28 research outputs found
Effects of work-family conflict on hospitality employees in 5-star hotels in nairobi
No full textA research project proposal submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of a degree, Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, School of Tourism and HospitalityIn the traditional family set up, women were required to stay at home and nurture the family while the husbands were meant to work and provide for the family. That has since changed due to major economic and social transformations. These changes have increased women in the workplace holding high positions too.
Work-family occurs when the demands of the workplace make it difficult to fill the demands of the family and vice versa. The hospitality industry is very demanding. Shift schedules in the hospitality sector are countercyclical to shift schedules of other industries creating a conflict for the employees and their families.
I would like to examine the effects of work-family conflict on hospitality employees in 5-star hotels in Nairobi. From the findings of my research, I will be able to formulate possible strategies for industry consideration to counteract the effects and ensure that the employees can have a balance between work and family
Functional Screening and Characterization of the Secretomes Associated with Ripening-related Changes during Pear Fruit Development and Ripening
No full textEffect of competition on the loan performance of deposit taking microfinance institutions in Kenya: A case of Nairobi region
No full textABSTRACT Competition between microfinance institutions (MFIs) in developing countries has increased dramatically in the last decade. This study sought to investigate the effects of competition on the loan performance of deposit taking microfinance institutions in Kenya. The study also sought to investigate the effects of multiple loan taking, cost efficiency, selection standards and customer relationship on the operational performance of deposit taking microfinance institutions in Kenya. The study found that there is a relationship between multiple loan-taking, selection standards and customer relationship cost efficiency and loan performance of the microfinance institutions. In addition, the study also established that multiple loan-taking negatively affects loan performance deposit-taking microfinance institutions. This study therefore recommends that MFIs should not offer multiple loans to customers so as to improve their loan performance
Modelling the Impacts of Predicted Environmental Change on the Frequency and Magnitude of Rainfall Induced Landslides in Central Kenya
No full textDissertation, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, 2016The central highlands of Kenya frequently suffer the impacts of rainfall-induced landslides resulting from the interaction of slope stability and elements of environmental change (land-use and climatic variables). The impacts of rainfall-induced landslides affect the country’s fight against poverty, bearing in mind the limited budgets to cope with the socioeconomic losses incurred by landslide hazards. On the other hand, a fast population growth rate puts pressure on the country’s resources which is majorly agricultural based, thus contributing to more people settling on steep slopes and increasing their vulnerability to rainfall landslide hazards. Thus, this research sought to contribute to the mitigation measures by mapping the landslide areas, performing landslide susceptibility assessment, and investigating the impacts of predicted environmental change on the frequency and magnitude of rainfall-induced landslides. The role of environmental change was investigated using specific objectives which assessed the impacts of land-use on slope stability, and the impact of precipitation characteristics on landslide susceptibility. Several data types ranging from topographic, soil and geology, land-use land-cover (LULC), hydrology, and precipitation landslide controlling factors were mapped and used in the modelling process.
The methodology comprised of LULC change detection with Landsat multitemporal data for the years 1995, 2002, 2010 and 2014; structural geology and soil mapping; landslide inventory creation with Landsat multitemporal data for the years 1995, 2000, 2010 and 2014; landslide susceptibility mapping with Combined Hydrological and Slope stability Model (CHASM) and landslide modelling with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The success of mapping and visualizing geology lineaments was owed to the digital image enhancement methods involving band ratioing, False Colour Composites (FCC), feature data transformation and data reduction methods of principal and independent component analysis. In addition to the feature data transformation and data reduction, the landslide inventory mapping was enhanced by utilizing a Normalized Difference Mid-Red (NDMIDR) spectral index involving Landsat geology and red bands.
