Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Digital Supply Chain Leadership and Organizations Performance
No full textDigitalization is changing the way organizations manage their supply chain and their daily logistical processes. The development of digitalized solutions have created a completely new business ecosystem. Additionally, customers are demanding more innovative, more diverse and greener products. This creates numerous challenges for all actors in the supply chain; yet, they also present an opportunity to create solutions and practices that improve performance and productivity. Companies around the world are re-thinking and transforming their supply chains as they see new digital technologies and organizational models coming to the forefront of business. At the same time, there is a lack of information available to business leaders about what it takes to have a true Digital Supply Chain (DSC) and how to operate one. Strong leadership is necessary to drive the transformational change required to build and apply digital capabilities across organizations. Digital transformation in the supply chain is a leadership problem. This study therefore sought to assess the digital supply chain leadership on organizations performance and the dynamics of leadership on the digital supply chain. The study finds that as customers and end consumers demand higher service and greater channel access, the importance of digitization within supply chain and talent who know how to harness insights will only continue to increase. Bringing new leaders into the supply chain and ensuring their success require buy-in and commitment throughout the organization.
Keywords: Digital Supply Chain, Leadership & Performance
The Impact of Human Resource Planning on Organizational Performance; A Case of Manufacturing Firms in Austria
No full textThe study sought to examine the effect of human resource planning on organizational performance in Austria in the case of manufacturing firms. The research study was a literature-based review. The study results indicated that human resource planning enables businesses to meet their current and future demands for talent, allowing human resource managers to anticipate and develop the skills most valuable to an organization and providing the enterprise with the optimal balance of staff in terms of available skill-sets and numbers of personnel. Human resource planning is inclusive of adequate funding, competence, age and cultural background. The study found that when the human resource preparation is poor, it will end up hiring unqualified personnel who will result in inefficiency to the company. The study concluded that human resource planning is positively related to performance. The study concluded that human resource planning is key in determining performance. To hire and choose a suitable labor force there is the requirement to know the particular tasks and what the tasks require and also it is important to have a proper method of rewarding those staff members who are performing well to promote their retention. Employees need to be maintained to make sure the company has a reliable workforce for a longer period which is trustworthy within the organization's properties. The study recommended that a company need to have a correct method of maintaining, rewarding and filling in positions of the retired staff. The study further recommended the need of the companies to put aside adequate finances to hire competent employees when needed. The study also recommended that human resource planning should establish interventions, innovations as well as campaigns to allow the company to fulfill its needs. In addition, the human resources supervisors need to have positive functioning relationships with the staff members to ensure they deliver according to the organization's goals. Furthermore, the study recommended that both the internal and external elements should be much taken into considerations for the organization to be competitive in the market.
Keywords: Human Resource planning, performance, manufacturing firms, Austri
Impact of Educational Requirements on Employee Wages, at the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Malawi
No full textThe purpose of the study was to investigate the extent to which educational requirements impact employee wages, at the Archdiocese of Lilongwe in Malawi. The study used descriptive and quantitative survey study design in the investigation and inferential statistics was used through correlation analysis. The target population comprised of the employees working at the Archdiocese of Lilongwe Malawi with a total number 300 employees. The study sampled 168 employees representing the top managers, middle managers and low level employees through stratified sampling, simple random sampling and census for the two top strata. Both primary and secondary sources were used in collecting information. Questionnaires were used as the main research instrument and other data collecting procedures included survey, interviews and observation. Analysis of data gathered through the questionnaire was realized through the use of the Software Package for Social Science (SPSS Version 21.0). The findings from the study showed that the ranking of the relationships in responses and in strength showed that educational requirements (.712**) had strong correlation strength with employee wages. The study recommended that the organization should invest in education and training opportunities in order to enhance productivity and profitability. The organization should focus on education adding value to employees as education plays an important role in a variety of domains including economic growth, wages income inequality and society. In addition, the management should make learning opportunities more readily available and accessible and provide flexible learning options. Management should also teach employees to own their career development that is individuals must own, self-direct and control their learning fortunes.
