Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

In recent years, Supply Chain Management has emerged as a critical factor shaping firm competitiveness across organizations operating in and around Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. As institutions grapple with the pressures of globalization, regulatory reform, and shifting stakeholder expectations, understanding how supply chain management relates to firm competitiveness has become an important area of both scholarly and practical concern.

Within the context of Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria, this relationship carries particular significance. Organizations in this setting operate under a distinct combination of economic, regulatory, and market conditions that may amplify or dampen the effect of supply chain management on firm competitiveness, making a context-specific inquiry both timely and necessary.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite a growing body of literature on supply chain management, there remains limited consensus on the precise nature of its relationship with firm competitiveness, particularly within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria. Many organizations continue to make decisions about supply chain management without a clear, evidence-based understanding of how those decisions ultimately affect firm competitiveness. This gap between practice and empirical understanding is the central problem this study seeks to address.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the effect of Supply Chain Management on firm competitiveness in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria.
2. To assess the extent to which supply chain management influences firm competitiveness within the study area.
3. To identify the challenges associated with supply chain management in relation to firm competitiveness.
4. To recommend strategies for optimizing supply chain management in order to improve firm competitiveness.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effect of supply chain management on firm competitiveness in Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria?
2. To what extent does supply chain management influence firm competitiveness within the study area?
3. What challenges are associated with supply chain management in relation to firm competitiveness?
4. What strategies can be adopted to optimize supply chain management in order to improve firm competitiveness?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to a range of stakeholders. For policymakers and regulators, the findings offer evidence to guide the design of frameworks that support healthier outcomes around firm competitiveness. For managers and practitioners within Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria, the study provides practical insight into how supply chain management can be better managed. Finally, it contributes to the academic literature on business administration by extending existing knowledge into a specific empirical context, and offers a reference point for future researchers.

1.6 Scope of the Study

In terms of scope, this study confines itself to Selected Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria, focusing specifically on how supply chain management relates to firm competitiveness within that setting. Findings are interpreted within these boundaries rather than as universal claims applicable to every organization or market.