Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Economic Growth of County Government in Kenya. Lessons Learned from Best Practices of International Case Studies
No full textThe main aim of this paper was to analyze the economic growth of county governments in Kenya through the lens of international best practices. By examining successful case studies from various countries, the study sought to identify key strategies and lessons that could be adapted to enhance economic development at the county level in Kenya. The research highlights several critical insights, including the value of localized economic programs such as Japan's One Village One Product (OVOP) and Thailand's One Tambon One Product (OTOP), which focus on leveraging local resources and strengths. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the importance of digitalization, as illustrated by Boston’s Smart City Initiative and Hangzhou’s e-commerce platforms, in improving government efficiency and local economic activity. Strategic investments in infrastructure and human capital, as seen in regions like California and China, are also noted as pivotal for boosting economic performance. The study further underscores the role of public participation, political stability, and administrative capacity in successful economic development. Case studies from Porto Alegre and Seattle demonstrate that citizen involvement in decision-making enhances outcomes and public satisfaction. The experiences of Singapore and South Korea reveal that political stability and effective governance are crucial for sustainable growth, while Estonia and New Zealand show the benefits of strong administrative capabilities. Lastly, the research highlights the need for context-specific strategies that address local socioeconomic conditions, drawing lessons from Kerala and Beijing. Based on these insights, the paper provides recommendations for Kenyan counties, including the development of localized economic programs, adoption of digital technologies, strategic investment, promotion of community participation, maintenance of political stability, capacity-building for officials, and the design of context-sensitive development policies,
Keywords: Economic Growth, County Governments, Digitalization, Public Participation, Political Stabilit
Multicultural Engagement Strategies and Development Trends for a Walmart
No full textThis literature review explores strategies for managing multicultural teams and utilizing strategic thinking to anticipate organizational development trends. The increased globalization of business has led to more culturally diverse teams, necessitating strategies like cultural awareness training, communication improvement, and inclusive leadership approaches to harness the potential of multicultural groups. However, the review shows shortcomings around tailoring strategies to teams’ specific needs versus a one-size-fits-all approach. On forecasting trends, the review utilizes a methodology of literature-based analysis on strategic thinking. Concepts covered include analyzing uncertain business environments, learning from past experiences, recognizing macro and micro trends, and scenario planning. Synthesis of findings from various studies shows strategic thinking is key to navigating complexity, adapting to change, and gaining competitive advantage. However, gaps persist around integration of strategic thinking in organizational culture and training employees in strategic thought processes. The review concluded that effective management of diverse teams and strategic thinking to anticipate trends are essential in today’s globalized, fast-changing business landscape. While progress has been made, opportunities exist to advance tailored inclusion strategies and further embed strategic thinking across all levels of organizations. More research can help refine approaches and address existing gaps.
Keywords: Multicultural, Engagement, Strategies, Development Trends, Walmar
The Effect of Stakeholder Involvement on Performance of Self-help Groups in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textEnhancing performance of self-help groups has remained a center of attention in research and practice for decades. However, most self-help groups fail to exhibit the desired level of performance due to low levels of membership of retention capability, financial limited ability to meet stakeholder needs, and failure to manage the earned value effectively. This study analyzed the effect of stakeholder involvement on the performance of self-help groups in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The relevant theory that underpinned the study was stakeholder theory. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design, which involved collecting and analyzing primary quantitative and qualitative data from a purposive sample of 124 leaders of self-help groups in Nairobi City County and five interviewees from the longest existing groups. Quantitative data collected was coded and entered into the Statistical Software for Social Sciences for analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed using a thematic analysis technique. Qualitative data was subjected to coding and thematic analysis technique. The study revealed that stakeholder involvement (β = 0.286; p = 0.019) has a significant effect on performance of self-help groups in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The findings underscore the instrumentality of stakeholder involvement on the performance of self-help groups in Nairobi City County, Kenya.
