SILVER BULLET IMPLEMENTATION AND CORPORATE PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIAN TELECOMMUNICATION FIRMS

Abstract The Nigerian telecommunication sector has experienced a booming effect and has become a leading player in the telecommunication market of Africa. Nevertheless, companies operating in this industry are challenged with a myriad of problems such as network overload, lack of reliability of services, customer turnover and stiff competition among companies in the market. As a counter, telecommunication firms, especially the smaller companies such as T2 Mobile (formally 9mobile) have resorted to technological solutions as one of the possible solutions. Silver bullet implementation-the idea of having one technological solution to solve several organizational issues-has become a trend in the industry. New technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing and 5G technologies are perceived to have the potential to transform the game to improve service delivery, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The paper is a critical analysis of how innovations in silver bullets can affect the corporate performance of the Nigerian telecommunication firms and specifically T2 Mobile. The study evaluates the effectiveness of these individual technologies in enhancing market share and customer experience and operational performance using a combination of conceptual, theoretical and empirical reviews. Although such innovations present a great potential, the paper has pointed out the dangers of excessive dependence on one technological solution without a strategic orientation and organizational preparation. The paper uses a critical discussion of the Resource-Based View (RBV), Innovation Diffusion Theory and Dynamic Capabilities Theory to provide a comprehensive strategy in the adoption of technology within the Nigerian telecom industry. The results propose that to achieve long-term corporate performance, telecommunication companies need to implement multi-dimensional innovation practices that are capable of merging technological solutions and organizational change. The paper ends with a conclusion stating that the Nigerian telecom companies (and, in particular, T2 Mobile) should strategically coordinate technological innovations with long-term objectives, invest in the training and management of changes, and refer to a customer-centric approach to the successful deployment of AI, cloud, and 5G technologies.