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Management Commitment, Employee Training and Implementation of Quality Management Systems in Motor Vehicle Sector in Kenya: A Case Study of Isuzu East Africa Limited
No full textA successful QMS implementation requires top management commitment and quality employees' training before, during and after the implementation process. This paper assessed the effects of top management commitment and employee training on implementation of quality management systems in motor vehicle sector in Kenya with reference to Isuzu East Africa Limited Ltd. This paper begins by providing a general perspective of QMS and then narrows down the literature review to top management commitment, employee training and implementation quality management systems a motor vehicle. The review was followed by data collection by administering 63 questionnaires to staff at IEAL from top management to middle managers and lower-level employees. The employees were selected by use of stratified random sampling. Primary data was supplemented by secondary data in literature review. Data was analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation. Finally research findings, recommendations and conclusion were made.
Key Words: Employee Training, Motor Vehicle Sector, Quality Management Systems, Management Commitment, Total Quality Management
Adoption of Competitive Strategies in Textile Industries in Australia
No full textThe Australian textile industry employs approximately 36,000 people out of the 23 million in the country. Although this is a relatively small amount, Australia has still become internationally known for garment companies such as Billabong or Van Heusen, among others. Although fashion is one of the larger exports for Australia, it also provides raw goods and machinery as well. Due to the massive amount of open land in Australia, it is capable of growing a variety of natural textile fibers, such as cotton, hemp, and Banyan tree fibers. Australia's unique natural materials used for textiles make it stand out in the market. However, the textile industries have experience stiff completion both in the importation of raw material and export of finished products in the market. Because various textiles industries in Melbourne, Australia still use obsolete technology, the products produced are of low quality which are not competitive in the market. High production cost makes textiles firms to be more prone to stiff competition. As a result, textile companies as a result is exposed to a risk of losing its market share and experience high employee turnovers, diluting the workforce quality and therefore quality of services offered. Therefore, the study looked into the influence of competitive strategies on performance of textile industry in Melbourne, Australia. Descriptive research design was adopted and quantitative data collected was analyzed by the use of ANOVA and inferential statistics. Based on the findings in relation to specific objective, the study concluded that competitive strategies positively lead to competitive advantage. Competitive strategies influences customer satisfaction, ensures superior quality services and products, customer oriented products, and positive feedback from customers. .
Key words; Cost Leadership Strategies, Focus Strategies, Differentiation Strategies, Export Processing Zone & Australia
Leadership Practices, Employee Competence and Performance of the Betting Companies in Kenya: A Case of Sportpesa Betting Company
No full textThe general objective of the study was to determine effect of leadership practices and employee competence on performance of the betting companies in Kenya. Despite of the betting companies recording super normal profit, due to tremendous growth of the industry, they have been accused of their ignorant on the welfare of the general citizen. In this regard, this study sought to investigate the effects leadership and employee competence would have on performance of betting companies in Kenya. The study was anchored on stewardship theory which informed on the study variables. Empirical studies on the relationship between leadership, employee competence and performance of the company was reviewed. Descriptive research design was used and the study targeted 457 employees at Sportpesa betting company. Stratified random sampling technique was used as the population was heterogeneous and the sample size of 138 employees was selected from each stratum. Pilot study was carried out to 46 employees. Collected data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics (percentage, mean and standard deviations) and inferential statistics including correlation and regression determined the relationship between variables. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's coefficient alpha calculate and obtained at 0.872 for leadership and 0.78 for employee competence. There was a relationship between the leadership practices and the performance of the betting company (B=0.562, p-value = 0.000 < 0.05) and employee competence and the performance of the betting company (B=0.519, p-value = 0.000 < 0.05). The study concluded that leadership is the key determinant in performance of the betting companies followed by the employee competence. The study recommended that there is a need for the leadership of betting companies to ensure that policies are in place which regulates the accessibility of the betting services as well as running of the betting companies for the benefit of the economy.
