ABSTRACT
The main thrust of this study is to unveil the
working capital management practices of small and medium scale
enterprises in Akwa Ibom Stateof Nigeria. A well designed and
implemented working capital management is expected to contributes
positively to the creation of a firms values.
The study used descriptive and analytical sample
survey for the representation and the analysis of the findings. The
result shows that 87.4% of the entrepreneurs functioned as sole
proprietors, whiles 14.1% as partnership and the remaining 1.5% as
cooperative societies.
The results again shows that 46.1% received
credit from suppliers and the average credit period given by SMEs to
their credit customers ranged between seven to sixty
days(7-60days).From the study , two main problems faced by SMEs in
dealing with credit customers are late payment and bad debts.
The results shows that 52.8% of the respondents
use note books to represents cash books whiles non(0%) of the
respondents use computer inventory control. 65.3% of the respondents
have bank accounts for their businesses. Personal savings accounted for
about 35.7% of the start up capital and SMEs consider inflation /price
increases to be more problematic than even high debtors turnover period
and low stock turnover.
The SMEs should establish organizations and
groups like civil society organizations, regional, district ,community
and interest groups to jointly organise and sponsor training programmes
for their accounting personnel. There is also the need for SMEs to
identify their investment priorities particularly those that are
crucial in sustaining their businesses in the long run. They should
sacrifice a chunk of their funds to finance and achieve these priorities
that will enable them to generate extra cash or profits to plough back
into other sectors of their industries.
It is also recommended that SMEs should prepare
budget at each time they intend to embark on major expenses. This will
forestall unnecessary, unwanted, overestimated and underestimated
expense. There is also the need for SMEs to formulate credit policy for
their enterprise and to create a re-order level policy for their
institution that will create an enabling environment for them to
request for their supply of moderate and high quality stocks.
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
There exist lots and lots of business ventures that are run by individuals, group of people or
association, firms, industries and government with the aim of maximizing profits. They
range from small scale to medium and large firms. In the Nigerian economy the small scale
enterprises are the most common form of business. The aim of any economy (either
industrialized or non industrialized) depends largely on how well organised the small and
medium scale enterprises are (for instance if we look at the standard of practices of small-
scale industries in the economically developed Countries). The small enterprises in Nigeria seem too stagnant, less adventurous than developed countries because the successive
governments have not appreciated their significance to the national economy.
Firstly, most of the small businesses are es
companies sole proprietorship business venture.
Small firms play critical roles in providing job opportunities, nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship and opening up new business opportunities. They are recognised and acknowledged worldwide as vital and significant contributors to the economic development, introduction and diffusion of new technology, ability in generating potential entrepreneurs and skilled workers for the industrialization process both nationally and internationally (Ch ng Hakng Zephkee-Yun &1986:25)Cha.
Small and Medium-Scale enterprises development can encourage the process of both inter-and intra- regional decentralization; and they may well countervail economic power of larger enterprises.
More generally, the development of SME s is seen as accelerating economic objectives, including poverty alleviation (cook & Nixson, 2000).
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Small and Medium enterprises are new and growing business which (for any number of reasons) do not grow beyond a certain size (Thomson & Martin 2005). The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) consider firms with fewer than ten employees as small -scale enterprises and their counterparts with more than ten employees as medium and large sized enterprises. The GSS in its national accounts considered companies with up to 9 employees as SMEs. (kayanula & Quartey 2000).
SME s accountforsignificant share of the economic activity in Nigeria and can play an important role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The long term
goals is for SME s to maximize their contr development with respect to production, income distribution and employment and the closer
integration of women and people in rural areas within the national economy (NBSS, 1981).
One of the significant characteristics of flourishing and growing economy is booming small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Small and Medium enterprises play an important role in the development of Nigeria in various ways by creating employment for rural and urban growing labour force, providing desirable sustainability and innovation in the economy as a whole.
The small and medium scale enterprises have obvious advantage for a developing country like Nigeria because it provides the means of entry for new entrepreneurial talent.
Small and medium scale business sector serve as a seed bed from which new large companies will grow but lack of managerial know-how places significant constrains on SMEs development. Even though SMEs tend to attract motivated managers, they can hardly compete with large firms.
