Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Role of Project Communication Management on the Performance of Airline Company in Rwanda. A Case of Rwandair Ltd.
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of project communication management on Performance of airlines Rwanda using a case of RwandAir Ltd. projects as an airline company of the Republic of Rwanda. The specific objectives were to assess the effect of communication plan, communication implementation and communication control on project Performance. RwandAir Ltd. projects related to the research are to promote Rwandese maximum numbers of own pilots, aviation’s technicians, marketing agents and cabin crews. Planning, implementing and control were the factor indicators of effective communication and the results of good performance was revealed by productivity, creation of better relationships and clarity provided. Agency, Management, and Institutional theories are the theoretical foundation of this study. Project Communication management are independent variables and project performance is the dependent variable. The researcher used quantitative method approaches during analyzing of findings through descriptive statistics using bivariate analysis. The target population was 102 permanent staff working in different departments. The sample size is all respondents 102 targeted, who applied a Census technique. The two data collection methods included a questionnaire survey and a secondary data sheet, which were used for data collection. Primary data was collected by structured questionnaire through a stratified sampling method. The validity of the research instrument also was determined by use of content validity, while reliability was verified through the test-retest method. Data was analyzed and organized by SPSS version 22. Data analysis will be a quantitative data analysis method presented by descriptive and multiple regression statistics methods. The study was presented that communication plan, implementation, and control had countless roles. Towards on the project performance of RwandAir Ltd and has been chosen as a case study for this research to provide an insight into how communication planning and tools had employed, to effectively implement RwandAir’s projects within Rwanda and at the international level, where the national courier has opened up branches. Project communication values close attention as employees may be the most important audience for an airline company’s performance and its branding efforts
Effect of Training and Development on Employee Performance. A Case of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB)
No full textThe purpose of this study was to find out the effect of training and development on employee performance in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB). Accordingly, this study guided by three objectives specially to assess the effect of training needs identification on performance of employee in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board, investigate the effect training program planning on performance of employee in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board and assess the effect of training plan implementation on performance of employee in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board. A total number of 130 people targeted as a study population from a particular department with information concerning this study. Data mainly collected through questionnaires distributed to those employees of RAB and through scheduled interview with Station Managers. Documentary review, questionnaire, interview, and observation methods used to collect data, while descriptive and inferential statistics applied for data analysis. Furthermore, collected data analyzed using both descriptive and inferential methods. Descriptive statistics used like means and standard deviation while inferential statistics were correlation and regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) used in this research study to clarify the status of training and development, establish a link between training and employee’s performance and propose solutions to amend the identified gaps. The coefficient value of (β:0.368, p: 0.000) for training needs identification indicates that significant effect of training needs identification on performance of employees in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board. The coefficient value of (β: 0.125, p: 0.014) for training program planning indicates that significant effect of training program planning on performance of employees in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board. The coefficient value of (β: 0.507, p: 0.000) for training plan implementation indicates that significant effect of training plan implementation on performance of employees in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board. Overall, the Coefficients with p<0.05 provides a evidence on the effect of each predictor variable on employee performance. The results highlight the significance of Training Needs Identification, Training Program Planning, and Training Plan Implementation has significant effect on employee performance of RAB. It is recommended that RAB maintains a focus on continuous training needs assessment, meticulous program planning, and careful implementation.
