International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies

Economic valuation of a strategy for the animal food distribution business in Costa Rica

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The purpose of this study was to develop a strategic plan for Alimentos El Jicote, a Costa Rican company that supplies animal feed for large and small species, with the objective of optimizing decision-making and ensuring its success. The methodology included internal and external diagnostic tools, SWOT analysis, master strategy design, qualitative financial evaluation, and the implementation of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). The results showed a positive economic performance, with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 10.35%, higher than the cost of capital, and a positive Net Present Value (NPV) over a 10-year horizon. The strategy proposed was to diversify the supply of animal feed products with the best quality and at the best possible price, based on negotiations with more efficient suppliers by increasing storage capacity and the distribution network of the trade. In conclusion, although its financial situation is stable, areas for improvement in the company's profitability, liquidity, and market were identified; thus, the practical implication of the study was based on strategic planning for adaptation to the market, facilitating decisions, maintaining competitiveness, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Achieving the “AI sweet spot”: Balancing feasibility, viability, and desirability in Artificial Intelligence Implementation

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This paper presents the “AI Sweet Spot” framework for systematically identifying Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives that balance technical feasibility, commercial viability, and user desirability, addressing the challenge of turning ambitious AI concepts into sustainable, high-impact solutions. A structured literature review of innovation management and AI deployment studies was combined with analyses of industry best-practice case studies. Insights were synthesized through the Innovation Sweet Spot lens to form a three-dimensional model, with design-thinking methods embedded to keep user desirability central. Critical success factors include robust data governance, rapid prototyping, cross-functional collaboration, and executive sponsorship. Recurring pitfalls involve siloed decision-making, underinvestment in user research, and misaligned performance metrics. Case studies show design-thinking interventions surface user pain points early, improving adoption and reducing wasted effort. A balanced view of feasibility, viability, and desirability is essential for AI project success. The “AI Sweet Spot” framework provides a roadmap for assessing trade-offs, prioritizing high-value opportunities, and mitigating technical, commercial, and human-centered risks. Practitioners can use the framework’s diagnostic questions and prioritization criteria to evaluate use cases, allocate resources strategically, and establish governance processes that enable responsible, scalable, and user-centric AI deployments.

Market segmentation practices and performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Southwest, Nigeria

Babatola, F. A, Adeusi, P. O, Ogunjemilua E.M, Peters. T A — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This study investigates the relationship between market segmentation practices and performance of small and Medium –Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Southwest, Nigeria. The study used descriptive survey research design, with the population of 23, 289 registered small and medium scale enterprises which cut across six (6) States in Southwest, Nigeria namely: Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ondo State, and Ekiti State. Taro Yamane formula 1968 was used to determine the sample size of 393 registered SMEs in the six States and multiple regression was used to analyze the stated hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. Findings shows that respondents acknowledge the importance of demographic factors, notably gender-based segmentation, in tailoring marketing strategies and identifying new market opportunities. The findings of the study also showed that there is significance relationship between geographical market segmentation and SMEs performance in Southwest, Nigeria (F=262.251, P=0.00 and R2=0.634). Also, demograhical market segmentation has significant effect on SMEs performance in SouthWest, Nigeria (F=77.650, P=0.00 and R=0.4072). The study concluded that geographic and demographic market segmentation affect the performance of small and medium sized enterprises in Southwest Nigeria. The study recommended that there is a need to encourage SMEs to develop strategies for adopting market segmentation practices to improve their performance.