This study uses the Resource-Based View (RBV) and technology, organization, and environment (TOE) theories to examine how smart supply chain (SSC) practices affect financial performance (FP) in enterprises of various sizes. Our results show that SSC benefits larger enterprises more financially than smaller firms. SSC has a statistically significant effect on green supply chain management (GSCM) and sustainable supply chain performance (SSCP), and the strength of the relationship declines with a decline in firm size. Smaller enterprises are more receptive to competitive pressure and implement GSCM alongside SSC. Our findings show that SSCP improves financial performance, while GSCM does not, even in large enterprises. Further, mediation effects show that GSCM mediates the relationship between SSC and SSCP, whereas it does not mediate between SSC and FP across all sizes. The impact of SSC on FP is sequentially mediated via GSCM and SSCP. Using a non-linear approach (ANN), we also rank independent variables for small, medium, and large firms. Our research provides important implications.

The role of leaders toward the development of entrepreneurship has been fully acknowledged. However, Leaders’ characteristics such as strategic improvisation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy were mainly examined in the private sector. Hence, it is imperative to extend empirical studies to public sector organizations. The present study, therefore, proposed and validated a model linking leaders’ strategic improvisation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy to corporate entrepreneurship in Nigerian higher education institutions (HEIs). Using a structured questionnaire, 220 responses were generated from large HEIs in Kano State, Nigeria. The data of the study was analysed using SmartPLS 3.0 to ascertain both measurement and structural model validity of the model. The results showed that both leaders’ strategic improvisation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy were significantly related to corporate entrepreneurship in HEIs. Implication and limitation of the study; and suggestions for future study are also provided.