Key Terms: Performance, betting companies, leadership, employee competenc
Effect of Credit Transfer on Performance of Selected Technical Vocational and Training Education Institutions in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textTechnical Vocational and Training Education Institutions (TVETs) are partnering with universities to enhance performance, remain sustainable and enhance competitiveness. The partnership is geared towards sharing of infrastructure, branding of the TVET institutions, enhancing the quality of the programmes and credit transfer on TVET graduates by universities. Despite the new development in the partnership, only a few local scholars have focused their research on partnership practices between TVET institutions and universities. The study investigated the effect of credit transfers on the performance of TVET institutions in Nairobi County. The study design was descriptive research design. The target population comprised of eight TVET institutions that have active strategic partnerships with universities: Highlands College, Institute of Advanced Training (IAT), Regional College, EASA, Kenya Institute of Professional Studies (KIPS), Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KEMS), Kenya College of Insurance and Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) (TVETA). The sample size consisted of a list of 145 respondents. The study used self-administered questionnaires. Data analysis was through descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings were that there exists significant positive relationship between credit transfer and performance of TVET institutions. The study concluded that there exists significance effect of credit transfer on performance of TVET institutions in Nairobi County. The study recommended was that to enhance performance, TVET institutions should get into partnerships with other institutions of higher learning with clear roadmaps on credit transfer policies.
Keywords: Credit Transfer, Performance of TVET Graduates
Relationship between Parental Occupations and Students Discipline in Private Secondary Schools of Rwanda: The Case Study of Gasabo District
No full textThe children themselves feel good and bring happiness to the parents and to the community as whole, when they get adequate time to be with their parents for socialization. Bandura (1969) asserted that children were influenced by what they saw their parents doing and parents are primary role model to their children. This study aimed to establish relationship between parental occupations and students discipline in private secondary schools in Gasabo District Kigali, Rwanda. The specific objectives that guided the study were: to determine the various types of disruptive behaviors among students in private secondary schools; to determine parental occupations and their influences on students discipline in private secondary schools, and to establish relationship between parental occupations and students discipline in private secondary schools in Gasabo District, Kigali-Rwanda. Research questions were: what are the various types of disruptive behaviors among secondary school students in Gasabo district, what are parental occupations and their influences on students discipline in private secondary schools, to what extent do parental occupations correlate with students discipline in Gasabo District, Kigali- Rwanda. The study findings will help head teachers and other educational stakeholders to improve students discipline. It will also reveal parental occupations and their influence on students discipline. The study targeted 563 people. Then solvins formula for sampling was used to select 235 respondents as sample size for the study. Questionnaires, interview guide and observation were used as data collection instruments. Descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, Std. Deviation and percentages), thematic approach and inferential statistics (Karl Pearson product moment correlational coefficient) were used to analyze collected data. Tables, graphs and textual model were used to present collected data. Coding, cleaning and analysis of quantitative data was done with the help of Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21st. The finding revealed truancy, physical aggressions to words others, drudge abuse, inappropriate dressings, inappropriate use of school materials, sexual abuse, absenteeism and delinquency as the common disruptive behavior among students in private secondary schools in Gasabo District Kigali Rwanda. The second objective found that parental jobs, domestic chores, chatting, Social events, frequent meetings for governments officers, social media addiction and leisure during the weeks have absolved parental responsibilities to the children and this created a gap to students to experience immoral activities. In additions to this technology specifically social media were found to contribute a lot on discipline decline among students in Gasabo district. Furthermore, the study findings revealed significant relationship between parental occupations and students discipline in private secondary schools in Rwanda. As Karl Pearson product moment of correlational coefficient showed a positive high degree of relationship between parental occupations and students discipline in private secondary school in Gasabo District Kigali-Rwanda. The study recommends students to avoid disruptive behavior because it jeopardizes their future, parents should keep in mind that they are primary role models to their children they need adequate time to be together, Governments should put in place polices that help to control student behavior.
