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The effects of strategic outsourcing on business performance
No full textThi study was carried out to analyze the impact of strategic outsourcing on the performance of commercial banks in Nyeri. The study involved a survey of selected commercial banks in Nyeri. Five variables were analyzed which included cost change, risk level change, productivity level change, business growth change and service quality level change as independent variables, and business performance as the dependent variable. The literature review discusses literature from other researchers in the field of outsourcing which in turn provided the researcher's entry for carrying out the study. The review of literature pointed out the theories under which the study was based which consisted mainly of the resource-based theory. The researcher used simple random sampling technique to sample the employees of the commercial banks in Nyeri. The technique generated a working sample of 40 respondents, who consisted of the banks employees and the management-level staff. The researcher achieved a response rate of 87.5 percent. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software to present the data in form of graphs and pie charts. The researcher further carried out a correlation analysis to find out the relationship between the individual independent variables to the dependent variable, having assumed a confident level of 0.05. All the correlation values gotten were above 0.05 and therefore the researcher rejected the null hypothesis and adopted the alternate hypothesis. This showed that there was strong effect of cost change, risk level change, productivity level change, business growth change and service quality level change on the performance of the commercial banks in Nyeri
Comparative Study of Professional Competences of Graduates of Innovative and Conventional Medical Schools in Kenya: A Case of Graduates of Moi and Nairobi Universities
No full textp. 285 - 296A population of 280 intern doctors was randomly sampled using Gay's (1992) sample estimate of 20%. An increase of 10% in the sample accounted for non-response. The desired random sample size was therefore 84 intern doctors. A purposively selected sample of 47 supervisors from a population of 140, which included medical doctors and nursing officer in charges, was also assessed. A total of 54 (63% questionnaires) from graduates were returned with 26 of these from graduates of school of medicine- Moi university, while 28 were returned from University of Nairobi. A total of 47 (100%) questionnaires were returned from supervisors. The graduates from the conventional school rated themselves 82% on the excellent category in the knowledge of scientific foundation of medicine while the graduates from innovative school ratings were 89% on the same category. On further analysis of the results, there was no significant difference between the graduates. The ratings of supervisors on graduates from conventional school (56%) and those from innovative school (53%) on this competence showed no significant difference either. The majority of graduates of the two schools considered themselves highly competent in clinical skills (76% IMS; and 79% CMS). However, there was no significant difference between the ratings of proportion of graduates from the two schools. The findings on supervisors ratings (70%, 30% IMS; and 70%, 30% CMS) of graduates showed no significant difference. The graduates from the two medical schools do not differ at all as perceived by their supervisors on the seven global competences. However, there seems to be significant differences in the way graduates perceive themselves with regard to six competences as shown in the study. The author notes that these differences may be due to limitation of the self assessment method used in the study, which does not always provide for objective information as was the case in graduates' ratings. However, this limitation applied equally to respondents of the two universities, the differences between the graduates from the two schools of medicine can be indicative of the effects resulting from the different curricula used
An investigation into factors influencing business growth of private physician practices
No full textThis study was carried out to investigate the factors that influence business growth of private physician clinics in Nyeri County with particular reference to management skills and knowledge. The survey was aimed at establishing how leadership skills, accounting and financial management skills, Human Resource Management and implementation of Information Communication Technology influence business growth of private physician practices. The background information has brought to fore the fact that private physician practice is essentially a business like any other and it needs to be managed based on business skills and knowledge if sustained growth is to be realized The literature review reveals that almost all training programs for physicians do not include teaching of business knowledge and skills and yet these are very critical to successful practice management. The researcher carried 'out a census of 31 private physician practices. Data was collected through use of questionnaires. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Correlation analysis showed that there is a positive relationship between business growth of physician private practice and leadership skills, implementation of Information Communication Technology, Accounting and Financial management skills and Human Resource Management skills, with the first two having the strongest correlation. The author recommends the incorporation of practice management in undergraduate and post-graduate curricular of medical schools. Physicians who are already in practice are encouraged to seek training in business management and also advised to implement the use of Information Communication Technology in the operation of their practices
