ENTREPRENEURS’ MENTORING STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES ADOPTED FOR IMPROVED BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN IMO STATE

Abstract

There are different mentoring strategies and approaches that can be adopted by entrepreneurs for improved business performance across board in general and in Imo State in particular. The study x-rayed entrepreneurs’ mentoring strategies and approaches adopted for improved business performance in Imo State. The researchers adopted two research questions inline with the two specific purposes to guide the study. The descriptive survey design was used by the researchers to structure the study, while the hypothesis formulated was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The population of the study comprised four hundred (400) entrepreneurs within Owerri metropolis of Imo State and the entire population was administered with questionnaire items where a total of three hundred and fifty-six (356) entrepreneurs returned their questionnaire which formed the sample of the study. The researchers used structured questionnaire to collect data from the respondents with the aid of three research assistants, while the test-retest method was used to test the reliability of the instrument which yielded reliability co-efficient of 0.78. The researchers also used the mean and standard deviation to analyse the research questions, whereas z-test was adopted to test the hypothesis formulated. The researchers’ findings among others revealed that entrepreneurs adopted some of the strategies and approaches raised as the null hypothesis proved that there was no significant difference in the strategies and approaches used by the entrepreneurs in Imo State. Following the findings, it was recommended among others that entrepreneurs should adopt effective mentoring strategies and approaches that will help them succeed in their day-to-day operations. Enlightenment and sensitization for mentoring should also be effectively carried out by entrepreneurs for improved business performance.