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THE IMPACT OF STRATEGIC BUSINESS POLICY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS IN DELTA STATE: A STUDY OF SELECTED FIRMS IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

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Abstract

This study was carried to determine the impact of Strategic Business Policy on the performance of selected firms in Delta State, Nigeria. The research design was survey method, while the sampling procedure used for the study was a combination of systematic judgmental and quota sampling. Using the Bowley’s formula the sample of 320 was obtained from an accessible population of 1,600 from 19 firms. The data used for the study were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The questionnaire used had two sections (A & B). Using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) some statistical methods included descriptive statistics, simple and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data and variables. Furthermore, the data tabular and percentage methods were used to test the hypotheses. Four hypotheses were formulated and tested. From the study, the following results were noteworthy; that most firms in Delta State particularly those studied operated with strategic business policy, that business policy impacted the firms’ performance in the following area: higher profit, increased out, improved productivity of employees, improved salary of workers, higher returns on investment and increased market share. Furthermore, some reasons militating against the effective application of strategic business policy were uncovered. Consequently, some possible solutions were unfolded as well. On the bases of these results obtained, it was abundantly clear that a more effective application of the strategic business policy coupled with the solutions to the identified problems would improve firms’ performance in Delta State. Thus, the earlier this approach is recognized and adopted the better for the present and future firms in Nigeria particularly Delta State.