An investigation of factors influencing employee retention in the hospitality industry. A survey of hotels and lodges in Laikipia East District
No full textHF 5549.5.N3 2011Employee retention is critical for the long-term success and viability of a firm. Good talent is the lifeblood of any organization, and retaining the best employees ensures continued sales, builds long-lasting business relationship and prevents tacit knowledge loss. The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors that have direct influence on employee retention in the hospitality industry. Small businesses do not have the resources to offer the same kind of retention strategies that large companies have to contend with basic retention measures like a competitive salary, profit sharing, flex time, training, day care provisions and fringe benefits, therefore it is relatively easy for large organizations to retain employees, however this is not so in small and medium enterprises especially in the hotels and lodges, the general objective of the study was to investigate the factors influencing employee retention in the hospitality industry cross sectional survey design was used in the study. The population of the study consists of 968 employees of the hotels and lodges in Laikipia East district. A sample size of 121 employees was targeted and responses were obtained from 104 employees. To collect primary data, questionnaires were administered to the employees selected randomly as respondents. The service of research assistants was employed to administer, assist and collect the questionnaires from the various hotels and lodges with the prior authority of the hotels and lodges management. The primary data from questionnaires was coded and analyzed in terms of specific objective and resented in tables to show correlation coefficient, to show the relationships of the independent variables and the dependent variables. The data analysis was both quantitative and qualitative in nature, and used inferential statistics of hi-square-contingency tables to test hypothesis and generate phi correlation coefficient using e statistical package of social science (SPSS-17.0 Version). The findings on the factors that influence employee retention revealed that employee involvement, job security, employment contracts and accessibility to training are the greatest influence to retention in the hospitality industry. It was recommended that the industry should give longer term of contract while hiring - facilitate job security and extensive training to be offered to the employees to improve their knowledge skills and abilities, while more studies to be done in other geographical areas to help generalize the study
Effect of conventional collateral requirements on borrowers access to finance. A survey of selected borrowers in Kerugoya Town
No full textHG 173.M8 2011Credit is considered a very important aspect of modem economy in Kenyan economy; however the relationship between lenders and small business borrowers is inherently risky. Lenders insist on collateral to mitigate against risk of default. The process of collateralization is lengthy, bureaucratic, costly and unpredictable, the lenders also insist on convectional collateral mostly land movable assets among others It takes long to access a loan until what was initially an emergency is not solved in good time. The objective of this study is to establish effect of conventional collateral requirement on access to finance by the businesses. The study concentrates on borrowers selected from Equity Bank and Kirinyaga District Farmers SACCO. The study seeks to assist the government to legislation relating to collateral process as well as lenders who use conventional collateral as security on loans. This descriptive research design is carried out on a sample of 104 or 10% respondents selected form a population of 103 7 from two institutions. Data has been collected by use of questionnaires. The researcher also interviewed credit and operation staff in the two institutions to obtain the lenders point of view on the collateral processing. Results were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences and presented in tables and charts. Chi-square was used to test hypothesis. The findings from the study is Conventional collateral processing in Kerugoya is lengthy, costly and has a severe impact on small business access to financing; the process fails to protect the lender and also convey little benefit to the borrower. The study recommends a unified and automated registry that shares information as well as harmonizing the laws relating to land transaction and tenur
An analysis of challenges to integrated marketing communication: a case of banking industry in Kenya.
