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Effect of Total Quality Management practices on the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi, Kenya
No full textFull - text thesisManufacturing SMEs often face constant challenges from the dynamic landscape of business. Since they are a crucial part of the economy, these SMEs need to be sustainable in the long run and go beyond performance, through recovery in the face of these disruptions, and put in place practices to help in mitigation for the future. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of Total Quality Management Practices adoption to the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs. This study’s main aim goal was to determine the impact of TQM practices implementation on the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi. The research was achieved by studying the manufacturing SMEs registered in Nairobi County’s licensing office, and the list was cross checked with KAM as of December 2018 within Nairobi, being a significant representation of SMEs in Kenya. The study utilized convergent mixed methods design and simple random sampling as well as purposive sampling because of the expected dynamic nature of the population in relation to the objective of the study, and the combination of the quantitative and qualitative aspect of the study. The study was guided by dynamic capabilities theory and resource orchestration theory. Primary data was collected from the participants through close-ended questionnaires and interview schedules, and analyzed through the latest version of the SPSS as well as through inductive coding. The population size was the 134 manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi, and the samples size was 100 manufacturing SMEs. Results indicate a strong association between employee involvement, top management commitment, supplier partnership and customer focus with operational resilience. The Analysis of Variance indicated Operational resilience across sectors of manufacturing SMEs was greatly attributed by Total Quality Management Practices adoption. TQM practices contribute to operational resilience for manufacturing SMEs by improving process efficiency, product quality, risk management capabilities, employee engagement, and supply chain relationships. SMEs can build resilience, adaptability, and sustainability in an increasingly uncertain business environment. TQM practices emphasize continuous improvement and optimization of processes by embedding TQM principles into their organizational culture and operations. The study serves as a strong starting point for scholarly investigations into operational resilience and TQM adoption in the manufacturing SME sector in the future. Knowledge gaps were addressed in the field because there has only been a limited amount of research on the adoption and implementation of overall quality management methods in the manufacturing SMEs industry in Nairobi. Manufacturing SMEs need to involve employee by providing comprehensive training programs to enhance employees' skills and knowledge related to resilience-building practices, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and adaptability. They also need to improve operational resilience through customer focus by conducting market research and gather feedback to understand customer preferences, expectations, and changing needs
The Law of the paw; is the training of the canine necessary to prove its reliability within the Kenyan legal framework?
No full textFull - text undergraduate research projectDogs possess an innate talent that enables them to excel in various tasks, a skill honed by specialised training institutions to integrate them into law enforcement and humanitarian missions. Their remarkable abilities have revolutionised criminal apprehension and scent identification, extending their impact beyond traditional realms into wildlife conservation, where they aid in the apprehension of poachers, thus safeguarding endangered species. According to the Kenyan Courts, canine evidence is a very niche and new area, thus the evidence produced by canines is subject to extreme scrutiny for a court to consider it admissible. The natural olfactory skill of canines which is further sharpened through their training underscores their classification as experts, warranting their evidence to be deemed as expert opinion evidence. While expert witnesses typically require educational qualifications and training, to qualify as experts, the precedent set by R v Stockwell establishes an exception, allowing individuals to be recognized as experts even with the absence of traditional credentials. Drawing parallels between the educational qualifications of human experts and the training of dogs, it becomes evident that the training of canines should not be a strict prerequisite for the admissibility of canine evidence. This dissertation delves into the evolving landscape of canine evidence within biological science and legal contexts, advocating for the recognition of dogs as expert witnesses and delineating avenues for future research to refine the admissibility criteria for canine testimony
The Role of customary law in combating FGM: an analysis of the interpretation and implementation of both customary and statutory laws in communities where FGM is practiced
No full textFull - text undergraduate research projectFemale Genital Mutilation (FGM) endures as a severely entrenched cultural tradition in various societies in Kenya, posing significant risks to the well-being and rights of women and girls. This study assesses the interconnectedness between customary law and statutory frameworks in addressing FGM within communities where it is widespread. By examining the interpretation and implementation of both customary and statutory laws, this investigation aims to bring out the role of traditional legal systems in preserving or alleviating the practice of FGM. This research delves into the complexities surrounding the enforcement of laws aimed at eliminating FGM. It explores how customary values, norms, and practices blend with statutory provisions, influencing attitudes towards FGM and shaping responses from communities and legal institutions. This study aims to provide insights into the challenges and opportunities for utilizing customary law as a tool for effective FGM prevention and eradication, while also addressing potential tensions and contradictions between customary and statutory legal frameworks. The results of this study highlight the significance of embracing a comprehensive approach that acknowledges and collaborates with traditional legal systems in endeavors to combat FGM. While statutory laws are crucial in establishing legal frameworks and norms, effective strategies must navigate landscape of customary practices and beliefs. This research contributes to a deeper comprehension of how customary law can be utilized as a driver for change, fostering community-led initiatives and encouraging dialogue between traditional authorities, legal institutions, and grassroots organizations to eliminate FGM and sustain the rights and dignity of women and girls
More harm than good: the exclusion of moral harm in the TFV’s assistance mandate emanating from its restrictive definition of a ‘victim’ of international crimes