Key words: Training and development, training needs identification, training program planning, training plan implementation and employee performanc
Moderated Mediation Dynamics: Influence of Strategic Linkages and Policy Implementation on Corporate Leadership and Kenya Agricultural Research Organization's Performance
No full textGlobal demand for safe, affordable, and accessible nutritious food currently exceeds governmental efforts, notwithstanding huge investments in enhancing capacity of organizations mandated to reverse such trends. With the projected 27% increase in global population by 2050, the need for corporate leadership and policy implementation efforts is urgent. The study explored the moderated mediation effect of strategic linkages and policy implementation on the relationship between corporate leadership and performance of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). Rooted in organizational excellence, upper echelons, legitimacy, institutional, and stakeholder theories, the study employed a pragmatic philosophy, and mixed methods design to mitigate bias. The target population included 75 management organs, with 60 directors and 188 top leadership units as units of observation. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS, and qualitative data using NVivo. Cronbach’s alpha (α ≥ .700) confirmed internal consistency. Both confirmatory factor and principal component analyses aided data reduction. Moderated mediation analysis, using Hayes' PROCESS Macro, showed significant interaction (p = .004) between policy implementation (mediator) and strategic linkages (moderator), indicating that the effect of policy implementation on KALRO’s performance varies with levels of strategic linkages (set at -.229). Index below -0.229 shows significant relationships, and vice versa. Recommendations encompass gender diversity, inclusive leadership development, regular performance appraisals, an enhanced monitoring and evaluation system, and improved linkages. The findings provide valuable guidance for KALRO's leadership amid competing priorities and budgetary constraints.
Keywords: Moderated mediation, policy implementation, strategic linkages, corporate leadership, KALR
Family Responsibilities and Employee Performance in Selected Level Five Private Hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textThis study investigated the influence of family responsibilities on employee performance within private Level Five hospitals in Nairobi County. Utilizing the Compensation Theory, which suggests that employees may compensate for dissatisfaction in one area by finding satisfaction in another, the research aimed to understand how family obligations impact healthcare professionals' job performance. A descriptive research design was adopted to provide a comprehensive analysis of the situation. The study targeted all staff members from four selected private Level Five hospitals: Nairobi West Hospital, Coptic Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, and MP Shah Hospital. A proportional stratified random sampling technique was employed, resulting in a sample size of 79 respondents from a total population of 520 employees. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS to produce descriptive statistics and conduct multiple regression analyses. The findings indicated a significant negative correlation between family responsibilities and employee performance, with increased family obligations leading to decreased job performance. The study concludes that addressing family responsibilities through supportive workplace policies is crucial for enhancing employee productivity and overall healthcare service delivery. It recommends that private Level Five hospitals implement flexible work arrangements, comprehensive employee support programs, and foster a supportive organizational culture to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities effectively.
Keywords: Family Responsibilities, Employee Performance, Private Hospitals, Work-Life Balance, Healthcare Service Delivery, Nairobi County
Effect of Staff Retention Strategies on Organizational Performance of Public Institutions in Kenya
No full textThis study examined the effect of staff retention strategies, specifically career development programs and work-life balance initiatives, on organizational performance in Kenyan public institutions. The research was motivated by the critical issue of talent retention in Kenya's public sector, where high turnover rates and problematic promotion practices have led to significant productivity losses and service delivery challenges. Using a desktop review methodology, the study analyzed secondary data from peer-reviewed articles, government publications, and institutional reports published between 2020 and 2024. The findings revealed strong positive correlations between career development programs, work-life balance initiatives, and various indicators of organizational performance. Public institutions implementing structured career development programs experienced increases in productivity, employee retention, and overall performance metrics. Similarly, organizations offering robust work-life balance initiatives saw improvements in employee satisfaction, service delivery efficiency, and budget utilization. However, the study also identified that a significant proportion of promotions were not based on merit or academic qualifications, undermining these positive effects. The study concluded that while these staff retention strategies play a crucial role in enhancing the performance and adaptability of public institutions in Kenya, their effectiveness is contingent on fair and transparent promotion practices. Recommendations include prioritizing the implementation of comprehensive career development programs, adopting flexible work arrangements, integrating technology to support these initiatives, aligning retention strategies with broader public sector reform efforts, and establishing merit-based promotion systems.
Keywords: Staff Retention Strategies, Career Development Programs, Work-Life Balance Initiatives & Organizational Performanc
Effect of Employee Engagement on The Performance of Microfinance Banks: A Case of AB Bank Rwanda Plc.
