Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
Not a member yet
2323 research outputs found
Sort by
Stakeholders’ Level of Involvement and Achievement of Sustainability Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Kakamega County
No full textTourism is a ‘double edged sword’, while it has immense potential to accelerate socio-economic development in a region; it can also put tremendous pressure and strain on environment and socio-cultural ethos. The issue of sustainability thus is of great importance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stakeholders’ level of involvement and their influence on achieving sustainability tourism and hospitality industry in Kakamega County. The study adopted the mixed method design. Slovin’s formula was used to proportionately select a sample size of 184 respondents from the target population of 349 who were enrolled for the study. Purposive sampling was used to sample tour operator managers, HOD of tourism training institution and managers of local NGO; census was used to sample senior county officers in charge of tourism, senior governmental officers and hotel managers; stratified sampling technique was used to sample registered members of local tourism association. The research instruments used to collect primary data were structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics where frequencies, mean and standard deviation were used; inferential statistics was also conducted which included correlation and regression analyses. The results were disseminated through qualitative description and use of visual tools like tables, bars and pie-charts. It is hoped that the findings of this study will inform policy on how stakeholders engagement influence tourism development in a destination, contribute to the knowledge gap and create room for further researches. The study found that stakeholders’ level of involvement had significant positive relationship with sustainable tourism and hospitality industry (p<.05; ? =1.023). Based on these findings, the study concluded that it is important for the tourism and hospitality industry in Kakamega County to emphasize the role of different stakeholders for its sustainability. This study hence recommended that managements of tourism and hospitality establishments in Kakamega County should develop a comprehensive and elaborate stakeholder’ engagement plans aimed at enhancing sustainability of the sector in the County.
Keywords: Stakeholders, Level, Involvement, Achievement, Sustainability, Tourism, Hospitality
The Level of Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among Road Traffic Accident Victims at Makindu Level 4 Hospital
No full textRoad traffic accidents represent a major epidemic of non-communicable diseases in the current century. Globally it is estimated that 1.2 million people die yearly through road accidents and over 50 million people are disabled. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of depression on road traffic accident victims at Makindu level 4 Hospital. A descriptive research design was used. The study findings were presented by use of bar graphs and pie charts. The main finding of the study was that the prevalence of the road traffic accidents in Makindu Level 4 Hospital was at a high 57.14 percent. The findings from the study further indicate that the RTA victims admitted Makindu level 4 Hospital had a moderate level of depression and a high level of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This study recommended that in formulating policies targeting to reduce the psychological effects on victims due to road traffic accidents, the psychological therapists must be involved from the day of an accident up to the full healing depression. In supporting motor vehicle accidents victims’ well-being then the government should offer public training to all motor vehicle riders and provide riding licenses to them at affordable fees so that survivalist nature increases, and this was also reducing the level of single parenthood.
Keywords: Level of Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Road Traffic Accident Victim
A Moral Response to the Corruption of Individualism in Kenya Today
No full textThis paper undertakes a critical review of a Moral Response to the Corruption of Individualism in Kenya. It is an attempt to investigate the challenge of individualism. Promotion of justice and peace in the world is part of the constitutive mission of the Church. In fulfilling this mission, the church challenges the oppressive structures in society. Research in Kenya reveals that the presence of individualism has affected the people in almost every aspect of life: families, community, governance, religion, land tenure, and access to natural resources. This has resulted into numerous consequences such as inter-ethnic conflicts, poverty, destruction of life and property, and environmental degradation. These factors slow down authentic development and impede the evolution of peoples towards greater socio-economic and spiritual well-being. The study found that the root cause to these challenges is individualism. Since authentic peace must be built upon the values of the dignity of every individual and of solidarity among the people, the study proposed a communitarian ethic as a possible cure to this challenge. This study is an advocacy for the promotion of values such as: justice, peace, human dignity, reconciliation, option for the poor, solidarity and similar. Basing on the Sacred Scriptures, Church tradition, African traditional values and experience, the study has provided numerous recommendations that may help in building a society that values a communitarian ethic. The recommendations invite the church, government, community, and every individual to take part in building a society harmonized by justice and peace.
