College of Human Resource Development (COHRED)SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PROCUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT,SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES,http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/12822024-03-29T08:21:30Z2024-03-29T08:21:30ZStrategic Leadership, Innovation and Service Quality of Accredited Universities in KenyaNyongesa, Godfrey Ingangahttp://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/62492024-03-28T10:02:48Z2024-03-28T00:00:00ZStrategic Leadership, Innovation and Service Quality of Accredited Universities in Kenya
Nyongesa, Godfrey Inganga
The Primary objective of the study was to establish the mediating influence of innovation on the relationship between strategic leadership and service quality of accredited universities in Kenya. The specific objectives were to: determine the effect of human capital development on service quality; establish the effect of maintaining core competencies on service quality; assess the effect of strategic direction on service quality; examine the effect of strategic leadership on service quality and determine the mediating effect of innovation on the relationship between strategic leadership and service quality. The study relied on theoretical and empirical literature on human capital development, maintaining of core competencies and developing strategic direction as the independent variables, innovation as the mediating variable and service quality as the dependent variable. The study was based on four theories: upper echelons theory, dynamic capabilities theory, trait leadership theory and resource based view. The study was guided by positivism research philosophy, cross sectional and explanatory research design. The population in the study comprised of all the 74 universities in Kenya which have been accredited by the Commission of University Education to operate in the country. The unit of inquiry was the deputy vice chancellors of the universities in charge of administrative and academic divisions and the finance officers/managers. A census technique was used involving all the elements of the target population, while purposive sampling was used to select the respondents in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to profile the respondents. The hypothesized relationships were developed and tested based on the conceptual model of strategic leadership, innovation and quality service. The measurement model estimation was established through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The linear relationships between the independent variables and quality service were assessed using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient r. The structural or inner model was accomplished by examining path coefficients or betas for hypothesis testing. The hypothesized relationships were tested using Structural Equation Modeling and Sobel test. The result of the hypothetical testing showed that human capital development has a positive and statistically significant relationship with service quality. Out of the five factors of human capital, four factors were found to contribute significantly to service quality, and one was not which is existence of human resource training and development planning program in the institution. Maintaining core competence was established to have a statistically significant relationship with service quality. A statistically significant relationship was established between strategic direction and service quality. Further findings revealed that a statistically significant relationship existed between strategic leadership and service quality. A test of the mediated relationship confirmed that innovation partially mediates the relationship between strategic leadership and service quality. The results present diverse implications for policy, practice and research. Human capital development was confirmed to have a positive effect on service quality. As a result of this perspective policy makers will use these findings to align and increase adoption of strategic leadership practices in order to inspire good managerial practices. It is recommended that CEOs of universities can use these findings to help in promoting training and development, hire and recruit qualified and suitable personnel and enhance the innovative aspects of human capital, as they play an important role in obtaining service quality outcomes. Future studies could use longitudinal survey which will serve as the foundation for more informed interpretations in future research studies.
Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Strategic Management)
2024-03-28T00:00:00ZDeterminants of Share Price Fluctuations at the Nairobi Securities ExchangeOkumu, Margaret Keyeli Sasihttp://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/62462024-02-15T08:46:46Z2024-02-15T00:00:00ZDeterminants of Share Price Fluctuations at the Nairobi Securities Exchange
Okumu, Margaret Keyeli Sasi
In recent times, retail investors have been exiting the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in large numbers. The net exit is attributable to erratic share price fluctuations, which make investors anxious about the safety of their capital. The research, which adopted the descriptive design sought to determine whether independence of securities firms, public announcements, investor perception, interest rate changes and company performance influence share price fluctuations at the NSE. The population of the study included all the employees of securities firms listed on the NSE. The researcher used purposive sampling to randomly select research participants on the basis of professional stratification. The stratification samples were based on at least four services offered by securities firms that include broking, portfolio management, research and investment banking and underwriting. The researcher utilized seventy-two parcipants by selecting four participants from all the eighteen securities firms listed on the NSE as at 31 December 2012. Primary data was collected through a survey approach by the use of a questionnaire. The researcher utilized SPSS to process and carry out descriptive and inferential statistical analysis on the data. Research findings show that independence of securities firms, public announcements, investor perception, interest rate changes and company performance combine to significantly influence share price fluctuations at the NSE. The researcher recommends that the Capital Market Authority (CMA) should put in place technologies to monitor all market activities in real time to flag out abusive behavior at the NSE. The CMA can use audit trail to prevent potential market manipulators from hiding their identies. Financial advisors should ensure their clients adopt a long-term investment strategy to offer market stability. The researcher recommends that a further study that intertwines psychology and finance be undertaken to explain individual investment decision-making.
Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration
2024-02-15T00:00:00ZReverse Logistics Practices and the Performance of Large Manufacturing Firms in KenyaKamanga, Felix Ndunguhttp://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/62452024-02-12T10:09:32Z2024-02-12T00:00:00ZReverse Logistics Practices and the Performance of Large Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
Kamanga, Felix Ndungu
In a world of scarce resources and disposal capacities, recovery of used products and materials is key to supporting a growing population at an increasing level of consumption. There are pressures on organizations to act responsibly in terms of the protection of the environment and create value for all stakeholders. There is a rising global interest in reverse logistics. It is therefore prudent to consider reverse logistics practices as a key competence in large manufacturing firms as has been realized by some developed economies. Kenya Vision 2030 identifies the manufacturing sector as one of the key drivers for realizing a sustained annual GDP. However, growth in manufacturing firms has created an emergence of problems such as; scarcity of resources, pollution, waste accumulation and environmental damage in recent years. Manufacturing waste is a resource that can be harnessed to create wealth, employment and reduce pollution of the environment. Manufacturing firms have the opportunity to increase their profit margins and minimize loss through efficiently handling returns via reverse logistics. In this connection, the study aims at examining reverse logistics practices and the performance of large manufacturing firms in Kenya. This research was anchored on theories relevant to specific objectives of the study which include: product disposition practice, recycling practice; reverse product flow practice, end-of-life management practice and the moderating effect of firm resources on the relationship between reverse logistics and large manufacturing firm’s performance in Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive research design and used purposive sampling method to pick the sample. The target population was 240 firms, whereby 129 firms responded representing response rate of 89 percent. Primary data was collected using questionnaires which were dropped and picked later. Multiple linear regression model was used to show the hypothesized relationships between variables while content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Purposive sampling was used as it allowed the choice of subjects who are most advantageously placed to provide required information in relation to the study objectives. The data was quantitatively analyzed based on research objectives. The quantitative data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential analysis by use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Both correlation and regression analysis were done. The results for the effect of Reverse Logistics Practices and firm performance were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficient. The output indicated that Reverse Logistics practices had a strong positive relationship with firm performance (r = .837, p < 0.05). Upon introduction of the interaction term the regression model was significant for all the variables (F value=53.071, p<0.05) inferring that Firm Resources, significantly moderates the relationship between Reverse logistics Practices and the performance of large manufacturing firms in Kenya. On the basis of these statistics, the study concluded that there is significant positive relationship between all the specific Reverse Logistics Practices and firm performance. The study therefore recommended that manufacturing firms should introduce these practices in their operations and make use of them because of the benefits associated with them.
Doctor of Philosophy in Supply Chain Management
2024-02-12T00:00:00ZStrategic Drivers and Performance of Agency Banking In Commercial Banks in KenyaMbugua, Martin Njorogehttp://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/62382024-02-05T10:54:27Z2024-02-05T00:00:00ZStrategic Drivers and Performance of Agency Banking In Commercial Banks in Kenya
Mbugua, Martin Njoroge
Agency banking has in the recent past gained momentum among many commercial banks in Kenya. This study sought to establish the influence of strategic drivers on the performance of agency banking in commercial banks in Kenya. To achieve this, the study specifically sought to determine the influence of: product innovation; information technology; human capital; financial resources and examine the moderating effect of firm size on the performance of agency banking in commercial banks in Kenya. The study reviewed previous studies done to support the research objectives from which the research gaps were extracted. Several theories were used to lay more weight on the study variables. These theories were included; diffusion theory of innovation, technology acceptance theory, resource based theory, resource dependency theory and stewardship theory of firm performance. The study used descriptive survey research design. The target population for this study was the 18 commercial banks in Kenya licensed by Central Bank of Kenya to operate agency banking. The branch managers, ICT managers, operations managers, human resource managers and customer relations managers were the key targets respondents in the study. Primary and secondary data was collected using questionnaires and checklist guide respectively. Reliability and validity tests were undertaken and data collected was analysed using SPSS version 26. Inferential analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The data analysed was presented in form of tables, pie-charts and bar-graphs. The study established that Product innovation had a positive significant influence on the performance of agency banking among the commercial banks in Kenya. Through introduction of new products and making improvements to the existing products as well as differentiating the products with their peers in the market, better customer attraction was achieved thus enhancing performance. Information technology was also found to have a positive significant influence in agency banking performance in commercial banks in Kenya. Those banks that ensured appropriate ICT skills, availability of ICT infrastructure and upholding training on ICT recorded more deposits through agency banking. The findings further revealed that human capital through educational level of the employees, number of personnel and the level of experience had a positive significant influence on the performance of agency banking among commercial banks in Kenya. The financial resources availed to agency banking through shareholders’ fund, liquidity ratio and value of assets also positively influenced the performance of agency banking. Firm size was found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between strategic drivers and the performance of agency banking in commercial banks. The study concluded that product innovation, information technology, human capital and financial resources were essential in steering the performance of agency banking thus recommending that the commercial banks through the management ought to uphold these strategic drivers in order to enhance the performance of agency banking.
Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Strategic Management)
2024-02-05T00:00:00Z