Chima Mordi

The Role of Cultural Values in Understanding the Challenges Faced by Female Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges female entrepreneurs face in the development of their business in the context of Nigeria. In so doing, it addresses a gap in the literature on the experiences of female entrepreneurs in a non‐Western context and acknowledges the contribution that women make in this area of work.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on survey data from 274 female entrepreneurs currently engaged in their businesses in three states – Lagos (Nigerias largest city), Ogun and Oyo within the South West of Nigeria.Findings – Results indicate that female entrepreneurs are generally confident and resourceful and that they enjoy the challenge of entrepreneurial activity. As in the West, they experience difficulties relating to family commitments and access to finance – as well as problems gaining acceptance and accessing networks.Originality/value – It is argued that cultural values specific to the situation mean that these challenges, while common to female e...

Motivation to become an entrepreneur: a study of Nigerian women's decisions

Purpose – The paper aims to draw on rational choice theory (RCT) to explore factors underpinning the decision by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria to enter self‐employment.Design/methodology/approach – A survey research design involving the use of questionnaire and structured interviews to obtain primary data was adopted. Primary data pertain to 300 female entrepreneurs currently engaged in their businesses in three states within the south‐west of the country. A model developed from reviewed literature and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyse data.Findings – Findings suggest the significance of “educational” and “family” capital, an “internal” orientation to social recognition as well as an “external” environment characterised by deregulation of the economy. Results broadly conform to RCT theory postulates of rational behaviour.Research limitations/implications – Inter‐regional variances could not be addressed since the data are analysed in aggregate. Analysis of disaggregate data a...

Four ‘domains’ of career success: how managers in Nigeria evaluate career outcomes

Using an exploratory qualitative approach based on in-depth interviews with 38 junior and middle managers, and informed by institutional theory, this article explores how Nigerian managers conceptualise career success. Results indicate that in contrast to some Western-based research, managers prioritise ‘objective’ (e.g. achieving financial stability) over ‘subjective’ (e.g. achieving work–life balance) career outcomes. Results also indicate that the well-applied dichotomy between objective and subjective measures is insufficient to capture the complexities and nuances observed in the Nigeria context. We thus propose four ‘domains’ of career success to include personal and relational dimensions in addition to the subjective/objective criteria. This we argue is a more comprehensive, integrative and contextually sensitive ‘frame’ for the analysis of career outcomes. Our findings suggest that scholars and multinational companies interested in expanding their operations to emerging economies need to incorporate these factors into their conceptualisations and management practices.

CHALLENGES IN FEMALE ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT — A CASE ANALYSIS OF NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEURS

The paper examines the validity of stereotypical image of challenges female entrepreneurs (FE) encounter in the development of their business. The study which is conducted in the context of Nigeria, a large transition economy, throws light on a number of general and culture-dominated issues specific to traditional societies. FE, particularly those coming from self-employed parental households, are good at acquiring education and training in their line of business and work much harder at it. However, they struggle to balance family and work life, a job that is made difficult owing to lack of recognition from spouse and business groups they deal with, gender discrimination and sexual harassment. Religious values and previous work experience comes out a positive factor in dealing with challenges. Policy recommendations for the government lie in the identification of potential FE and providing them with necessary training and assistance and key inputs necessary for the growth of a business.

Performance Management in Public Sector Enterprises: A Case Analysis of Employees’ Perceptions in the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)

In this article, the authors critically assess the performance management (PM) policies and practices in a public sector company, namely the Electricity Corporation of Ghana. The study has gone some way to ‘close the gap’ in the literature by making a significant contribution toward our understanding of some of the perceptions of and challenges employees face with performance management in an African context. Quantitative analysis of available evidence reveals that employees are generally content with the implementation of the PM system in the Electricity Corporation of Ghana but are skeptical about some of the practices under the guise of PM.

Exploring the implications of the influence of organisational culture on work-life balance practices: Evidence from Nigerian medical doctors

Purpose Whilst significant evidence of western work-life balance (WLB) challenges exists, studies that explore Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce. The purpose of this paper is to explore how organisational culture in Nigerian medical organisations influences doctors’ WLB and examine the implications of supportive and unsupportive cultures on doctors’ WLB. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses qualitative data gleaned from semi-structured interviews of 60 medical doctors across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria in order to elicit WLB challenges within the context of organisational culture. Findings The findings show that organisational culture strongly influences employees’ abilities to use WLB policies. Unsupportive culture resulting from a lack of support from managers, supervisors, and colleagues together with long working hours influenced by shift work patterns, a required physical presence in the workplace, and organisational time expectations exacerbate the challenges that Nigerian medical doctors face in coping with work demands and non-work-related responsibilities. The findings emphasise how ICT and institutions also influence WLB. Originality/value The paper addresses the underresearched SSA context of WLB and emphasises how human resource management policies and practices are influenced by the complex interaction of organisational, cultural, and institutional settings.

