoT, knowledge systems & digital training, and customer experience & platform integration. We also analyze how this transformation fosters both global recognition and local engagement. Finally, we propose managerial implications, policy recommendations, and an agenda for further empirical research

8. The Social & Economic Benefits of Embracing Local Technology for Impro...
3

Joshua Akporowho Denila*, Dr. Reetha Dinesh
Swiss International Management Academy (SIMA)
96-101
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17457347

Background: Nigeria faces developmental challenges such as food insecurity, limited access to healthcare services, financial exclusion, and high youth unemployment. In contrast, there is a focus on digital adoption and a relatively unexplored area in the socioeconomic impacts of local technologies. The aim is to investigate the potential role of native innovations in promoting sustainable development and enhancing quality of life, as part of ongoing research. Research Methodology: This study employed a sequential mixed-methods approach; primary data were collected and analysed from 1,115 respondents, including surveys of smallholder farmers, household questionnaires, interviews with micro-entrepreneurs, questionnaires for youths, and key informant interviews. Secondary data were supplemented by national statistical and institutional reports. The analytical methods used included difference-in-differences, propensity score matching, multivariate regression, and thematic analysis. Results: Adoption of indigenous NSPRI storage technologies reduced post-harvest loss by 25- 40%. Communities delivered contextually powered service platforms, such as mHealth, fintech performed considerably better than traditional regimes. Fintech added directly to GDP, and its contribution to total output went from 0.7% (2020) to 2.3% (2024). Digital skills training induced a 32% increase in youths‘ employment opportunities but not evenly for both sexes. Lack of infrastructure, fragmented regulation and low digital literacy were key obstacles to adoption. Conclusion: Local technologies have the capacity to uplift the quality of life in Nigeria. But they only work if conditions are right for them. We recommend a number of evidence-based policy recommendations such as the establishment of Technology Innovation Zones, a National Digital Literacy Fund and flexible regulation to create an environment conducive to domestic innovation.





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