The scarcity of management talent, prevalent in most countries in the region, has significant
impact on SME s (ParkerThelack ofetsupportal,services1995)ortheirrelatively. higher
unit cost caneffort hampertoimprovetheir managementSME s of working capital (ibid). In
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view of their sizes and complexities of their operations, most small and medium scale enterprises fail to keep proper records of financial activities which affect their working capital. This has taxation, credit management and security implication. The lack of proper business records makes most small and medium scale businesses become practically constrained in managing their working capital very well.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Working capital management is poorly understood by most small and medium scale enterprises in many parts of the developing world of which Nigeria is one.
The dynamic role of small andindevelopingmediumcountries scale have been identified as the means through which rapid industrialization and other development goals of these countries can be realized.
Many small and medium scale enterprises which are profitable are forced to cease their operations due to the inability to meet their short term debts obligations. Not that they do not have funds to operate, but the problem is how they manage their working capital. Blunt and vague ideas about phenomenon will be misnomer.
To gain empirical insight into this state of affairs, there is a need to conduct an investigation into the management practices of small and medium scale enterprises insofar as their working capital is concerned and why small and medium scale enterprises which are profitable collapse.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
General Objectives:
Holistically, the study examined the working capital management practices of small and medium scale enterprises in the Uyo Local Government Area.
Specifically, the study sought to:
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- ascertain methods that were used / book keeping practices of SMEs
- examine strategies SMEs used in the administration of accounts receivables.
- determine the inventory management system of SMEs with respect to working capital management
- explore the credit management mechanisms that are being used by SMEs
- examine the impediments obstructing the appropriate management of working capital by SMS investors
- RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions guided the study: These include;
- What are the attitudes of management towards working capital management practices in the small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria?
- What techniques do SMEs in Nigeria use in managing their accounts receivables and accounts payables?
- How are matters on inventory management approached with respect to Working
Capital Management?
4 How do SMEs in Nigeria mange their cash flows?
5 What are the flaws witnessed by SMS investors in managing their working capital?
1.4 THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY
It is worth mentioning that, the study was limited to Uyo Local Government Area because of proximity and cost saving. Selection was also based on the fact that it has a number of industrial units in the Western Region.
The small-scale enterprise in structures or non permanent include kiosk, container and related premises.
the Local Government Area operates under either physical physical structures. The non permanent physical structures garage. The permanent physical structures are part of own
The study design adopted was descriptive survey, it was chosen in view of the fact that this small scale study of relatively short duration and its involves a systematic collection and clear picture of a particular situation.
It was aimed at getting relevant information related to working capital management practices of small scale enterprises in the Uyo Local Government Area.
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1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is hoped that the result of this study concerning working capital management in the Uyo Local Government Area would contribute to current knowledge on growth of small scale enterprises at the National Board for small scale industries(NBSSI), the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) and other promotion agencies.
Secondly, the finding unearthed will be useful not only to small scale business in the UyoLocal Government Area but also to all small- scale business throughout the country. This would also help stakeholders in business to formulate and implement policies that will help them to effectively manage working capital. Determining ways management can effectively improve their working capital management.
To improve the book keeping and accountingTohelp p the SMEs gain access to finance and improve their financial management skills. Help SMEs
to adopt prudent managerial policies as well as professional expertise for efficient managerial works.
Finally, this study would provide useful information for designing strategies to influence the growth of small-scale enterprise. The information would also assist officials of the Ministry of Trade and Industries in formulating small-scale industries growth policies and programmes
which are responsive to entrepreneur susefultonon- loca governmental organizations playing vital roles in small-scale entrepreneurial skills and
development in Nigeria and the UyoLocal Government Area.
1.6 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
It is worth mentioning that the study covers a small portion of the small scale enterprises in the Uyo Local Government Area due to time and financial constraints. The problem is compounded when dealing with small scale enterprises. These firms do not keep records and one would have to constantly deal with estimates and guesses to arrive at a conclusion as regard purchases, sales, services and borrowing.
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1.7 ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY
The thesis was organised in five chapters;
Chapter one provides an introductory overview of the full study comprising the statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, and relevance of the study. Delimitation of the study, operational definition of terms and how the thesis was organised are also captured in this chapter.
Chapter two follows with a review of relevant literature on working capital management practices of small and medium scale enterprises.
Chapter three presents the methodology used for the study and gives a detailed overview of the population sampling technique, the research design, research instrument, the data collection procedures and data analysis procedures. It also provided analytical framework and the relevant variables that were included in the model to be used in the study.
Chapter four focuses on the characteristics of the respondents and the analysis of the data.
Chapter five summarises, concludes and offer recommendations for the study.