Keywords: Parental occupations, students discipline and disruptive behavio
Can Offer Size and Transaction Volume Predict IPO Underpricing? Evidence from Emerging Markets in Africa
No full textThe debate on why firms underprice initial public offering (IPO) has never been laid to rest. Driven by this phenomenon of IPO underpricing, this paper sought to examine the determinants of IPO underpricing in developing countries, using African countries as a case study. Specifically, the study examined the effect of offer size and transaction volume on IPO underpricing. Panel data was collected for all firms that issued IPOs in Nairobi Securities Exchange, Egyptian Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange for a period of fifteen years (1996 to 2011). The results showed that transaction volume had a negative and significant effect on IPO underpricing (β = -0.074; p<0.05) while offer size had no significant effect (β = -0.035; p>0.05). The study recommends that issuers should take special consideration on transaction volume to maximize the return to investors.
Keywords: IPO Underpricing, Offer Size, Transaction Volume, Emerging Markets & Africa
Leadership Style, Culture and Service Delivery in Public Health Sector: A Case Study of Mbagathi District Hospital, Nairobi City County
No full textThe study investigated the influence of leadership style and leadership culture on the quality of service delivery in public hospitals. The target population for this study comprised of 273 employees and 10,000 patients in Mbagathi district hospitals within Nairobi City County. Simple random sampling was used to select 398 employees and patients while census was done on the 8 management staff. This study used primary data, both quantitative and qualitative. Primary data was obtained from the original sources using a structured questionnaire and captured through a 5-point type Likert scale. A Likert scale questionnaire was preferred as it makes it possible to convert responses into quantitative format for ease of data analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Interview guide was also used to obtain information from the management of district hospital. The questionnaires were self-administered using the drop and pick later method. A pilot study was undertaken on 5% of the sample population. Findings indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between leadership style, leadership culture and service delivery in public hospitals in Kenya. The study concluded that good working relationship between the management and staff, members of staff being conversant with their facility roles and goals, members of staff being well acquainted with their duties and responsibilities influenced service delivery in hospitals. It was recommended that leadership style should involve decision making process, and action oriented decision, performance appraisal and professionalism influenced service delivery in hospitals.
Keywords: Leadership style, leadership culture, service delivery and Mbagathi District Hospita
Transformational Leadership and Innovation Key to State Corporations Growth
No full textEconomic development of any country depends on efficient use of her resources both tangible and intangible. Transformational leaders use their talents not only to transform their organizations but they also become role models by persuading their colleagues to work in ways that achieve the objectives and goals of their organization. Transformational leaders create a culture in which all members of the organization strive towards a common shared vision. The study has two objectives, namely; to determine the influence of transformational leadership on growth of financial State Corporations in Kenya; to determine the influence of innovation on growth of financial State Corporations in Kenya. A census study using cross sectional survey design was used to achieve the study objectives. The target population was 24 employees from 12 State Corporations in Financial sector who were subjected to performance appraisal since 2008 when the exercise was implemented in Kenya. The study selected two respondents from each State Corporation comprising of the Managing director or human resource director and a Chief finance officer. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 24 respondents to collect primary data for this study. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Content analysis was used to achieve the objective of the study. Poor forecasting leading to projects taking long to complete, absence of Research and Development (R&D) to spearhead innovations together with poor risk management strategies was found to be hindering fast growth of the Corporations. To achieve faster growth of State Corporations, transformational leadership and proper forecasting together with strengthening Research and Development should be enhanced.
