International Journal of Management studies and Social Science Research

Mabel Blay Nkegbe & Dr. Susan D. Albert-Makyur

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6401

ABSTRACT: Ghana is witnessing a growing trend of people moving from rural areas to cities, often driven by the challenges caused by climate change to traditional farming livelihoods. Unfortunately, many urban areas are not equipped to handle this arrival of migrants. This paper explores how this climateinduced rural-urban migration affects urban resilience in Ghana, focusing on the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. It examines the role of informal settlements in shaping the experiences of migrants, particularly in relation to flooding, heat stress, and inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, it looks at how current governance strategies may either alleviate or worsen these challenges. The research draws on a wide range of sources, including peer-reviewed studies, national policy documents, and other relevant literature published mainly between 2018 and 2026. This analysis is framed through theories like Social-Ecological Systems thinking, Urban Political Ecology, and climate mobility theory. The findings suggest that migration to Kumasi is not simply a direct reaction to climate shocks. Instead, factors such as agricultural decline, land commercialization, and limited rural services push people toward the city, where low land prices tempt them to settle in areas prone to flooding and lack vegetation, such as Aboabo, Asawase, and Ahensan. These neighbourhoods often have inadequate infrastructure and are more susceptible to issues like flooding and urban heat, yet they frequently go unrecognised in urban planning discussions. While initiatives such as the National Climate Change Policy, the National Adaptation Plan, and the new National Urban Policy aim to strengthen resilience, they face significant challenges. Problems like fragmented institutional responsibilities, insufficient funding for adaptation measures, weak enforcement of planning rules, and a reliance on eviction rather than improving existing communities hinder progress. Ultimately, this paper argues that enhancing urban resilience in Kumasi centers not just on the act of migration itself, but on the governance decisions regarding where and how migrants are allowed to settle. The paper concludes with suggestions for more localized and migration-sensitive urban governance, emphasising that residents of informal settlements should be viewed as crucial partners in adaptation efforts, rather than merely as individuals to be relocated.

Keyword: Climate-induced Migration; Urban resilience; Informal settlements; Urban Political Ecology; Kumasi-Ghana.

Maria Krova*, Ulrikus R. Lole, Bastari Sabtu, Diana M. Sabat, Morin M. Sol'uf

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6402

ABSTRACT: A survey study was conducted to determine the production performance and factors supporting the competitiveness of native chicken farming businesses in the West Timor region, which serves as a supply base for the Kupang City market. Two sample regencies, two sample districts, and four sample villages were selected in stages using purposive sampling, based on the largest native chicken populations. A total of 300 respondents from the sample villages were selected using nonproportional random sampling. Data were analyzed using production performance ratios, profit ratios, and SEMPLS with smartPLS 4 software. The analysis results showed that: 1) the production performance of village chicken farming businesses was relatively good, as evidenced by the low mortality rate (5.65%). Business productivity of 16 birds per farmer per production period and profit of Rp 1,303,200 per production period (7.5 months) were categorized as low; 2) Supporting factors significantly influencing competitiveness include price and market conditions, farmer human resource competence, availability of production inputs, and productivity. Efforts to improve the competitiveness of the native chicken farming business require support from various parties within the framework of controlling prices and markets for both inputs and outputs, as well as enhancing farmers’ competencies

Keyword: competitiveness; enabling factors; production performance; productivity; local chicken farming.

Dr. Danjuma Yusuf, Dr. Awal Abubakar Chul, Emmanuel Simon

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6403

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the relationship between citizenship engagement and effective governance in Nigeria, with a specific focus on Taraba State during the Fourth Republic. Citizenship engagement, encompassing political participation, civic awareness, and community involvement, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of democratic governance. However, persistent governance challenges in Nigeria raise concerns about the extent to which citizen participation translates into accountability and improved public service delivery. The objective of this study is to assess how citizen involvement influences governance outcomes in Taraba State and to identify barriers limiting effective engagement. The study adopts Participatory Democratic Theory as its analytical framework. This theory emphasizes that democracy is strengthened when citizens actively participate in decisionmaking processes beyond periodic elections, thereby promoting accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and responsiveness in governance. Its adoption is justified by its relevance in explaining how meaningful citizen participation enhances democratic legitimacy, improves public policy outcomes, and strengthens the relationship between government and the governed. Findings reveal that while there is a moderate level of political awareness among citizens, active engagement remains low due to distrust in institutions, electoral irregularities, and limited access to participatory platforms. The study also finds that weak institutional accountability mechanisms hinder the translation of citizen demands into tangible governance outcomes. The study concludes that effective governance in Taraba State is constrained by both structural and institutional factors that limit meaningful citizen participation. It recommends strengthening democratic institutions, promoting civic education, enhancing transparency, and creating inclusive platforms for citizen participation to improve governance outcomes and foster sustainable development.