No full textThis research project investigated the relationship between employee engagement and the performance of AB Bank Rwanda Plc, focusing on four specific objectives: evaluating the impact of internal communication on employee engagement, analyzing the influence of leadership, assessing the connection between employee well-being and engagement, and examining the effect of training and development on employee growth. A combination of descriptive and correlational research designs was employed to determine the effect size of these objectives. The study targeted a population of 257 individuals, with a sample size of 157 respondents calculated using the Yamane formula, selected through simple random and purposive sampling methods. Data was collected using questionnaires and documentation. The findings reveal valuable insights not only for AB Bank Rwanda Plc but also for the broader microfinance sector in Rwanda. The study showed that staff recognized the positive effects of internal communication, evidenced by a beta value of 0.742 (p < 0.05), indicating a strong association between e-tendering and the bank's organizational performance. Additionally, there was a substantial positive link between leadership and organizational performance, with a beta value of 0.639 (p < 0.05). The regression analysis further demonstrated a strong positive correlation (beta = 0.705, p < 0.05) between employee well-being and organizational success at AB Bank Rwanda Plc. Lastly, the analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between training and development and organizational performance, shown by a beta value of 0.660 (p < 0.05). The study confirms the positive relationships between internal communication, leadership, employee well-being, and training and development as critical factors contributing to the performance of AB Bank Rwanda Plc. These findings suggest strategies for optimizing operations and enhancing employee engagement within the microfinance sector.
Keywords: Employee Engagement, Organizational Performance, Internal Communication, Leadership, Training and Developmen
Food Legislation Compliance and Safe Food Provision for Sustainability by Unclassified Restaurants Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textFood safety legislation aims to ensure food is protected from contamination and disease spread. However, in Nairobi City County, unclassified small-scale restaurants often fail to fully implement legislative directives around safe food handling. This study aimed to determine how compliance with food safety legislation affects the sustainability of safe food provision in these establishments.Guided by the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) framework, the research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data for a comprehensive analysis. The target population was 124 unclassified restaurants in Nairobi's Central Business District. A sample of 189 participants, including restaurant managers, supervisors, cooks, and waiters, was selected through stratified random sampling.Data collection involved semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and observation checklists. Analysis utilized descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and thematic content analysis. The descriptive results revealed that the majority of unclassified restaurants in Nairobi City County do not adhere to operational food safety procedures, with only 34.4% observing them. Compliance with food safety legislation, such as licensing by the Department of Public Health and the Food, Drugs and Substance Act, is also lacking, with over 60% of restaurants non-compliant.The descriptive results further showed that most restaurants lack adequate food safety surveillance and verification procedures to ensure adherence to food handling procedures. Observational checklists revealed that essential food safety compliance items like valid licenses, food safety evaluation reports, and HACCP certifications were often absent.The chi-square test demonstrated a significant association between food legislation compliance and the provision of safe food, with a chi-square of 4.544 and a p-value of .025. The study concludes that compliance with food safety legislation is crucial for ensuring the provision of safe food in unclassified restaurants in Nairobi City County. The lack of adherence to food safety regulations and procedures significantly impacts the safety of food provided in these establishments. Effective monitoring and enforcement of food safety standards by relevant agencies, such as the Department of Public Health, are essential for improving food safety in the hotel industry.
Keywords: Food Legislation Compliance, Safe Food Provision, Sustainability, Unclassified, Restaurant
The Immune-Brain Interface: Exploring PANS and PANDAS in Pediatric Neuropsychiatry
No full textPANDAS/PANS is a burdening disorder that affects children, adolescents and caregivers. Despite numerous investigations to establish evidence-based interventions and clinical practices, more controversies and disagreements arise. This quantitative literature review established fundamental evidence regarding viral infections, bacterial infections, comorbidity, antibiotic therapy and immunotherapy. We conducted a qualitative and quantitative literature search on, Google Scholar and PubMed/Medline. The Boolean operators were used to combine search terms. An additional manual search was performed on the reference lists of the potential literature. The literature search was limited to English publications between 2014 to 2024. Results: Literature shows diverse aspects of PANDAS and PANS among children with OCD, adolescents, and other populations. The disease has been associated with bacterial and viral infections. We found a wealth of evidence on the controversial antibiotic therapy, comorbidities, immunotherapy and reports on infections. Proponents of bacterial and viral infections, alongside antibiotic therapy, emphasized the role of the infectious agents and the therapeutic effects of the antibacterial agents. Additionally, the importance of immunotherapy, NSAIDs and corticosteroids emerged, marking fundamental developments in the management of the disorder. Streptococcal and viral infections are risk factors of PANDAS/PANS, while immunotherapy, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotic therapy produce positive clinical outcomes. However, this literature review established controversies on comorbidity, and antibiotic therapy as doctors disagree. However, we found that the authors agree that anxiety is a common comorbid disorder.
