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Sustainability Strategies and Profitability of Small-Scale Coffee Enterprises in Ethiopia; A Case of Southern People’s Regional State, Gedeo Zone
No full textThis study examined the effect of sustainability strategies on the profitability of small-scale coffee enterprises in Ethiopia, a case of southern people's regional state, Gedeo Zone. The study's specific objectives were to examine the effect of coffee value addition, coffee quality inspection system, human resource development and product diversification on the profitability of small-scale coffee enterprises in southern people's regional state, Gedeo zone in Ethiopia. The study was anchored on five theories: value chain analysis, attribute theory, human capital theory, resource-based view and agency theory. A descriptive research design was utilized in the study. The target population was 28 small scale coffee enterprises. The unit of analysis were Kochere, Yirgachafe, Gedebe and Dila Zuria. The unit of observation was Leaders (board) of SSEs, Heads of Finance SSEs, SSEs Credits committees, Coffee and Tea Authorities officials and Woreda cooperatives Agency from woreda coffee and tea in four woreda of Gedeo Zone. Census was conducted in which all the 28 small-scale coffee enterprises were included in the study. Besides, the researcher used purposive sampling to select 5 leaders of the SSEs, 1 head of finance, 1 Credits committee, 1 Woreda Cooperative agency and 1 Coffee and Tea Authority official from each of the four woreda. The researcher administered questionnaires to the respondents. The correlation results showed that coffee value addition, coffee quality inspection, human resource development and Product diversification were positively and significantly associated. The regression results showed that coffee value addition was positively and significantly related to net earnings (B=.0.217 p=0.036). Also, it was found that coffee quality inspection was positively and significantly related to net earnings (B=.421p=0.000). Moreover, human resource development and net earnings was positively and significantly related (B=.206, p=0.032). Product diversification and net earnings was positively and significantly related (B=.315p=0.002). The study recommended that enterprises need to emphasize much on coffee value addition to increase profitability. The enterprises can enhance coffee value addition through coffee, brandings and bagging. The study also recommended a coffee quality inspection system such as a quality management system for recognition of coffee quality and quality inspection centers to monitor the production and exportation of all coffee through the system. Further, it was recommended that enterprises invest heavily in the employees' training for effective dry processing. Further, it was recommended that the enterprise needs to be involved in the product (coffee) diversification. There should be different coffee qualities for internal consumption and export markets and the enterprises should also deal with more than one coffee brand.
Keyword: Coffee value addition, coffee quality inspection system, human resource development, coffee diversification, sustainability strategies, profitability, small-scale coffee enterprises, Gedeo Zone, Ethiopi
Influence of Monitoring and Evaluation on the Performance of County Government Funded Projects; A Case of Kwale County
No full textThe aim of this study was to examine the influence monitoring and evaluation practices have on the implementation or performance of various development projects implemented in the devolved units in Kenya. This study sought to answer the following questions: To what extent do monitoring and evaluation plans influence government funded projects performance in Kwale County? How does monitoring and evaluation training influence government funded projects performance in Kwale County? What is the extent to which baseline surveys influence government funded projects performance in Kwale County? To what extent do information systems influence government funded projects performance in Kwale County? This study was guided by the theory of change and the realistic evaluation theory. The research design for this study was a mix of ex-post facto research design and survey. The target population of the study was 113 respondents. A sample size of 100 respondents was considered as calculated by the Morgan and Krejcie. From the analysis done, it was noted that majority of the respondents (97%) entirely supported the concept that monitoring and evaluation plans influence the performance of county funded development projects significantly. Further, it was found out that majority (84.6%) of the respondents supported the idea; monitoring and evaluation training influences County funded projects performance. Also, majority of the respondents (95%) strongly supported the idea that baseline surveys have a significant influence on the performance of county funded development projects in Kwale. Finally, it was discovered that user friendliness in the adopted M&E IS influences the implementation of projects in the county significantly (m= 4.0) mean. The researcher suggested that a study be done to examine the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation practices on the performance of development projects in Kwale County and other counties of Kenya.
