IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/gjofsm/v23y2022i3d10.1007_s40171-022-00304-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Lean Entrepreneurship and SME Practice in a Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Conceptual Discourse from Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel E. Ufua

    (Covenant University
    Covenant University
    ILMA University)

  • Olusola J. Olujobi

    (Afe Babalola University)

  • Hammad Tahir

    (ILMA University)

  • Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan

    (University of Portsmouth
    Consultant in Economics and Finance)

  • Oluwatoyin A. Matthew

    (Covenant University
    Covenant University)

  • Evans Osabuohien

    (Covenant University
    Covenant University)

Abstract

This study investigates lean principles among Nigerian entrepreneurs and SME managers in the operational process in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. It offers the panacea to the challenge of social-economic shocks and their adverse effects on SMEs' business activities in Nigeria. The study adopts a conceptual approach to investigate lean entrepreneurship practice by SMEs in Nigeria. It relies on data from extant literature, using a conceptual approach to examine the social-economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic and critical environmental factors on the lean entrepreneurship practice in Nigeria. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of lean practice among SMEs and entrepreneurs in Nigeria and suggests a broad model for lean entrepreneurial practice in post-COVID-19 pandemic Nigeria. Findings highlight the broad social-economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges such as theft, host community pressure, weak legal system, and inadequate government policy support affect lean entrepreneurship practice. These factors constitute complex operational issues that would require the adoption of a more comprehensive approach to address. It also highlights crucial factors for post-COVID-19 pandemic SMEs' operational success in Nigeria due to deficits in infrastructure and regulatory efficiency for SMEs' operations to address the various challenges of business failures in Nigeria. The study suggests a lean SME and Entrepreneurial Practice model in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. It emphasises the need to refocus the active interest of the lean entrepreneur on critical business sustainability. The study recommends a critical review of the internal operational process among practicing entrepreneurial businesses and a re-modification of public policies system that governs the operational functions of entrepreneurial practices for reasonable and resilient post-COVID-19 pandemic entrepreneurship practices that can support the SMEs and economic growth in Nigeria.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel E. Ufua & Olusola J. Olujobi & Hammad Tahir & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan & Oluwatoyin A. Matthew & Evans Osabuohien, 2022. "Lean Entrepreneurship and SME Practice in a Post COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Conceptual Discourse from Nigeria," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(3), pages 331-344, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s40171-022-00304-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s40171-022-00304-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s40171-022-00304-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s40171-022-00304-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniel Ebakoleaneh Ufua, 2020. "Exploring the Effectiveness of Boundary Critique in an Intervention: a Case in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 33(5), pages 485-499, October.
    2. Umesh K. Bamel & Peter Stokes, 2016. "Flexible HR Practice," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 17(1), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Mohammad Rashed Hasan Polas & Valliappan Raju, 2021. "Technology and Entrepreneurial Marketing Decisions During COVID-19," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 95-112, June.
    4. repec:srs:journl:jarle:v:8:y:2017:i:3:p:956-970 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Abiola Babajide, 2012. "Effects of Microfinance on Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Growth in Nigeria," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 2(3), pages 463-477.
    6. Daniel E. Ufua & Odunayo P. Salau & Joseph A. Dada & Mosunmola O. Adeyeye, 2020. "Application of Systems Approach to Achieving Cleaner and Sustainable Environment: A study of Waste Dumping Issue on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria," Working Papers 20/007, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    7. Eti, Mark C. & Ogaji, S.O.T. & Probert, S.D., 2006. "Strategic maintenance-management in Nigerian industries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 211-227, March.
    8. Olusola OLUJOBI, 2017. "Legal Framework for Combating Corruption in Nigeria The Upstream Petroleum Sector in Perspective," Journal of Advanced Research in Law and Economics, ASERS Publishing, vol. 8(3), pages 956-970.
    9. Paul S. Adler & Barbara Goldoftas & David I. Levine, 1999. "Flexibility Versus Efficiency? A Case Study of Model Changeovers in the Toyota Production System," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 10(1), pages 43-68, February.
    10. Ufua, Daniel E. & Emielu, Emmanuel T. & Olujobi, Olusola J. & Lakhani, Faraz & Borishade, Taiye T. & Ibidunni, Ayodotun S. & Osabuohien, Evans S., 2021. "Digital transformation: a conceptual framing for attaining Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 9 in Nigeria," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(5), pages 836-849, September.