Keyword: Citizen Engagement, Effective, Governance

Zdzislaw W. Puslecki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6404

ABSTRACT: The main aim of the paper is the presentation of securing the transnational supply chain. What indicates the importance and innovativeness of the research is the presentation of the technical progress especially in China, the growth of economic ties with the European Union and the benefits resulting from liberalized of the China foreign trade policy under WTO. Realistic point is important trends in the trade regime between EU and China. Their commercial relations are too important to become hostage to political grandstanding or airy rhetoric by politicians performing for domestic galleries. Europe is China's largest export market, and China now ranks second on Europe's list of key trading partners. Trade with China dwarfs any other trade relation Europe has with emerging Asia. Disturbing this relationship would have ramifications for sales, growth and employment. Economic growth is generally preferable in China to military and extensive expansion. With new investments, a country can transform its position through industrial expansion at home and sustain it through international trade. China is especially sensitive to the advantages of intensive growth and will not wish to disrupt essential economic arrangements that have been crucial to her success. The Chinese government is less concerned today about Western criticisms of China's autocratic system, but the Chinese people have grown more nationalistic and represent a potentially greater threat to commercial relations. Commercial interests in autocratic regimes cause political dilemmas. EUChina trade has grown increasingly one-sided, and this is not sustainable. It is EU and China mutual interest that trade relations are balanced and fair, to benefit current and future generations. EU hope to go through other sectors of bilateral cooperation and how the EU and China can tackle global challenges. European Union must have a realistic assessment to what extent it can somehow magically change the Chinese government's outlook and political choices. Chinese and European leaders must find a new normal - a functional relationship that works for both sides to securing the transnational supply chain

Keyword: European Union, China, trade political relations, technical progress, foreign trade policy, securing the transnational supply chain.

Dr. VINEESH AK & Mrs. DILNA N K

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6405

ABSTRACT: This study examined the effect of various dimensions of sustainable practices in higher education institutions (HEIs) on students' satisfaction across various arts and science colleges under the University of Calicut. The extent to which various dimensions of sustainable practices influenced on higher education students' satisfaction was investigated using PLS SEM analysis. A sample of 358 students from various arts and science colleges was collected using a structured survey instrument. The study revealed that sustainable campus, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable curriculum, sustainable learning practices, and sustainable admission significantly influenced students' satisfaction. Notably, sustainable campus and sustainable infrastructure were the key dimensions of students' satisfaction in higher education institutions. This study provides a roadmap to the various stakeholders of HEIs on how sustainable practices can lead to higher education students' satisfaction and thus contribute to green campus initiatives. Furthermore, findings are expected to be beneficial for the policymakers, educational institutions, academicians, and the general public.

Keyword: Sustainable practices, sustainable education, sustainable practices in higher education, students' satisfaction.

Philippe, Coffre

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6406

ABSTRACT: This research examines the impact of an economic revolution on France's national performance. By highlighting the world's top French companies, the ranking of French CEOs, and the performance of French citizens, this study questions why France achieves mediocre economic results despite individual excellence. It proposes administrative reforms, social policy optimization, education and training enhancements, health system reforms, environmental policy adjustments, and strategies for immigration and security. The study emphasizes that individual citizens and policymakers can initiate a "success revolution" by embracing structural and cultural changes, decentralization, privatization, and efficiency-oriented governance.