Key words: M&E plans, M&E training, M&E baseline survey, and M&E IS
Strategic Entrepreneurship Factors and the Financial Sustainability of Micro Enterprises: A Case of Don Bosco Cottage Industries in Kenya
No full textThis study aimed to explore how entrepreneurship coupled with strategic management leads to growth and wealth creation and thus enhance firm’s financial sustainability; Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya have been taken as a case study in this work. As such strategic entrepreneurship factors as used in the study is the overall application of knowledge from the two distinct but closely related disciplines. The following research questions were answered in the study: How have the innovative interventions helped in upscaling the financial sustainability of Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya? How have the risky ventures in their business contributed to the financial sustainability of Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya? How have the proactive strategies contributed to enhancing the financial sustainability of Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya? And lastly how has the effective utilization of the acquired resources enhanced the financial sustainability of the Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya. The theories that informed this study included the economic theory of entrepreneurship, sociological theory of entrepreneurship, psychological theory of entrepreneurship and resource based theory, (RBV). To assess the degree the Don Bosco cottage industries have utilized these factors for financial sustainability, data from five Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya were collected by the use of a questionnaire. To analyze the data quantitatively in both descriptive and inferential statistics, SPSS was employed to analyze the collected data and presented by using tables, bars and pie charts for the ease of understating of the findings. The descriptive statistics entails percentages and frequencies and percentages, inferential statistics including correlation and regression. Results revealed that center innovation (β=.114, t=2.312 p=0.023), risk taking (β =.154, t=3.298 p=0.001), proactiveness (β =.119, t=2.422p=0.017) and use of resources and capabilities (β=.172, t=3.431, p=0.001) have a positive and significant effect on financial sustainability. The model fitness revealed that the four independent variables satisfactorily explain 61.5% of the variation in financial sustainability. The study recommends that SMEs and particularly Don Bosco cottage industries in Kenya should adopt and implement strategic entrepreneurial factors in their businesses for growth and wealth creation and their financial sustainability.
Keywords: Strategic Entrepreneurship, Financial Sustainability, Micro Enterprises, Don Bosco Cottage Industrie
Influence of Social Capital on Performance of Social Amenities Projects in Rural Areas of Tanzania: A Case of Water Projects in Puge Division, Tabora
No full textThe development of rural areas is measured on various indicators and various parameters. Social amenities are some of those indicators that rural development can be measured. Social capital is linked to the development of rural areas. However, its role in the development of social amenities is still a paradox that this study intended to divulge. In light of this, the study sought to evaluate the impact of social capital on the performance of social amenities projects in Puge Division of Tabora in Tanzania. In this case, only the water project was considered. The study was guided by three objectives namely: evaluating the way structural social capital influences performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora, assessing the degree to which relational social capital influence the performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora and evaluating the influence of cognitive social capital on the performance of social amenities projects of Puge Division in Tabora. To effectively pursue this study, a descriptive research design was used. This enabled the collection of data through administering of the interviews and questionnaires. The validity of the research instruments was met by involving the experts in evaluation of the data collection instruments. The research project supervisor and panelists were involved in the scrutiny of the data collection instruments. The questionnaires had a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.985 signifying that the instrument was reliable. The data was collected from a sample of 145 participants who included 133 Community members to which questionnaires were administered and an interview was conducted 1 District Water Engineer, 5 Water Committee Members, 3 Ward Executive Officers and 3 Village Executive Officers. Descriptive statistics basically frequencies were used to analyze quantitative data whereas thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the qualitative data. It was found that the level of performance of social amenities projects including the water projects in Puge Division was not satisfactory. The results indicated that some of the aspects of structural social capital were reported to influence the performance of social amenities projects positively and some do not. Moreover, it was established that relational social capital had a positive influence on the performance of social amenities project and lastly a negative influence of cognitive social capital on performance of social amenities projects was also reported. Specifically, more than 83.3 per cent of the participants indicated that they do not meet their obligations in making the water projects extremely well. Also, the results revealed that most of the aspects examined in the three forms of structural social had a positive influence on the performance of social amenities projects. The study recommended that there should be collective and practical measures including but not limited to policy reform and local community building to create awareness on the aspects of social capital and their significant influence on the performance of social amenities projects which are meant to improve their livelihoods. This may increase the level of involvement of the members of communities in all processes involved in the development of water projects and other amenities projects.
