PRODUCT DISPOSITION ALTERNATIVES IN A DISTRESSED ECONOMY-NIGERIA IN FOCUS

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to ascertain product disposition alternatives in a distressed economy- Nigeria in focus. The specific objectives included to: determine the effect of keeping an unacceptable product and product package on societal well-being; determine the relationship between getting rid of unacceptable product and product package on environmental sustainability; evaluate the effect of returning unacceptable product and product package to the vendor on target market health standard. Three (3) research questions and hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted quantitative approach by means of self-administered questionnaire survey and primary sources of data which was collected with the help of well-structured questionnaire and was analysed using the ‘five (5)’ scale modified Likert ranking order. The population of this study was made up of students, staff and other respondents of Umudike which was not be determined with reasonable degree of accuracy. The sample size was determined based on purposive, judgemental and convenience sampling method, as ten (10) students drawn from the nine (9) standing colleges of the University, sixty (60) other residents of the community and thirty (30) members of the academic and non-academic staff at the ratio of 2:1.  The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and simple percentages; the hypotheses were tested using sample regression for hypotheses 1 and 3; while pearson correlation co-efficient for hypothesis 2 and SPSS statistics computer software was used to run the analysis. Findings of the study reviewed that keeping of unacceptable product and package has significant effect on societal well-being as it impacts on the quality of the environment and the lives of current and future generations, this act of keeping unacceptable product and package could lead to reduction in market for new product as well as course retardation in economic growth as second hand products are made more available; significant relationship exist between getting rid of unacceptable product and product package and environmental sustainability as the process of reclaiming by recycling and reusable materials, return and rework from the point of consumption or use for repair, re-manufacturing, or disposal and returning unacceptable product and product package to the vendor has significant effect on target market health standard as the process reduces the amount of waste in landfills and lowers operating costs for companies. The study further recommended that unacceptable product and package should be refurbished for the re-use of the consumer or be sold to other consumers; acts of getting rid should be adopted as an environmental sustainability strategy as to create enable environment for land filling as strategy of environmental sustainability and returning unacceptable product and product package should be adopted as to reduce related health hazards in the market. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title ﾿ i

Declaration ﾿ ii

Certification ﾿ iii

Dedication ﾿ iv

Acknowledgements ﾿ v

Table of content ﾿ vi

List of Tables ﾿ viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 ﾿ Background of the Study ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Statement of Problem ﾿ 3

1.3 ﾿ Objective of the Study ﾿ 3

1.4 ﾿ Research Questions ﾿ 4

1.5 ﾿ Research Hypothesis ﾿ 4

1.6 ﾿ Scope of the Study ﾿ 4

1.7 ﾿ Significance of the Study ﾿ 5

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 ﾿ Conceptual Framework ﾿ 6

2.1.1 ﾿ Concept of Disposition`` ﾿ 6

2.1.2 ﾿ Factors that affect Disposition Decision Making ﾿ 8

2.1.2.1 ﾿ Perceived Depreciation ﾿ 8

2.1.2.2 ﾿ Product Scarcity ﾿ 9

2.1.2.3 Transaction Reference Price ﾿ 10

2.1.2.4 Perceived Transaction Cost ﾿ 11

2.1.2.5 Desire to give ﾿ 14

2.1.2.6 Timing ﾿ 15

2.1.3 ﾿ Disposal of Possessions ﾿ 15

2.1.4 ﾿ Disposition Alternatives in a Distressed Economy ﾿ 17

2.2 ﾿ Theoretical Framework ﾿ 19

2.2.1 ﾿ Commodity Theory ﾿ 19

2.3 ﾿ Empirical Review ﾿ 21

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 ﾿ Research Design ﾿ 23

3.2 ﾿ Area of the Study ﾿ 23

3.3 ﾿ Source of Data ﾿ 23

3.4 ﾿ Population for the Study ﾿ 23

3.5 ﾿ Sample Size Determination ﾿ 24

3.6 ﾿ Sampling Techniques ﾿ 24

3.7 ﾿ Description of Research Instrument ﾿ 24

3.8 ﾿ Validity of the Instrument ﾿ 24

3.9 ﾿ Reliability of the Instrument ﾿ 25

3.10 ﾿ Method of Data Analysis ﾿ 25

3.11 ﾿ Model Specification ﾿ 26

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 ﾿ Data Source Presentation ﾿ 26

4.2 ﾿ Test of Hypotheses ﾿ 27

4.3 ﾿ Discussion of Findings ﾿ 33

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 ﾿ Summary ﾿ 35

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 35

5.3 ﾿ Recommendations ﾿ 36

REFERENCES

APPENDIX: QUESTIONNAIRE

LIST OF TABLES

Table No. ﾿ Title ﾿         Page No.

4.1: ﾿ Data Generation( Questionnaire Administration) ﾿ 26

4.2: ﾿ Keeping unacceptable Product/Packages and Societal Well Being ﾿ 27 ﾿

4.3: ﾿ Unacceptable Product and Package and Societal Well Being ﾿ 28 ﾿

4.4: ﾿ Getting rid of Unacceptable Product and Package and Environmental 

﾿ Sustainability ﾿ 30

4.5: ﾿ Returning Unacceptable Product/Packaging and Health Standards ﾿ 31 ﾿

4.6: ﾿ Returning of Unacceptable Product/Package and Health Standards ﾿ 32 ﾿