Keywords: Church teachings, Corruption of Individualism, Keny
Religion, peace and stability in the Middle East
No full textReligion and conflict have grown into an expanding field of research. It is now increasingly recognized that religion has come to play an increasingly important role in shaping today’s world. Middle East region is the origin of the three major monotheistic religious traditions of the world: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. This paper relied much on literature review approach. Past studies were reviewed to uncover the actual situation regarding juvenile delinquency. The conflicts occurring in this region are fought between people who believe in one and the same God (or at least come from a religious tradition). Conflicts with an explicit religious dimension in the issue at stake have increased over time and do now represent about half of all the armed conflicts. Thus, how religious armed conflicts can be prevented from breaking out, and how they can be managed and de-escalated once they have been initiated, are research as well as policy questions of outmost importance. Religion tolerance and respect are critical towards establishing harmony, peace and stability in the Middle East. The acceptance that there is no superior religion to another will ensure that conflicts arising from religion are mitigated.
Key words: Religion, peace and stability in the Middle Eas
Effects of Communication Strategies on Performance of Telecommunication Firms in Kenya: Literature Based Review
No full textThe study sought to examine the effect of communication strategies on performance of telecommunication firms in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the effect of communication styles and integrated communication on performance. The study was anchored on the communication theory. The study was a desktop type of research. The research relied upon past literature to make inferences. The study found that communication styles had a positive effect on performance. The core components of communication styles include passive communication, aggressive communication, submissive communication, manipulative communication and assertive communication. The assertive communication style was found to be the best communication style to be used in the organization. Assertive communication express positive and negative ideas and feelings in an open, honest and direct way. The study found that integrated communication had a positive effect on performance. The integrated communication strategy includes applying both the modern and traditional forms of communication. The communication integration strategy entail applying more than one communication channel or style in the passage of the information. The study concluded effective communication styles have a positive effect on organizational performance. Communication strategies ensures that everyone in the organization has adequate information to prevents any ambiguity. The study also concluded that poor communication skills lead to frequent misunderstandings and frustrations. The study recommended that integrated communication need to be adopted by the firms since it positively affects performance. The organization need to have more than one communication strategy to use. The managers and supervisors at the telecommunication firms in Kenya need to encourage vertical, horizontal and diagonal communication to improve task-related processes, periodic reports concerning departments and individual performance cutting across the organization. The study recommended that assertive communication is the best communication style to be used in the organization. The study suggested communication should flow in all directions in the organization, clarity of the language used should be concise and the person receiving the contents of the communication should pay attention. The organizations need to adopt the most effective communication style based on efficiencies and cost.
Keywords: Communication, communication styles, performance, telecommunication firms, Keny
Project Planning and Performance of Construction Industry: Perspective from the United States of America
No full textConstruction industry is a significant contributor to the U.S. economy. The industry has more than 680,000 employers with over 7 million employees and creates almost 1,293 billion. It contributes an essential portion to the GDP value of the USA, aiding it increase the economic climate. This has resulted in an explosion in building projects throughout the nation companies in this space remain in for quick development. Nonetheless, challenges are swiftly creeping up to hinder this explosion. A few of these consist of: High interest rates, leading to a boost in competition among building and construction firms. Inaccurate supply counts that create a disparity between need and supply. Inaccurate calibration that leads to unstable frameworks and put lots of lives in danger. The majority of these challenges are easy to conquer if business would just consider removing ineffectiveness in their inner processes. The study concluded that it is necessary to comprehend that building projects are fluid, so it isn't uncommon for the strategic plan to alter as the circumstances surrounding the project change.
Keywords. Project, Planning, Performance, Construction industry, United States of America
Effect of Mobile Technology Usage on Competitiveness of Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya
No full textThis study sought to determine the effect of mobile technology usage on competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in Rongai Sub-County, Kenya. This was occasioned by the need to determine the factors that might influence the outcome of small and medium enterprises due to the critical role that these sectors play in achieving macroeconomic goals of nations, especially in developing nations. Women entrepreneurs in this sector form a significant part of the business and by identifying technological innovations that would improve their performance; this would have a positive effect of the entrepreneurs at the micro level as well as the nation at large due to the provision of employment and improvement of the economic position of a country. The specific objectives of the study was to investigate the effect of mobile commerce, mobile marketing, mobile banking, mobile money and mobile communication usage; on the competitiveness of women entrepreneurs in Rongai Sub-County. The research was anchored on theory of planned behavior and technology-organization-environment Framework. The research adopted a mixed method research design wherein both quantitative and qualitative data was used in the same research. The target population was the 564 registered women entrepreneurs in Rongai Sub-County and the main data collection instrument was a questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive measures of mean and standard deviation, while to establish the nexus between the two variables a regression was applied determined. The results indicated that Mobile commerce, mobile marketing, mobile banking and mobile communication significantly influenced competitiveness of women entrepreneurs. However, mobile money did not have a significant effect on competitiveness of women entrepreneurs. The study concluded that mobile technologies play a vital role in increasing business competitiveness for women entrepreneurs. The study recommends that Governmental, support is needed to foster skills of entrepreneurship and regulate the costs of mobile phone operators in order to reduce prices of airtime and make more bandwidth available for broadband usage.
