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EFFECT OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, ETHICS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ON SERVICE DELIVERY IN KENYAN COUNTY GOVERNMENTS
Full text linkAbstract The study sought to determine the joint effect of strategic leadership, ethics and organizational structure on service delivery in Kenya’s County Governments. The county governments were primarily designed to improve services and bring them closer to the people. Contentions over the applicability of strategic management concepts such as strategic leadership, ethics, organizational structure and service delivery given the politically driven and tribal nature of public entities in Kenya informed this research. The theories upon which the study was based were; the New Public Management (NPM) theory, Upper Echelon Theory, the Agency Theory and the Institutional Theory. This study used positivism research philosophy where quantitative approaches were utilized in a cross-sectional survey. The unit of analysis was the 47 Counties in Kenya as per the 2010 Constitution of Kenya and these were the target population thus a census was done. Six respondents were purposively selected from six key departments in the counties and thus the study had a sample size of 282. The study used primary data collected using questionnaires administered to county chief officers. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics to show manifestation of the variables in the counties and through multiple regression to test the hypothesis. The study found a significant joint effect of strategic leadership, ethics and organizational structure on service delivery. The study thus recommended that the county leadership be more strategic and train employees on innovations to be able to offer better services to the citizens. The study recommended that law enforcement agencies should enforce sanctions on unethical leaders and employees to ensure more effective service delivery. Senate and county assemblies also needed to align the legislation to ensure appropriate county structure for better services
The Effect of External Public Debt Financing on the Economic Growth of East African Community Countries
Full text linkPurpose - This paper sought to establish the effect of external debt financing on the economic growth of East African community countries. Methodology - The study was modelled as a descriptive survey. A data collection sheet was used to collect secondary data from the population of the 6 member states of East Africa Community over a period from 2000 to 2017. The data was examined using descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. Findings - The study established that 65.9% change in economic growth of Kenya is explained by its external debt, (p=0.000), 55.6% change in economic growth of Uganda is explained by its external debts (p= 0.000), 76.1% change in economic growth of Tanzania is explained by the level of external debts (p=000), 83.1% change in economic growth of Rwanda is explained by its external debt level (p= 0.000) and that 59.2% change in economic growth of Burundi is explained by its external debt (p= 0.000). On overall, 64.5% change in economic growth in East Africa Community is explained by the external debts of the member states. The study concludes that external debt significantly influenced economic growth of Kenya as a country. External debts significantly influenced economic growth of Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. In general, external debts had most influence on economic growth of Rwanda followed by Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi and lastly Uganda. On overall, a significant change in economic growth in East Africa Community is explained by the external debts of the member states. External debt significantly influenced economic growth of the EAC. Implications - Public debts play a crucial role in financing of deficit budget. However, too much debt may become unsustainable for the country since revenue will spend on repayment of the interest and the principal amount at the expense of encouraging investment and therefore economic growth. Too much external debts results into crowding out effect as it deters local and foreign investors from investing and this adversely harms the economy. Value - The study will act as a guide to the National treasuries of member states of EAC in order to consider increasing the level of their external debts based on their ability to service and the overall capacity. Member countries of EAC should have clearly established threshold of a rise in level of external beyond which an alarm should be raised to signal danger. The member countries of EAC should borrow external debts for the purpose of economic growth. However, borrowing the debt with the aim of repaying another debt or for recurrent expenditure would not significantly influence economic growth of a country. Key Words: external public debt, economic growth, East Africa communit
ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND STRATEGY EXECUTION: A PERSPECTIVE FROM CEOS IN KENYA’S SACCO SECTOR.