No full textFull - text undergarduate research projectThe TFV is a sui generis mechanism under the ICC, with a dual mandate: implementation of court-ordered reparations for the ICC and, most importantly, its assistance mandate. Its assistance mandate has been hailed for its promptness in assisting victims with their harm, due to its independence from the ICC. Nevertheless, following an analysis of ICC cases on the psychological, physical, material, and moral harm suffered by victims of international crimes, it reveals that the TFV’s assistance mandate does not render any support to victims for moral harm. This is a crucial problem at the core of its understanding of ‘victims’, by rendering support for only ‘ongoing harm’, and harms assessable in their nature: through medical assistance for psychological and physical harm, and socio-economic support for material harm. This finding underscores that the TFV’s assistance mandate has restricted its understanding of victims of international crimes. Following this, the study makes the case for a monetary compensation mechanism to remedy victims’ moral harm. To do so, four rationales are drawn from regional and domestic monetary compensation schemes, critically chosen due to their similarity in their purpose and work done by the TFV. It recommends for the TFV to set up a procedural and substantive criterion for identifying victims suffering from moral harm. Furthermore, a mechanism for individual, collective and symbolic monetary compensation. Noting that the TFV currently lacks sufficient fundings to assist victims, it advocates for ‘earmarking of funds’, considering a monetary compensation mechanism will strain its resources further. Finally, amendment of the TFV’s Regulations to include moral harm and monetary compensation as a form of support
An Assessment into whether Kenya’s Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act unconstitutionally limits freedom of expression by how it criminalises false publications
No full textFull- text undergraduate research projectThis article addresses the complex issue associated with mitigating the proliferation of false information in the framework of Kenya's Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, Section 23. It discusses the unintended consequences of efforts to criminalize false publications, particularly how it's employed as a tool for suppressing journalism, in light of the critical role that social media plays in democratic societies. The paper meticulously analyses the shortcomings of Section 23, which is perceived as being too broad and vague, and considers how it might infringe on an individual's right to free speech. The argument of this paper is that the parameters of section 23 is unclear and therefore it infringes on a person’s ability to circulate and disseminate information freely which is constitutionally protected under the freedom of expression. The law under section 23 was ignorant on some intricate aspects of false information and freedom of expression. The problem that is information disorder is true and alive in Kenya, but there have been issues when considering the typology of false information and the nature of false speech in connection to free speech. While acknowledging the reality of information disorder in Kenya, the article closely examines the typology of false information, revealing nuances that challenge the current understanding of false speech in relation to free speech. This article offers recommendations that would reform Kenya's false reporting statute proposing a law that meets the legal standard of certainty and predictability of the law. The suggested reform aims to establish a law that meets legal standards of certainty and predictability, addressing the current ambiguity within Section 23. By advocating for a more nuanced approach, the article seeks to strike a balance between regulating false information and preserving the constitutionally protected right to free expression. This contribution aims to fortify the legal framework in the face of evolving challenges in the social media era
Use of machine learning (text recognition, natural language processing, and large language models) for hand-written answer sheet evaluation
No full textFull - text thesisThe realm of machine learning, encompassing text recognition, natural language processing and large language models, presents a transformative potential for the education sector, particularly in the evaluation of hand-written tests. This dissertation explored the use of these technologies in hand-written tests, acknowledging their prevalence and addressing inherent challenges encountered when evaluating the tests. The significant time required for evaluation often leads to delayed results and academic calendars, while the physical and mental strain on the evaluators, coupled with varying levels of skill and knowledge can lead to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in scoring. To address these challenges, this research explored the development of a machine learning approach capable of automatically extracting questions and student responses from images/pictures of exam papers and answer sheets. The approach then assessed student responses with the corresponding exam questions using pre-trained large language models. This research adopted the CRISP-DM (Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining) framework —business understanding, data understanding, data preparation, modelling, evaluation, and deployment, to streamline the development and comparison of machine learning models. The result of was a machine learning model designed to process photos of question papers and answer sheets. It extracted text questions and answers, seamlessly facilitating the interaction between users and the technology. The textual content could then be analyzed by a pre-trained large language model, which performed the assessment and provided feedback. Enhancing the efficiency of assessments and elevating the accuracy and objectivity of feedback provided to learners, this approach promised to significantly reduce the time and effort involved in the evaluation process; thereby overcoming the limitations of current practices in hand-written test evaluation
Company characteristics of early adopters of Environmental Social Governance disclosures on the Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textFull - text thesisThe ESG concept brings together environmental, social, and governance issues in businesses. The concept of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is gaining increasing attention in the global business community. ESG disclosures refer to a set of voluntary non-financial disclosures made by companies to provide stakeholders with information on their environmental, social, and governance performance. This research aimed to explore the characteristics of firms that are early adopters of ESG disclosures on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in Kenya. The Central Bank of Kenya in 2021 introduced regulations requiring financial institutions to adopt climate risk guidelines to foster sustainable finance practices in the banking sector. Following this the Nairobi Securities Exchange developed guidelines on ESG disclosures for use by all NSE listed companies at least annually, with mandatory reporting