As productivity is accepted as a prime determinant of macro economic growth and as the macro economy constitutes an aggregation of micro economic components, the link between productivity and growth at the micro economic (or firm) level warrants further investigation. The objective of this paper is to investigate this relationship between productivity and micro economic growth and to simultaneously address the specific concerns of both management and labour with regard to productivity initiatives. After presenting a conceptual framework for productivity accounting and introducing the strategic implications of productivity related information, the paper progresses onto an empirical study into the relationship between productivity and firm specific growth. This empirical study uses various correlation models applied to a sample of companies to statistically test the relationship between productivity and various measures of firm specific growth. Of particular relevance to this study is the use of appropriate growth measures based on the firms' strategic objectives and on factors directly related to the specific issues being addressed, as opposed to a single growth measure applied indiscriminately across the entire sample of companies. After investigating the relationship between productivity and micro economic growth (as appropriately defined), the empirical study concludes that the concerns cited by both management and labour as reasons for their respective aversions to productivity initiatives are unfounded The empirical study also offers preliminary evidence to support the use of the price recovery term as an indication of strategic objective. This paper concludes by proposing that the links introduced here between productivity and micro economic growth serve as a basis for the inclusion of micro economic factors into future research into the relationship between productivity and growth.

Many Nigerian firms have faced working capital management (WCM) inconsistencies, which have remained a source of tremendous concern in the face of high competition. In this study, the research problem explored was how inefficient working capital policies are still negatively affecting shareholders' wealth several years after the economic crisis, constraining sustainable development. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine how corporate governance has affected WCM within Nigerian organizations. The research question was about how corporate governance practices expand WCM efficiency. A random sample of 89 Nigerian organizations was used, and publicly available ethical ratings and financial information data on the companies involved were obtained. This quantitative study utilized a multiple regression methodology to determine the extent to which CEO duality, CEO tenure, board size (BS), and an audit committee (AC) can predict WCM performance. The findings specifically determined that board size and audit committee size were significantly related to WCM, while CEO tenure and CEO duality were not related to WCM. The results were consistent with previous studies suggesting that the impact of corporate governance in Nigerian organizations relates to WCM. The results of this study may help Nigerian organizations adopt and operate an appropriate corporate governance structure that will enhance their organizational effectiveness, aid business managers in allocating resources, and allow them to continue their corporate social responsibility missions of providing services to their communities and transforming society.

Online degree holders in Nigeria have poor acceptability during recruitment and promotion decisions because of reliability and legality perceptions of online degrees. There is little knowledge about how human resource (HR) managers identify employability skills in online degree holders. Guided by Bills's screening conceptual framework, the purpose of this case study was to explore how Nigerian recruiters identify employability skills in online degree holders. The participants for this study consisted of 2 participants from each of 10 sectors covering the government and nongovernmental organizations; participants had at least 5 years' experience in working with online degree holders. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 20 participants. Yin's 5-step data analysis process was used with triangulation and member checking to analyze the findings. The findings of this research indicate that, contrary to earlier suggestions of low rating and poor acceptability of online degrees, HR experts in Nigeria have a high regard for the employability skills in online degree holders. The study produced 4 major findings: the possession of relevant skills by online degree holders, degree type does not form the determinant factor in recruitment, discovery strategies, and going beyond mere perception. The findings of this study may bring about positive social change toward policy changes in Nigeria regarding the adoption of online education. The results of the study can lead to positive recommendations for online degree holders, seekers of online degrees, online higher institutions, employers, and public policy makers.

Retail company managers face challenges that include how to protect their companies from theft, embezzlement, and fraud. Retail companies lose up to 5% of their revenue to frauds annually. However, in most cases, managers' understanding, design, and implementation of strong internal control systems could minimize the problem. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies managers used to strengthen internal control. The purposive sample included 5 experienced company managers from large and medium-size retail companies in Virginia. The conceptual framework consisted of the treadway committee of sponsoring organizations model and the criteria of control. Participant interviews, document reviews, and observation led to rich data. Interview data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method to identify themes such as control, technology, evaluation, adaptability, efficiency, and accountability. Findings showed that deficiencies caused changes in the control systems, personnel, and evaluation that figure centrally in internal control reviews. Managers' use of technologies emerged as the key strategy for minimizing risk. Business leaders could use these findings to strengthen operational practices and inculcate in employees' ethics of internal control. Business leaders may thereby produce civil members within their operating communities. Resultant lower product prices could benefit consumers, improve community-company relationships, and make the community safer.

In sub-Saharan Africa, only 13% of new businesses show profitability and survive beyond start-up. Such a low rate of success has an adverse impact on the region economy as small and medium enterprises comprise 90% of African businesses. Understanding the cause of business failure can help existing and new entrepreneurs to focus on factors that may help to overcome barriers to business growth and increase entrepreneurs' chances of success. The purpose of the correlation study was to examine the relationship between business ownership characteristics, resources and professional management, timing, and profitability. The resource-based theory served as the theoretical lens for the study. A random sample of 238 micro-, small, and medium enterprises in Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, completed the questionnaire via the Survey Monkey website. Analysis revealed R-² (15, N = 238) = 94.9, p < .005 (p = 0.000) supported the validity of Lussier's model in predicting profitability. The data analysis showed that 14 out of 15 independent variables made a unique statistically significant contribution to the model at p < 0.05. The implications for positive social change may include the potential to reduce entrepreneurship failure, increase employment opportunities, improve standards of living, and increase economic growth. New or existing businesses may benefit from the findings of the study in increased entrepreneurship success and job creation due to greater awareness of effective business success and failure models. Sustainability of micro-, small, and medium enterprises may increase the number of successful entrepreneurs who can provide regular meals for the families and send the children to school, which may lead to an increase in educational attainment.

