THE RELEVANCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA. A RESEARCH PROJECT MATERIAL ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ABSTRACT
This research project examine the relevance of Information Technology to the Management of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria with reference to Card Centre Nigeria Limited.
The research design took both an inferential and a descriptive approach. A sample size of fifty (50) was drawn from the population. A hundred questionnaires were distributed randomly to stratified groups among the staff of De-United Food Industries Plc. A 5 – point likert scale was developed and validated to collect information from the respondents.
The data collected was analyzed with basic descriptive statistics such as frequency and simple percentages. Chi-square analysis was also made. The core findings from the results obtained show that that Information Technology play significant role in the activities and operations of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), that Information Technology has impacted positively on the managerial practice of SMEs and that Information Technology has improved the performance of SMEs.
Conclusion was draw from the summary of the result. Various remarks and recommendations were proffered to the organization of study.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The dynamic role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries as engines through which the growth objectives of developing countries can be achieved has long been recognized and stated in the literature. The advantages claimed for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are various, including: the encouragement of entrepreneurship (Olorunshola, 2003); the greater likelihood that SMEs will utilise labour intensive technologies (Salami, 2003) and thus have an immediate impact on employment generation (Udechukwu, 2003, Ogujiuba et. al., 2004, Henriques and Klock 1999); they can usually be established rapidly and put into operation to produce quick returns; SMEs development can encourage the process of both inter- and intra-regional decentralization (Ogujiuba et. al., 2004); and, they may well become a countervailing force against the economic power of larger enterprises (Salami, 2003). More generally the development of SMEs is seen as accelerating the achievement of wider economic and socio-economic objectives, including poverty alleviation (Udechukwu, 2003).
Notwithstanding the recognition of the important roles SMEs play in these countries, their development is largely constrained by a number of factors, such as lack of access to appropriate technology; limited access to international markets, the existence of laws, regulations and rules that impede the development of the sector; weak institutional capacity, lack of management skills and training, and most importantly finance.