The key results of this research indicated that human activities relating to land-use (mostly agricultural) did aggravate the landslide processes on the sloppy terrain. This was confirmed by the CHASM model results where forested slopes maintained low landslide susceptibility levels. In addition, the ANN model rated LULC, rainfall, and proximity to drainage network factors high in contributing to landslide occurrence in the study area. Thus, majorly shallow types of landslides dominated, although the ANN model mapped some areas with deep-seated landslide areas along lineament features. The impacts of heavy precipitation were observed to increase slope instability, especially in bare land covers and high density drainage network areas due to rapid soil saturation, while prolonged precipitation increased infiltration thus maintaining high landslide susceptibility levels. The effects of climatic variables were associated with increased rock weathering observed on bare volcanic rocks, hence high instability rates around such areas. Landslide hazard zonation with ANN model captured several landslide types and the stability classification. The results of this study can guide targeted policies on land-use management as it has been established that rainfall induced landslides are a result of the interactions of land-use, slope and rainfall landslide conditioning factors. Moreover, creating a landslide inventory which can be updated with landslide attributes was a success since this had not been done in this geographical location to indicate the potential of landslide reactivation
A critical review of the effect of water storage reservoirs on organic matter decomposition in rivers
No full textOrganic matter decomposition is vital in sustaining river food webs. However, little is known about the effect of water storage reservoirs on organic matter decomposition in rivers. In this paper, we reviewed and analyzed 37 studies that investigated the effect of man-made reservoirs on organic matter decomposition in rivers. Most studies focused on decomposition of tree leaf litter (54.1%) and macrophytes litter (43.2%), while fewer studies evaluated decomposition of wood (2.7%). Based on qualitative analysis, the effect of small weirs on organic matter decomposition is local and the effect on most habitat variables is minimal. Mean effect sizes (Hedge´s d) for organic matter decomposition were −1.98 for small weirs, −1.31 for small reservoirs and −0.66 for large reservoirs. In conclusion, this review demonstrates that in general reservoirs have a negative effect on litter decomposition. Litter decomposition, an important ecosystem process, is sensitive to impacts of reservoirs in different types of rivers.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Influence of Performance Appraisal Practices on Employee Performance in Kenya, A Case of Eldowas in Gishu County
No full text<p>Representative execution is basic for a firm to support its monetary reasonability in the present business climate. Each association's prosperity is to a not set in stone by the efficiency of its representatives. Subsequently, expanding representative efficiency has arisen as a basic issue for the achievement and supportability of endeavors. The objectives of this study were: to determine the influence of evaluation to assess the influence of management by objective to establish the influence of performance appraisal and to evaluate the influence of 360 degree appraisal on employee performance at Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company. This study would be significant to the management of Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company as it will aid them in decision making and policy formulation, further, the findings also would be beneficial to both current and future researchers as it will act as reference point and literature review. The study was guided by goal setting, management by objective and expectancy theories. This study's target population was 405 workers. The sample size of the study was 121 workers who were picked by the use of random sampling technique. The gathered data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, and percentages as well as inferential statistics which included multiple linear regression. Tables were used to present the analyzed data. The study found that evaluation methods had significant positive relationship with employee performance, as indicated by a coefficient of .474, similarly, management by objective was found to have a positive impact on employee performance, with a coefficient of .401. The study concluded that evaluation methods had positive perception among respondents towards performance evaluation. Lastly, the study recommended that ELDOWAS should continue in utilizing performance evaluation as a valuable tool for identifying areas of improvement and setting clear performance expectations.</p>
ANALYSIS OF DEMAND FOR ANTIBIOTICS IN POULTRY PRODUCTION IN KIAMBU COUNTY, KENYA
No full textPoultry production is an important economic activity for smallholder farmers in Kenya. Commercial poultry farming in Kenyarelies heavily on veterinary inputs, key among them being antibiotics which develop resistance with improper use. Among the many interventions used in the past to curb the risk of antibiotic resistance in livestock in Kenya, there is none that has comprehensively addressed inappropriate use of antibiotics and the incentives driving their demand in the livestock industry. This study, therefore,characterized antibiotic use patterns in poultry production and assessed the responsiveness of antibiotic demand to factor and product price changes in Kiambu County of Kenya. The aim was to generate information which can be used to enrich policy design geared towards reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance in the livestock sector in Kenya. A sample of 238 commercial chicken farmers in Kiambu County was selected using a multistage sampling procedure.Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were done to characterize the patterns of use for antibiotics. A normalized restricted translog profit function was also used to estimate own-price and cross-price elasticity of antibiotic demand in layer and broiler production systems in Kiambu County.Descriptive statistics done to characterize the pattern of use for antibioticsindicated that: (i) antibiotics were widely used in poultry production in Kiambu County, (ii) they were accessible to farmers, mainly from agro-vet shops and (iii) Farmers administer antibiotics without the assistance of professional veterinary personnel. The implication is that these practises increase the likelihood of drug misuse and therefore the probability of increasing antibiotic resistance in poultry. xi Results from the econometric model showed that the own-price elasticity of antibiotic demand for both layer and broiler production systems were negative, more than unity (-1.7 for broiler and -1.2 for layers) and statistically significant (p0.05), implyingthat the cross prices cannot be used as a strategy to regulate antibiotic use.Additionally, antibiotic demand was positive and most sensitive to producer egg and chicken meat prices, which meant that most farmers would use egg boosters and growth promoters with increased egg and chicken meat prices. Theresults indicated that rational use of antibiotics could be strengthened by the policy makers manipulating antibiotic prices. Increasing the prices of antibiotics to reduce the demand through an antibiotic “pigouvian” tax policy can achieve a significant reduction in antibiotic use. Also, given the high and positive output price elasticities, farm output price supportwould be unlikely to reduce antibiotic use in poultry production in Kiambu County.Therefore, supporting the activities of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Department of Veterinary Services in monitoring and regulating the use of antibiotics as egg boosters in layers and growth promoters in broilers is likely to reduce the overall risk of development of antibiotic resistance in poultry in Kenya
The current and potential relevance of producer organizations : a case of Nyeri Branch Dairy Goat Association of Kenya
No full textSmall scale producers face many opportunities and also huge challenges in today’s markets. Market liberalization since the 1980s has cut back the support services provided by the state and forced producer to face the risks of often weak and volatile markets. Further more those who are able to access markets often find themselves at the mercy of buyers who take advantage of small –scale producers bargaining position. The small scale producers have to adopt a strategy in order to access, compete in and influence markets. This strategy is collective action among the producers in the form of producer organizations (POs). The National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Programme within the Ministry of Agriculture promote formation of common interest groups based on a specific commodity or technology. These common interest groups later form producer groups. Member participation is strong at group level where members meet monthly and make decisions. Members are participation in contributing membership fee and paying for services. At the association level the members are not represented as they do not elect the representative for branch meetings. The groups are informed of decisions reached at the branch meeting and they passively participate. Members showed a low capacity of initiating of new activities like creation of functional branches and searching for new markets for the dairy goat milk. The service delivery is demand driven and members pay when they request for services. Some of the services are affected by the availability of the DGAK assistant who are fewer than the number of groups while at the same time the quality of service may be poor depending on the competency of the staff. The financing arrangements of these services also do not motivate the staff to attend to groups. There is no mechanism for members to report to the association on the evaluation of the services they get from the assistant and the association as a whole. The agricultural extension workers form groups within a one year time limit with specified targets on number of groups to be formed. This period limits the identification of existing social networks and identification of needs and priorities of the groups. Nevertheless the DGAK is contributing to the empowerment of farmers in aspects of collective marketing and access to training. However there is need to have appropriate structures of governance that realizes members participation and improves on service provision. These structures of governance should improve on representation of the members at the decisions making levels in the branch meetings and make the branch autonomous. There is need to enhance the role of member groups in the association decision making by fostering of social capital at all levels. The service delivery to members should be strengthened at grass root level. The trained farmers who are DGAK assistants should be constantly updated on technical as well as social issues. The Agricultural extension workers need further capacity building to be able to recognize existing social structures and then strengthen the producer organisations and create linkages with other actors. The programmes targeting group formation should take more than a year for supporting process to groups to be functional
Assessing the Role of Technological Innovations in Managing Energy Costs in Star-Rated Hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textThe hotel sector contributes to a country’s employment and economic revenue. Despite this, it is among the most energy-intensive sectors, which is increasing, and is met by a diversified energy sources. Energy wastage with fluctuating energy prices and inefficiency leads to high energy costs that continue to rise due to the demand for exceptional services by hotel guests. These costs are passed to products and services to cover the increased costs. Although energy costs are the most controllable among hotel costs, many hotels struggle to manage them due to a lack of knowledge of what drives energy costs high and a poor understanding of the breakdown of energy costs. Star-rated hotels need to understand energy consumption patterns for economic sustainability. The objective was to assess the role of energy monitoring technologies in managing energy costs in star-rated hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Using an embedded design, an in-depth interview study with a purposive sample of 18 hotel general managers and 18 accounting staff with knowledge and expertise provided detailed insights into energy costs and energy monitoring technologies. Six main themes emerged. The findings provide support for hoteliers to adopt energy monitoring technologies across energy consumption areas so as to develop an understanding of energy cost structure to effectively manage energy costs. In addition, they help pinpoint high consumption points and inefficiencies, leading to the implementation of targeted energy savings measures and ultimately lower energy costs