This study examined the effectiveness of the Fadama III, National Program for Food Security and International Fund for Agricultural Development programs in reducing poverty and income inequality in Yobe State, Nigeria. Agricultural funding in the state has increased by 670.7% between 2004 and 2013. Despite this trajectory, the state ranks among the worst in Nigeria in terms of poverty and income inequality according to UNDP report, reinforcing the need to investigate the impact of agricultural funding on the state's welfare. Previous studies in this area have been on a country-wide basis and have not disaggregated the funding sources. This study disaggregating the funding sources of Yobe State in order to establish the effectiveness of each funding source. Field survey data from the fund beneficiaries and secondary data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, National Bureau of Statistics, and the World Bank provided empirical evidence. The first-best resource allocation theoretical framework was applied to understand the impact of funding sources on the welfare effect of the beneficiaries. The Ordinary Least Square, analysis of variance, and t test revealed that agricultural funding significantly and positively impacts on recipients' standard of living, asset base, and agricultural output, without any significant impact on income. Results indicate that FADAMA III is the most effective in improving the overall welfare of beneficiaries. It is recommended that other funding programs should adopt the models of FADAMA III, and should also require counterpart funding in order to maximize the benefit for a larger segment of the population. These findings may bring positive social change by reducing poverty, expanding economic opportunities, and improving quality of life, leading ultimately to sustainable peace and economic prosperity in Yobe State.

Lack of performance improvement strategies contributes to poor employee performance and increases the potential for business failure. Some insurance business leaders lack strategies to improve employee performance. The purpose of this case study was to explore strategies that successful insurance business leaders use to improve employee performance. The classical management and transformational leadership theories served as the conceptual frameworks for this study. Using a semistructured interview technique, 9 purposefully-selected insurance senior managers in Atlanta, Georgia were interviewed on how they successfully improved employee performance. Through open coding and thematic analysis, 4 themes emerged: goal setting and performance review; effective communication; training, coaching, and counseling; and good working environment and teamwork. Sixty-seven percent of participants cited effective communication, and 56% of respondents cited training, coaching, and counseling as well as a pleasant working environment and teamwork as strategies to improve the performance of employees. Findings for the 4 themes revealed that goal setting and performance review had positive effects on employee performance. Study findings show that a good working environment and teamwork have a positive effect on employee engagement. The findings of this study may contribute to positive social change by providing local insurance business leaders with additional strategies for improving employee performance. With improved employee performance, business leaders could generate extra revenue that they could use to advance community welfare.

Ghanaian microfinance banks (MFB) experience a high collapse rate, with more than 100 MFBs failing between 2015 and 2016. Grounded on Porter's competitive strategy theory, the purpose of this case study was to explore successful strategies used by selected participants to achieve business sustainability. Fourteen participants from 6 successful MFBs in the Greater Accra Region, including managers and MFB owners with more than 5 years of professional and industry experience, participated in semistructured interviews. Observations and company documents served as a secondary source of data collection. Through thematic analysis, 5 themes emerged: cash and liquidity management, capacity building, monitoring, compliance, and corporate governance. MFB owners and leaders will benefit from the findings of the study by gaining insights on how to implement strategies, which lead to business sustainability. Implications for positive social change include the potential for an improved standard of living through the financial resources provided by MFBs to entrepreneurs for business startups, which could lead to reducing unemployment and poverty within the working class population of Ghana.

Money laundering is a financial crime that threatens the stability of a country's financial sector. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the strategies that compliance officers used to improve the AML program in a multinational bank in the northeastern United States. The target population was purposefully selected using bank compliance officers because they have experience with the strategies to improve the AML program. The normative neo-institutional theory framed the discussion of this study. Data were collected from interviews with 10 AML compliance officers and the achieved data. The Krippendorff method of content analysis was used to analyze the data. Six themes emerged from the findings including strategies to improve AML compliance in a multinational bank and the economic consequences of inadequate AML programs. The findings of the study show that advanced technology, employee trainings and management oversight are essential to improve AML program. The results of these analyses suggested the pervasive economic and social repercussions of money laundering on the multinational bank. The findings of the study may contribute to positive social change by identifying strategies that banking leaders could incorporate in the AML programs to reduce the risk of bank failures, promote the bank's participation in social development projects, and provide employment opportunities to the community members.

The apparent decline in conventional crude oil reserves creates concern about how to meet future global oil demand. The Canadian oil sands industry could help to fill the gap in projected world oil supply; however, the oil sands industry in Canada is operating below capacity because local investors lack the funds needed for sufficient development. Foreign direct investment could enhance the quick evolution of the oil sands industry in Canada. The purpose of this case study research was to explore the effects of foreign direct investment on the development of the oil sands industry in Canada by examining the case of a company in Alberta, Canada where foreign direct investment has occurred. The conceptual framework for this study is foreign direct investment and host country economic growth. A purposeful sampling method was used to select 15 professionals from the case study company and professionals familiar with the case from the oil sands industry and government agencies. The data collection methods involved the review of the case study company financial and production records and the use of face-to-face and telephone interviews. Collected data were analyzed using the thematic analysis and percentage analysis approaches. The participants acknowledged the effects of the oil sands sector in the development of the community in areas such as increased population, infrastructural and real estate development. The participants also viewed the industry as a major contributor to the revenue of the various levels of government and an employer of labor. The benefit of the study includes stimulating more interest to the oil sands industry from the government, investors and other scholars. The study could lead to social change, as it provides opportunities for increased revenue for the government, more jobs, improved infrastructural facilities, and improved standard of living.