Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Human Resources Practices and Employees Quality of Life in Tanzania Mining Industry: A Qualitative Study
No full textThe purpose of this study was to determine the effect Human Resource Practices on mineworkers Quality of Life in the mining industry. A multiple-case study research design in a single industry was adopted. Qualitative data from multiple sources were collected through interview, focus group discussion and observation. The study found that in Mererani mines workers are not properly trained, adequately compensated, given employment contracts, and there is no appraisal of performance conducted on employee. The outcome is that mineworkers lack job skills, better pay, and many have succumbed to death and injuries. This has affected their quality of life as majority are unable to meet the costs of medical care, education of their children, housing, water supply, and other social amenities. The study presents new data that contributes to theoretical development of economic variant of social exchange theory, an area that has been largely underdeveloped. It is recommended that Human resource practitioners and policy makers in organizations should design HR practices that enhances workers needs and organizational requirements in order to achieve performance. The collection of data from Tanzanite mines only limits the generalization of findings to other settings.
Keywords - Human Resource Management, Human Resource Practices, Quality of Life, Mineworkers, Tanzanit
Decentralization of Training and Development Practices and Employees Performance in Constitutional Commissions in Kenya
No full textHuman Resource Management strategies and practices vary but are all interrelated. They include planning, acquisition, development, integration, compensation, maintenance and separation. Kenya’s public sector faces a lot of pressure to enhance their performance levels as well as accountability and transparency in their operations. To do so, various agencies have adopted different strategies of decentralized HR practices and functionalities including decentralized training and development practices. How well the independent commissions manage their programmes to achieve their objectives is crucial to their success. Despite proof of devolved HR practices being beneficial, there is little research on the effect of devolving HR practices on the performance of employees. Based on this background, the study sought to examine the relationship between decentralization of training and development on employee performance in constitutional commissions in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design and targeted the heads of departments and HR coordinators and technocrats from the 10 constitutional commissions in Kenya resulting in a target population of 206 respondents. Census sampling was adopted and as such all the 206 respondents formed the sample of the study. Data used in the study was collected using structured questionnaires and was tabulated and analysed using SPSS Version 22. Qualitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means, standard deviation and was used to show the characteristics of the variables being investigated. The study also computed inferential statistics which included bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis and they were used to show the association between the dependent and the independent variables. Analysed data was presented using tables and charts. The study found that decentralization of Training & Development significantly affects employee performance in constitutional commissions in Kenya. Furthermore, it was established that organizational culture significantly affects the relationship between decentralization of Training & Development and employee performance in constitutional commissions in Kenya. The study recommends constitutional commissions in Kenya to provide Training & Development opportunities to its employees. This is achieved by offering various forms of Training & Development such as management development, soft and technical skills development and well as Training & Development on personal effectiveness.
Keywords: Decentralization, Training & Development, Employee Performance, Constitutional Commission
Analysis of the Impact of Human Resource Outsourcing on the Effectiveness of the Human Resource Function, Nairobi, Kenya
No full textThis research explored the impact of outsourcing human resource activities on the effectiveness of the human resource function in HR departments in firms registered with the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) in Nairobi, Kenya. The study was anchored on The Transaction Cost Economic theory which emphasizes minimization of resource cost either through concentrating on core competencies and subcontracting other non-core areas of operation or subcontracting even their primary activities to others that can perform them less resource costly thereby earning some returns which is in form of the difference between the value of the contract and the cost of its execution. The target population of the study was 259 HR departments of firms registered with IHRM. Non-probability purposive sampling was used in selecting the respondents who are HR department’s representatives. A sample size of 72 organizations. The data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics through computer based Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study findings showed that training & development outsourcing and compensation outsourcing had significant and positive effect on the effectiveness of the HR function. However, recruitment outsourcing had insignificant effect on the effectiveness of the HR function. In addition, the vendor characteristics moderates the relationship between recruitment outsourcing and Effectiveness of the HR function (β =. 314, ρ< .05), relationship between training outsourcing and Effectiveness of the HR function (β = .550, ρ< .05), relationship between compensation outsourcing and Effectiveness of the HR function (β = 0.419, ρ< .05). Thus, the study concludes that training & development outsourcing and compensation outsourcing are vital HR outsourcing activities in improving the effectiveness of the HR function. Therefore, the study recommends that firms should do a thorough cost-benefit analysis before outsourcing recruitment as the impact was not significant.