Keywords: Mobile Technology Usage, Competitiveness & Women Entrepreneurs
Land management, Ecology and Degradation in Australia
No full textLand degradation is an idea in which the value of the environment of biophysical is impacted by several associations of human activities affecting the land. It refers to the impairment of natural soil and its components in any ecosystem. It is also seen as a reduction of quality of lend caused by activities of human beings. This has been a major problem since 20th Century and it’s still the problem currently. The study has shown that the lands in the world have seriously degraded. Moreover, the main results of degradation of land is a remarkably decrease in the land productivity especially in the agricultural production and environmental ecosystem. The study captured the major causes of land degradation which include: Deforestation, Overgrazing, over irrigation, quarrying of stones or mining, Desertification, Infrastructure and Population density. The study also shows that adversely impacted remarkably large portions of arable land reducing the economy and wealth of the research region. As land reduces its productivity there’s increase in food insecurity and competition for the available resources. Therefore, the research provided the mitigate strategies of land degradation so as to reduce poverty and food insecurity at the study area.
Key words: Land management, Ecology and Degradation in Australi
Determination of Performance Indicators for Warehouse Evaluation: A Case of Medium Sized Warehouses in Nakuru Town
No full textEvaluation of warehouse processes is required for decision-making purposes and the improvement of warehouse operations. To evaluate warehouse processes, it is essential to identify key indicators in warehouse operations. This research was intended to identify the significant indicators of warehouse performance that would support management decision-making on the improvement of warehouse operations. In this research 20 indicators were identified in four warehouse activities based on the Frazelle model. The most important indicators in each warehouse were then determined. The study was conducted through a descriptive design using a survey of 3 medium warehouses in Nakuru. The study employed purposive sampling to select the sample and sample elements. A sample size of 10 warehouse management officers was used in the study. A structured questionnaire was adopted as a data collection instrument. The research findings indicated that the most important performance indicators for receiving are productivity, storage space utilization, order picking cycle time and shipping productivity. Process improvement steps were proposed based on benchmarking among warehouses handling similar goods. It was noted that different types of warehouses require different indicators. The study concluded that the measurement of warehouse processes is important and enables operations improvements and cost reduction.
Keywords: Warehouse procedures, warehouse performance, warehouse improvement, medium-sized warehouses, Nakuru town, Kenya
 
Moral Hazard Related Determinants of Bad Debts in Deposit Taking Saccos in Nairobi County
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess the moral hazard related determinants of bad debts in DT SACCOs in Nairobi County. The researcher used a descriptive cross-sectional research design in highlighting the determinants of the level of bad debts of SACCOs in Nairobi County. The study used census technique which involves studying the entire population. All the 43 deposit taking SACCOs licensed by SASRA were selected as sampling units. The data was analyzed using quantitative techniques guided by SPSS system of analysis. The presentation of analyzed data was in form of tables, graph and charts. The regression model was used in analyzing the moral hazard related determinants of bad debts in deposit taking SACCO’s in Kenya. The results revealed that moral hazard related determinants and level of bad debts have a positive and significant relationship. The study recommended that the SACCOs should discourage their borrowers from diverting their loans from its original use that they have agreed. This can be done by making follow up of the borrowers and how they are using the loans. This will minimize the number of bad debts in the deposit taking SACCOs. The SACCOs should also have favorable terms of giving loans to their customers so that the customers can be willing to repay back the loans. The Sacco employees should also ensure they have collected all the relevant information from the borrowers so as to avoid false from the borrowers. False information causes increase in bad debts in the long run.
Keywords: Moral Hazard, Bad debts, Deposit Taking SACCOS