Effect of Entrepreneurial Skills on the Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Enugu Metropolis

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of entrepreneurial skills on the performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Enugu metropolis. The research question and hypotheses were in line with the objectives. The study employed descriptive survey design. Both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized for the study. The target population of the study was (1064) consisted of the employees of the selected SMEs. The sample size of 282 was drawn using Freund and William’s formula at 5 percent error margin. A survey design was adopted for the study. Instruments used for data collection was questionnaire. A total of two hundred and eighty two (282) copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents from which two hundred and twenty seven (227) copies were returned and accurately filled while fifty five copies (55) were not returned. The data collected were presented and analyzed at two levels, namely (a) Descriptive analysis, percentages and Z – test was used for the test of hypotheses. The findings indicated that: Communication skills had significant positive effect on customer satisfaction(95, n =227), 5.443 < 8.297, P. <.05 and Creative thinking had significant positive effect on the number of sales of small and medium scale enterprises in Enugu metropolis Z(95, n =227), 6.720 < 9.375 , P. <.05. The study concluded that Communication skills and Creative thinking had significant positive effect on customer satisfaction and the number of sales of small and medium scale enterprises in Enugu metropolis. The study recommended among others that there is a need for effective communication skills for skills development and also priorities skills improvement for both expert and inexpert business owners.