Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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The Dynamics in the Contemporary Business Managerial Problems: An American Perspective
No full textThe business world is always dominated with managerial problems that hinder the progress of the business. There is need to have an understanding of the business environment that organizations operate, so as to manage these problems as they arise. The paper looked into the possible business challenges faced by organizations worldwide currently and looks at the interdisciplinary strategies regarding addressing these obstacles. For businesses to make it through in this commercial affordable globe, they have to adapt to certain approaches that are beneficial to them. These approaches are the main management concepts such as the classical approach (which is much more focused on official frameworks of the company), the human relations strategy (focused right into the casual framework and company's employees), systems approach and contingency approach. The paper finds that business needs to take into consideration various interdisciplinary techniques to address managerial problems, as adaptability is crucial to success.
Keywords: Managerial Problems, Classical Approach, Human Relations, Systems Approach & Contingency Approach
Prevalence of Laryngeal Cancer, Voice Function and Communication in Western and Asian Societies
No full textAfter the removal of the larynx, the patient no longer has a source of sound for speaking. The use of voice is an integral part of communication. Laryngeal cancer that results in laryngectomy severely impacts only the patients ability to communicate. Loss of ability to communicate and swallow has a major psychological impact on the individual and their self-concept. It comes with a big psychological shock, followed by a period of grief and isolation and causes upsets to both the individual and their family with effects in personal relationships, loss of work and economic security. Several difficulties that arise from laryngeal cancer treatment include speech problems and swallowing. Speech problems post-surgery and chemo radiation results to altered resonance affecting voice quality and ability to communicate effectively. Literature based review was adopted in this paper. Treatments for patients with laryngeal cancer can have a major impact on voice functioning and communication. Laryngeal cancer treatment affects the upper airways. Two types of treatment are used when patients are diagnosed with advanced laryngeal cancer: exclusive chemo-radiation or total laryngectomy. When the selected option is total laryngectomy, the patient's voice is completely lost, with consequent problems in communication and personal interactions. For patients with laryngeal cancer, the disease can affect the ability to communicate, thereby disrupting interactions with other people and resulting in considerable social and psychological dysfunction. Therefore, communication and general health status are major concerns to patients who are undergoing treatment for laryngeal cancer. It is difficult to assess quality of voice of patients treated for advanced laryngeal cancer, assessing the medical, psychological, and social impact on the life of each patient is difficult, but it is essential in order to establish parameters of rehabilitation and support. The loss of the ability to speak always causes significant changes in a patients lifestyle, the impact of which can be significant. A cured but functionally impaired patient is not the goal of head and neck cancer treatment. Clinicians must interleave decisions regarding the best approaches to tumor eradication with subsequent post-treatment rehabilitation. Since total laryngectomy is still one of the main procedures in the treatment of laryngeal cancer and the patient needs to learn a new way of verbal communication.
Key words: laryngeal cancer, voice function and communicatio
Analysis of Production Factors Affecting Dairy Cattle Farming in Shuangcheng Farm, China
No full textChina is the fifth largest dairy producer in the world and the second largest in Asia. The total revenue of the dairy market in China 359.041 billion yuan in 2017, with a YOY increase of 7.85 percent. The most consumed dairy products in China are fresh milk, milk powder and yogurt, while cheese and butter are less popular. However, the dairy farming in China still faces a number of problems including; poor infrastructure, poor storage facilities, fluctuation in milk prices, delayed payments, expensive feeds, poor marketing system, unfavorable climatic conditions (due to global warming) and inadequate access to credit facilities. The study employed cross-sectional design. Cross sectional research design is appropriate when doing research at a particular time. The study was conducted in Shuangcheng Farm. The target population was 89 dairy where the respondents were the farm managers. Data analysis is the process of systematically arranging field findings for presentation. The study concludes that most farmers lack enough support from the national and county government in proper marketing system and extension services.it further concludes that very expensive feeds increases cost of production thus subsequently reducing profit. Pests and diseases plays are of economic importance in dairy cattle production. Pests and disease causes high mortality rate among the lambs especially during cold and rainy seasons. Dairy farmers require sufficient credit facilities to finance their dairy farming activities. Access to credit facilities for instance access to extension services, access to financial support and dairy equipment is vital in improving milk yield. However, most farmers lack access to affordable credit facilities to buy dairy animal feeds, offer veterinary services and meet other dairy expenses. Dairy feed prices have become extremely risen high in the recent past. Feed costs constitute the major day-to-day expense. The high costs have been further exacerbated by the progressive shift from an extensive to an intensive system of dairy production. The government and should invest more on cattle dairy research and innovation to train farmers in artificial insemination and efficient record keeping. Credit facilities institutions should also reduce the interest rates while giving farmers loans and be flexible in their rules and regulations. Farmers should learn to adopt breeds that are resistant to pests and diseases, invest more on doing research on production and marketing. They also should also adopt to modern production methods.