Keyword: economic performance, French economy, public administration reform, social policy, education, environment, immigration

Chepkwony Leonard 1*, Dr. Linda Kimencu 2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6407

ABSTRACT: This study examined the effect of employee empowerment on the competitive advantage of Frigoken Kenya Limited. Employee empowerment has been widely recognized as a strategic human resource practice that enhances employee participation, motivation, and decision-making, thereby improving organizational performance. The study was guided by the dynamic capabilities theory, which emphasizes the role of organizational resources and capabilities in achieving sustained competitive advantage. A descriptive research design was adopted, targeting 138 employees and managers at Frigoken Kenya Limited, from which a sample of 41 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that employee empowerment practices such as training, involvement in decision-making, motivation programs, and resource availability were present at a moderate level within the organization. Correlation analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between employee empowerment and firm competitive advantage (r = 0.644, p < 0.01). Regression results further showed that employee empowerment had a positive and statistically significant effect on competitive advantage (β = 0.193, p = 0.023), implying that improvements in empowerment practices enhance organizational competitiveness. The study concludes that employee empowerment plays a crucial role in strengthening innovation, productivity, and employee commitment, which collectively contribute to improved competitive positioning. It recommends that Frigoken Kenya Limited should strengthen employee involvement in decision-making, enhance training programs, and improve motivational strategies to fully realize the benefits of empowerment. Additionally, the organization should invest in continuous learning and supportive leadership practices to sustain employee engagement and long-term competitiveness in the agroprocessing sector.

Keyword: Employee empowerment, competitive advantage, Frigoken Kenya Limited

James Shawon Sevav 1, Bukola Rebecca Oyeleye Ph. D 2, Susan Nguveren Waya 3, Cdre. IdouyeChristopher Ketebu 4

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6408

ABSTRACT: This study examined the effect of organizational culture on the operational performance of tertiary health facilities in Benue State, specifically at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire utilizing a five-point Likert scale used to measure key dimensions of organizational culture: organizational values, norms and practices, and organizational artifacts on operational performance at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS4 software was employed to analyze the complex relationships among these variables, ensuring accurate assessment while accounting for measurement errors. The results showed that norms and practices, along with organizational artifacts, significantly and positively affect operational performance, emphasizing the critical role of daily behaviors, routines, and tangible cultural elements in improving hospital efficiency and service delivery. Norms and practices encouraged teamwork, accountability, and operational effectiveness, while artifacts such as technologies and workflows facilitated smoother processes. In contrast, organizational values did not have a statistically significant direct effect on operational performance, suggesting their influence may be indirect or long-term and possibly moderated by contextual factors such as resource limitations and leadership challenges. These findings highlight the importance of focusing on actionable cultural components to enhance performance while recognizing the foundational, yet less visible, role of core values. This study provides valuable insights into how different aspects of organizational culture uniquely affect operational success in complex tertiary healthcare environments.

Keyword: Organizational Culture, Organizational Values, Norms/Practices, Organizational Artifacts, Operational Performance

Nguyen Thi Manh Thu*

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6409

ABSTRACT: Financial education remains the dominant policy instrument for improving household financial outcomes, yet meta-analytic evidence finds its effects on behaviour to be small. This study examines whether financial literacy predicts subjective financial well-being once psychological traits are held constant, using a sample deliberately selected to favour the literacy hypothesis: 101 young Vietnamese professionals, 60.4% of whom trained in economics or finance and 46.5% of whom answered all three standard financial literacy questions correctly. Financial well-being was measured with the Financial Well-Being Scale of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, self-control with the Brief Self-Control Scale, and future orientation with the Short-Term Future Orientation Scale. In hierarchical ordinary least squares regressions with heteroskedasticity-robust standard errors, financial literacy shows a marginal bivariate association with financial well-being that disappears entirely once psychological traits enter the model. The two psychological constructs add 11.1 percentage points of adjusted R-squared, roughly four times the combined contribution of literacy and demographic characteristics. Future orientation is significantly associated with financial well-being, while self-control falls just short of conventional significance. Exploratory factor analysis further identifies two items of the wellbeing scale that fail to load on the common factor in Vietnamese translation, raising a measurement caution for cross-country use of an instrument not previously validated in this setting. The findings suggest that in an emerging market, interventions targeting behavioural mechanisms are likely to be more productive than those targeting knowledge alone.