Key words: Educational Requirements, Employee Wages, Archdiocese of Lilongwe, Malaw
Contingency Human Resource Management and Performance of Listed Commercial Banks in Kenya
No full textEffective management of Human resources that includes Contingency HRM is a major determinant of success in businesses. Little information is available on the impact of Contingency HRM on performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of Contingency HRM on performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. The research addressed four specific objectives, namely: to assess the influence of continuous gap analysis on performance of the listed banks, to establish to what extent head hunting of personnel influences performance of the listed banks, to examine the influence staff training on performance of the listed banks and lastly to assess the influence of staff rewards on performance of the banks. This study adopted a survey design that incorporated quantitative methods to help establish the relationship between Contingency HRM and performance of listed commercial banks. The population was the senior and middle level managers based at the head offices in Nairobi County. The researcher adopted stratified random sampling where the managerial staff was stratified into top, middle and low-level managers and the banks was grouped differently. Purposive sampling was then used to select the senior level managers while simple random sampling was used to select the middle level managers so as to represent their entire population. Data for the study was collected from a sample of the senior level and middle level managers of the listed banks at the head offices through questionnaires and financial statements. The questionnaires contained specific close ended questions to gather the required information. The financial statements of the banks were compared with the previous year to establish the dependent variables of profitability, market share and the number of bank branches. The research analysis included descriptive statistics i.e. mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. Correlation analysis and factor analysis was also used to analyze the data. The descriptive statistics indicated that most of the commercial banks has contingency human resources management which influence their performance. Spearman’s correlations revealed a positive correlation between the independent variable (continuous gap analysis, staff training, staff rewards and head-hunting) and the dependent variable (performance of commercial banks in Kenya). Finally, the study concluded that staff rewards, staff training, continuous gap analysis and head-hunting affects performance of commercial banks in Kenya.
Keywords: Continuous gap analysis, head hunting of personnel, staff training, staff rewards, performance, banks, Keny
Effect of Competitive Advantage on the Relationship between Strategic Leadership and Performance of International Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya
No full textIn developing countries, International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) have taken active and complementary roles in sustainable human development. Despite the role of INGOs in development, the issues of sustainability, availability of funds, and supportive leadership have remained a major challenge in developing countries. The concept of competitive advantage has been recognized as a central building block in strategic management and an important precedent to organizational performance. Competitive advantage is a deliberate effort by the organization to align its internal conditions and capabilities with changes in the external environment. This study sought to establish the mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between strategic leadership and performance of international non-governmental organizations in Kenya The study was anchored on strategic leadership theory, upper echelons theory and resource-based view theories. For methodology, descriptive cross-sectional survey design covering 277 respondents was adopted. Semi structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The study findings indicated that data collection tool/questionnaire was reliable as Cronbach alpha was greater than 0.7 for all variables. The results indicated a significant mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between strategic leadership and performance of international non-governmental organizations in Kenya. This means that the influence of strategic leadership on performance is indirect through competitive advantage. The study concluded that both competitive advantage and strategic leadership concurrently influence organizational performance positively. It is recommended that international non-governmental organization must be able to identify their competitive advantage.
Keywords: Strategic Leadership, Competitive Advantage, Performance, International Non-Governmental Organizations & Kenya
Moderating Effect of Situational Leadership on the Relationship between Change Management and Sugarcane Productivity in Sugar Factory Cane Catchment Areas in Kenya
No full textThis study sought to determine the moderating effect of situational leadership on the relationship between change management and sugarcane productivity in sugar factory cane catchment areas in Kenya. The philosophical foundation of this study was positivism. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A sample of 478 respondents were used where 400 were farmers and 78 were the factory leaders. Regression analysis was used to establish the moderating effect. This was assessed using coefficient of determination (R-Square), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the regression coefficients. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed with an interaction term (a product of Change Management and Situational Leadership) introduced as an additional predictor. The findings indicated that the P-value of the interaction term (CM*SL) is 0.000< 0.05 and the R2 increased from 56.3%, 64.8% and 67 % after the interaction term and thus, Situational Leadership moderates the relationship between change management and sugarcane productivity in sugar factory cane areas in Kenya. The study rejected the null hypothesis and adopted the alternative hypothesis that there is a significant moderating effect of Situational Leadership in the relationship between change management and sugarcane productivity in sugar factory cane areas in Kenya. The study concluded that there exist a moderating effect of situational leadership on the relationship between change management and sugarcane productivity in sugar factory cane catchment areas in Kenya. Situational leadership was confirmed to be a very effective leadership style to motivate farmers in different in the sugarcane sector. The study recommends that situational leadership will be core in incorporating the competence of managers to identify the problems at hand and be able to diagnose for solution finding in the sugar factory sector. The sugar factories leadership needs to focus on running the sugar factories as a business that must survive in a fierce competitive environment.
Keywords: Situational Leadership, Productivity, Sugarcane Factorie
Ethical Issues Associated with Computer as an Instrument to Technological Growth in China
No full textNew advancements especially in the field of information technology has actually brought new scientific gains to humans however it ought to be noted that the entry of new scientific and technological areas will constantly require to have ethical issues and restrictions. The purpose of the study was to analyze the ethical issues in computer as an instrument to technology growth in China. The study was literature review based. The participants of the study contained 20 computer system experts. 10 of them were graduates of computer education and educational technologies divisions, who worked as computer science instructors in China. Structured interviews were conducted with participants to identify their point of views concerning research study questions. Unauthorized access to the systems which is hacking is done utilizing different and new techniques and is increasing each day. Computer ethics has long been taken into consideration by the scientists. Interviews were organized separately with each participant in time slots and places they determined. The study concluded that computer ethics with a reference to personal privacy, accuracy, building and availability; investigated the beginnings of these issues; growth of internet and computer technology globally has resulted in the growth of new types of global criminal offense specifically Internet associated. The research suggested that the government of China should develop and apply a minimum set of directing rules of conduct that would certainly help with effective communications and reliable commerce via making use of electronic medium and to make certain the precision of data, in addition to shielding it from unauthorized accessibility or unintentional disclosure to improper people.
Keywords: Ethical Issues, Computer, Technological Growth, China
 
Effect of Skills Training on Entrepreneurial Ventures among Food and Beverage Diploma Graduates from Tertiary Institutions in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textEntrepreneurship is recognized as a beacon of business start-ups. It drives individuals to realize their synergy, visualize and strategize / focus towards entrepreneurial path. It is a vibrant process aimed at creating economic returns through innovations. This paper evaluated the effectiveness training skills on entrepreneurial ventures among food and beverage diploma graduates from tertiary institutions. Fourteen institutions from Nairobi City County were targeted for the paper, which included two public universities, four private universities, three government technical institutions and five private training colleges. Descriptive and inferential procedures were used in data analysis. For quantitative data, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used, while for qualitative data, thematic analysis was used. From the inferential analysis, the researcher observed that the training skills do not have significant effects on entrepreneurial ventures with corresponding p-values 0.604. From these observations, we recommend that the government and the educational institutions should have entrepreneurial programmes that educate the learners on the latest market trends and needs. They should make provision for creativity, innovation, and tap new market trends that require expertise. With the new technology and the digital world, heavy investment is required. This will be a good prerequisite for proper policies that will ensure that the Government attains its Vision 2030 with ease.