Keywords: Human Resource Outsourcing, Human Resource Function, Human Resource Management, Recruitment, Compensation
Effects of Stress on Physical and Psychological Health of Women in Delhi, India
No full textStress is a situation or emotion experienced when somebody is under pressure or threatened. It is a situational feeling when one thinks one has lost control of events. Stress is a form of psychological discomfort. The study sought to examine the effects of stress on the physical and psychological health of women in Delhi, India. The study adopted a descriptive statistic. The study targeted women from Delhi, India. The study used purposive sampling to get a sample size of 180. The collection of the data was done using questionnaires. The analysis of the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The research found that stress is negatively and significantly related to physical and psychological. The results showed that when stress increases by one unit, the physical and psychological health among the women in Delhi, India, will reduce by 0.756 units while other factors that influence the physical and psychological health are held unchanged. It is recommended that families and societies should be educated regarding the effects of stress that can cause mental health problems. There is a need to create good relations between families and mental health specialists to accomplish better treatment results and reduce remissions. The government should increase its expenditure for psychological health services, increase the number of mental health experts, promoting social incorporation and accessibility to healthcare. People need to sensitize themselves to eliminate the social stigma related to particular scenarios, including the use of unfavorable coping methods like avoidance, denial and concealment, causing an alteration in family health. There is a need for mental healthcare services for all people and encourage official employment with benefits and health insurance to boost the chances of using healthcare services. People should always seek psychological support if they feel like having stress.
Keywords: Stress, Physical and Psychological Health, Women, Delhi, Indi
Nursing Handover: Experiences and Perspectives in the Critical Care Unit at Murang’a County Referral Hospital
No full textContinuity in delivery of nursing care to patient in the critical care unit is of utmost importance. Although nurses have a variety of guidelines and formats to conduct the handover, gaps have been detected regarding the contents of the handover and its effects on the continuity of care in the critical care unit. The focus of the study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of nurses with nursing handover in the critical care unit. The study adopted a phenomenological qualitative design. A sample of 9 critical care nurses participated in this study. The study found critical care nurses believed they were individually equipped with adequate knowledge to carry out effective departmental and interdepartmental nursing handover. The existence of handover policies in the critical care unit was considered a major enabler of the handover. The participants also believed that strained human resource, lack of standardized handover tools and deviation from the set handover rules negatively impacted the handover process. Furthermore, they reported perceived insufficiency in the management’s role in handover evaluation and feedback. Moreover, all participants advocated for improvement of the current handover practices for improved quality of patient care as well as sense of self-accomplishment among the nurses. There are pertinent implications in the findings of this research for critical care nurses, nurses in other departments and policy makers. The resultant implication for each group of stakeholders promotes the adoption and formulation of effective handover practices and consequently enhanced quality of patient care through transfer of adequate patient information and sense of self-accomplishment among nurses.
Keywords: Nursing handover, experiences, perspectives, critical care uni
Supply Chain Innovation and Sustainability: Literature Review
No full textThis paper examined supply chain innovation and sustainability in the oil and gas sector in Rivers State. The study used literature review as method of gathering opinions of several scholars. The study explored views of scholars on the meaning and definitions of supply chain innovation and sustainability. The study defined supply chain innovation as improvements in the way that supply chains operate, and more specifically, in the way that products, information, work, and funds flow throughout supply chains. Sustainability was viewed as that which was materialized from concerns regarding the running down of natural resources for imminent generations. Based on the various scholars view, this study concluded that supply chain innovation is very significant in enhancing the sustainability; supply chain innovation is critical to achieving sustainability in any sector. The study therefore, recommended that oil and gas companies should employ the optimum supply chain innovative practices to enhance sustainability.
Keywords: Supply Chain Innovation, Sustainability, Oil and Gas Sector
Credit Management Practices and Loan Performance of Microfinance Banks in Kenya
No full textLoan performance of microfinance firms has declined recently. This pattern compromises microfinance organizations sustainability, viability and hinders them achieving their objectives. The purpose of this study was to see how credit management strategies affected loan performance at Kenyan microfinance institutions. The particular objectives of the study were to assess the impact of credit policy, customer evaluation, collection policy, credit conditions, and credit risk management on loan performance. Thirteen Kenyan microfinance banks are the subject of this initiative. Financial Intermediation theory, Information Asymmetry theory, and Transaction Cost theory will be used in this research. The study employed a descriptive research approach. In this study, both primary and secondary data will be employed. The basic data will be evaluated using the statistical metrics of mean and standard deviation. A direct model will be used to evaluate the impact of credit management strategies on loan performance (without moderation) and a moderating effect (with moderation). It was also utilized inferential statistics with linear regression models. Structured questionnaires were utilized in primary data collection. Financial reports for Microfinance banks and supervisory reports from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will be used for secondary data collection. The study found that that their firms conduct client appraisal. The study also found that client appraisals were effective. The study found that the firm checks at the client’s credit worthiness before issuing a loan. The study found that the bank has credit analyst whose work is appraise all potential loan customers who seek to borrow from the bank. There are various services providers contracted by the bank e.g. for credit tracking to help with tracking of vehicles used as collateral, insurance firms, law firms who assist in security perfection in case where land has been used as collateral, CRB firms who assist in giving information on clients CRB performance, company search firms e.g. credit info who assist in ascertaining the authenticity of companies belonging to clients who seek to borrow a loan from the firm. The study found that that the loan default rate is below 20%. The study also found that loan performance can be improved by calling customers frequently to remind them off their loans obligation particularly the perennial defaulters. Credit policy, client evaluation, collection policy, credit conditions, and credit hazard control were all huge on advance exhibition of microfinance banks in Kenya, as per the review, at a 5% degree of importance and a 95% degree of certainty. Their organizations perform customer assessment, as indicated by the review's discoveries. Client evaluations were also shown to be beneficial in the study. Before granting a loan, the business examines the client's credit worthiness, according to the research. Following are some recommendations based on the study's results and conclusions: On the impact of microfinance banks' credit policies and decision-making on loan performance, it is recommended that effective credit risk management procedures be developed and executed, particularly through credit risk management information systems.