Keywords: Stakeholder involvement, self-help groups, performance, participatory processes
The Influence of Risk Management on Project Performance in Rwanda; A Case of Hinga Wunguke Project in Gatsibo District
No full textThe general objective of this study was to assess the influence of risk management on project performance in Rwanda. The study was guided by Specific Objectives such as to evaluate the effect of Risk Identification on Hinga Wunguke project performance in Gatsibo District, To determine the effect of Risk Assessment on Hinga Wunguke project performance in Gatsibo District, To establish the effect of Risk treatment on Hinga Wunguke project performance in Gatsibo District. This study will be conducted in Gatsibo District in the Eastern Province. The time of this research was limited in the period between 2020-2022.This time was enough to generate the desired information. This study adopted a inferential study design. The study involved collection of data at a single point in time in the target population. The total population of this research was 140 employees and managers of Hinga Wunguke Project in Gatsibo district. The sources of data were primary and secondary data. To get primary data, the researcher went to the field and collected raw data from respondents, in this study, questionnaires, interviews and observations were used to collect primary data. Secondary data was collected by way of document reviews. The sample size was 140. To get primary data, the researcher went to the field and collected raw data from respondents, in this study, questionnaires, interviews and observations were used to collect primary data. SPPSS was used to run data after collection. The coefficient of determination R2 =0.744 indicates that approximately 74.4% of the variability in project performance can be explained by the predictors included in the model. Notably, the coefficient for Risk identification (B=0.590,p=0.023) demonstrates a statistically significant positive relationship with project performance. This suggests that for each unit increase in Risk identification, there is a corresponding increase of 0.590 in project performance, with the associated p-value indicating that this relationship is unlikely to have occurred by chance. However, the coefficients for Risk assessment (B=0.017,p=0.886) and Risk treatment (B=0.007,p=0.927) are not statistically significant, indicating that their impact on project performance may be negligible. These high p-values suggest that there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis, implying that the relationships between Risk assessment, Risk treatment, and project performance are not statistically significant. Consequently, despite having small coefficients, the lack of statistical significance implies that the observed effects of Risk assessment and Risk treatment on project performance may not be reliable or meaningful in the context of the study.
Key words: Risk Management, Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, Risk treatment, and Performance
Influence of Selected Factors on The Growth of Exhibitions: A Survey of Machakos Central Business District, Kenya
No full textIt is envisaged that sustained growth of small and medium enterprises is the greatest tool to economic growth and poverty reduction in developing nations. In the rapidly changing global business environment the competitive success of micro and small enterprises arises from the continuous development and reconfiguration of the enterprise’s specific asset with a view of achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In light of this fact, this study sought to examine the influence of selected factors on the growth of exhibitions in Kenya through a survey of Machakos Central Business District in Machakos town. Among the factors under study were the influence of financial records management; recruitment; pricing and the business environment on the growth of exhibitions. To achieve this, the study employed the use of a descriptive survey that targeted all the exhibition owners thus a census study. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. The study targeted all 150 exhibition traders and was able to draw the participation of 127 respondents. All the quantitative data gathered during the study was analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, while the qualitative data was analysed through content analysis. The findings revealed that good financial record management, good recruitment and selection processes, an effective pricing strategy and a conducive business environment all positively impact on the positive growth of exhibition centres. The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the operations of exhibitions by stakeholders. The study concludes that despite experiencing significant growth, exhibition traders still face numerous challenges related to the four selected factors influencing business growth, including lack of basic accounting skills, inadequate human resource management skills, unsupportive by-laws, and limited financial skills, which collectively hinder the growth of exhibition businesses. The study recommends that the County government establish a "One Stop Business Development and Solution Centre" to address the integrated challenges facing Exhibition Centres (ECs) and SMEs. In addition, business owners and employees should seek out trainings and workshops to enhance their management and record-keeping skills. Furthermore, County Governments are advised to review and develop business-friendly policies and regulations to create a supportive ecosystem for ECs and SMEs.
