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Gaze-based interaction for effective tutoring with social robots
No full textThe central thesis of this work is that effective gaze behavior can help build a shared understanding and mutual awareness between humans and robots, leading to positive outcomes in a tutoring interaction. Gaze behavior is an essential cue for social engagement and coordinated action, principally for tasks that imply human-robot collaboration, such as tutoring. The work presented in this dissertation is a compilation of findings from three empirical studies designed to explore the design space of gaze-based interaction to enrich human-robot interaction in educational settings where robots assume tutor or
trainer roles
Sleep characteristics and health-related quality of life in 9- to 11-year-old children from 12 countries
No full textIntroduction: Previous studies have linked short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, and late sleep timing with lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children. However, almost all studies relied solely on self-reported sleep information, and most studies were conducted in high-income countries. To address these gaps, we studied both device-measured and self-reported sleep characteristics in relation to HRQoL in a sample of children from 12 countries that vary widely in terms of economic and human development.
Methods: The study sample included 6,626 children aged 9-11 years from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, India, Kenya, Portugal, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Waist-worn actigraphy was used to measure total sleep time, bedtime, wake-up time, and sleep efficiency on both weekdays and weekends. Children also reported ratings of sleep quantity and quality. HRQoL was measured by the KIDSCREEN-10 survey. Multilevel regression models were used to determine the relationships between sleep characteristics and HRQoL.
Results: Results showed considerable variation in sleep characteristics, particularly duration and timing, across study sites. Overall, we found no association between device-measured total sleep time, sleep timing or sleep efficiency, and HRQoL. In contrast, self-reported ratings of poor sleep quantity and quality were associated with HRQoL.
Conclusions: Self-reported, rather than device-based, measures of sleep are related to HRQoL in children. The discrepancy related to sleep assessment methods highlights the importance of considering both device-measured and self-reported measures of sleep in understanding its health effects
The Effect Of Mobile Banking On Operational Efficiency Of Commercial Banks In Kenya
No full textThis study's main objective was to determine mobile banking's effect on commercial banks' operational efficiency. The study looked at mobile banking accounts, mobile banking loans, and mobile banking deposits concerning commercial banks' operational efficiency in Kenya. The study was guided by the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT), technology acceptance model (TAM), and financial deepening theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design targeting 41 commercial banks. The study adopted a census survey using secondary data from Kenya's central bank and the commercial banks' annual financial reports in Kenya. Data on the number of bank deposits mobilized as savings, the number of loans and advances issued by the banks, and the number of registered bank accounts. The study covered nine years from 2010-2018. STATA software was used in data analysis, descriptive and statistical inferential. The independent variables were measured against the dependent variable to examine if they affected commercial banks' operational efficiency. Multiple regression equations estimated the relationship between the variables. Hausman Test was used to specify the adoption of Random effect or Fixed effect models in panel data. The Hausman tested and fixed effect model was selected. The diagnostic tests covering heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, multicollinearity, and normality tests were also conducted. The findings were presented using graphs and tables. The results were as follows: mobile bank accounts (β=0.0365, p>0.05), mobile loans (β=0.474, p0.05). The study concluded that only mobile banking loans had a significant effect on commercial banks' operational efficiency in Kenya. The study recommended that commercial banks invest more in mobile loans and mobile deposits since the two had a positive relationship with commercial banks' operational efficiency in Kenya. The study results would enhance the adoption of more financial innovation in the banking industry that would contribute to the economy's overall grow
Together We Can Do Great Things An Inclusive Business Model
No full text"Doing business in developing economies like Kenya is difficult because of resource
scarcity, weak institutions, poor market infrastructure and lower purchasing power of consumers
especially in rural areas. In the past, most multinational corporations have repeatedly failed to
penetrate this market, acquire relevant and valuable resources, to create value for these
consumers, launch, and grow a sustainable business. The challenges in designing a business
model in this market is how to combine and maintain a balance between low cost, quality
products, sustainability, profitability, and integrate all stakeholders in value creation.
Safaricom Kenya offers a viable business model for this market, as they are socially and
culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable building value off local resources and
capabilities. The company harnesses customer competencies by engaging with them beyond the
mere buyer-seller relationship to innovate products with them. Their strength and survival
largely depend on how they understand consumers' needs and how they create, enhance, retain,
and, most importantly, utilize and preserving the existing social capital.