Keywords: Credit Management, Loan Performance, Microfinanc
Digital Transformation and Liquidity Risk of Commercial Banks in Kenya
No full textThere are important trade-offs and synergies between digital transformation and financial stability. Poorly implemented digital transformation policies can impair bank liquidity. Also, there may be essential synergies brought by the broad use of digital services which help financial institutions diversify risk and aid financial stability. This study analyzed the effect of digital transformation on the liquidity risk of commercial banks, intending to establish a significant relationship between them. The specific objectives were to analyze the effect of Branch networks, ATMs, Agents and Mobile banking on the liquidity risk of commercial banks in Kenya. The research design was explanatory non–experimental. The target population included 42 commercial banks in Kenya and the study used secondary data. Descriptive statistics were used to establish the trend of digital services and liquidity risk of commercial banks while inferential statistics were used for testing the hypotheses. The results revealed that digital services had a statistically significant effect on the liquidity risk of commercial banks in Kenya during the study period between2007-2015. Increase in Branches, ATMs, Agents and Mobile banking were found to support liquidity levels (synergy) due to increased deposit mobilization and access to credit. Therefore, the study recommends increasing the banking customers, advancing affordable and accessible banking services to disadvantaged groups in different regions in the country. Reforms in financial sector should aim at increasing financial access through digital finance which is a cost cutting measure.
Keywords: Digital services, Financial Inclusion, Unbankable Stability, Synergy, Trade-of
The Role of Accruals Anomaly on Stock Market Return of Non-Financial Firms Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textThe accrual anomaly arises due to the market mispricing of the total accruals and their components and the investors fail to incorporate the differential persistence of the cash flow components and accruals of firm earnings. This study sought to determine the effect of accruals anomaly on stock market return of non-financial firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The study adopted positivism as data collection and hypothesis development and testing was achieved. The study used quantitative research design to correlate study variables using mathematical analysis methods. Correlation results indicate that accrual anomaly was negatively and significantly associated to stock market return of non-financial firms. Regression results for the static model indicate that accrual anomaly and stock market return of non-financial firms is negatively and significantly related. The results for the dynamic model indicate that accrual anomaly and stock market return is negatively and significantly related. The study concluded that accruals anomaly has a negative and significant effect on stock market return in non-financial firms on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The analysis concluded that the accrual anomaly has implications because firms with high reported accruals exhibit lower stock market returns. High valuations of the investors are related to accruals because of the accounting distortions. The study recommends that having knowledge regarding accrual toward stock return in the future will help the investors to minimize the earning prediction error so that investors can make appropriate decision making. The study recommends for the investors to implement the investment strategy, which to short (sell) low accrual stocks and long (buy) high accrual stocks in Nairobi Securities Exchange with prediction that the stock gains higher return in the future based on the prevailing investor projections.
Keywords: Accruals Anomaly, Stock Market Return & Non-Financial Firms Liste
Factors Affecting Financial Performance of Pension Schemes in Kenya
No full textThe major function of pension funds is to provide ways for individuals to build up financial savings during their effective or working life in preparation for the funding of the consumption requires when they retire from active employment. Pension funds are the major sources of retirement income for many individuals worldwide. Despite the pension sub-sector growing, the faster growth in pension liabilities relative to assets as well as increasing life expectancy has elevated funding risks. In the defined contribution schemes, unremitted contributions have increased due to poor economic performance and the insufficient funding of quasi government schemes. This study sought to analyze the factors affecting financial performance of pension schemes in Kenya. The study specific objectives were to determine the influence of risk management, membership age, member contribution and firm size to determine their effect on the financial performance of the pension schemes. The study used 34 individual retirement benefits schemes registered with the Retirement Benefit Authority. The study used data for the period 2012-2021. The results revealed that there was a positive and significant relationship between risk management and financial performance of pension schemes. There was a negative and insignificant relationship between age of scheme members and financial performance of pension schemes. Member contribution had a positive and significant relationship with financial performance of pension schemes. Firm size revealed a positive and significant relationship with financial performance of pension schemes in Kenya. The null hypothesis on risk management, member contribution and firm size were rejected while that of age of the scheme members was not rejected. The study concluded that there is a strong correlation between risk management, age of scheme members, member contributions and firm size on financial performance of pension funds. The study recommended that pension funds should use the increasing value of their funds to generate returns for the pensioners. In addition, there is need to utilize assets to generate income for the pension funds and include the needs of the different age brackets in the management of the pension schemes.
Keywords: Risk Management, Membership Age, Member Contribution and Firm Size Financial Performance & Pension Scheme