THE USE OF ECO-ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
Utilization, Eco-accounting Systems, Performance, Small and Medium Scale EnterprisesAbstract
The study examined utilization of eco-accounting systems and performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Bayelsa State. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population consisted 341 registered small and medium scale enterprises in Bayelsa State. A sample size of 324 Proprietors were used for data analysis. The instrument was a self-developed questionnaire, titled utilisation of eco-accounting systems and performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Bayelsa State. The instrument was rated on four-point scale of Strongly Agree-4 points, Agree-3 points, Disagree-2 points and Strongly Disagree-1 point. The instrument was validated by the researcher’s supervisor and two other experts in measurement and evaluation. Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. This was done by administering the instrument on 50 small and medium scale enterprises proprietors in Rivers State who was outside the study area to obtain the reliability coefficient value of 0.94. Data was analyzed with simple linear regression. The results revealed a significant interplay between eco-accounting systems and utilization of environmental and economic costs. The study concluded that the utilization of eco-accounting systems positively associates with small and medium scale enterprises performance. The study therefore recommends among others that proprietors of small and medium scale enterprises should endeavor to utilize eco-accounting systems in order to enhance enterprise performance and avert business cessations in Bayelsa State.
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