Full text linkThe main purpose of this study was to discover the CEO’s perspective on the organizationalcapabilities and strategy execution linkage in Deposit Taking SACCOs in Kenya. This is onthe backdrop that building organizational capabilities can help deal with the strategyexecution challenge that many organizations face. The study evaluatedhow organizationalcapabilities relate to strategy execution. The study was qualitative and involved individual indepthinterviews with 15 CEOs selected from the 164 licensed SACCOs. The study found outthat organizational capabilities influenced strategy execution. The study concludes thatbuilding capabilities in leadership, innovation, collaboration and organizationalrestructuring supports strategy execution. This study offers significant insights and presentsscholars and practitioners in strategic management, policy makers, and the leadership inSACCOs with valuable recommendations. The main recommendation revolves around theneed for SACCOs to be more intentional about building organizational capabilities that drivestrategy execution.Key Words: Strategy, Execution, Organizational Capabilities, SACCO
Effect of Financial Risk Management Practices on Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya
Full text linkPurpose- This paper sought to find the effect of financial risk management practices onefficiency of microfinance institutions in Kenya. The chosen financial risk management practicesfor this research were Credit Risk Management systems, Behavioral Detection and PredictiveAnalysis Systems, Structured Finance Systems and Risk Management Systems.Methodology - A survey approach was employed of all the licensed MFIs that are registeredwith the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Kenya (AMFI). Drop and pick later methodwas used for distribution and collection of questionnaires to the relevant employees of the MFIs.The research targeted 47 MFIs. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and a Likert scalewere utilized for analyzing quantitative data. Regression model was employed to show howfinancial risk management practices affect efficiency of MFIs. Findings - Regression analysis presented R-square of 0.977 which implies that 97.7% ofvariations in the dependent variable is caused by variations in the independent variables whichincluded Credit Risk Management systems, Behavioral Detection and Predictive AnalysisSystems, Structured Finance Systems and Risk Management Systems. Risk management systemswas found to be utilized in the MFIs to the most extent,followed by structured financesystems,credit risk management systems and behavioral detection and predictive analysissystems respectively. The results obtained from the study indicated that there existed an absoluteassociation between financial risk management practices and efficiency of MFIs.Implications – Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) need to create a better environment throughimproved control techniques in which every employee has a stake in refining the internal controlsystem for risk management. There is need for MFIs to improve their financial risk managementpractices, and provide regular training to all their employees on the financial risk managementpractices so as to enhance efficiency since the study positions that there is a positive relationshipbetween Financial Risk Management practices and efficiency.Value - The general public benefitted from the research through improved management of perilsand enhanced services by microfinance institutions. The study was also helpful to governmentinstitutions like The Central Bank of Kenya in setting regulations in the financial sector andsafeguarding the resources of the country. Lastly, academicians were furnished with moreknowledge and facilitate more research on management of risk in financial sector. The foregoingstudy added to the existing literature on the relationship between handling of financial risks andefficiency of MFIs in Kenya and provides a foundation for more analysis
ASIA-AFRICA TRADE TIES: IS AFRICA DIVING INTO A DEBT TRAP?
Full text linkThis paper reviews the Asia-Africa trade ties by examining the history and trends of thecommercial transactions between the two continents. The study noted that the early 2000sportrayed moribund international trading relationships between Africa and Asia while mid2010shave shown increasing commercial interests in Africa by the Asian counterparts. Thestudy relied on secondary data from global databanks with information on internationaltrade. The current trade wars between China and the U.S were noted to be a contributingfactor in the increasing commercial interests of China in Africa; especially regarding itsever-increasing demand for energy and raw materials. The paper highlights challenges,opportunities for establishing mutually beneficial trade ties, as well as possible suggestionson best practices to deter Africa from diving into a debt trap. The study provides aspringboard upon which further research and debates on Asia-Africa trade ties can beconducted to inform policy formulation and implementation in Africa.Keywords: Asia-Africa, international trade, debt trap, policy formulation andimplementation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RELIABILITY, VALIDITY AND DIMENSIONALITY OF WEB BASED LIBRARY SERVICE QUALITY SCALE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY
Full text linkThis study focusses on assessing the reliability, validity and dimensionality of a Web basedLibrary service quality scale. It also investigates the perception of the library users towardsthe Web based services provided by the private university library. This research used thesurvey method for collecting data from users of the library. The Web based library servicequality was measured by using a scale developed by Kiran and Diljit in 2012, originally with25 items. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed and 447 completed questionnaireswere used in the final analysis. Cronbach’s Alpha values of each construct confirmed that agood reliability existed with the data. Principle component analysis was employed todetermine the important factors of the scale. Out of the 25 items, only 21 were found tosatisfy requirements for testing reliability and validity. As a result, a modified scale wasadopted for further analysis. Four Web based library service quality components wereidentified through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The four included: accessquality, delivery quality, functional quality and responsiveness quality. A structural equationmodel was developed showing the relationships between the four components and web basedlibrary service quality and all the four were significant.Keywords: Web-based Library Service Quality; Scale Validation; Developing Country
The Potential for CO2 Geosequestration in Kenya: A Suitability Assessment of the Lamu Basin
Full text linkThere is a consensus that current trends in climate change may be due to increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (predominantly methane and carbon dioxide) from anthropogenic emissions. Among measures proposed for curbing this increase is Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in geological media. CCS incorporates three technologies comprising; (a) carbon capture, (b) compression and transportation, and (c) injection into geological media. This paper focuses on CO2 injection into geological media and its applicability to the Lamu basin. Sedimentary basins, which host the geological formations suitable for subsurface CO2 storage, are ideal to varied extents determined by such factors as their tectonic settings. A (coarse) basin scale suitability assessment of the Lamu basin was undertaken using the following parameters; size and depth, tectonic and structural settings, seismicity, geothermal-hydrodynamic regimes, basin maturity (based on hydrocarbon well density) and economic resources. The assessed attributes are used to constrain GIS data, delineating possible CCS trap areas with the production of a preliminary map of potential trap areas. Also, a suitability matrix table is generated in comparison with analogous basins such as the Alberta basin in Canada. Following this assessment, the Lamu basin can be considered geologically suitable for geosequestration given its stable tectonic settings, good depth and size. However, the western flanks of the basin and the coastal strip are unsuitable due to shallowness, population and protected zones respectively
IS THE TEAM TIGHT ENOUGH TO DELIVER?