No full textThe emergence and the development of integrated marketing communication (IMC) has been determined by a number of evolutionary trends in various areas of marketing — the increased fragmentation and segmentation of markets, relationship marketing and direct marketing and information technology on the development of new communication technologies and database applications and communication - increased fragmentation of media audiences, multiplicity and saturation of media channels. The new paradigm of IMC can represents a strategic answer to commercial bank. This was a descriptive survey study aimed at establishing challenges to integrated marketing communications in the banking industry in Kenya. The population of interest of this study was the forty six commercial banks operating in Kenya with their Head offices in Nairobi. The researcher used structured questionnaires as the main data collection instrument. A content analysis and descriptive analysis were employed for data analysis. The content analysis was used to analyze the respondents' views about various challenges to integrated marketing communication among commercial banks in Kenya. The data was then coded to enable the responses to be grouped into various categories. Descriptive statistics such as means, median mode and standard deviation were also used to help in data analysis. Tables and other graphical presentations as appropriate were used to present the data collected for ease of understanding and analysis. Various marketing communication strategies that affects the adoption of integrated marketing communication include ; promotion through advertising, tool of marketing communication, promotion through personal selling, strategic planning of promotion, financial analysis of promotion, sales promotion and promotion through public relations. The study also found that there were of internet marketing strategies in the banking sector which were; product strategies; coordination; framework and relation marketing. The effect of internet technology on the adoption of integrated marketing communication in the banking sector was rated to great extent. On the advancement in the internet technology that affects respondent banks integrated marketing communication they were; internet being slow, vulnerability of internet with risk. The study found that most of the respondent rated integration and coordination of complex information flows between the organizational intranet and the internet as very highly affecting and integration and coordination of communication modes. Integration and coordination of various types of information was rated as highly affecting. From the discussion and conclusion the study recommend that in order for banking industry to implement integrated marketing communication it must address the various challenges that affects the adoption of integrated marketing communication
Challenges to effective management of secondary schools by Board of Governors(BoG) in Abogeta division of Imenti South district, Kenya.
No full textManagement is a very crucial component for success of any organization. The management of education in Kenya is guided by the Education Act of 1968 and revised in 1980. The Act gives the BOG powers to manage education at the school level. Their success in the production of people with the right kind of knowledge and skills depends on the quality of the management among other factors. The government has strived to enhance effective management of secondary schools by demanding certain competencies and providing criteria for appointing BOG members. Despite the requirement by the government, management of secondary schools still remains a concern to educationist and other stakeholders. The current study sought to establish challenges to effective management of secondary schools by BOGs • Abogeta Division. The objective of the study was to establish the effectiveness of BOG in
the school, determine challenges to effective management and identify possible solutions. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. A population of 392 subjects was used for the study. This population was made up of 208 BOG members, 168 PTA members, 16 headteachers. A purposive method of sampling was used to select a sample size of 48 respondents. One sets of instruments for data collection was sued, that was a questionnaire for headteachers, PT A and BOG chairmen. Data was analysed by using descriptive statistics facilitated by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5. Tables, percentages and frequencies was used for data presentation, piloting was done in the neighboring Nkuene Division of Imenti South District. The findings of the study revealed that, the challenges that BOG face in school management include external influence 31.25%, inadequate managerial skills due to lack of training 18.75%, lack of school strategic plan -0.83%, difficulty in collecting school fees 10.41 %, delays in disbursement of Free Secondary Education funds 6.25% and staff problem turnover 12.5%. It was generally found that BOGs were effective in most of the aspects of management. The researcher recommends that School heads teachers and managers should undergo training on school management. 30Gs members should be trained to enable them be more knowledgeable, confident, determined and effective in their roles .. Ensure that members of BOGs are professionals with a bias in management. The government should increase its budgetary allocation to secondary schools to ensure adequate resources for learning are provided for effective implementation of the curriculum and school management. School BOGs should initiate income generating projects to address shortage of funds to run the schools. Increased involvement of the head teachers and school managers with other stakeholders in decision making
Management of mathematics curriculum and its impact on visually impaired learners' performance in special primary schools in Kenya.
