MANAGERIAL COMPETENCIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS OF CONFECTIONERY COMPANIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

Abstract

The study aimed at examining the relationship between managerial competencies and entrepreneurial success of confectionery companies in South-South Nigeria. The study has four specific objectives, four research questions and four hypotheses. Correlational research design was adopted by the researcher. Twenty-four (24) confectionery companies were selected and spread across South-South Nigeria. The study relied on the use of primary data, sourced using structured questionnaire. A total of 96 questionnaire were distributed to respondents, and all 96 were successfully retrieved and used in the analysis., hypotheses were tested using Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient. The result obtained revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between managerial competency and entrepreneurial success in confectionery companies. The study asserts that, for confectionery to attain market success companies must ensure they create good customer relationship that will eventually lead to product loyalty. This study concludes that managerial competency plays a critical and positive role in enhancing the entrepreneurial success of confectionery companies in South-South Nigeria. The findings clearly establish that competencies such as communication skills and problem-solving abilities significantly improve market success and operational success, managerial competency was found to directly influence firm performance. Communication skill emerged as a particularly strong predictor of success, effective managerial communication enhances employee commitment, reduces inefficiencies, and strengthens organizational outcomes. The study therefore affirms that continuous top-down and bottom-up communication is essential for achieving business goals and sustaining performance. The study recommended that confectionery companies should ensure that their product meet up with world standard, well packaged, satisfactory to the final consumers. Managerial competency can be enhanced through training and retraining of employees.