    11. Louise Osemeke & Emmanuel Adegbite, 2016. "Regulatory Multiplicity and Conflict: Towards a Combined Code on Corporate Governance in Nigeria," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(3), pages 431-451, February.
    12. Arun A. Elias, 2019. "Strategy Development Through Stakeholder Involvement: A New Zealand Study," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(4), pages 313-322, December.
    13. Abiola Babajide Ph.D, 2012. "Effects of Microfinance on Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Growth in Nigeria," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 2(3), pages 463-477, July.
    14. D. E. Ufua & O. Y. Olonade & Muhammad Yaseen & J. A. Dada & Olusola J. Olujobi & Evans Osabuohien, 2022. "Correction to: Intrinsic Conflict Among Nigerian Public Security Forces: A Systems Model for Compliant Security Service Delivery in Nigeria," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 35(6), pages 829-830, December.
    15. Daniel E. Ufua & Odunayo P. Salau & Joseph A. Dada & Mosunmola O. Adeyeye, 2020. "Application of Systems Approach to Achieving Cleaner and Sustainable Environment: A study of Waste Dumping Issue on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 20/007, African Governance and Development Institute..
    16. Le Thanh Tam & Huong Xuan Ho & Dong Phong Nguyen & Arun Elias & Angelina Nhat Hanh Le, 2021. "Receptivity of Governmental Communication and Its Effectiveness During COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(1), pages 45-64, June.
    17. Shakun Preet Kaur & Jatinder Kumar & Rakesh Kumar, 2017. "The Relationship Between Flexibility of Manufacturing System Components, Competitiveness of SMEs and Business Performance: A Study of Manufacturing SMEs in Northern India," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 18(2), pages 123-137, June.
    18. Daniel E. Ufua & Odunayo P. Salau & Joseph A. Dada & Mosunmola O. Adeyeye, 2020. "Application of Systems Approach to Achieving Cleaner and Sustainable Environment: A study of Waste Dumping Issue on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria," Research Africa Network Working Papers 20/007, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    19. Sayem Ahmed & Hasin Md. Muhtasim Taqi & Yeasir Iqbal Farabi & Mohiuddin Sarker & Syed Mithun Ali & Bathrinath Sankaranarayanan, 2021. "Evaluation of Flexible Strategies to Manage the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Education Sector," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 81-105, December.
    20. Arun A. Elias, 2021. "Kerala’s Innovations and Flexibility for Covid-19 Recovery: Storytelling using Systems Thinking," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(1), pages 33-43, June.
    21. Gerald Midgley & Erik Lindhult, 2021. "A systems perspective on systemic innovation," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 635-670, October.
    22. Daniel E. Ufua & Ayodotun Stephen Ibidunni & Mosunmola Olufunmi Akinbode & Chinyerem Grace Adeniji & Busola Elizabeth Kehinde, 2021. "Value stream mapping, a tool for optimum implementation of systemic lean intervention: a case study of a livestock commercial farm in Nigeria," International Journal of Services and Operations Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 39(3), pages 399-414.
    23. Ashish Dwivedi & Dindayal Agrawal & Ajay Jha & Massimo Gastaldi & Sanjoy Kumar Paul & Idiano D’Adamo, 2021. "Addressing the Challenges to Sustainable Initiatives in Value Chain Flexibility: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 179-197, December.
    24. Daniel E. Ufua & Olusola J. Olujobi & Mercy E. Ogbari & Joseph A. Dada & Oluwatosin D. Edafe, 2020. "Operations of small and medium enterprises and the legal system in Nigeria," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    25. George Watt & Howard Abrams, 2019. "Lean Entrepreneurship," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-1-4842-3942-1, December.
    26. Shiwangi Singh & Sanjay Dhir & Stuart Evans & Sushil, 2021. "The Trajectory of Two Decades of Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management and Flexibility Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(4), pages 377-401, December.
    27. Stuart Evans & Homa Bahrami, 2020. "Super-Flexibility in Practice: Insights from a Crisis," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(3), pages 207-214, September.
    28. Harms, Rainer, 2015. "Self-regulated learning, team learning and project performance in entrepreneurship education: Learning in a lean startup environment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 21-28.
    29. Banji Oyelaran‐Oyeyinka & Lou Barclay, 2004. "Human Capital and Systems of Innovation in African Development," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 16(1), pages 115-138.
    30. Sanjay Dhir & Sushil, 2017. "Flexibility in Modification and Termination of Cross-Border Joint Ventures," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 18(2), pages 139-151, June.
    31. Ghezzi, Antonio & Cavallo, Angelo, 2020. "Agile Business Model Innovation in Digital Entrepreneurship: Lean Startup Approaches," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 519-537.
    32. Andrea Contigiani & Daniel A Levinthal, 2019. "Situating the construct of lean start-up: adjacent conversations and possible future directions," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(3), pages 551-564.
    33. Marodin, Giuliano & Frank, Alejandro Germán & Tortorella, Guilherme Luz & Netland, Torbjørn, 2018. "Lean product development and lean manufacturing: Testing moderation effects," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 301-310.
