Effect of Twitter Ban on Small Businesses Operation in Nigeria (a Case Study of Selected Small Businesses in Port Harcourt)
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of the Twitter ban on small businesses in Nigeria. Specifically this study is aimed at;
- Determine if Twitter’s ban will have a negative impact on SMEs in Nigeria.
- Identify weather twitter ban will affect business to customer relations of SMEs.
- Determine whether the Twitter ban will have an impact on the revenue of Nigerian SMEs.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in two sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Chapter Summary
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises have been long recognized as an instrument of economic growth and development. This growing recognition has led to the commitment of World Bank group on small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sector as core element in its strategy to foster economic growth, employment and poverty alleviation (Ayifagari et al, 2007). In the year 2004 the World Bank group has approved roughly $2.4 billion in support of micro small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs). While the importance of small and medium scale enterprises has not been in doubt, unfortunately classifying businesses into large and medium scale is subjective and premised on different value judgement. Such classification has followed different criteria such as employment, sales or investment for defining small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) (World Bank, 2001).
According to extant literature the definition vary in different economies, but the underlying concept is the same. Ayifagari et al (2007). Birley (2004), contend that the definition of small and medium scale enterprises varies according to context, author and countries”.
The Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry (as cited in Nwonye,2014)) defined a small scale enterprise as one whose capital does not exceed N750,000. The above definition plays emphasis on the capital requirement in the formation of the business. Though capital is not the only consideration in determining whether a business venture is a SMEs or not.
Alabi et al (2019) defined SMEs as a business which is owned, led by one or a few persons, with direct owner(s) influence in decision making, and having a relatively small share of the market and relatively low capital requirement. Osazee and Anao (as cited in Inegbenebor, 2006) defined a small scale business is any business undertaken, owned, managed and controlled by not more than two entrepreneurs, has no more than twenty employees, has no definite organizational structure (that is, all employees report to the owners) and has a relatively small share of its market.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY
Port Harcourt is the capital and largest city of Rivers State, Nigeria. It is the fifth-largest city in Nigeria after Lagos, Kano, Ibadan and Benin City. It lies along the Bonny River and is located in the Niger Delta.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred and seventy five (175) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which one hundred and fifty (150) were returned and all were validated. For this study a total of 150 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the effect of the Twitter ban on small businesses in Nigeria using SMEs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as case study. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was on the effect of the Twitter ban on small businesses in Nigeria using SMEs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State as case study. The study specifically was aimed at determining if Twitter’s ban will have a negative impact on SMEs in Nigeria, identifying weather twitter ban will affect business to customer relations of SMEs and determining whether the Twitter ban will have an impact on the revenue of Nigerian SMEs.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 150 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are owners/managers of selected SMEs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Conclusions
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that the ban of twitter in Nigeria will have a negative impact on SMEs in Nigeria. Also the ban of twitter in Nigeria will affect the customer relations of SMEs in Nigeria. Lastly it was also concluded that twitter ban will affect the revenue of SME businesses in Nigeria.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Many Nigerian small businesses use Twitter as their sole storefront while others combine efforts with other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. For smaller businesses, owning a Twitter account sidesteps the hassle of sourcing and renting a physical store. Bigger businesses use Twitter to update customers on new products and address immediate concerns about their product or service. However, since the service of twitter is no more obtainable in Nigeria, the researcher therefore recommends that businesses of this nature should explore the potentials of other social medias such as Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram as these sites has the ability to offer excellent services just like twitter. In other to gain back access to customers in Twitter, the businesses should be make use of VPNs as it will assist them to access the twitter and redirect their customers to facebook and other official pages.
REFERENCE
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- Carson, N. (2008) Yahoo employee twitters through layoff. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider. com/2008/12/twittering-the-yahoo-layoffs-yhoo
- Creativity-online. (2010). OldSpice:Responses case study. Retrieved from http://creativity-online.com/ work/old-spice-responses-case-study/20896
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