Keywords: Immune-Brain Interface, PANS, PANDAS, Pediatric Neuropsychiatry, Neuroimmune Disorder
Challenges for Nurses Before and After Covid Care: Resilient Health Practitioners in a Longitudinal Study of Psychology, Values and Self-Actualization
No full textThis research focused on the challenges faced by nurses, and their strengths in facing crises of nursing before, during and after the COVID-pandemic, and the personal traits and professional identity and values which may have helped them in meeting these challenges and avoiding burnout. The study was based on a follow-up of nurses completing measures before and after the COVID-19 epidemic in England. In the first study in 2018 with 192 middle-rank and senior nurses, the study described two types of dedicated professionals with a ‘hardy personality style’, enabling them to cope with extreme stress, as psychologically strong, and often self-actualizing professionals, dedicated to higher values of nursing. The present paper presents findings from the follow-up of 185 of these nurses who had been involved in the front-line care of COVID-19 patients in urban centres in Northern England, during and after the “second wave” of COVID patients in November 2020. Measures of adjustment, stress (including PTSD), and Maslowian self-actualization were added to earlier measures of personality, adjustment, work-life stress, and career intention. Cluster analysis identified three types in the 2020-2023 cohort: I ‘Actualizing Professionals’; (N=62); II ‘Strong Professionals’ (N=56); III ‘Highly Stressed Nurses’ (N=45). These latter very stressed nurses included all nurses (N=16) identified as having PTSD symptoms. The study highlights the role of certain personality traits in fostering resilience and growth among healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, as they work towards self-actualization. Al Siebert's concept of the survivor personality, characterized by the ability to navigate and grow from crises, is applied to understand the resilience of nurses, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research underscores the importance of identifying and nurturing positive traits within nurses to enhance job satisfaction and manage stress, suggesting that targeted training and support can help develop resilience. It also acknowledges the global impact of COVID-19 on nursing, calling for further research into the experiences and resilience of nurses during such crises.
Keywords: Nursing Values; COVID-19; Nursing Stress; Burnout; PTSD; Hardy Personality; Self-Actualization
 
The Role of Genetics, Neurobiology, and Psychosocial Factors in the Development and Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review
No full textEating disorders are severe complications affecting peoples’ eating patterns, with erratic practices like purging behaviors, binge eating, and avoidance of food. These disorders result from different causes, including neurotransmitter imbalance, psychological factors like body-shaming, and genetic inheritance. The present review focuses on genetic, neurobiology and psychological factors to provide an understanding of the development of eating disorders and subsequent treatment. The present review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist that guided the evidence collection in the review to ascertain high quality. The Participant, Interventions, Comparison, Outcomes, and Studies (PICOS) protocol guided the establishment of potential studies' inclusion criteria. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessments, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the certainty of evidence from the individual studies. Two independent reviewers were tasked with study selection, data collection, and study risk of bias assessed. The reviewers used the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. Fifteen studies met the eligibility tests and were included in the review. A review of the evidence obtained from the included studies revealed that neurobiology, genetics and psychological factors influence the development of eating disorders like binge eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. In genetics, familial integration and heredity revealed the passing of the genes responsible for the development of anorexia nervosa in subsequent generations. Psychological factors and neurobiology affect self-esteem or body shaming and affect the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, respectively. The treatment interventions aim to restore neurotransmitter levels and confidence after losing confidence and self-body hate due to bad shape. Genetics, neurobiological factors and psychological status are responsible for the development of eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and purging behaviors result from unregulated 5-HT depletion, can be inherited or can result from body shaming. The evidence shows that eating disorders can be treated based on the aetiologies and pathophysiology.
Keywords: Eating disorders, treatment, neurobiological factors, genetics, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa