Measuring Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa Post-Pandemic: Correlation Results for Workplace Inequalities and Implication for Sustainable Development Goal ten
Authors: Olubiyi Timilehin Olasoji , Adeoye Olumuyiwa Oluseun , Jubril Bolaji , Adeyemi Omolade Sunday , Eyanuku Julius Paul 
Published: May 2023

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the relationship between workplace inequalities and business effectiveness in selected and listed businesses in Nigeria. It includes an analysis of four independent sub-variables (gender segregation, incentive disparity, ethnic factors and professional disparity) for the variable workplace inequalities and four dependent sub-variables (creativity, service quality,productivity and business growth)for the variable business effectiveness.

Methodology: This study used a survey research approach to investigate the relationship between workplace inequalities and business effectiveness in selected and listed businesses in Nigeria. The survey research design was cross-sectional in this paper, and the technique was quantitative. The adoption of this design was influenced by the research problem and its related research questions. The unit of analysis for this study was the staff of consumer goods companies of Seven listed consumer goods companies in Nigeria that controlled 93.08% of the total market capitalization of the entire consumer goods sector as of October 31, 2022. The population comprised 491 employees of the selected consumer goods companies in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranging from 0.77 to 0.88 was used for data collection.

Findings: The findings of this study are in consonance with the view of Bandura (2012), who insists that entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the level of confidence shown by an individual towards the undertaking of a task or position which favourably influences small business performance. The findings of this study are consistent with those of Ngek (2015); Dessyana and Riyanti (2017); Adolfina and Lumintang (2018); Budiman and Pangestu (2018); Cumberland, Meek, & Germain, (2015): Yusuff et al. (2019); Oyeku et al. (2020); Islam et al. (2020); Kale, (2020); Khalil et al. (2021); McGee & Peterson, (2019); Torres and Watson, (2013) which demonstrate that entrepreneurial self-efficacy positively and significantly affects business performance

Research limitation and implication: It recognized that the findings and implications of this paper are situated within Lagos, Nigeria, and primarily small businesses as the focus of its attention. The research can be expanded with similar studies conducted across large businesses in Nigeria or other climes. To achieve more generalizability and trustworthiness, the sample size can be raised by considering more respondents with innovative data gathering techniques. In this research, the absence of data in the majority of small businesses in Lagos was the most significant challenge to obtaining objective performance measurements, for this reason, the non-financial performance indicators were adopted. According to Khalil, et al. (2021), subjective measurements may be produced without objective measures.

Practical implication: For every business to scale or survive there is a need to have a reliable configuration of strategies of which managerial capability is key, as such the findings of this study are expected to help create a reminder of the need to improve skill sets in the owner-managers of small businesses to beat the competition and remain viable

Social implication: This research will help society comprehend the need for managerial capabilities and entrepreneurial self-efficacy for harmonious business growth and performance in operations. Consequently, generating employment and boosting firm income.

Originality/value: The paper provides evidence of the performance of small business in Lagos State Nigeria. This paper extends understanding of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and managerial capabilities among owner-managers of small businesses, and should be of particular interest to entrepreneurs, policy-makers and academia. The paper provides a new interpretation of existing sources particularly the key indicators used for the purpose of determining managerial capabilities and performance of small businesses. This research contributes to the need for greater clarity and knowledge small business sector