Effect of green business practices on organizational performance of selected manufacturing firms in Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents an empirical investigation of the effect of green  business practices on organizational performance of selected  manufacturing firms in Nigeria. This study was also motivated by the  urgent need to solve the environmental problems caused by the activities of profit driven entrepreneurs in developing economy as well as  exploring the benefits to organizations. The study was guided by one key objective, from which appropriate research question and hypothesis were formulated. The specific objective of this study was to determine the extent to which green business practices affect the manufacturing firm„s productivity in Nigeria. This study adopted the survey design. Simple random sampling technique was used in selecting the 10 manufacturing firms in Nigeria. A sample size of 543 respondents was determined from the population of 5705 drawn from management, middle and lower cadre of the selected manufacturing firms using Cochran (1977) statistical formula. A stratified sampling technique was also used to determine the proportional allocation of questionnaire to management cadre, middle cadre and lower cadre. Designed questionnaire and personal interview were used for primary data collection. The questionnaire was structured on 5-point Likert scale. The validity of the instrument was ascertained using content validity. The instrument was checked for reliability using test re-test method through Cronbach alpha, with a value of 0.90, which shows consistency in the items of survey. Data were analyzed and the hypotheses were tested using linear regression analysis. Probability level of significance was given at 5%. Data were presented using simple  percentages. Findings revealed that green business initiatives had  significant and positive effect on the selected manufacturing firm„s  productivity (r=.756, F=346.024; T=18.602;p=.000). In conclusion, the implementation of green business practices, principles and processes  will lead to very positive outcome that will be visibly manifested in the  organization and the environment.

Keywords: Green business practice; Ecopreneur; Developing economy; Productivity; Performance; Manufacturing firms.