OLUIGBO-MOSES, Comfort
Department of Marketing
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State
NWANKWO, Greg C.
Department of Marketing
Rivers State University
ABSTRACT
This study was examined the relationship between opportunity-seizing capability and business performance
among SMEs in Agribusiness. Opportunity-seizing capability was utilized as unidimensional variable;
while business performance was viewed multidimensionally, and decomposed into customer-base
enlargement, profitability and portfolio expansion. The study adopted an explanatory research design, and
collected primary data through cross-sectional survey, using a structured questionnaire whose validity and
reliability was confirmed through exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s Alpha test respectively. The
population of the study comprised SMEs in agribusiness in Rivers State. 90 SMEs in agribusinesses in
Rivers State were surveyed as the accessible population. After data cleaning, data collected from 77
respondents were found usable for analyses. Pearson Product Moment Correlation served as the test
statistic, relying on Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 24.0. The study found that
opportunity-seizing capability has very strong, positive and statistically significant relationship all the
indices of business performance used in the study. The study therefore concluded that opportunity-seizing
capability drives improved business performance among SMEs in agribusiness in Rivers State; and that
improved business performance of SMEs in agribusiness in Rivers State depends on their opportunity seizing capability. The study recommends that SMEs in agribusinesses in Rivers State that seek improved
business performance (customer-base enlargement, profitability and portfolio expansion) should develop
and optimally utilize the capability exploit or take advantage of sensed current and emerging opportunities
in their operating environment.
Keywords: Business performance, portfolio expansion, customer-base enlargement, opportunity-seizing
capability, profitability