School of Business
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Item Influence of Organization Learning on Innovation Output in Manufacturing Firms in Kenya(International Journal of Innovation Studies, 2020-02-27) Gachanja, Isaac Muiruri; Nga’nga, Stephen Irura; Kiganane, Lucy MainaKnowledge entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming important in driving innovation forhigh levels of competitiveness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation-ship between Organization Learning (OL) and Innovation Output (IO) for improved per-formance in manufacturingfirms in Kenya. The theoretical underpinnings on this study arethe Schumpeter’s (1934) innovation theory of and the Gleick (1987) complexity theory. Themethodology used was mixed method research because it provides a more holistic un-derstanding of a thematic area. The research design that was used is cross-sectional designbecause it allows for making observations on different characteristics that exist within agroup at a particular time. The target population was manufacturingfirms across thecountry. Multi-stage sampling strategy was used to sample 303 respondents from 101firms. Primary and secondary data were used to collect both qualitative and quantitativedata. The questionnaire, interview schedule and a checklist of key informants were used tocollect data. Content validity was used to ascertain the credibility of the research pro-cedure and internal consistency technique was used to test for reliability. Correlation andlinear regression were used to determine the relationship between OL and IO. Work dis-ruptions were avoided by making prior arrangements and appointments. Thefindingsindicate that OL has a significant influence on IO. It is recommended that lifelong learning,management support and risk tolerance should be encouraged to improve creativity. Highcreativity is important in raising the capacity to integrate internal and external knowledgefor greater levels of IO. Further research should be carried out tofind how customers andsuppliers information can be utilized to enriched OL.Item Influence of strategic Market Development Practices on Competiveness of Kenyan Tea in the Global market.(International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM), 2018) Maina, Esther Wanjiru; Mugambi, Fred; Waiganjo, EstherKenyan tea though acclaimed globally as a high quality product available all year round continues to face growing competition both regionally and globally. This has resulted to a decline in its market share in the global market. The main objective of the study was to examine the influence of strategic market development practices on competiveness of Kenyan Tea in the global market. The study used cross-sectional survey design to collect both qualitative and quantitative data from the respondents. The target population consisted of all one hundred and eighty-nine members of the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) who participate in the tea auction at Mombasa. The target population was categorized into organizational population and the respondents’ population. Respondents’ population comprised of four top managers from every organization. The sampling frame for this study was seven hundred fifty-six managers who included Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director, Marketing Manager and Operations manager who acted as the major agents of the entire value chain in the tea industry from the producer to the final international consumer. Stratified sampling technique was used to select a sample for buyers, brokers, warehouse, packers and associate members while purposive sampling technique was used to select the managers who represented both the small-scale and large-scale producers. To obtain the desired sample size for the study with the organizational population of 189, Slovin’s formula (1960); n = N/(1+Ne2), was applied. Where; n = Sample Size N = Total Population e = Error of Tolerance with a confidence level of 95 % (giving a margin error of 0.05). The main instrument used to collect primary data from the sampled respondents was structured and unstructured questionnaire. The questionnaire underwent pilot study to test for the validity and reliability of the research instrument. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was determined by use of Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha (α). Collected data was further prepared for analysis using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. Data was analysed using percentages, mean and standard deviation while t-tests and p-value was used to test the hypothesis. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was derived to show the nature and strength of the relationship of the variables where Coefficient of determination (R2) was used to measure the amount of variation in the dependent variable as explained by the independent variable. The study findings indicated that there was a positive relationship between competitiveness of Kenyan tea and strategic market development practices as signified by a coefficient of 0.507. This meant that a 1% change in Strategic Market Development practices increases competitiveness of Kenyan in the global market by 0.507 units. Such increase as revealed by the study was attributed to adoption of market penetration, market segmentation, and market diversification strategies which in the long run created new customers in new segments as well as expansion of the potential market for Kenyan tea in the global market. The study concludes that Market segmentation strategy may be executed in diverse criterion including demographic, geographical, and behavioural segmentation among others. The study emphasized on demographic market segmentation as a strategic market development practice to enhance competitiveness of Kenyan Tea in the global market. The study recommended that to boost competitiveness of Kenyan Tea globally good local and international marketing strategies need to precede the act of exportation. This may be done through organizing consumers into competent consumer associations, promoting market intelligence and branding Kenyan on international markets.