Keywords: Financial records management, recruitment, pricing, business environment, growth, Exhibition Centres, Machakos town Central Business District, Keny
Inflation and Economic Growth in Rwanda
No full textThe main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of inflation on the economic growth of Rwanda. The specific objectives of this research included analyzing the inflation trends in Rwanda from 1989 to 2021, examining the influence of inflation on Rwanda's economic growth, and assessing the effects of control variables such as imports and exchange rates on the country's economic growth. This study draws upon various economic theories and empirical studies that categorize these variables into dependent and independent variables. In this analysis, we considered inflation as the dependent variable, while imports and exchange rates served as independent variables. The data for this research were sourced from secondary data available on the World Bank's website. We employed econometric techniques, including unit root tests, which revealed that all variables exhibited an I (1) order of integration. This led us to conduct the Johansen cointegration test, which confirmed the existence of a long-term relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The long-term coefficients unveiled a negative association of 0.35 units between inflation and economic growth. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between economic growth and both imports and the exchange rate. Additionally, we conducted a block exogeneity Granger causality test, which identified a causal relationship from inflation to economic growth and an impact of inflation on the exchange rate. The post-estimation analysis indicated the absence of econometric issues, affirming the model's stability and reliability
Effect of Monitoring Techniques On Employee Performance at Vihiga County Referral Hospital
No full textThe purpose of this study was to establish the effect of monitoring techniques on employee performance at Vihiga County Referral HospitalThe study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study targeted employees of Vihiga County Referral Hospital which comprise of administration (15), technical staff (157) and subordinate staff (136). Therefore, the target population was 308 employees. The researcher obtained the sample size using Yamane formulae (1967) to arrive at 174 respondents. The study employed stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample of the other employees. Stratified sampling was used to achieve desired representation from various subgroups in the population. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect the primary data. Data was then be analyzed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Presentation of the findings were done by frequency distribution tables and diagrams, pie charts, and bar graphs. The study findings revealed that monitoring techniques was found to have a positive and significant effect on employee performance The study recommends that the hospital management to have continuous monitoring of the compliance to workplace registration in the hospital. This will ensure that employees are working comfortable in the hospital hence improving employees’ performance. Monitoring of health and safety in hospital should be done in time in order to motivate employees to perform well
Effect of Governance Considerations on The Performance of Companies in South Sudan’s Oil and Gas Sector
No full textThe oil and gas sector in South Sudan face significant governance challenges, including, lack of transparency from IOCs, and unethical practices in the operating companies, which hinder its performance and sustainability. The study addresses the critical gap in understanding the impact of governance considerations on organizational performance in this vital sector. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of governance practices, such as transparency, accountability, and ethical management, on the performance of oil companies in South Sudan. Anchored in Institutional Theory, the study examined how external pressures and governance frameworks influence organizational outcomes. The study employed a descriptive correlational research design, targeting oil companies operating under three main consortiums, with senior managers as the respondents. A census sampling technique resulted in a sample size of 71 participants, and data were collected using structured questionnaires and secondary financial performance records. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis using SPSS version 27. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between governance considerations and organizational performance, with governance practices explaining 55.2% of the variation in performance. The study concluded that robust governance frameworks are crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, financial performance, and stakeholder trust in the oil and gas sector. It is recommended that policymakers enforce mandatory governance standards, including transparency and accountability measures, to ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Keywords: Governance, Performance, Companies, South Sudan, Oil, Ga
Impact of Age, Gender, Faith, Tenure and Seniority on the Authenticity of Organizational Leaders
No full textAuthentic leadership consists of four components tested and validated by Walumbwa and Associates, including self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and an internalized moral perspective. Using the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire developed by Walumbwa and Associates, this study sought to determine the impact of age, gender, faith, tenure, and seniority on the authenticity of organizational members. The study was undertaken in a non-profit organization and included lower, middle-level, and senior organizational leaders, 57 participants out of the 62 questionnaires sent out, with a 91.9% response rate. The study found that the demographics tested have no statistically significant influence on authentic leadership. However, self-awareness was the highest component of authentic leadership amongst the organizational members involved in the study. Although the differences were not significant, higher authentic leadership tended to be associated with older employees, males, middle tenure groups, and lower organizational levels. There were limitations due to inadequate sample size and possible scale multidimensionality. Overall, the findings indicate high self-awareness and provide insights on the relationships between AL and demographics.
Keywords: Age, Gender, Faith, Tenure and Seniority, Authenticit
Credible Leadership: Characteristics and Effects on Leader Performance
No full textCurrent perspectives on leadership view it as an influential force, leading to the emergence of innovative approaches such as authentic, spiritual, adaptive, and servant leadership. There is a strong relationship between the leader and the followers, as they collaborate to achieve shared objectives. The aim of this study was to identify the traits that establish leaders as credible and to understand the impact of leadership credibility on a leader's performance. Data was gathered through literature reviews and telephone interviews with key informants. From the responses, major themes were identified, and the data was categorized based on different concepts. The interviewees characterized credible leaders as those who demonstrate integrity, ethics, honesty, selflessness, servant leadership, motivation, inspiration, thoughtfulness, exemplary behavior, empowerment of their followers, and the fostering of team spirit. The study concluded that credible leaders engage in ethical behavior and humility, invest in their own growth and that of others, possess effective communication skills, and are attentive listeners.
Keywords: Credible, Leadership, Characteristics, Leader, Performanc