Department of Human Resources Development
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Item Organizational Resources, External Environment, Innovation and Firm Performance: A Critical Review of Literature(2014-12) Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Michuki, V.; Mahasi, J.Organisational climate (OC) plays an important role in the innovation of an organisation. In addition, innovation has become critical for nations, organisations and individuals in an increasingly complex and challenging world. Yet, very few studies are designed to investigate the causal path of the effect of innovation on organisational performance systematically by examining the influence of organisational climate. The purpose of the study has been to consolidate, synthesize and critique the empirical studies that have examined the relationship between organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance. A systematic literature review approach has been followed to find the appropriate studies on these constructs (organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance) and the building blocks of science (concepts, statement and conceptual framework) have been used as a structure to analyse and report on the findings. After consulting 96 major databases, covering a wide range of fields, only seven articles that investigated the causal path between organisational climate, innovation and organisational performance were identified. The differences and similarities on how concepts were used are presented. These differences become particularly apparent when the tools used to measure these constructs are examined. Studying the articles has also resulted in the development of appropriate and comprehensive typologies concerning the variables. The findings also show that models are typically linear and these are affirmed when subjective, rather than objective, measures are used. This research study alerts researchers and practitioners alike about the importance of clear and shared definitions of constructs. Without that meaningful communication, observation on the topic is impossible. The findings also show that the methods of measurement influence results, which should be considered when interpreting the results.Item Exploring Resources and Performance Relationships in Commercial Enterprises: An Empirical Perspective(2015-10-07) Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Awino, Zachary Bolo; Machuki, Vincent N.; Wainaina, GituroDespite a growing body of literature on firm performance, explaining why firms in the same industry and markets differ in their performance remains a fundamental question within strategic management field. Researchers have attributed differences in firm performance to resources owned by a firm but the results remain fragmented and no consensus has yet emerged. Therefore, the debate is still open and this study sought to contribute to the debate and address extant gaps. This study investigated the influence of organizational resources on performance of insurance companies in Kenya. The study was based on a survey of 46 insurance companies in Kenya. The study reports that both tangible and intangible resources have a statistically significant influence on non-financial performance of insurance companies in Kenya. However, there were mixed findings as regards the individual influence of resources on various firm performance indicators. Intangible resources evidenced statistically not significant results individually but when combined, they had a statistically significant influence on non-financial performance. The reverse was true for tangible resources. Based on the findings, implications of the study and suggestions for further study are presented.Item Effectiveness of the Balanced Score Card in Implementation of Corporate Strategy: A case of a Kenyan Insurance Company.(2016-08-01) Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Muindi, Florence; Machuki, Vincent N.The Government of Kenya has made substantial investment in the public sector through creation of diverse corporations. However, most public sector firms have not shown the required levels of efficiency and effectiveness that would be required of them. This has necessitated diverse measures such as the Results Based Management System (RBMS) which was initiated by the Government of Kenya in 2005. This management system has been put in place to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery in public sector organizations. Therefore the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), like any other public sector organizations, is required to operate under the RBMS of which Performance Contracts (PC) are a key component. The application of the Balanced Score Card (BSC) in the strategy management process has been found to be a useful tool in the clarification of the vision and mission of organizations and the rallying of the organizational members towards its achievement. This study examined the role of the BSC as a strategic implementation tool to enhance efficiency at KEBS. The specific research objectives included the examination of financial perspective, customer perspective, internal business processes perspective, and learning and growth perspective of the BSC on the efficiency at KEBS. The theoretical underpinning of the study was open systems theory and the institutions’ theory. The study was based on the descriptive research design with the target population of 150 management staff at KEBS. The sample size is 109 respondents. The study out the following; that there was a significant relationship between financial perspective of the balanced scorecard and organizational efficiency at KEBS. This was attributed to the availability and sufficiency of resources at both the organizational and departmental levels for KEBS to execute its mandates at those levels on time, and in the required scope hence improving on the organizational efficiency. Secondly, there was a significant relationship between the customer perspective aspect of the BSC and organizational efficiency at KEBS. The customer perspective was important to the organizational efficiency at KEBS through reduction of turnaround timelines in service delivery. There was also a significant relationship between the internal business process perspective of the BSC and organizational efficiency at KEBS. This was attributed to the internal business processes ability to influence customer satisfaction. Lastly, there was a significant and positive relationship between learning and growth perspective aspect of the BSC and organizational efficiency at the organization. This significance was attributed to the ability of KEBS to benchmark and learn on best practices on diverse aspects of its mandates. The study recommends that KEBS should focus on the learning and growth perspective of the balanced scorecard as it had the greatest influence on its organizational efficiency. The study suggests further studies on the examination on other financial perspective metrics of the balanced scorecard and the ways in which it can help in organizational efficiency at KEBS.Item Strategic Human Resources and Firm Performance: Perspectives from Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya.