Journal of Micro & Small Business Management

Search Engine Marketing and Marketing Performance in Selected Small Business Enterprises in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Ahmed Shehu Awak — 2026-01-07

Using digital tools to reach people, turn them into customers, and keep them as customers while promoting products or services in a focused, measurable, and engaging way is known as digital marketing. This study aimed to find out how digital marketing impacts the marketing performance of small businesses in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study focused mainly on Search Engine Marketing as the key area of interest. Since this was quantitative research, it used a survey approach and included a sample of 165 out of 250 small businesses that are entirely using digital marketing in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, and were selected randomly. Google Form was used to collect the questionnaires. The data was organized and analyzed using SPSS version 20. The results were checked using descriptive and regression analysis. The findings showed that Search Engine Marketing has a positive and significant effect on the marketing performance of small businesses in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The research suggests that small businesses that are not using Search Engine Marketing effectively should begin using it to remain competitive.

Political Constraints on Evidence-Based Agricultural Reform in Sierra Leone

Peter Adoko Obicci — 2026-01-14

In Sierra Leone, Agricultural Business Centres (ABCs) were created as a key part of post-conflict agriculture policy to improve farmer productivity, strengthen market access, and support rural livelihoods. This study examines how political decision-making limits the use of evidence in the reform and support of ABCs. The goal is to see if policy choices match with real performance data. Using data from 193 ABCs and two performance assessments, the paper takes a comparative approach to examine the link between measured outcomes and government support patterns and institutional reform. The findings show a consistent gap between evidence and policy. Political factors, especially regional equity, distribution pressures, and electoral incentives, often overshadow proven effectiveness in resource allocation decisions. As a result, high-performing centres do not always get the recognition they deserve, underperforming centres do not get enough restructuring, and there are limited chances for institutional learning. The study's uniqueness comes from blending large-scale performance evidence with political analysis, offering rare insights into how political incentives distort evidence-based policymaking in agriculture. The paper adds to the wider discussions on governance and development by illustrating that the main issue is not a lack of data, but the political limits on its use. It highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and collaborative policy frameworks to better connect scientific evidence with political decisions. This offers practical lessons for agricultural reform in Sierra Leone and similar development situations.

Color Coded Inventory Tags for Reducing Stock Errors in Small Indian Retail Shops

S. Shankarii — 2026-03-18

Small retail establishments in India, including kirana stores and neighborhood grocery outlets, operate in highly competitive, resource-constrained environments. Despite their economic importance in India’s retail ecosystem, many such establishments rely on manual stock management practices that are prone to inaccuracies, overstocking, understocking, and expiry-related losses. The absence of structured inventory classification mechanisms results in stock discrepancies that directly impact profitability and operational efficiency. This study proposes and evaluates a low-cost color-coded inventory tagging system designed specifically for small Indian retail shops that lack sophisticated technological infrastructure. Drawing from principles of visual management and lean retail operations, the system categorizes products using distinct color tags based on demand velocity, expiry sensitivity, and profit margin priority. A four-month field implementation across twelve retail stores in Tamil Nadu was conducted to compare stock discrepancy rates before and after system adoption. Findings indicate a significant reduction in inventory errors, improved replenishment accuracy, reduced stock-out frequency, and decreased expiry-related losses. The intervention demonstrates that process innovation, rather than capital-intensive digitization, can substantially improve operational control.

The Influence of Talent Acquisition on the Corporate Performance of Private Tertiary Institutions in Ghana

Theresa Adusei Peasah — 2026-04-16

This study examines the impact of talent acquisition on the performance of private tertiary institutions in Ghana, grounded on the Resource-based View (RBV) and Human Capital Theory (HCT). It bridges the gap regarding empirical research on talent acquisition in Ghanaian higher education, whose competition and resources are expanding. A quantitative design was employed utilising survey data from 291 participants, who were academic and administrative personnel in private universities. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS-3.0) was used to estimate the structural and measurement models, assessing reliability, validity, and predictive relevance. The results indicate that talent acquisition does not have a statistically significant direct effect on the performance of a Private university in Ghana. This aligns with the fact that while recruitment is needed, it lacks effectiveness as a stand-alone plan. Enabling practices such as performance management, talent development, and leadership engagement significantly affect institutional performance. Implications include emphasising consistent human resource policy throughout recruitment and induction, mentoring, appraisal, and staff development. Policy makers and university managers must prioritise rigorous and merit-based practice, combining individual talent and institutional aims to create competitiveness and sustainability. The study’s cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and its focus on selected private universities in Ghana reduces generalizability. Self-reported survey data may introduce bias, and the exclusive use of SEM-PLS restricts deeper qualitative insights. This study is among the first to apply HCT and the RBV to examine talent acquisition in Ghana’s private higher education sector. It advances theory by emphasising that human capital yields little value to organisations unless it is effectively structured and supported. At the same time, the study offers practical insights for strengthening talent management models in developing-country contexts.

Commerce and Management's Strategic Role in Reaching Developed India 2047

K. V. Lige — 2026-04-27

The commerce and management sectors of India have had a significant impact on the country’s economy, changing from one based on farming to one that is more diverse and focused on services and industry. As the country approaches its centenary of independence in 2047, the aspiration to attain developed status, referred to as “Reaching Developed,” assumes heightened significance. This study aims to analyze the influence of the commerce and management sectors on the advancement of the Indian economy, emphasizing the contributions of micro, small, and medium enterprises, the effects of digitalization, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The analysis integrates both quantitative data and qualitative insights. The research will employ a mixed-method approach, concentrating on the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy, the resilience of the nation’s export sector, and the importance of good management practices and how important MSMEs are to the Indian economy, and how digitalization has changed things. To make the vision of “Reaching Developed by 2047” come true. The study has suggested strategic actions like improving the digital infrastructure, helping small and medium-sized businesses, encouraging new ideas, and making the business easier to understand. These actions are very important for keeping the momentum of the Indian economy and to reach the goal of becoming a developed country.