Keywords: Performance, social amenities, Water Projects, social capital, Puge division, Tabora, Tanzani
Diffusion of Innovation and Leadership in Philadelphia Firms
No full textThe development of commercially viable new products requires technological and market possibilities are linked effectively in the product's design. Innovators in large firms have persistent problems with such linking, however. This research examines these problems by focusing on the shared interpretive schemes people use to make sense of product innovation. Philadelphia has long been perceived as a gritty, hard-working city. However, for some reason, when it comes to business innovation and growth, the city does not always get the praise it deserves. The paper describes in some depth differences among the thought worlds which keep innovators from synthesizing their expertise in Philadelphia. The paper also details how organizational routines exacerbate problems with knowledgeability, capability, innovation implementation and diffusion of innovation barriers. The main implication of the study is that to improve innovation in large firms it is necessary to deal explicitly with the interpretive barriers described here. Suggestions for practice and research are offered.
Keywords: Diffusion of Innovation, Leadership & Philadelphia Firms
Influence of Assertive Leadership on Organizational Development: A Case of Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC)
No full textAssertive leadership as an emerging domain of inquiry in leadership research has been portrayed as a new phenomenon in analyzing the role of leaders in organizations. The concept of assertive leadership has recently developed as an amendment to ethical and transformational leadership. It is considered that problems related to assertive leadership can be better observed from the position of the leader since the assertive leadership construct is mostly based on self-awareness rather than the evaluation of other individuals. The study related the concept of assertive leadership in refining organizational development of state corporations with a case of Kenya Power and Lighting Company using self-regulation and self-awareness. KPLC was chosen for this case study as it one of the key enablers of the Vision 2030 and energy security remains a matter of national priority. Over the years, the corporation has undergone major leadership and strategic changes in its business processes and portfolio as well as in its organization structure and where key leadership has been a key challenge. Both the Self-Regulation Theory and Self-Awareness Theory informed the study. Primary data was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The findings indicated that self-regulation and self-awareness were positively and significantly related to organizational development Thus, both the research hypotheses that self-regulation and self-awareness as a measure of leadership assertiveness has no significant effect on organizational development Kenya Power and Lighting Company were rejected since their p-values were below the critical 0.05. Based on the study findings, the study concluded that regulation and organizational development is positively and significantly related as was the case for self-awareness, which was also positively and significantly related to organizational development. The study concluded that the assertive leadership fosters greater self-awareness, an internalized moral perspective, the balanced processing of information, and the relations on the part of the leaders working with their subordinates, thus fostering positive self-development. The study recommends on management of the public sector institutions on managerial confidence and assertiveness leadership as it command the respect of their employees and superiors. The leadership should maintain good relationships with other staff members as an assertive leadership concept and can be enhanced by embracing the self-regulation aspect on behavior regulation, self-control, cognitive reappraisal and self-discipline.
Keywords: Assertive Leadership, Self-Regulation, Self-Awareness, Organizational Development, State Corporations & KPLC
Mountain Tourism and Sustainable Tourism Development: Perspective from the United States of America
No full textSustainable Tourism aids in making a minimum impact on the local environment and culture as its essential tourism vision is narrower. Not only that, it helps in generating incomes and bring employment in the local communities while conserving the local ecosystems. Mountains provided the sites of some of the earliest forms of tourism: in the 18th century the Alps became an essential stop for English aristocrats, when it became fashionable to make the Grand Tour, the canons of landscape aesthetics, in USA, conferred a special value on mountain vistas. Not only has this attraction to mountains persisted, it has become global. There is no region in the world today where the special qualities of mountain landscapes are not acknowledged. Associated qualities have now become assets, valuable for the development of mountain tourism: snow, with the invention and spread of skiing; the diversity of local peoples and traditional cultural practices; the abundance of mineral and hot springs; the sacred dimension attributed to many mountain sites and summits; biological and geological diversity, reflected in unique geological formations and plant communities, as well as emblematic animal species, such as chamois, ibex, mountain lions, and pandas. Tourism in the United States is a large industry that serves millions of international and domestic tourists yearly. Foreigners visit the U.S. to see natural wonders, cities, historic landmarks, and entertainment venues. Americans seek similar attractions, as well as recreation and vacation areas. The United States is one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide. Every year, the country's famous cities, national parks, and entertainment options attract millions of visitors from around the globe. In 2019, the number of international tourist arrivals to the U.S. stood at almost 80 million after being on the rise for over a decade. Thanks to this influx of visitors and a boost in U.S. travel spending, the travel and tourism industry contributed over 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars to the country's GDP and supported millions of jobs in 2019. However, following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the U.S. travel industry's employment rates and economic output were left severely impaired.