Full text linkGroups are increasingly becoming the norm in the largely dynamic and complexenvironment surrounding organizations. Due to this, understanding group dynamics isimperative for modern managers. It is commonly assumed that once a group is puttogether, group members will harness their collective abilities to accomplish grouptasks. This is especially at the top of the organization where top managers are largelyaware of overall organization objectives. However, the ability of the group to delivergroup goals depends on how well the group members can work together and supporteach other. The self categorization theory proposes that this ability is driven by howcohesive the group is. This study therefore sought to determine the effect of groupcohesion on firm performance through a cross sectional descriptive survey. Primaryand secondary data was obtained relating to 53 large food and beverage manufacturingfirms in Kenya and was analyzed using ordinary linear regression. The studyestablished that the teams in these firms were moderately to highly cohesive. Further,group cohesion significantly affected financial, customer, internal processes, social andlearning and development performance perspectives positively which was consistentwith the self categorization theory. The study therefore concluded that group cohesionwas a key ingredient in the performance of teams and recommended that managersshould always craft measures to engender task and social cohesion in designing workingteams if such teams were to deliver superior performance
Groundwater Quality Prediction Using Logistic Regression Model for Garissa County
Full text linkGroundwater quality modeling can reduce the cost of exploration and siting of boreholes considerably. The present study applies Logistic Regression Model to predict the probability of siting boreholes of fresh or saline water based on geospatial data such as altitude (m), longitudes, latitudes and depths (m), and geophysical data such as electrical resistivity from 45 exploration sites. The geology of the study area is represented by permeable water-bearing Tertiary-Quaternary sediments located within the Anza Rift. The water bearing zones, or water struck levels, range in depth between 50 and 150 m and the average yield of about 1 - 5 m3 per hour, in the case of old wells done using percussion rigs in the period between 1960s to the 1990s. Recently, the discharge in the wells done using modern mud rotary equipment yields up to 30 m3 per hour, with depths ranging between 200 to 250m below ground level. The modeling results show strong correlation between the dependent variables; depth, mean resistivity, longitudes, and latitudes on one hand, and salinity status of aquifers. It is, therefore, possible to know the water quality of a location in the study area before actual drilling is undertaken. Of all the runs made, 93% were predicted accurately while only 7% of the cases deviated from the predicted quality. These findings prove the usefulness of the LRM in predicting and identifying sites of high groundwater accumulation and groundwater salinity in arid region
SERVICE FAILURE ATTRIBUTION, PERCEIVED JUSTICE AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IN MOBILE MONEY SERVICE RECOVERY
Full text linkThe study set out to examine the impact of service failure attribution on the relationship thathas been observed between perceived justice and customer satisfaction in mobile moneyservice recovery. Premised on relevant literature in the field, the research hypothesized thatservice failure attribution acts as a moderator in the relationship between perceived justiceand customer satisfaction. The population of the study was mobile money transfer servicesubscribers in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Semistructuredquestionnaires were used to collect primary data and sample of 782 respondentswas arrived at. Reliability and validity tests were conducted and data analysis was done byusing linear regression analysis. The study findings revealed that perceived justice has apositive and statistically significant relationship with recovery satisfaction and that servicefailure attribution has a considerable moderating impact on the link between perceivedjustice and recovery satisfaction. The results add to existing theory by confirming a linkagebetween attribution and equity theories in the context of customer satisfaction in encountersinvolving service failure redress. The study is beneficial to service providers and managersas it creates a comprehensive framework for assessing recovery satisfaction for strategicdecision-making. The study recommends that managers incorporate attribution and justiceperspectives in the design of service recovery strategies in order to improve recoverysatisfaction. The study contributes to policy makers and regulators by augmenting theevidence available to support the development of standards and guidelines on servicereliability and redress systems