52 research outputs found
Perceptions of public procurement practices by engineering consultancy firms in Kenya
No full textSubmitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Business Administration at Strathmore UniversityPublic procurement has a key role to play in the promotion and development of local industries and sectors. Despite the fact that public procurement is becoming a popular technique in empowerment of local businesses such as the local engineering consulting firms there are various challenges that the firms perceive as barriers in their quest to access public procurement opportunities. The main objective of the study was to determine and assess the perceptions of the public procurement processes by the engineering consulting firms. The study targeted the senior managers of engineering consultancy firms as well as the road authorities’ procurement managers who were the key informants. The study adopted the descriptive research design survey where the primary data from the engineering consulting firms was collected using questionnaires whilst interview guides were used in interviews with the key informants, the road authorities’ procurement managers. The collected data was then analysed using descriptive statistics analysis techniques to determine the distribution and dispersion of the different variables whereas content analysis approach was used in the review of documents and manuals as well as the interviews with the road authorities’ procurement managers. From the findings, the elements of the public procurement practices in procuring of consultancy services were identified and also revealed the perceptions of the practices, evaluation criteria and the public procurement performance that had positive and negative influence in the participation of public procurement by the engineering firms. The key result of the study is that it generates explanatory theory on the barriers to public procurement thereby acting as a guidance to engineering consulting firms, the government and policy makers to collaborate in design programs and formulate procurement policies that will facilitate and stimulate the growth and development of the local engineering consulting firms and hence help in improving their growth and development. The insights from this study can also contribute towards ongoing discussions on the significance of public procurement policy on small and medium sized enterprises development. Additional research is needed to improve the existing body of knowledge about SME-friendly procurement practices especially within the knowledge based industries
Factors Affecting Foreign Market Entry Strategies for Financial Institutions: A Case Study of Equity Bank Kenya
No full textProject Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of the study was to determine the factors affecting foreign market entry strategies for financial institutions with a key focus on Equity Bank Kenya Limited. The study was guided by specific objectives that focused on: determining internal firm factors that affect foreign market entry for financial institutions; examining external factors that affect foreign market entry for financial institutions; and determining industrial factors that affect foreign market entry for financial institutions.
In this study, the research design used in this study was descriptive. The total population used in the study was all employees working at Equity Headquarters located in Upper hill Nairobi (836) in total. The sampling frame for this study was the complete list of all employees of Equity Bank Headquarters located in Upper hill, obtained from the organization’s human resource department. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample size for the study. The sample size for the study was 271 respondents as received from the formula used as shown on the methodology section. The study applied the use of primary data collection technique. This was achieved through the use of questionnaires. The study used quantitative data analysis. The study showed that internal factors had the ability to impact foreign market expansion strategies used by companies. The study revealed that Equity Bank (K) Limited’s strategy formulation process was linked to the organization’s long-term plans and was guided by the company’s vision, mission and objectives.
Their organizational culture facilitated their ability to adapt to both external and internal changes and the company had the ability to create sustainable change through the integration of changes in their organizational culture. The study showed that, the flow of organizational knowledge within the company and the encouragement from leaders who supported innovation and knowledge management initiatives facilitated the ability of the organization in entering new foreign markets.
The study revealed that external factors had the ability to impact foreign market expansion strategies. It showed that Equity Bank (K) Limited focused on the foreign rules and regulations established by law-makers before deciding on entering a foreign market. The company considered factors relating to: the freedom and protection of acquiring property and engaging in voluntary transactions, ability to assume a reasonable capacity for the expatriation of earnings from their international operations without unreasonable regulations or taxation and economically safe environments, before entering a foreign market.
The study concludes that these factors create different cultural values in different societies and their influences on the transfer of management practices among nations were a great influence on the organization’s intention to enter a new foreign market. The study showed that industrial factors had the ability to impact foreign market expansion strategies, and that the company managers’ ability to understand the effect of industry forces impacted their entry strategies. The study showed that the institution was affected by the threat of entering a new market by established companies as well as the presence of substitute products from rival firms. Equity Bank (K) Limited was influenced by the size and concentration of customers in the foreign market as well as the saturation of their domestic market.
The study recommends that to enter a new market, the firm should select markets that have less intense rivalry so as to avoid engaging in price wars. Globalization is a reality and is driving internationalization. Although there are challenges in going international, the study recommends that firms train and retrain their leaders to understand the external environment factors like the socio-culture, legal and technological in order to prepare adequately for a smoother process. The study recommends KBA and the government to organize various workshops and seminars that would expose the managers and policy makers of financial institutions to external factors that impact the internationalization procedures of financial institutions
The Effects of Ecotourism on Community Livelihoods and Natural Resources Use in Kajiado District, Kenya
No full textThis study examines the effects of ecotourism on community livelihoods and natural
resources use in Loitokitok Division, Kajiado District. The analysis is based on
benefits; both direct and indirect accrued from ecotourism, change of resources use
from consumptive to non-consumptive ways, effects on frequency of human-wildlife
conflict incidences as well as response of the community to these incidences.