    34. Ufua, Daniel E. & Papadopoulos, Thanos & Midgley, Gerald, 2018. "Systemic Lean Intervention: Enhancing Lean with Community Operational Research," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 268(3), pages 1134-1148.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jamal Al Qundus & Shivam Gupta & Hesham Abusaimeh & Silvio Peikert & Adrian Paschke, 2023. "Prescriptive Analytics-Based SIRM Model for Predicting Covid-19 Outbreak," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(2), pages 235-246, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniel E. Ufua & Evans Osabuohien & Mercy E. Ogbari & Hezekiah O. Falola & Emmanuel E. Okoh & Adnan Lakhani, 2021. "Re-Strategising Government Palliative Support Systems in Tackling the Challenges of COVID-19 Lockdown in Lagos State, Nigeria," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(1), pages 19-32, June.
    2. Daniel E. Ufua & Odunayo P. Salau & Owais Saleem & Mercy E. Ogbari & Adewale O. Osibanjo & Evans Osabuohien & Anthonia A. Adeniji, 2022. "Systems Approach to Address Human Resource Issues: A Case in a Commercial Livestock Farm in Southern Nigeria," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, May.
    3. Olusola Joshua Olujobi & Daniel E. Ufua & Uchechukwu Emena Okorie & Mercy E. Ogbari, 2022. "Carbon emission, solid waste management, and electricity generation: a legal and empirical perspective for renewable energy in Nigeria," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 599-619, September.
    4. Bechir Mokline & Mohamed Anis Ben Abdallah, 2021. "Individual Resilience in the Organization in the Face of Crisis: Study of the Concept in the Context of COVID-19," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(3), pages 219-231, September.
    5. Daniel E. Ufua & Olusola J. Olujobi & Mercy E. Ogbari & Joseph A. Dada & Oluwatosin D. Edafe, 2020. "Operations of small and medium enterprises and the legal system in Nigeria," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Le Thanh Tam & Huong Xuan Ho & Dong Phong Nguyen & Arun Elias & Angelina Nhat Hanh Le, 2021. "Receptivity of Governmental Communication and Its Effectiveness During COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency in Vietnam: A Qualitative Study," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(1), pages 45-64, June.
    7. Bechir Mokline & Mohamed Anis Ben Abdallah, 2022. "The Mechanisms of Collective Resilience in a Crisis Context: The Case of The ‘COVID-19’ Crisis," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(1), pages 151-163, March.
    8. Nitin S. Solke & Pritesh Shah & Ravi Sekhar & T. P. Singh, 2022. "Machine Learning-Based Predictive Modeling and Control of Lean Manufacturing in Automotive Parts Manufacturing Industry," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(1), pages 89-112, March.
    9. Mota, Renata de Oliveira & Godinho Filho, Moacir & Osiro, Lauro & Ganga, Gilberto Miller Devós & Mendes, Glauco Henrique de Sousa, 2021. "Unveiling the relationship between drivers and capabilities for reduced time-to-market in start-ups: A multi-method approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    10. Sanasi, Silvia & Ghezzi, Antonio & Cavallo, Angelo, 2023. "What happens after market validation? Experimentation for scaling in technology-based startups," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    11. Priyanka Das & Santosh Shukla & Ashwin Bhagwat & Saurabh Purohit & Sanjay Dhir & Sushil & Harkabir Singh Jandu & Meenal Kukreja & Nitin Kothari & Saurabh Sharma & Shyamashree Das & Gunjan Taneja & Raj, 2023. "Modeling a COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(1), pages 143-161, March.
    12. Osuagwu, Eze Simpson & Hsu, Sara & Adesola, Ololade, 2021. "The impact of Microfinance Institutions on the Informal Economy in Nigeria," MPRA Paper 112947, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Anande-kur, Fanen & Faajir, Avanenge, 2020. "Micro-Finance And Performance Of Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises In Makurdi Metropolis," International Journal of Contemporary Accounting Issues-IJCAI (formerly International Journal of Accounting & Finance IJAF), The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Donou-Adonsou, Ficawoyi & Sylwester, Kevin, 2017. "Growth effect of banks and microfinance: Evidence from developing countries," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 44-56.
    15. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Jacopo Piccioni & Paolo Rosa, 2023. "The Role of Automotive Flexibility in Supporting the Diffusion of Sustainable Mobility Initiatives: A Stakeholder Attitudes Assessment," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(3), pages 459-481, September.
    16. André Marie Mbakop & Joseph Voufo & Florent Biyeme & Jean Raymond Lucien Meva’a, 2022. "Moving to a Flexible Shop Floor by Analyzing the Information Flow Coming from Levels of Decision on the Shop Floor of Developing Countries Using Artificial Neural Network: Cameroon, Case Study," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 255-270, June.
    17. Habibu Sani & Shazida Jan Mohd-Khan & Mohd Saifoul Zamzuri Noor, 2018. "Microfinance training and the number of loans received by SMEs. An empirical evidence from emerging economy," Business and Economic Horizons (BEH), Prague Development Center, vol. 14(2), pages 326-341, April.
    18. Anita Mendiratta & Shveta Singh & Surendra Singh Yadav & Arvind Mahajan, 2023. "Bibliometric and Topic Modeling Analysis of Corporate Social Irresponsibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(3), pages 319-339, September.
    19. Sa’adatu B. Adam, 2020. "The Influence of Islamic Financing on SMEs Performance in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(9), pages 593-598, September.
    20. Md. Rayhan Sarker & Md. Abdul Moktadir & Ernesto D. R. Santibanez-Gonzalez, 2021. "Social Sustainability Challenges Towards Flexible Supply Chain Management: Post-COVID-19 Perspective," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 22(2), pages 199-218, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:gjofsm:v:23:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s40171-022-00304-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.