(2019) Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Muturi, Moses Murimi;This study sought to determine the influence of human resources on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Resource Based View (RBV) theory of the firm. Positivistic research philosophy was adopted in the study. The study used descriptive research design to establish the relationship between the study variables. The population for the study comprised of the 350 small and medium manufacturing enterprises registered by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) where a sample of 183 participants was chosen using stratified sampling method. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The study established that human resources have a significant influence on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Of the constructs used to measure human resources, decision making skills and personnel expertise had a significant influence on performance while level of commitment and loyalty of employees were not significant. Further, decision making skills had a higher influence on performance followed by personnel expertise. Consequently, the study recommended that the management of small and medium manufacturing enterprises should focus on having adequate personnel with the required expertise and have sufficient decision-making skills as this will impact on their performance. The findings of this study significantly contribute to the existing pool of knowledge regarding the concept of strategic human resources and its implications on organizational performance especially among small and medium manufacturing firms. The findings of the study are of significance to the management of small and medium manufacturing enterprises, Kenya Association of Manufacturers as well as the government of Kenya both at the national and county levels. Scholars and other researchers would also find the outcomes of this study relevant as reference material to advance in their research.Item Moderating effect of social media on relationship between entrepreneurial networking and performance of youth owned agro processing SMEs in Kenya(2020) Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Kariuki, Francis K.; Kyalo, TeresiaThis paper was anchored on a pragmatic research paradigm. The study used a cross-sectional survey where a self-semi structured questionnaire was administered to collect the primary data from the target population who were youth-owned SMEs. The study was limited to 135 youth-owned enterprises where 357 employees were selected randomly to form the study sample; the key respondents of the study were limited to owner-managers of small and micro enterprises and top management employees. The questionnaires were tested for reliability and validity. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between youth-owned. The study revealed that entrepreneurship networking has a significant effect on the performance of the agro-processing SMEs owned by the youths. However, there is a need for SMEs to further establish networks outside their business circle and seek networks with other bigger firms in the market. The study, therefore, recommends that there is a need for SMEs to invest more in social media marketing and networking of the SMEs for improved performance.Item Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Performance of Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya.(International Hellenic University, 2019) Muturi, Moses Murimi; Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Muchiri, JosephAbstract Purpose: The purpose of the Study was to establish the relationship between intellectual capital and performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted positivist philosophy. The research designs were descriptive survey as well as explanatory research design. The target population consisted of all the small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya with a sample of 183 respondents comprising of one respondent from each firm, being either the Managing director, General Manager, Production Manager or Strategic Manager. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. Findings: The study concluded that intellectual capital had no significant influence on performance of small and medium in Kenya and therefore investment in intellectual capital should be economically justified. Research limitations/implications: The data used in the study was collected for a period of ten years only and the results may not be used to make long term inference regarding the relationship that exist between the study variables. Originality/value: The findings of this study significantly contribute to the existing pool of knowledge regarding the concept of intellectual capital and its implications on organizational performance. Scholars and other researchers would find the outcomes of this study relevant as reference material to advance in their research.Item Role of Participatory Communication in Influencing Men’s Behaviour Response to Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment in Central Region of Kenya.