DECLARATION

I undersigned, hereby declare that the project

titled[…………………………………………….. ] submitted in partial fulfillment for the
award of Degree of Master of Bsiness of A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University is
a bonafide record of work done by me under the guidance of MISS.
ShikhaChaudhary,Kishan Institute of Information Technology Meerut,Uttar Pradesh.
This report has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma, or
similar title of any University.

{Date………}

RAJ

VERMA
 Kishan Institute of Iformation Technology

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the report titled [………………………………………]

being submitted by Raj Verma in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration, is a bonafide record of
the projectwork done by Raj Verma, Kishan Institute of Information Technology.

Miss Shikha Chaudhary H O D Name

 Acknowledgements

Through this acknowledgement I express my sincere gratitude towards all

those people who helped me in this project, which has been a learning experience.

This space wouldn’t be enough to extend my warm gratitude towards mu project

guide Miss Shikha Chaudhary for her efforts in coordinating with my work and
guiding in right direction.

I escalate a heartfelt regards to our institution Director {………………………}

For giving me the essential hand in concluding this work .

It would be injustice to proceed without acknowledging those vital supports I

received from my beloved classmates and friends, without whom I would have
been half done.

I lso use this space to offer my sincere love to my parents and all others who had
been there, helping me walk through this work.

Raj Verma
.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter looks at how data of the research were gathered, the research method

employed in the study, the data collection techniques used and the target population, the

sample size and sampling technique as well as the data analysis method employed. It

finally looks at the procedures and the limitations faced in gathering these evidence.

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The study used a descriptive research design because of the nature of the variables that

were at hand, to produce data, required for quantitative analysis and to allow

simultaneous description of views, perceptions and beliefs at any single point in time
(White, 2000).

To achieve the proposed research objectives of highlighting the specific challenges

inhibiting SMEs in their quest for growth and expansion in Nsukka, a quantitative

research method was adopted which is often the most efficient and cost-effective research
method (Gerhardt, 2004).

Many researchers have looked at the issues facing SMEs in their quest for growth in

Nigeria. In view of this, the case study approach was adopted, which focused on SMEs
in Nsukka in Enugu state

3.2 DATA COLLECTION TECHNIQUES

The data for this study were gathered through the use of primary and secondary data
sources

.
3.2.1 PRIMARY DATA

The primary data sources for this study involved the use of questionnaire. Copies of the

structured questionnaire were distributed to SME operators and/or owners for the first

hand information for processing towards answering the research questions. The

questionnaire was divided into three sections. Section A, which concentrated on the
respondents firms such as: Age of the firm

Form of ownership Nature of the firm

Average monthly turnover of the firm

These helped us in identifying the type of SME that we were dealing with, whether or not

they were Micro, Small or Medium enterprises as per the definition given in (Aryeetey et
al., 1994) research work.

Section B of the questionnaire consisted of various questions geared towards answering

the objective of the study. These questions looked at the effect of erratic power supply
on SMEs profitability

.
The final section also looked at how SMEs plan to overcome the excessive cost of

production that is making them uncompetitive against their competitors who are not

facing the erratic power supply and what they are doing to overcome these challenges to
attain growth and expansion to other areas.

3.2.2 SECONDARY DATA

The secondary data were obtained from reviewing journals and literature relevant to the

subject matter of this research. Newspaper source and official policy documents of

government of Nigeria with relevance to the subject were also consulted. The electronic

search site: www.google.com was employed extensively for up-to-date materials on the
topic.
The primary data formed the crux of this study because it afforded the opportunity in
obtaining at first hand and relevant responses

3.3 SAMPLING FRAME AND TECHNIQUES

The sampling frame for the study included all the SMEs in Nsukka numbering 2000. The

sampling size of the research was 80 which represented both SMEs that suffer from the

erratic power supply those that did not because of their backup supply. This helped the

researchers to track the effect of the profitability and its effect on growth of SMEs.
Eighty

(80) questionnaires were distributed to these SMEs out of which we received responses
from

65 respondents, representing about 81% of the response rate which we deemed to be

impressive for this study.

The study used a simple random sampling technique which is a probability sampling

method which draws a portion of a population so that each member of the population has

an equal chance of being selected. In other words, in a random sampling all possible

samples of fixed size have the same probability of being selected as a result the simple

random sample provides us with a sample that is highly representative of the population

being studied. A sample drawn at random is unbiased in the sense that no member of the

population has any more chance of being selected than any other member. Since the

units selected for inclusion in the sample are chosen using probabilistic methods, simple

random sampling allows us to make generalizations (i.e., statistical inferences) from the
sample to the population.
3.4 DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT

The instrument employed for this study was a semi-structured questionnaire. Copies of

the questionnaire were administered by the researcher to the owners of SMEs in Nsukka

to ascertain whether the constant access to alternative sources of energy could lead to the
profitability and growth of SMEs.

The questionnaires were both close and open ended questions. The open ended questions

gave the respondents freedom to decide the detail and the length of his/her answer. It
enabled

the respondents to give a more adequate presentation of their particular case and convey

flexibility in their choice. The closed ended questions, however, were designed to keep

the questionnaire to a reasonable length and this encouraged response and validity in

terms of the responsiveness of the return. It also minimizes the risk of misinterpretation

unlike the open ended questions. Lastly, it permitted easier tabulation and interpretation
by the researcher.

The question on whether to use either of the questionnaires can be resolved on the basis

of validity and reliability. This study employs the use of both open and closed ended
questions.

3.5 DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

A descriptive statistics was found to be an ideal analysis technique and subsequently used

in ascertaining the challenges that SMEs faced in this era of erratic power supply in other

to grow and expand. Aided by the tabulation of data extracted from a close-ended

questions surveyed, it was easier to understand the issues identified by the respondents.
Also to help answer the question whether or not SMEs in the Nsukka Business District

have challenges in coping with the effect of erratic power supply on their businesses to
aid their growth as contained in the objectives in chapter one.

3.6 PRODEDURES

After deciding on the target population, a list of SMEs was received from the Nationa

l Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI). After contacts have been made to seek the

consent of some of these SMEs to be part of this research, the numbers of 80 SMEs were

therefore arrived at. The various SMEs that agreed to be part were subsequently

contacted and given a brief background about what the study sort to achieve through the

means of telephone. After getting the required number for the study, the questionnaires
were then dispatched. The

respondents were then given a week to complete the questionnaires, as this gave them

ample time in giving out the right responses. The data gathered were then analyzed

through the means of relative frequencies and graphs; tables and charts after the data
were edited for completeness.

3.7 VALIDITY OF INSTRUMENTS

Validity is the extent to which the instruments used during the study measure the issues

they are intended to measure (Amin, 2005). To ensure validity of instruments, the

instruments were developed under close guidance of the supervisor. After the questions

are designed, they were pre-tested with five SMEs at Nsukka. This helped to identify

ambiguous questions in the instruments and be able to re-align them to the objectives
3.8 RELIABILITY

Reliability is the “extent to which the measuring instruments will produce consistent

scores when the same groups of individuals are repeatedly measured under the same

conditions” (Amin, 2005). The study administered one kind of questionnaire to SMEs

and using Cronbach reliability test, Alpha values of 0.753 were gotten indicating that the

tool was suitable for assessing the challenges inhibiting SMEs in empowering them to
drive economic growth of the Nigerian econom