A Phenomenological Analysis of Managerial Capability in SMEs in Nigeria

Abstract

As concluded by researchers change process of transformation involves implementation of better strategies to have sustainable competitive advantage. Non financing strategies should be adopted rather than solely relying on financial indices as observed in most Nigerian SMEs. This research argues that managerial capabilities which include HR competencies and skills are vital for business survival as such employers should develop and execute strategies to prioritise capabilities. The aim of this study is to evaluate phenomenologically an interpretation of managerial capability as a non-financial dimension of Organisational Health in relation to the growth of SMEs in the Nigerian context. It is pertinent to know that managerial capability which is one of the soft factor dimensions has already identified skills and competencies in related literature. This interpretive phenomenological study adopted an inductive approach using the philosophical paradigm of constructivism and semi-structured interviews for data collection. Nvivo software was used for the data analysis. The study’s key findings show that managerial capability has the highest percentage and seems to be the ultimate foundation of Organisational Health. It further shows that connectivity and relationship exist between dimensions of Organisational Health especially capability and leadership on the one hand and accountability and reporting structure on the other hand which all have influence on the growth of SMEs. However, capability and accountability are found to have stronger influence on SMEs' growth compared to leadership and reporting structure. This study reveals that the successes of SMEs are closely tied to socio-psychological processes and not only to financing support.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3p125