Keywords: Training skills, Food, Beverage, Entrepreneurial Ventures, Tertiary Institutions & Kenya
Effect of Contingency Planning on Survival of the Hotels in California, USA amid COVID 19 pandemic
No full textMost of the businesses are collapsing amid the Covid 19 pandemic. The most affected industry in the entire World is the hotel industry. Thus, the study sought to examine the effect of contingency planning on the survival of the hotels in California, USA, amid COVID 19 pandemic. The study adopted the explanatory research design. The target population included employees from the sampled hotels in California. The key respondents in the study were the employees from the management and also the support staff. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. The results of the study showed that contingency planning and firm survival is positively and significantly associated. It was further found that contingency planning is positively and significantly related to firm survival (?=.069 p=0.021). It was noted that contingency planning explains 18.7% of the variations in the survival of the hotels. Based on the study's findings, it was concluded that contingency planning is positively and significantly related to firm survival. Contingency planning includes contingency identification, developing a contingency planning policy statement, identifying preventive controls and protection systems to be used in case of an emergency, and developing contingency planning strategies. The planning also includes allocating adequate resources to be used in case an emergency occurs. Contingency planning is all about developing strategies to recover from hardship. The contingency recovery plans include steps written down or communicated to all that describes how the organization responds when disaster or misfortune strikes. The contingency recovery plans also include establishing a communication system for the recovery plans in the organization. The study recommended the management involve other employees in the development of contingency planning strategies. It is recommended that the firms ensure that the contingency allocation is adequate to cover potential events not explicitly accounted for previously in the budgets. Moreover, the management of the firms needs to ensure there is effective management of contingency funds in the firms. Furthermore, it is recommended that the contingency allocation be based on the expected magnitude of the risks if it occurs. The study suggested that there is the need to have a disaster recovery team that is always ready for the recovery plans in the organization. A written recovery plan that describes how the organization will respond when disaster or hardship strikes need to be drafted. It is recommended that there should be a time frame developed for the recovery plans in the organization. The government should also offer some subsidies to the firm in times of crisis, especially when the entire World is under the pandemic of COVID 19
Personal Hygiene Practices of Food Handlers and the Bacteriological Quality (Escherichia coli) of the Vegetable Salad in Private Hospitals’ in Mombasa County
No full textConsumption of fresh vegetable salad has increased all around the world. Many consumers strive to eat healthy diets to protect themselves from illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Besides the health benefits, vegetable salad has been associated with outbreaks of food borne disease in many countries. Various health problems can arise from the consumption of contaminated prepared salad if hygiene practices are not adhered to. The study assessed the relationship between the personal hygiene of the food handlers and the bacteriological quality of the vegetable salad in registered private hospitals’ in Mombasa County. Laboratory tests were carried out to isolate and identify Escherichia coli strains from 180 prepared homogenate samples from carrots, tomatoes, and lettuce using standard media, biochemical tests and serology where applicable. Cultures were only considered positive when unsatisfactory limits were met, that is, E. coli ?10 2 cfu /g. An observation method was used to assess the personal hygiene practices of 135 food handlers in private hospitals. Escherichia coli organism was predominantly present in the vegetable salad cultures. Escherichia coli in tomato samples; before washing 11.7 (%); preparation stage 8.3 (%) and service stage 13.3 (%). In lettuce samples, Escherichia coli isolated: before washing 31.7 (%); preparation stage 8.3 (%) and service stage 13.3(%). While in carrot samples: before washing 25 (%); preparation stage 10 (%) and service stage 18.3(%). Results of the Multiple linear regression analysis indicated an overall significant causal relationship between the personal hygiene of the food handlers {Personal Protective Equipment use (scale 5-1), Good grooming (scale 5-1), good practice (scale 5-1), Hand Hygiene (scale 5-1), physical examination (scale 5-1)} and the bacteriological quality of the vegetable salad in private hospitals in Mombasa County. The study recommends that the Ministry of Health, in particular the public health department should identify a monitoring and surveillance team to carry out spot checks on food production areas and assess their capacity in terms of personnel, facilities and equipment. There is need to carry out regular analysis of hand swabs from the food handlers.
Keywords: Personal Hygiene, Food Handlers, Bacteriological Quality, Escherichia coli & Vegetable Salad