Keywords: Transformational leadership, Innovation, State Corporations growth, Keny
Strategic Leadership Practices and Performance of Banking Sector in Kenya: A Case Study of Equity Bank Limited, Head Office
No full textLike other financial institutions, Equity bank Limited is constantly affected by changes in the external environment that include government regulations, trading blocks, increasing cost of inputs, increased competition and improved customer awareness. The main objective of this study was to establish strategic leadership practices and performance of Banking Sector in Kenya, with reference to Equity Bank Limited. Specifically, the study sought to; examine the influence of corporate strategic direction; corporate resource allocation; balanced organizational controls and ethical practices on performance of Equity Bank Limited. The study is anchored on leadership trait, institutional and goal setting theory. The study used descriptive research design. The target populations were 175 employees at Equity Bank head office that were selected using random stratified sampling procedure. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics including mean, percentages, standard deviation and correlation analyses were used. The study established that corporate strategic direction affects organization performance to a large extent and therefore it concludes that corporate strategic direction is significant determinant in the performance of organizations. It also established that corporate resource allocation influences the performance of Equity bank and the study concludes that corporate resource allocation affects organization performance to a great extent, which denotes a strong positive correlation between corporate resource allocation and organization performance. It was also established that balanced organizational controls affects organization performance to a great extent and the study concludes that balanced organizational controls is a significant determinant of organization performance and finally the it was established that ethical practices affects organization performance to a great extent and the conclusion is that ethical practices significantly to organization performance. Recommendations for improvement includes: formulation of guidelines, governing structure and strategic plans for effective implementation of organization goals and objectives; investment in human capital. Board of directors and management of Equity Bank ought to understand that organizational controls facilitate making reactive and proactive corrective adjustments to strategies as they are implemented and to create and ensure a strong ethical ethos in the organization. Basing on the findings of this study, the conclusion and subsequent recommendation, there is need for a further study on strategic leadership practices and organizational performance in the telecommunication sector in Kenya whereby the study should seek to provide more insights on the current study findings and validate these findings.
Keywords: Corporate Strategic Direction, Corporate Resource Allocation, Balanced Organizational Controls, Ethical Practice, Organization Performance, Strategic Leadership Practices, Performance of Banking Sector and Equity Bank Limite
Business Innovation Strategies and Organizational Performance in the Banking Sector: A Case Study of Tier One Banks in Kenya
No full textThe study sought to determine the effect of product innovation strategies, market innovation strategies, technological innovation strategies and process innovation strategies on organizational performance of tier-one banks in Kenya. The study is anchored on the following theories; Diffusion Theory, Institutional Theory and Goal Setting Theory. This study adopts a descriptive research design with a target population of 1400 respondents at the tier-one bank headquarters. Stratified proportion sampling was involved in order to get a suitable unit of representative of analysis that was 140 respondents. This research study used a questionnaire as the main data collection tool. The inferential results on the effect of product innovation strategies on organization performance show R = 0.632 indicating a strong positive correlation and R2 = 0.399 and there was a significant effect between product innovation strategies and organization performance (t = 8.668, p<0.05). The inferential results on the effect of market innovation strategies on organization performance show R = 0.575 indicating a strong positive correlation and R2 = 0.331 and there was a significant effect between market innovation strategies and organization performance (t = 7.480, p<0.05). The inferential results on the effect of technological innovation strategies on organization performance show R = 0.557 indicating a strong positive correlation and R2 = 0.310 and there was a significant effect between technological innovation strategies and organization performance (t = 7.121, p<0.05). The inferential results on the effect of process innovation strategies on organization performance show R = 0.441 indicating a strong positive correlation and R2 = 0.194 and there was a significant effect between process innovation strategies and organization performance (t = 5.216, p<0.05). The study further established that among the business innovation strategies included in the study, product innovation strategy had the most influence on performance of tier-one banks in Kenya. The study affirmed that market innovation strategy also had a significant effect on performance. The study further confirmed that among the business innovation strategies, that process innovation had the least impact on performance of tier -one banks in Kenya. The study recommends that tier-one banks in Kenya should continuously engage in product innovation to enhance the competitive advantage it possesses against other players in the banking sector. This can be achieved by conducting market research among banking clients and to identify products that they can introduce into their product list that will not only attract new clients but as well as retain the old clients.
Keywords: Product Innovation Strategies, Market Innovation Strategies, Technological Innovation Strategies, Process Innovation Strategies, Organizational Performance, Tier-One Bank