Data for analysis were collected from a sample of 40 members of the community
through questionnaire method. In addition, one member each from the institutions
involved in ecotourism (AWF, KWS and Porini Ecotourism Company) in the area
was interviewed. Direct observation and secondary data were also used to collect data.
The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data processing and
analysis. The Chi-square test was used to determine if the differences in variables was
statistically significant.
The results from the analysis revealed that with the introduction of ecotourism in the
study area members of the community did not only utilise the natural resources in
consumptive ways such as for game meat, but also they utilize in non-consumptive
ways such as viewing. There was a significant difference (P :::;0.05) in the use of
natural resources before and after ecotourism. The results also show that ecotourism
has influenced the community's livelihood through benefits accrued from ecotourism.
This has been possible through participation of the members in ecotourism either
directly or indirectly. The findings however reveal that there is no significance
difference (P≤ 0.05) in the level of participation by all members of the community. Some community members work in the ecolodge as waiters while others sell their
souvenirs to the tourists.
The conclusion that emerges is that though the community still utilises the natural
resources in consumptive ways, ecotourism has enabled the members to use the same
resources in a non-consumptive manner for the benefit of all. This in return illustrates
that ecotourism is a sustainable land use option. The income accrued from ecotourism
has played a role in boosting the economic status of the community, hence improving
their livelihood. This has also been achieved through offering employment
opportunities and financing the community's projects such as schools and water holes.
The main recommendation is that ecotourism should be enhanced in areas in the
vicinity of protected areas such as national parks more so in the rangelands or arid and
semi-arid lands where livelihood options tend to be limited. This is because these communities experience losses and costs through attack and damage on lives and
property from the wild animals. Indeed, wildlife does not recognize boundaries and
most of it is outside the parks. Through ecotourisrn, the community will experience
benefits from these resources and hence will in return conserve and manage these
resources in sustainably. Ecotourism is therefore, a sustainable conservation strategy
Studies on the development of the brain of 7 and 12 day old rat embryos taken from pregnant females injected with trypan bide, 1957
No full text
An analysis of the yield of the investments of a selected group of legal reserve life insurance companies, 1929-1936, 1937
No full textDeterminants of Health Seeking Behavior among Caregivers of Infants Admitted with Acute Childhood Illnesses at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
No full textBackground. Poor, delayed, or inappropriate health seeking for a sick infant with acute childhood illness is associated with high morbidity/mortality. Delay in health seeking is implicated with fatal complications and prolonged hospital stay. Thus, caregivers ought to identify danger signs and promptly seek professional help for a sick infant. Objective. Establish determinants of health seeking behavior among caregivers of infants admitted with acute childhood illnesses in Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods. A mixed method cross-sectional study involving caregivers (n=130) of sick infants. Semistructured questionnaire and two focused group discussions were used to gather data on caregiver knowledge on danger signs, health care seeking options, and decision-making regarding health care seeking. Data was analyzed with SPSS V. 22. Results. Knowledge of danger signs of infancy was poor. Immediate health seeking was associated with tertiary [P=0.009] and secondary [P=0.030] education, knowledgeability on danger signs [P=0.002], and being married [P=0.019]. Respondents who resided in urban [P=0.034] or less than a kilometer [P=0.042] from a health facility sought care immediately. Those who rated services as excellent (P=0.005) and satisfactory (P=0.025) sought care promptly. Conclusion. Poor knowledge on danger signs of infancy was common among caregivers blurring the magnitude of acute illness resulting in delayed health seeking. Knowledgeability of danger signs of infancy, high educational level, and being married were associated with immediate health care seeking. Caregivers who resided in urban setting and/or near a health facility were linked to immediate health seeking. Additionally, satisfaction and perception of quality health care services were associated with immediate health seeking. Interventions with caregivers should involve capacity building through partnership with families and communities to raise awareness of danger signs of infancy. Strengthening of health care system to offer quality basic health services could improve health seeking behavior. Provision of a seamless supply system, infrastructural support, and technical support for soft skills minimize the turnaround time which is critical
A NEW GENUS OF DISTOMES (TREMATODA) WITH LYMPHATIC VESSELS
No full textThe trematodes described in this paper are but two of over 100 species collected from marine fishes in 1934, during the third G. Allan Hancock Expedition to the Galapagos Islands. The author\u27s presence on this expedition was sponsored in part by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. A brief preliminary report on the trematodes collected has been made (Manter, 1934) and a more complete report on the digenetic forms is in preparation. An early description of these two forms is felt justified in view of their significance in connection with the phylogeny of the Distomata. The author has already indicated (Manter, 1935) a relationship between certain allocreadiid-like distomes (Megasolena Linton and Hapladena Linton) and amphistomes. The new genus described below further substantiates such a view and indicates that the Anallocreadiinae in particular may be involved. A discussion of these relationships will follow a description of the new species
Recommended from our members
Music in the Fiction of Willa Cather
No full textThis thesis explores the use of music in the literary works of author Willa Cather
- …