Keywords: Production factors, dairy Cattle Farming, Shuangcheng Farm, Chin
The Influence of Vendor Managed Inventory on Procurement Function of NCPB in Uasin Gishu County
No full textProcurement is a critical management function for most companies large companies, medium-sized companies, and small companies. Inventories are important to the successful operations of manufacturing and processing industries. However, the procurement function at NCPB does not control their inventories properly hence resulting in understocking and causing the organizations to stay off production, thereby resulting in organizational ineffectiveness. This study sought to determine the influence of vendor-managed inventory on the procurement function of NCPB in Uasin Gishu County. The study adopted a stratified sampling technique in establishing the sample for the study. Yamane sample determination formula. Questionnaires were used by the study to collect the data. The semi-structured questionnaire was self-administered to increase the response rate. The study analysed the results using the SPSS software version 24. Regression analysis was used to develop a regression model expressing the hypothesized relationship between variables under study. The researcher regressed the variables at a 5% significance level to determine the strength of the variables and the direction of their relationship. The study found that vendor-managed inventory has a positive and statistically significant effect on the procurement function at NCPB in Uasin Gishu county (Î =0.327; p<0.05). The study concluded that inventory management needs to be embraced to help the management team appreciate the direct impact of these initiatives. The study recommended that the adoption of flexible inventory management practices through appropriate research will help efficiently and effectively meet the business's diverse yet drastic changing needs as well as address challenges arising from a dynamic global business environment. The study draws the findings about the topic under the study. However, procurement is a function that ensures the overall success of the organization.
Keywords: Vendor Managed Inventory, Procurement
 
Credit Information Sharing and Default Rate of Loans Issued by Commercial Banks Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textThe strength of banking systems is critical in the stimulation of economic growth and development, creation of employment, domestic and foreign investment and poverty reduction. The banking sector in Kenya has been earmarked as a core pillar for the realization of Vision 2030 of making Kenya a middle-income nation through the provision of financial services while promoting macro-economic stability. From 2013 to 2019, the default rate demonstrates a loan default increase in the Kenyan banking industry. The expanding level of default rate among Kenyan business banks has troubled different partners and general society generally. Increasing levels of credit default rates diminishes the liquidity of banks, their productivity and in this way their profitability. This study investigates the effect credit data sharing contribution on default rates of credits given by banks in Kenya with reference to client credit reports sharing, client credit reports pulling and expenses of credit data sharing. The study is pegged on the information asymmetry theory, the adverse selection theory, moral hazard theory lastly the theory of credit information sharing. This research embraced an explanatory research plan targeting all 12 banks listed at the NSE and source data from their reports. Customer credit reports shared, customer credit reports pulled and costs incurred on credit information sharing explained 80.72% of default rates of loans issued by listed commercial banks. Panel regression of coefficients findings indicated that customer credit reports sharing is negatively and significantly related to default rates on loans (β =-0.0446, p=0.000). Customer credit reports pulling and default rates of loans issued by listed commercial banks have a negative and significant relationship (β =-0.03351, p=0.008) while costs incurred on credit information sharing has a positive and significant relationship (β=0.098018, p=0.000) with default rates of loans issued by listed commercial banks. Bank size has a moderating effect of bank size on credit information sharing and default rates of loans issued by listed banks in Kenya since R2 rose from 0.8072 before moderation to 0.8615 after moderation. The study concluded that customer credit reports sharing, customer credit reports pulled and costs incurred on credit information sharing affects default rates of loans issued by commercial banks. This study recommends that commercial banks may need to adopt credit scoring methods to facilitate efficient pulling of credit information from potential loan borrowers. With the adoption of credit scoring, a bank is able to extract information from the main credit bureaus and apply a proprietary algorithm in assessing the risk profile of each applicant. Commercial banks may need to come up with an integrated information system for ensuring that customers get prompt notification on their loan status and any other information. All commercial banks management ought to put emphasis on operational efficiencies as a way of eliminating redundant operational cost and as a result improving financial performance. The study suggests the need for future studies to investigate other exogenous factors influencing default rates among borrowers in commercial banks.
