Optimizing Business Intelligence for Nigerian Small and Medium Scale Enterprises: The Influence of Economics Education and Guidance Counseling on Decision-Making and Growth

Abstract

The problem of SMEs today is compounded by the rapid pace of technological advancements in Nigeria. Addressing the challenge is essential for maximizing the potential of Business Intelligence as a strategic tool for enhancing decision-making and driving organizational success. The study examined optimizing business intelligence for Nigerian small and medium scale enterprises: the influence of economics education and guidance counseling on decision-making and growth. The study applied cross-sectional survey research design. The population of the study comprised selected 1,331 SMEs in Nigeria. The sample size of 302 was obtained using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. The research adopted stratified random sampling techniques. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. The descriptive statistics, such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data and the hypotheses were tested using t-test. The finding has it that data sources, data warehousing and reporting tools have effect on performance of SMEs in Nigeria. The research concluded that if the wrong Business Intelligence is implemented without good research and planning, it could be a failure initiative. The study recommended  that  Government should organized free workshops on economic principles relevant to SMEs and create counseling centers or platforms where SME owners can receive personalized advice on decision-making, growth strategies, and overcoming operational challenges.