Keyword: financial well-being, financial literacy, self-control, future orientation, Vietnam

Richmond Owusu-Mainu, Alex Agyemang Asante, Vanessa Williams

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6410

ABSTRACT: As a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Kumasi, Ghana, small and medium-sized enterprises are not able to take stock of accounting software, and the large-scale business of accounting systems is difficult to overcome. Although accounting information systems can help in financial reporting, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance and managerial decision making for many SMEs, there are still many SMEs which rely on manual records or basic spreadsheet applications. With a mixed-method approach, the research is conducted to find technical, financial, organizational, human resource and environmental factors in SME adoption. This is done by the study using structured questionnaires followed by qualitative data in interviews with SME owners, managers and accounting personnel. The main hurdles are the cost of the software and the associated implementation, limited financial resources, unreliable electricity and internet infrastructure, insufficient technical expertise, lack of training and lack of awareness of software benefits, resistance to change, data security and lack of management commitment. Enterprises with more formalized and established ownership and a higher degree of technology experience have a higher probability of adoption (e.g., in large organizations). Successful implementation is linked to management commitment, budgeting, staff training, phased implementation, software selection, and technical support. The study concludes that improving accounting software adoption in Kumasi requires a coordinated effort by SME managers, technology service providers, government agencies and training institutions. This kind of affordable and user-friendly software, infrastructure development, digital skills training, clear regulatory guidance and financial resources are the key ways that SMEs can move from accounting by hand and manage them in a manual manner to digital finance.

Keyword: Accounting Software Adoption, Accounting Information Systems, Small and MediumSized Enterprises, SMEs, Kumasi, Ghana, Technology Adoption, Digital Transformation, Technology-Organization-Environment Framework, Financial Management

Dr. Evangelia Fragouli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6411

ABSTRACT: The transition toward a hyper-connected, knowledge-based economy has intensified the demand for business graduates who possess actionable environmental, social, and governance competencies alongside advanced capacity for relational asset exploitation. Traditional, retrospective case studies often fail to prepare students for the fluid, messy realities of corporate sustainability and strategic knowledge exchange. This study evaluates an innovative pedagogical intervention, the Knowledge Exchange Clinic (KEC), wherein undergraduate business students act as live strategic consultants to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the United Kingdom, solving real-world intellectual capital and sustainability dilemmas. Using a mixed-methods action research design, the study tracks three cohorts over two academic years. Quantitative data measuring self-reported employability capitals are collected via pre- and post-intervention surveys. These data are paired with qualitative insights gathered from student reflective journals, client feedback forms, and semi-structured focus groups. The key findings indicate that participating in live strategic knowledge exchange consultancy significantly accelerates student development in critical thinking, cross-boundary stakeholder communication, and ethical risk management. Furthermore, the experiential nature of the clinic helps students build robust psychological capital, relational competence, and professional networks, bridging the gap between academic theory and the regional strategic management ecosystem. Based on these outcomes, it is recommended that business schools embed live, client-facing knowledge exchange projects directly into core strategic management curricula rather than treating them as optional extracurricular activities. Additionally, institutions should establish dedicated regional business networks to ensure a continuous pipeline of diverse, impactful cross-sector sustainability and strategic projects.

Keyword: knowledge exchange, strategic management, intellectual capital, employability ecosystems, live consultancy, action research.

Neeraj Kumar Joshi, Dr. Neelam kalla

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56293/IJMSSSR.2026.6412

ABSTRACT: In the contemporary economy, skill development, entrepreneurship and the application of information technology are significant in enhancing an economic growth and in contributing to nation building. The current paper investigates the strategic importance of skill development programs, entrepreneurship development and digital technologies to enhance employability and economic development in India. The research methodology is qualitative based on secondary data pertaining to skill development initiatives based on the government reports, policy documents, research articles, and other official publications. According to the findings, skill development programs can be used to improve the employability of the youth by equipping them with technical and professional industry skills. Entrepreneurship also helps in economic development through creation of jobs, promotion of innovation and development of small and medium enterprises. The information technology also enhances these processes by facilitating digital learning, aiding business innovation, and providing more market opportunities to the business people. The paper also mentions some of the government programs like Skill India, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and Digital India which enhance skill building and digital empowerment. On the whole, skill development, entrepreneurship as well as information technology should be combined to produce a skilled workforce, promote innovation and sustainable economic and social development in the country.

Keyword: Strategic, Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Nation Building, Information Technology