Keywords: customer credit reports sharing, customer credit reports pulling, costs of credit information sharing, bank size, default rates of loan
Influence of Teachers Pedagogical Skills on Provision of Quality Education in Cheptais Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya
No full textEvery educational process must have qualified teachers as a portion of the ingredients essential in the provision of quality educational services to pupils. With the emerging, trends in education in Kenya where the quality of education has become increasingly important, teachers have to keep abreast with the changes in teaching methodologies and curriculum through in service training. In-service education and training programme is geared towards improving teacher pedagogical skills in lesson delivery and help in addressing perennial poor performance of pupils. The paper established the influence the influence of teachers pedagogical skills and to find out the influence of teachers guiding and counseling development skills on provision of quality education in Cheptais Sub-County. This study was guided by the capital theory of school effectiveness and improvement and Total Quality Management Theory (TQM) and the theory of Capital theory of school effectiveness and improvement. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study was 41 public primary schools in Cheptais Sub County the study respondents shall be all school head teachers of the sample schools, 481 teachers and 17 sub-county education officers. Census approach was employed to select head teachers and county education officers, while simple random sampling was used to select teachers. Descriptive results indicated that teachers professional development skills influenced the provision of quality education. Regression of coefficients results showed that teachers pedagogical and teachers guiding has a positive and significant relationship with provision of quality education. It was concluded that teachers’ pedagogical skills and teachers guiding influences the provision of quality education. The study recommended periodic in service training for teachers in order to acquire and sharpen these skills. The study recommends continuous teachers professional development skills through in service training. This would enable a teacher to acquire the necessary pedagogical skills that are useful and very important in the provision of quality education. The study recommends carefully designed curriculum to sharpen teachers pedagogical skills. This is the work for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and colleges offering teaching profession. The study also recommends an introduction of short term programmes in guiding and counseling.
Key words: Teachers Pedagogical Skills, Quality Education, Cheptais Sub-County, Bungoma County, Keny
School General Assembly Committee Involvement and Management Performance in Rwanda
No full textThe involvement of general assembly committee in school, plays a greater role in the performance of the school management where school committee members sit together and share ideas that can lead to the effective school management. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of school General Assembly Committee involvement on school management performance in selected Nine Years Basic Education (9YBE) schools in Nyarugenge district in Rwanda. The study, employed descriptive research design which adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The participants of this study, was 110 respondents derived by using census technique and the research instrument were questionnaire survey and guided interview. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS software. The results indicated that the School General Assembly Committee (SGAC) involves various activities that can support the school management like making fundraising; school planning and decision-making. It was also found that involvement of SGAC enhance the efficient utilization of school resources and improvement of both school infrastructures and discipline. The findings of this study, indicated the R Square of .855 which means that, the effective school fundraising and planning and also decision making, are ready to make an impact on the performance of school management at 85.5% while the remaining 14.5% can be determined by other factors. The results also showed the correlation matrix between SGAC involvement and performance of school-based management. Availability of fundraising is positively correlated with improved infrastructure at 0.176** while school planning activities is correlated with efficient resource utilization at 0.284**. Involvement in decision making is high positively correlated with effective resource utilization at 0.845** with improved discipline at 0.874** and infrastructure development at 0.751**. This study proved the possibility of enhancing school-based management effectiveness through parental involvement. However, cultural differentiation ought to be taken into consideration when applying the research findings to different countries or regions.
