155 research outputs found
A Paradigm Shift for Innovation and Creativity in Africa in the 21st Century
Full text linkInnovation has for many years been associated with growth and development of organizations and nations. Creativity is closely associated with innovativeness and indeed, without creativity there can be no meaningful innovativeness. The developed world has been associated with innovativeness for many decades, long before there was anything meaningful in the Developing world such as the African Continent .Thus, most inventions that we know today came from the developed world. Using a narrative and descriptive approach of the past and the present trends in both the developed and the African continent, the author seeks to demonstrate that in spite of the myriad of challenges, innovation and creativity are driving economic development in Africa and will continue to do so in the 21st century. Africa is on the rise and holds the future in terms of innovation and creativity, and will shape the 21st century as far as innovation and creativity is concerned. Africa has the potential and the capacity to host the innovations of the 21st century and beyond, just as Europe hosted the industrial revolution in the 19th century. The author argues that with a young growing population with a huge untapped natural resources, Africa presents the best opportunity for creativity and innovativeness in the 21st century. The author is cognizant to the fact that Africa is very diverse and cannot be lumped together as one big entity, but recognizes that a majority of the countries therein suffer the same challenges, which will be the main triggers to creativity and innovation in the 21st century Keywords: innovativeness, Creativity, economic development, African continent DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-01 Publication date:July 31st 201
Influence of Firm Characteristics on the Relationship between Customer Relationship Management Practices and Performance of Large-Scale Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
Full text linkThe objective of the research was to measure the influence of firm characteristics on the relationship between customer relationship management practices and performance of large-scale manufacturing firms in Kenya. To establish this objective, two objectives focusing on financial and non-financial performance were set and corresponding hypotheses formulated. The population of the study comprised large-scale manufacturing firms that were members of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. The data analyzed was obtained through a structured questionnaire. To test the influence of firm characteristics on the relationship between customer relationship management practices and firm performance regression analysis was used. The findings indicated that the moderating influence of firm characteristics on CRM practices and firm performance was only found to be statistically significant on non-financial performance and not statistically significant on the association between CRM practices and financial performance. Further, the interaction of CRM practices and firm characteristics on non-financial performance was statistically significant. One major contribution of this investigation is that CRM practices and firm characteristics account for significant variation in non-financial performance. Further, the findings of the study support the theoretical link between CRM practices, firm characteristics and performance. Acknowledgement I would like to thank God for his providence, his faithfulness and for seeing me through completion of my Ph.D. program. I sincerely thank my University Supervisors; Prof. Justus Munyoki, Dr. Joseph Owino and Dr. James Njihia, their insightful contributions, critique and patience moudlded my academic reading, thinking and writing. Special thanks to my family for their patience encouragement and prayers. Keywords: Customer relationship management, firm characteristics, performance, large-scale manufacturing firm
Influence of Market Orientation on the Relationship Between Customer Relationship Management Practices and Performance of Large-Scale Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
Full text linkThe main objective of the study was to measure the influence of market orientation on the relationship between customer relationship management practices and firm performance of large-scale manufacturing firms in Kenya. The population of the study comprised large-scale manufacturing firms that were members of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM). A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. The target respondents were three top managers in each firm, and aggregated single scores were computed to lessen single source response bias. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The results revealed that market orientation was a strong statistical predictor of firm performance. In addition, the moderating effect of market orientation on the association between CRM practices and performance (F=9.138, P-value<0.05) was found to be statistically significant. The study supported findings of previous studies on the influence of CRM practices on firm performance. In addition, the study found that both CRM practices and market orientation had a positive and significant influence on performance. Further, the findings of the study support the theoretical link between CRM practices, market orientation and performance. Acknowledgment I thank and appreciate almighty God for this opportunity, his grace and favor. I also extend my sincere gratitude to my University Supervisors; Prof. Justus Munyoki, Dr. Joseph Owino and Dr. James Njihia for their valuable guidance, support and encouragement during the writing and completion of my Ph.D thesis. I also thank all members of the University of Nairobi Business Administration who contributed in one way or the other to make the writing of my thesis a success. I would also like to thank sincerely all top and senior managers in large-scale manufacturing firms in Kenya who participated in this research. Finally my sincere appreciation goes to my family members for supporting, encouraging and being there for me during the entire journey of pursuing my Ph.D. program. Keywords: customer relationship management, market orientation, performance, large-scale manufacturing firm
Perception of marketing as a determinant of growth among micro, small and medium enterprises in Mavoko Municipality, Machakos, County, Kenya
No full textThis study sought to establish the determinants of growth among the micro, small and medium
sector enterprises in Mavoko municipality, Machakos county, Kenya. Descriptive crosssectional
survey design was used with a semi structured questionnaire being the main data
collection instrument. A convenient sample of 100 MSMes was used, in which 79 firms
responded, giving a response rate of 79 %. Descriptive analysis, regression and correlation
analysis were used to analyze the data. The study found that marketing practices do influence
the growth of the enterprises. It was found that a number of marketing practices hand
significant influence on growth of the enterprises. Personal characteristics of the entrepreneur,
such as age and educational level of the entrepreneur were found to significantly influence the
growth of an enterprise.. Organizational characteristics such as financial ability and , Quality of
