ONORIODE, Omorho Humphrey
Department of Business Administration,
Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro, Delta State
onoriodehumphrey74@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The study examined the effect of strategic thinking on performance of SMEs in south-south
Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are to evaluate the effect of dimensions of strategic
thinking (opportunity utilization and decision-making) on performance of SMEs. The study
adopted a descriptive research design and formulated two research hypotheses to guide study.
Primary data for the study was collected from 366 respondents using a structured questionnaire;
while the hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistic with the
aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. The study found that strategic
thinking (in terms of opportunity utilization and decision making) has very strong, positive and
statistically significant influence on performance of SMEs. The study concludes that the
performance of SMEs is dependent on strategic thinking in terms of opportunity utilization and
decision making; and that strategic thinking positively influences performance of SMEs. Thus,
the study recommends that operators of SMEs (especially stationery stores) that desire to achieve
improved performance should adopt strategic thinking as a culture and make decisions
proactively, while also being alert to utilizing opportunities that may presented by environmental
trends.
Keywords: Decision making, opportunity utilization, SMEs’ performance, strategic thinking.