No full textEducation is an essential pre-condition for economic and social development. Education enables individuals in their respective environments to recognize their potential for survival. Management is held to be the key factor in improving the standards of education bearing in mind a number of factors. Education improves family health, reduces infant mortality and changes reproductive behaviour. With education comes increased confidence and self-esteem. The Kenyan government has been stressing on the performance of science subjects where mathematics as a subject falls. The Special Needs Education is not left out in the education system and takes a larger share of the Ministry Of Education budget every year. Despite the government's commitment to providing free education for all school age children, however, education for the blind/Visually Impaired Learners' remain a drawback to realizing an ideal equality and universal primary education. Despite the govermnent's clear policies to free basic education for all school age children, research shows that visually impaired learners in Kenyan visually impaired special primary schools lag behind as far as mathematics performance is concerned. From the information sourced from the ministry of education offices of the Quality assurance and standards, the highest visually impaired scorer in mathematics in the year 2009 had 58% while the highest scorer from the regular schools had 98%. This information clearly points to the significant gap between the mathematics performance in regular school learners and the visually impaired learners in special primary schools. Minimal research has been carried out to find out the reasons behind the lag. This study therefore, investigated the management factors, social economic factors and school related factors contributing to the poor mathematics performance among the visually impaired learners in visually impaired special primary schools in Kenya. All the six special primary schools for the blind were sampled for the study. The population targeted was 396 respondents. Thus, 6 head teachers, 180 teachers and 210 learners. The data was collected through questionnaires for teachers, interview schedule for head teachers and focus group discussion for the learners. The collected data was analyzed both qualitatively, that is, thematically and quantitatively through frequency and percentag
A Case study of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Finance
No full textThe purpose of the study was to get the effects of psychological contract on employee performance in the public service. The psychological contract is developed between the employee and the organization over an extended period of time. It starts with the experiences the candidate has when applying for the job, develops during the recruitment and selection process, and continues to be formed during induction and settling-in period. The psychological contract is constantly being revised and adjusted throughout the period of employment.
The research adopted a descriptive research design and the target population size was 366 it included senior level, middle, level management, finance officer and other level. A sample size of 30% was drawn from the population; a systematic sampling technique was used to select the respondents. This study was a descriptive survey aimed at establishing the effect of psychological contract on the performance of employees in the Ministries of Finance Kenya. The study used both secondary data from other sources and primary data collected using questionnaires to carry out the study. Data collected was purely quantitative in nature. Descriptive statistical tools helped the researcher to describe the data and determine the extent used. Data analysis used SPSS and Microsoft Excel, percentages, tabulations, means and other central tendencies. Tables were used to summarize responses for further analysis and facilitated comparison.
The study found out that psychological contract affects employee performance in their institution to a great extent. The factors of psychological contract that affect employee performance include; communication, Job security, Attitude and Rewards. It was revealed that job security and rewards affect employee performance to a very great extent. The study also revealed that attitude least affected employee performance. This study therefore recommends institutions management should that psychological contract is embraced by both employee and employer
A Comparison between Self and Clinician-collected Vaginal Swabs for Detection of Bacterial Vaginosis among Women in Kisumu, Kenya
No full textp. 181 - 190Two tests are available for diagnosis of bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Amsel and Nugent. The latter is considered more sensitive. Laboratory diagnosis for BV requires a vaginal swab specimen. In developing countries, vaginal swabs are only collected by trained health clinicians and use of speculum, examination couch and expensive equipment like autoclave is necessary. In contrast, women in developed countries have a choice of either collecting self swab or allowing a trained health clinician to collect the vaginal swab. This study sought to evaluate the validity and reliability of self collected vaginal swabs for diagnosis of BV by comparing with clinician collected ones. Ten beaches were identified based on convenience along Lake Victoria in Kisumu County from which 105 women volunteers were enrolled. Three vaginal swabs were collected from each woman. The first two swabs were self collected while the third one was collected by a qualified clinician. Smears were prepared, read and interpreted by Nugent method while demographic and clinical data were obtained by use of structured questionnaires and pelvic examination forms respectively. There was high agreement (validity) between the clinician collected and the first self collected swab, Kappa score of K=0.952 (p<0.001). The reliability of the clinician and the second self collected swab had a Kappa score of K=0.905 (p<0.001). The self collected vaginal swabs (SCVS) were found to be valid and reliable for use in diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis