EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE BUSINESSES IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED SMEs IN UYO)

The environment does not necessarily mean visible and physical surroundings but, it connotes total forces, factors and influences that surround and impact business organizations as a separate entity. This means that business organizations must envision, analyze, understand and interact with those forces that influence its objectives, goals and operations in order to succeed.The neoclassical environment is fast getting prone to change and competition and since business organizations are open systems, they affect and are affected by environmental issues [10]. Therefore, business organizations regardless of their goals must take into consideration, these environmental opportunities and threats. One important thing to note at this juncture is that, the ability of managers to identify, analyze and respond appropriately to emerging environmental issues will considerably impact organizational performances.