Keywords: School General Assembly Committee &, School Based Managemen
Effect of Early Childhood Education on Cognitive Development of Pupils in Lower Primary Education in Rwanda
No full textEnrolling in early childhood education plays a significant role in cognitive development of pupils in lower primary education. This implies that the lower level of cognitive development of pupils in lower primary school can be experienced by children who did not attend early childhood education. The objective of this paper was to establish the effect of ECE on cognitive development of pupils in lower primary education in Kamonyi district in Rwanda. This paper employed correlation research design. The target population was 260 people corresponding to the sample size of 158 respondents that was obtained by using Solvin’s formula. Questionnaires and guided interviews were used as data collection instruments. The findings revealed that that the average of 13.52% of teachers agreed on accessibility, affordability and availability of early childhood education in Kamonyi district and the majority of respondents agreed on affordability of ECE schools in Kamonyi district as was presented by the mean of 2.85 and the standard deviation of 1.31. It was also found that the average of 14.7% of teachers agreed that pupils in lower primary education in Kamonyi indicate a standard level of cognitive development and the majority of 29.5% of teachers with the mean of 2.79 and the standard deviation of 1.36 agreed that there is a standard level of reasoning in lower primary education in Kamonyi district. The results showed that parental involvement is able to affect is 26.5% of the variations in the cognitive development of pupils in lower primary education in Kamonyi district and the remaining 73.5% can be explained by other factors. The study concluded that there is a statistical significance relationship between the variables of early childhood education and those of cognitive development of pupils in lower primary education. This study recommended that parents should be encouraged to enroll their children in ECE and teachers should improve their teaching approaches so as to improve children’s intellectual capacity.
Keywords: Cognitive development, early childhood, early childhood education and lower primary education
Change Management on Performance of Sugar Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
No full textThe aim of the study was to establish the effect of change management on performance sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya. This study was anchored on Kurt Lewin Theory. Cross-sectional research design approach was adopted. Random sampling technique was used to select respondents from two randomly selected sugar manufacturing in Kenya. Total population of the study was 43 respondents. Respondents of the study comprised of employees selected from top, middle and lower levels of management. The sample size of 39 respondents was calculated using Israel formula. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires with closed -ended questions. Simple regression analysis method was used to analyze data. The results revealed that there existed a positive significant relationship between change management and performance of sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya (r=.631, p<0.05). The study concluded that despite the fact that change management was considered to influence performance directly or indirectly, sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya were not living up to the expectations of stakeholders due to constraints of change management. The study also concluded that despite change management having a significant impact on firm performance, to some extent implementing change, training, motivating workers and adopting technology were challenges among pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Kenya. The study recommended that, for improved performance of sugar manufacturing firms in Kenya, management should emphasize and appreciate the role of change management on performance of sugar firms in Kenya. The study further recommended that for pharmaceutical manufacturing firms to perform effectively they should be embracing organizationally practices such as change awareness, implementation and evaluation change of results.
Keywords: Change Management, Firm Performance and Sugar Manufacturing Firms
Role of Green Products on Consumer Buying Behavior in 4-5 Star Restaurants in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textA green product refers to products manufactured by using technology that is friendly to the environment and has no environmental hazards. Consumer buying behavior refers to the activities and experiences of restaurant guests who engage in purchasing, consuming and disposing of goods and services. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of green products on consumer buying behavior in 4-5- star restaurants in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive survey design where a sample size of 19 restaurants were sampled in Nairobi County. Data collection techniques were questionnaires, observation schedules and secondary data sources which were newspapers, articles and Tv programmes. Qualitative data was coded, analyzed using NVIVO for easier analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS with levels of significance established using paired tests with a cut-off point of p being < or =0.05 at 95% confidence and significance levels. The findings showed an R2= 18%, df=1 and p=0.001<0.05 indicating that indeed green products have a positive significant effect on consume buying behavior in 4-5-star restaurants in Nairobi County, Kenya. This implies that consumer buying behavior is influenced by green products in 4-5-star restaurants in Nairobi County.
Key Words: Green Product, Green Consumer Buying Behavior and Environmental Sustainabilit