Research Publications

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End date: 2019Subject: search.filters.subject.Performance

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    Influence of Strategic Physical Resources on Performance of Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya.
    (Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology, 2019-05-13) Muturi, Moses Murimi; Ombaka, Beatrice; Muchiri, Joseph
    ABSTRACT Article History Received 1st April 2019 Accepted 13th May 2019 Purpose This study sought to determine the influence of strategic physical resources on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Anchored on the Resource Based View (RBV) theory the study adopted positivism research philosophy descriptive and causal-effect research designs. Design/methodology/approach The population for the study comprised of the management staff 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. The study tested for content validity as well as reliability using internal consistency of the questionnaire using Cronbach alpha coefficient. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to conclude that physical resources have a significant influence on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Findings Consequently the study recommended that the management of SMEs should ensure that they invest significantly in these resources so as to maximise on the performance of these firms. However the conclusions reached in this paper were based on data collected from small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. For this reason, the results of the study suffer from generalizability since they may not be inferred on other firms other than manufacturing firms in the sector with similar characteristics. 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.
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    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, Joseph
    Abstract 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.
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    Planning expertise, variables influencing performance outcomes and management of wedding organization firms in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (University of Nairobi, 2015) Olanga, Christine; Bichange, Gesage; Murungi, Charles
    Best practices are essential to the survival of Kenyan firms in tourism. Though diversification into wedding organisation has attracted investment from Kenyan entrepreneurs, hardly any information has been documented on them. This study evaluated wedding planning expertise, variables influencing performance outcomes and methods used to manage constraints. Wedding planning expertise ranked highly among wedding planning firms. Furthermore, the stepwise multiple regression model indicated that seven constraints influenced 94.7 per cent of the variance in wedding planning. Based on these results, event management firms can communicate performance and direct resources towards constraint elimination resulting in enhanced business performance and firm survival.
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    Principals’ Supervision of Teaching and its Influence on Promoting Learners’ Performance
    (Journal of Pedagogical Sociology and Psychology, 2019-07-07) Irungu, Cecilia; Kagema, Josphat; Gachahi, Michael
    The roles of school principals have been focal in ensuring and promoting the performance of students in their schools, achieving and sustaining quality education. This has been influenced by the paradigm shifts and global trends to ensure that the quality agenda as espoused in various international and national policies such as Sustainable Educational Goals. A cardinal role is ensuring on teacher supervision in curriculum implementation in their schools. The design of principals’ transformational leadership practices is evidenced to contribute in increased learners’ performance in national examinations as well as fostering transformative school environment. Instructional Leadership is significant in fostering teachers’ instructional practices and subsequently students’ learning and achievement. The aim of this study was to examine the role of principals in the supervision of teaching and its influence on promoting learners’ performance. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design with a target population of 436 principals and 8,049 teachers from secondary schools in Murang’a and Kirinyaga Counties of Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to select 205 principals while 367 teachers were selected using stratified and then simple random sampling methods. The researcher used open and closed-ended questionnaires to collect quantitative data from the teachers and semi-structured interview schedules to gather qualitative data from principals. A pilot study of the instruments was conducted in two schools in Kiambu County of Kenya and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient with a threshold of 0.7 was used to determine the internal consistency of the items. The instruments yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.962, hence were considered reliable. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Hypotheses were tested at p>0.5 level of significance using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and t-test determined whether or not the means were statistically significant. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine whether the principals’ instructional leadership practice is a predictor of learners’ performance. The findings of the study were that the level of supervision of teaching was moderate and therefore had significant impact on learners’ performance. The study recommended that there is need for supervision of teaching. The research findings are of significance to principals in designing instructional strategies to improve learners’ performance and to policy makers in the education sector in designing policies that can support effective instructional leadership practices in schools.
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    Influence of Strategic Physical Resources on Performance of Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in Kenya
    (International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research, 2019-05-13) Murimi, Muturi Moses; Ombaka, Beatrice; Muchiri, Joseph
    Purpose This study sought to determine the influence of strategic physical resources on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Anchored on the Resource Based View (RBV) theory the study adopted positivism research philosophy descriptive and causal-effect research designs. Design/methodology/approach The population for the study comprised of the management staff 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. The study tested for content validity as well as reliability using internal consistency of the questionnaire using Cronbach alpha coefficient. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and regression analysis to conclude that physical resources have a significant influence on performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. Findings Consequently the study recommended that the management of SMEs should ensure that they invest significantly in these resources so as to maximise on the performance of these firms. However the conclusions reached in this paper were based on data collected from small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Kenya. For this reason, the results of the study suffer from generalizability since they may not be inferred on other firms other than manufacturing firms in the sector with similar characteristics. 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.
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    Top management team characteristics, strategy implementation, competitive environment and organizational performance a critical review of literature
    (2016-06) Kariuki, Anne; Ambula, Rose; Wasike, Shadrack
    Ever growing dynamism in the world requires Top Management Teams (TMT) in strategy formation and organizational performance. Empirical work on the relationship between TMT and organization performance yields conflicting and inconclusive results. Some studies show positive relationship, others show negative and no relationship. The inconclusive results represent a gray area in which we attempt to fill by exploring other factors that affect the relationship. Specifically, we consider the moderating effect of competitive environment on the relationship between TMT and organizational performance. In additional, strategy implementation is an important variable that mediates the relationship between TMT characteristics and firm performance. A proposed conceptual framework is proposed for further empirical research is presented. Keywords: Top management team characteristics, Strategy Implementation, Competitive Environment, Performance