Factors influencing E-HRM implementation in government organisations: Case studies from Bangladesh

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of electronic human resource management (e-HRM) in Bangladesh government organisations. Recent research evidence has shown that e-HRM played a significant role in enhancing the performance of human resource (HR) departments in private sector organisations. While similar practices are expected from government domain, there is no empirical research evidence to support this proposition. Given the significant technological advancements today, e-HRM as a strategic tool has grown to encompass seamless functionality to support organisations in providing tactical capability, reducing cost and continuous service improvement as well as the quality of service delivery. Although several private and public sector organisations have implemented e-HRM, its application within government domain in developing regions is limited. This can be attributed to the bureaucratic nature of public sector organisation, which are often slow to adopt changes.,The study adopts a qualitative and multiple case study research approach.,The findings provide insights into the myth surrounding the lack of and slow implementation of e-HRM among public sector organisation in developing economies but also serve as empirical data for further research.,The low level in the number of public organisations that have implemented e-HRM applications in developing countries may be responsible for the dearth of empirical studies in this area. The dearth of empirical studies and the need to understand the factors that influence the implementation of e-HRM in public sector organisations led the authors to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of e-HRM in public sector organisation.,Findings from two case organisations exhibit that such an approach contributes towards more healthy and robust decisions for e-HRM implementation and specifies that it is acceptable by the case study organisations. The findings from this research can serve as a source of understanding the particular context in which the study was undertaken. Moreover, it should serve as a catalyst for understanding organisations in similar socio-politico and economic context.,This research advances and contributes to the body of knowledge as it examines factors influencing the implementation of e-HRM in Bangladesh public sector organisations and proposes a model for e-HRM implementation in government organisations in developing economies. The e-HRM implementation research presented in this paper extends recognised standards for e-HRM implementation, by bringing together influential factors – benefits, barriers and risks, thus, enabling government organisations in developing nations to produce more vigorous proposals for e-HRM implementation.

Legitimisation Strategies and Managerial Capture: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Employment Relations in Nigeria

Abstract Irrespective of the fundamental role of legitimacy in industrial relations as well as social and organisational life, little is known of the subtle meaning-making strategies through which organisational concepts, such as employment relations and engagement, are legitimised in modern world of work, particularly in developing countries such as Nigeria, which results in managerial capture. As a result, this paper explores the discursive legitimisation strategies used when making sense of employment relations in Nigeria’s conflictual, non-participatory employment relations terrain. Relying on Leeuwen’s legitimisation strategies, critical discourse analysis (CDA) and call by Bailey, Luck & Townsend and Legge to widen employment relations discourse, we explore interview, focus group and shadow report data, and distinguish and analyse five legitimisation strategies. The strategies include authorisation, moralisation, mythopoesis, rationalisation, and management. Therefore, we contend that while these specific legitimisation strategies appear in separate data source, their recurrent manifestation and application underscores legitimising discourse of managerial capture in Nigeria’s employment relations.

The impacts of work-life-balance (WLB) challenges on social sustainability: The experience of Nigerian female medical doctors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the implications of work-life-balance (WLB) challenges for Nigerian female medical doctors. This study focusses on Nigeria, which its peculiar socio-cultural, institutional and professional realities constitute WLB as well as social sustainability (SS) challenge for female medical doctors. Design/methodology/approach Relying on qualitative, interpretivist approach and informed by institutional theory, this study explores how Nigeria’s institutional environment and workplace realities engender WLB challenges, which consequently impact SS for female doctors. In total, 43 semi-structured interviews and focus group session involving eight participants were utilised for empirical analysis. Findings The study reveals that factors such as work pressure, cultural expectations, unsupportive relationships, challenging work environment, gender role challenges, lack of voice/participation, and high stress level moderate the ability of female medical doctors to manage WLB and SS. It also identifies that socio-cultural and institutional demands on women show that these challenges, while common to female physicians in other countries, are different and more intense in Nigeria because of their unique professional, socio-cultural and institutional frameworks. Research limitations/implications The implications of the WLB and SS requires scholarship to deepen as well as extend knowledge on contextual disparities in understanding these concepts from developing countries perspective, which is understudied. Originality/value This study offers fresh insights into the WLB and SS concepts from the non-western context, such as Nigeria, highlighting the previously understudied challenges of WLB and SS and their implications for female doctors.

The challenges of employee resourcing: the perceptions of managers in Nigeria

Purpose The existing literature on the recruitment and selection process in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) context has not sufficiently revealed inherent challenges. The purpose of this paper is to examine managers’ perceptions of employee resourcing in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses qualitative data which were generated from the semi-structured interviews of 61 managers across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. Findings The paper finds that in addition to the Federal Character Principle and the Quota System Policy, favouritism, ethnicity, age and gender discrimination, as well as corruption significantly inhibit the recruitment and selection process in Nigeria. Consequently, the ability to hire the best workers to improve competitiveness is also inadvertently hampered. Practical implications The paper shows that the institutional and cultural variations in SSA require a nuanced approach in the recruitment and selection process in order to enhance organisational competitiveness. Originality/value The institutional and cultural variations in SSA require a nuanced approach in the recruitment and selection process in order to enhanced organisational competitiveness.