Effect Of Islamic Finance On Performance Of Commercial Banks In Kenya
No full textThe main aim of this study was to establish the effect of Islamic finance on the performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study was guided by three specific objectives which are to; establish the effect of Mudaraba loans on commercial banks’ financial performance in Kenya, assess the effect of Ijara products on commercial banks’ financial performance in Kenya and assess the effect of Murabaha contracts on commercial banks’ financial performance in Kenya. This study used a descriptive research design. The study was undertaken in the two completely established Islamic commercial banks in Kenya as well as the 5 conservative banks offering partial Islamic commercial banking. Secondary data was used for this study. This means that the data used was quantitative in nature. The researcher used financial performance data for the years 2015-2019. Descriptive statistics was utilized to organize Data. To scrutinize the data, descriptive analysis such as standard deviation, frequencies, mean, as well as percentages were utilized. Additionally, Pearson correlation as well as multiple regressions which are inferential statistics were utilized. So as to come up with a reliable model for this survey the researcher carried out appropriate diagnostic tests. The study established that Murabaha is the most common Islamic finance products though the Ijara was also significant. The findings also showed strong positive relationship between Murabaha and bank performance. From the study findings it was evident that there was a positive effect of Ijara on bank performance. Mudaraba had a positive insignificant effect on bank performance. Based on the findings, the study concluded that the Islamic finance affected bank performance with some having a positive significant effect and others insignificant effect. The study recommended that commercial banks in Kenya should sensitize its customers on the need to promote partnership through financing business ideas. Also among the most recommended measures put in place is by selecting key financial and other indicators to monitor programs based on the statutory requirements on Islamic banking products. Developing systems for managing future performance based on the statutory requirements is also highly recommended
The Effect Of Dividend Payment Method On Share Price Volatility In The Nairobi Securities Exchange
No full textThe study sought to evaluate how dividend payment methods can cause share price volatility of firms listed in NSE. Many people have conducted research in this field but none has been able to connect dividend payment methods and share price volatility. In our study we sought we have been able to close this gap. This was with a bias on finding out how cash dividend, stock dividend, stock repurchase, scrip dividends and property dividends can cause share price volatility. The study established relationship between dividend policy and share price volatility and to assess how dividend policy affects share price of the firms listed in the Nairobi stocks exchange. The study covered the period ranging from 2013 to 2019. It focused on share prices within the stated period. Between 2013 and 2019, listed firms share prices fluctuated greatly to the point of making investors not to make proper decisions. We have investigated whether this decline on share prices has anything to do with the choice of dividend payment method adopted by the company. Data consisted of share price volatility as the dependent variable and cash dividends per share, Share Dividends per share, repurchase price per share, scrip dividends per share and property dividends per share as independent variables for the 50 listed companies sampled for the study. The study employed a descriptive research design entailing secondary data evaluation. The researcher equally employed secondary data interrogation sheet trained on the share prices, the cash dividend payouts, stock dividend declaration and related parameters of the years in focus. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of STATA. This enabled the researcher to reach on the recommended conclusion
Transfer Pricing in Kenya
No full textHead office, parent company, divisions, branches or subsidiaries of a firm trading amongst themselves will invariably set the prices at which goods and services will be exchanged. The prices need not be the same as the prevailing market prices since they are all members of the same group. Again, transactions of that nature could exclusively be for such groups. For instance, a patent could be meant only for companies within the group so no open market price would exist
Relationship Between Selected Macroeconomic Variables And The Financial Performance Of Investment Banks In Kenya
No full textCurrently, investment banks in Kenya are facing a lot of challenges due to persistence losses. However, the available studies are inadequate to aid investment banks in overcoming these challenges in Kenya due to mixed findings, resulting in rising uncertainty on equity investments' performance, leading to massive losses among investment banks. This study, therefore, sought to model the relationship between inflation, GDP, interest rates, exchange rates, and financial performance of investment banks to strengthen market sentiment, guide investors and investment banks accordingly. Arbitrage pricing theory, Modern portfolio theory as well as classical economic theory (flow-oriented model) was used. A causal research design was adopted and targeted 16 investment banks authorized by CMA, and have been active from July 2006 to December 2019. Population census was employed to collect secondary data on the investment banks. Data on ROA was obtained from the individual investment banks, NSE, and CMA; data on the interest rate and the exchange rate were obtained from the Central Bank of Kenya, while that of Inflation and GDP was obtained from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Data collected was analyzed using Stata version 12. Several techniques were applied to test the existence of dynamic relationships in time series variables. The study found that inflation has negative significant influence on financial performance of equity investments among investment banks in Kenya. Also, GDP has positive and significant influence on financial performance of equity investments among investment banks in Kenya. Interest rate was also found to have negative and significant influence on financial performance of equity investments among investment banks in Kenya. In addition, exchange rate has negative significant influence on financial performance of equity investments among investment banks in Kenya. The study therefore recommends any investor including financial investors to methodically analyze inflation trends and understand how it affects the company's financial performance. Investors must also be in a position to predict the future concerning inflation changes. It is also the responsibility of the government to put up policies and strategies that will help to reduce the rate of inflation and therefore encourage positive financial performance of investments
The Effect Of Financing Decisions On Shareholders’ Value Creation Of Manufacturing Firms Listed At The Nairobi Securities Exchange In Kenya
No full textFinancing decisions plays a key role in the creation of shareholders wealth. However, there exists dearth in literature relating to firms’ financing choices and their association with value creation to the shareholders from a Kenyan perspective. It is this in mind that this paper sought to seal the gaps in literature by establishing the influence of financing decisions on shareholders’ value creation of manufacturing firms quoted at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Specifically, the current study sought to examine the influence of equity capital, debt capital, working capital and dividend capital forms of financing on value created to the shareholders. The study was anchored on three theories that helped explain the relationship among the variables. They included the trade-off theory of capital structure, the pecking order model of financing decisions and the market timing theory. The study employed longitudinal research design as it was deemed to be more informative. Census design was used as the number of listed manufacturing firms at the time of study was 13 companies. Secondary data was gathered from the audited and published financial statements. Panel Least Squares analysis were used to estimate the model suing the E-Views software version 11. To ensure non violation of the classical linear regression model assumptions, several diagnostic tests were conducted. The tests included normality, multicollinearity autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity, unit root and model specification tests. The assumptions were found not to have been violated and thus the model was found fit for further analysis. The specifications test found the fixed effect model to be the most appropriate for analysing the relationship amongst the variables. The study results revealed equity and debt financing had positive and statistically significant effect on shareholders’ value creation. Statistically insignificant but positive association was found to exist between dividend financing and shareholder value creation. However, working capital financing was found to have a statistically insignificant but negative effect on shareholders’ value creation. The study recommends that listed firms’ managers should carry out periodic shareholder value creation analysis. On policy, the study recommends that Capital Markets Authority should enact regulatory framework that mandated publication of shareholders’ value creation reports