Technology has grown ever more crucial for business competitiveness, permeating all facets of business life. Many firms have had to reconsider their business strategies post-pandemic as a result of technological advances, economic shocks, and market demands. But less is noticed in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector which plays a role in the majority of the world's economy. This study therefore aims to investigate the effect of organizational factors (firm strategy, organizational culture, open innovation, and technological capability) on SME growth (profitability, customer satisfaction, competitive advantage, and product quality). The descriptive survey design was used and the population of the study comprised structured small businesses in Lagos, Nigeria – the most populous country and biggest economy in Africa. Findings revealed that the combined effect of innovation strategy, organizational structure, open innovation culture, and technological capability significantly affect SME growth in Lagos state, Nigeria post-pandemic. Thus SMEs in Nigeria require improved knowledge, sound management, and the development of human resource capabilities to improve these organizational factors. The study therefore recommends that the management of SMEs, including the owners/managers, increase the need to create a working environment that fosters open innovation models and technology adoption to enhance organizational culture, thereby improving business growth and profitability. Government policy support is also required to improve the skills, knowledge, and technological mastery of SMEs in Nigeria.
Keywords: artificial intelligence; business competitiveness; innovation; Nigeria