beginning twenty ninth November 2022. Reporting has lagged at fourteen percent of NSE listed firms even five months past the mandatory deadline. The research had three objectives, namely - identify the firm characteristics that make firms early adopters of ESG disclosures, analyze the motivations and incentives behind firms' decisions to adopt ESG reporting practices, and assess the challenges and barriers faced by firms in adopting and implementing ESG reporting practices in Kenya. The research provided current practice information and discerned approaches to enhance compliance. The research utilized a mixed-method approach methodology, which combined both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods. The quantitative research methods involved collecting financial data and analyzing the relationship between ESG reporting and firm characteristics using regression analysis. The qualitative research methods involve questionnaires to key stakeholders to gain insights into the motivations and challenges associated with ESG reporting. The target population for the study was the listed firms in the Nairobi Securities Exchange already adopting ESG disclosures before the November 2022 deadline. The researcher used a pre-designed questionnaire for primary data collection which was administered online through use of google docs because of the high response rates associated with the approach. The researcher also used secondary data derived from published annual reports of the listed companies to complement the primary data. Before the commencement of the data collection, there was a pilot study done by the researcher to test the study tool and validate it. Correlation analysis was used to examine the inter-relationship between the independent and the dependent variable. Regression analysis was used to examine the impact of the independent variables on the dependent variable and to identify the most significant predictors of early adoption of ESG disclosures. The findings of the research provided a better understanding of the drivers of ESG adoption and the challenges that firms encounter in implementing ESG reporting practices in Kenya. The research conclusions contributed to the development of policies and strategies that encourage ESG reporting among firms and improve the overall quality of ESG reporting in Kenya
Analysis of environmental, social and governance integration and sustainable lending practices by commercial banks in Kenya
Get PDFFull - text thesisThe global call for sustainable development has prompted businesses and financial institutions to adopt responsible practices that balance economic growth with environmental and social concerns. In Kenya, a rapidly developing nation facing significant environmental and social challenges, the role of commercial banks in promoting sustainability has gained increasing importance. Despite its proven benefits in other parts of the globe, commercial banks in Kenya are yet to fully integrate ESG in their lending practice, begging the question why? This study sought to determine the effect of environmental integration, social integration, and governance integration on sustainable lending practices of commercial banks in Kenya. The research methodology anchored on the positivist research philosophy and employed a descriptive research design where the study used questionnaires to collect data from employees from sustainability and credit departments of the 39 commercial banks that operate in Kenya. The stakeholder theory, legitimacy theory and stewardship theory guided the study and informed the research objectives, variables, and conceptual framework. Using ordinal regression analysis, the study regressed the predictors on the outcome variable. It was established that environmental integration, social integration and governance integration had a positive significant effect on the sustainable lending practices of commercial banks in Kenya. The study concludes that there exists a significant positive relationship between environmental, social and governance integration (ESG) and sustainability lending practices of commercial banks in Kenya. It is recommended that policy makers should proactively formulate robust policies mandating commercial banks to fully integrate ESG principles into their lending practices to promote sustainability. And that bank management should enhance their ESG disclosure procedures by incorporating critical and relevant ESG components that directly impact stakeholders‘ interests and overall bank operations.
Keywords: Environmental integration, Social integration, Governance integration, commercial Banks and sustainable lending practice
Influence of leadership development programs on employee engagement: a case of Strathmore University
Get PDFFull - text thesisThere is a significant increase in the demand for programs that enhance leadership in the past decades. This popularity has led to a discovery of innovative and creative ideas that enhance the professional relationship that exists between employers and employees. Because leadership goes beyond management, more studies are focused on the competency and problems that occur in the work-life. Thus, the current study examined the influence of leadership development program on employee engagement in Strathmore University. Specific objectives were: To establish the influence of leadership development program design on employee engagement at Strathmore University. To determine the influence of Action Learning Projects in the Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program on engagement of employees at Strathmore University. To evaluate the influence of integration of Coaching in the Leadership Excellence Acceleration Program on employee engagement in Strathmore University. The study was based on three component theory of engagement and transaction leadership theory. The study applied descriptive research design and a census of 99 participants of leadership development program in Strathmore University. Primary data was collected through administration of questionnaires. Data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was thematically analyzed. The findings were presented in figures and tables. Correlation analysis depicted that there was a positive statistically significant influence of leadership development program design on employee engagement at Strathmore University. It was revealed that there was a positive statistically significant influence of action learning projects in the leadership excellence acceleration program on engagement of employees at Strathmore University. There was a positive and statistically significant influence of integration of coaching in the leadership excellence acceleration program on employee engagement in Strathmore University. There is need for adoption of strategies that would enhance leadership program design so as to enhance connectivity with vision and mission of an organization and increase willingness and commitment to serve in Strathmore for long. Measures should be taken to integrate hand on and experimental approach in the curriculum so as to enable it to optimize its value contribution amongst its participants. There is need for agreement on measures and strategies that would nurture confidentiality and trust during the implementation of coaching program