TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE RESOURCES ON BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES: MEDIATING ROLE OF SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT

The rising consciousness of effective and efficient organisational resource utilization for facilitating enhanced business performance cannot be ignored since the advent of sustainable development goals and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.This study investigated the relationship between tangible and intangible resources on business performance in the context of SMEs in developing economies such as Nigeria with the mediating role of sustainability management.The purpose of this study is to find out how sustainability management can optimize organisational resources for business performance among SMEs in Nigeria.The study used a survey method based on quantitative research with a sample of 400 respondents selected using purposive and convenient sampling procedures.The data was collected through a questionnaire and analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics; in essence, the hypotheses were tested using Regression analysis.The outcomes from this study indicated that tangible resources have a significant effect of 82.4% on the business performance of SMEs in Nigeria, also, there is a significant effect of intangible resources of 83.0% on the business performance of SMEs in Nigeria.Furthermore, the study revealed that sustainability management has a significant mediating role in enhancing tangible and intangible resources by 84.5% for the business performance of SMEs in Nigeria.The study recommended among other things that business owners, leaders, executives and management of SMEs in Nigeria should articulate their organisational resources through the distinction of tangible and intangible resources to align with overall strategy.