Keywords: Mountain, Tourism, Sustainable, development, USA
Effect of Social-Economics Characteristics on Adoption of Agricultural Research Findings and Farming Productivity in Kenya
No full textThe main purpose of the paper was to determine how farmers’ social-economic characteristics affect adoption of agriculture research findings. Further, the study established effect of Agricultural Research Findings on Farming Productivity in Kenya. The study was informed by innovation diffusion theory. A multistage sampling technique was used to select sites and draw sample of farmers for the study. Findings from Heckman two-stage selection model showed that farmers’ gender, age and income have a positive and significant influence on the adoption of agricultural research findings. Moreover, the adoption of agricultural research findings results in improved farming productivity. However, farmers’ education exhibited no significant effect on the adoption of agricultural research findings. It could be that the farmers in the study area are within the same level of education hence no influence on the adoption of research findings.
Keywords: Agricultural Research Findings, Farming Productivity, Social-Economic Characteristics, Income, Age, Education, Gende
Teachers’ Academic Collaboration and Students’ Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda
No full textThe collaboration of teachers in the performance of academic activities promotes the students’ academic performance in secondary schools. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the influence of teachers’ academic collaboration on student academic performance in selected schools of Kirehe-Rwanda. The study was guided by descriptive survey research design. The target population was 138 teachers and 10 head teachers of secondary schools in Kirehe District corresponding to the sample size of 108 using Solvin’s formula. Questionnaires and documentation review were used as the research instruments in data collection. The findings indicated that the variables of academic performance such as improved grades in national exams, improvement in class participation, improvement in Homework competition and improved attendance can be affected by the changes in the independent variable discussion based on pedagogical issues, collaborate teaching, internal seminars, students monitoring, teacher monitoring and team investigation at 93.3%. This also implies that the remaining 6.7% can be affected by other variables. However, the study also showed that there is a statistical relationship between teachers’ academic collaboration and students performance as r = .108 and P-value = .000 < .05. The study recommends that people involved in education sector in Kirehe are recommended to work collaboratively in order to enhance teachers’ collaboration through various activities such as trainings, workshops, in service trainings, mentorship meetings and others.
Keywords: Academic Collaboration, Students’ Academic Performance, Public Secondary Schools & Rwanda
Effect of Teachers’ Preparedness on Competence Based Curriculum Implementation in Public Boarding Secondary Schools in Rusizi District in Rwanda
No full textThe effective preparedness of teachers plays a significant role in implementation of Competence Based Curriculum (CBC). However, some learning instruction poorly implement CBC due to the lack of standardized teachers’ preparedness. This paper therefore, sought to investigate the effects of teachers’ preparedness on CBC implementation in Rusizi District. Descriptive research design was employed. The target population was 148 people comprising 8 head teachers and 140 teachers. The sample size was 112 respondents obtained by using solvin’s formula. Data collection tools used was interview guides and questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 was adopted for data management. The findings revealed that, teacher preparedness in boarding secondary schools located in Rusizi District were characterized by teacher readiness, subject content knowledge of teachers and technological skills presented as it was revealed by average of 64.90% of teachers agreed. The findings indicated that an average of 67.88% of teachers agreed that competence based curriculum implementation could be done through effective lesson delivery, competence-based strategies as well as students’ participation in boarding secondary schools. The findings also revealed that effective teachers’ preparedness improve the level of competence based curriculum implementation as the R square of .813 was obtained. This implied that the remaining 18.7% can be explained by other factors. The study concluded that teacher preparedness has a significant effect on competence-based curriculum implementation in boarding schools in Rusizi district in Rwanda. It was revealed that the standard level of teachers’ preparedness may increase effective implementation of competence-based curriculum. This study recommended that The Ministry of Education should strengthen teacher professional trainings in order to improve their level of readiness and for proper competence based curriculum implementation.
Keywords: Teacher’ preparedness, Competence Based Curriculum, teachers’ readiness, competence, implementation and curriculum