employees were also found to have positive influence on growth of enterprise
Enhancing University Industry Linkages through Marketing and Entrepreneurship
No full textThe link between universities and the industry has been of concern both locally as well as globally for a long time, for the obvious reason that it is perceived to enhance organizational performance. The gap between universities and the industry has been widening in developing countries leading to lost opportunities for joint research, product development and job creation. Marketing and entrepreneurship could play a pivotal role in reversing the weakened linkages by building mutual relationship and strengthening bonds between universities and industry. This study sought to examine the role of marketing and entrepreneurship as important tools for enhancing the university industry linkages. The study sought to determine the aspects of marketing and entrepreneurship that have the highest influence on enhancing the university industry linkages. It considered the nexus of entrepreneurship and marketing exemplified by the attributes of innovativeness, creativity, risk taking; proactive orientation and value creation as crucial for creating, nurturing and developing sustained linkages between universities and industry. The study targeted 150 small and medium sized enterprises in Nairobi City County, out of which 143 responded, giving a response rate of 95 %. Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered to managers of small and medium sized enterprises engaged in manufacturing, retail, banking and hospitals. Survey data collected from small and medium enterprises will be analyzed through descriptive statistics including mean scores and standard deviation. We will test our hypothesis through regression analysis. The study found that marketing practices especially those focused on the product, promotion and distribution were key in enhancing University industry linkage. With regards to entrepreneurial orientation, risk taking, and creativity indicators were found to be more important than innovation in enhancing university-industry linkages
Entrepreneurial Education, youth employability and economic development in Kenya
No full textThis study sought to determine the relationship between entrepreneurial education and youth employability and economic development in Kenya. A descriptive cross sectional design was used to collect data, with the main data collection instrument being a semi structured questionnaire. The population of the study comprised the micro, small and medium scale enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. Out of the 100 questionnaires issued, 93 were completed and returned giving a response rate of 93%. Descriptive analysis (means and standard deviations ) and inferential analysis was used to analyze the data. Regression and correlation analysis was done to test the hypotheses. It was found that several indicators of entrepreneurial education had a significantly positive influence on youth employability. For example, entrepreneurial education enhances opportunity recognition as an indicator of entrepreneurial education was statistically significantly correlated with the statement that entrepreneurship endeavor is an employment alternative as an indicator of youth employability (r = 331**, P = 0.01). Similarly, the statement that entrepreneurial education sharpens competitiveness had a significantly positive influence on the statement that entrepreneurship endevour is an employment alternative (r =.313** P = 0.01). The overall model for entrepreneurial education and youth employability had an R Square value of 0.151, and an F value of 3.086, (p = 0.013 0.05, indication that although youth employability is responsible for 8.7% of economic development, the effect is not statistically significant. The implication for this is that entrepreneurial education should be encouraged as a way of enhancing entrepreneurial thinking among the youth, so that they can use this to venture into self employment. However, this study did not find a significant direct link between youth employability and economic development, and this can only be implied. We suggest increased government support for entrepreneurship training and for closer industry university collaboration and partnerships in order to accelerate economic development
Covid 19 Pandemic Government Interventions and Their Implications on Shopper Behavior: A Study of Consumers in Kenya
Full text linkStudies on consumer behavior continue to attract attention all over the world, because of the implications they have in the market. Behavior as expressed through attitude changes and perceptions can be brought about by many factors including government interventions. The year 2020 has been characterized by many government interventions in trying to contain the corona virus pandemic, and it is important to assess how the measures have influenced shopper behavior. Using the consumer behavior theories (Bagozzi and Kimmel 1995 , Bagozzi et al. (2002) with specific reference to the Rational choice theory (Adam Smith, 1776) and the and the functional attitude theory (when Smith, Bruner, and White (1956) and Katz (1960), the researchers sought to determine the effect of government intervention measures on influence on shopper behavior, and whether shopper demographic characteristics either moderate or mediate the relationship between government intervention measures and shopper behavior. Descriptive cross sectional design was used, with a stratified sample drawn from former students from the School of Business, University of Nairobi. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that government intervention measures significantly influenced shopper (F value of 3.962, p = 003 < 0.05), and accounted for 22.6% of the changes in shopper behavior ( R2 = 0.226). The study found that that contrary to the popular belief that consumers in developing countries put price before quality, in a situation like the corona virus pandemic which has direct effect on the consumers, quality of the products used for prevention comes first and the consumers will buy provided the product is of the right quality. The study found that shopper characteristics have a significant mediating effect on the relationship between government intervention measures and shopper behavior. The researchers recommend that government and other policy makers have relevant information about shopper behavior as a basis for implementing certain measures that may negatively influence their behavior and injure the economy. Keywords: Covid19 pandemic, operational issues, shopper behavior, consumer attitude DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/87-03 Publication date:October 31st 202
The author in literary theory and theories of literature
Full text linkWe have become accustomed to regarding the question of the author in literary criticism and theory in anti-authorial terms. It is a quaintness of modern literary theory that the author, whom we would, commonsensically, expect to be the central agent in the production of the literary work, has, for the most part of the past century, been considered a liminal character of minor importance to literary criticism, and, if not completely dead, then at least a ghost haunting the limits of the literary work of art
- …