(2021-08) Ndung'u, Kahura; Macharia, Juliet; Ombaka, Beatrice ElesaniProstate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of death among men in the world. Early screening is recommended as one of the prevention measures of the disease. Screening can be encouraged by Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies. These strategies include mass media campaigns, participatory and interpersonal communication, advocacy and message framing. In Kenya, the Central Region is one of the leading regions in PCa prevalence rate. This study therefore examined the participatory communication strategies used in influencing men’s behaviour response towards PCa screening in the region by the Kenyan government. The study was guided by Theory of Reasoned Action. It was anchored on the Pragmatist philosophical paradigm and took a mixed method approach which involved both qualitative and quantitative designs where Key Informant Interviews, Survey and Focus Group Discussions were used to obtain data. A sample of 384 people was picked from an estimated population of 700,010 men aged 40 years and above from the region using simple random sampling. Findings showed that although health workers and communication officials appreciated the role of screening in containing the scourge, the two levels of Kenyan government (County and National) did not put in place sound participatory communication strategies for positive behaviour response to the disease. It is therefore recommended that effective participatory communication strategies for behaviour change be put in place and an annual budget allocated by the governments for this purpose.Item Nexus Between Capacity-Building Strategic Renewal and Performance of Youth-Owned Agro-Processing Small and Medium Enterprises in Selected Counties in Kenya(2022-05-30) Kariuki, Francis K.; Kyalo, Teresia; Ombaka, Beatrice ElesaniFor the success of any business, there is a need for continuous improvement of the competitive advantage. The ever-changing economic environment is a big challenge for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) especially those that don’t possess strategic plans. In the recent turbulent times caused by globalization, SMEs are facing challenges and this has seen a number of them collapsing. The purpose of this study was to examine the nexus between capacity-building strategic renewal and performance of youth-owned agro-processing SMEs in selected counties in Kenya which variables of the study were investment training, management skills training, and bookkeeping training. The study was anchored on transformation learning theory and the research design adopted was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study targeted youthowned agro-processing SMEs registered by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the four County Governments namely, Nyeri, Kirinyanga, Murang’a, and Nyandarua. The sampling frame was 287 and the population under study was 287 youth-owned agro-processing SMEs. The study gathered primary data using a semi-structured questionnaire with predetermined questions and highly standardized techniques of recording. The findings of the study were presented by the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. From the findings, the overall model of the study was R2 = 0.498, meaning that capacity-building strategies explained 49.8% of the variation in performance. The study coefficients was 0.834, tis 19.141, which was >2, and a p-value of 0.000 which implied that there was a statistically significant influence of capacity-building strategies on the performance of youth-owned agro-processing SMEs. In conclusion, it was noted that capacity-building influences the performance of the youth-owned agro-processing SMEs in selected counties in Kenya. This study recommends that there is a need for SMEs to further establish capacity-building strategies.Item Strategic Resources, a Driver of Performance in Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya(International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research, 2021-08) Murimi, Muturi Moses; Ombaka, Beatrice Elesani; Muchiri, JosephPurpose: This study sought to establish the effect of strategic resources on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises. Specifically, the study sought to identify how financial resources, human resources, physical resources and intellectual capital affect performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Methodology: Positivism research philosophy was utilised. Cross-sectional descriptive survey as well as explanatory study design were used in the study. The target population for the study was 350 Kenyan SMEs in the manufacturing sector. A sample of 183 firms was selected using stratified random sampling. One respondent from each firm was selected being the managing director. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Diagnostic tests for multicollinearity and normality were conducted before data analysis. The research questionnaire was tested for content validity and reliability after. Data was analysed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Data collected was analysed using SPSS V23. Finding: The study found that strategic resources have a significant influence on significant influence on performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya. Specifically, financial, human and physical resources all positively and significantly influenced the performance of Kenyan SMEs while intellectual resources as no effect on performance. The study therefore concluded that financial resources have a positive and significant influence on performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya, human resource was found to be significant in predicting performance. Physical resources have a significant influence on performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya while intellectual capital has no significant influence on performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya. Study Implication: The study recommended that Management of manufacturing SMEs should ensure that there are enough financial resources to meet their daily transactions and ensure that they are able to acquire the relevant strategic resources for efficient running of their firms; have adequate, committed and well-skilled personnel with the required expertise; should invest significantly in physical resources in order to maximise the performance of these firms; carry our cost benefit analysis before committing their resources to protect their intellectual capital in form of patents. Value of the Study: The study showcases the influence of strategic resources on performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya.