Department of Business and Management Studies (DBMS)

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The Moderating Effect of Ethical Values in the Relationship between Competitive Strategies and Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya
(International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2025-05-28) Wacuka, Cecilia, Gathitu; K’Obonyo, Peter; Machuki, Vincent N.; Njihia, James M.
Accredited universities in Kenya have experienced dynamic growth and challenges among them ethical concerns that touch on the quality, relevance of university curricula and capacity to pursue research effectively over years (GoK, 2019; World Bank, 2020). The objective of this study was to examine the influence of ethical values on the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The corresponding hypothesis stated that ethical values have no significant moderating influence on the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on the stakeholder’s theory and complemented by virtue ethics theory. The research was grounded on the positivist philosophy. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design targeting a population of 53 accredited universities in Kenya was applied. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The response rate from completed questionnaires was 66.6%. Data was analyzed using step wise regression analysis. Findings from this study were that ethical values did not moderate significantly the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. Future research could include other respondents such as staff and students to eliminate single source bias to enrich the study. Other methods such as longitudinal design could offer richer data and greatly support the research design and the outcomes
The Mediating Effect of Competitive Advantage on the Relationship between Competitive Strategies and Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya
(African Journal of Emerging Issues (AJOEI), 2024-07) Wacuka, Cecilia, Gathitu; K’Obonyo, Peter; Machuki, Vincent, N.; Njihia, James, M
Research Objective: The objective of this research was to examine the mediating effect of competitive advantage in the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. Research Methodology: The study was anchored on Industrial organization theory basing on structure conduct paradigm, advanced by Porter (1986). Positivism provided the philosophical foundation. The population of the research comprised 53 accredited universities in Kenya. This was a census survey. Descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. Primary data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. The respondents were academic registrars from both public and private accredited universities. Four path analysis model by Baron and Kenny’s (1986) was applied in the data analysis. Results and Findings: The research outcomes revealed that competitive advantage partially mediated the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. Implication of the study: The study findings are useful to strategic management practitioners and managers from accredited universities in Kenya, policymakers in government as well as scholars and researchers Key words: Competitive strategies, competitive advantage and organizational performance
The Joint Effect of Competitive Strategies, Competitive Advantage, Ethical Values, And Corporate Reputation on Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya
(Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom, 2024-05-25) Wacuka, Cecilia, Gathitu; K’Obonyo, Peter; Machuki, Vincent, N.; Njihia, James, M.
The broad objective of the study was to determine the joint effect of competitive strategies, competitive advantage, ethical values and corporate reputation on performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The corresponding null hypothesis stated that the joint effect of competitive strategies, competitive advantage, ethical values and corporate reputation on performance of accredited universities in Kenya is not significantly different from the independent effects of predictor variables. This study was anchored on Industrial (Economics) organization theory, Stakeholders’ theory, Resource-based theory and Virtue’s ethics theory. Descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. The population of the study comprised 53 accredited universities. To collect data, semi structured questionnaires were used due to the covid-19 situation while a few were dropped and picked back. Data analysis used regression models. Findings from the test of hypotheses showed that the joint effect of competitive strategies, competitive advantage, ethical values and corporate reputation on performance is significantly different from the independent effects of predictor variables. The significant findings implied that the null hypothesis was rejected. The study outcomes contributed to theory, policy and management practice. The four theories validated outcomes of the study. Policy makers in the Ministry of higher education, Commission for University Education and university managers were recommended to establish a policy framework that observes ethical practices; quality programs and reliable training and research and adoption of competitive strategies such a market penetration, strategic alliances, product development focus strategy, differentiation and cost leadership in that order. A single respondent who was deemed to introduce bias in choosing suitable responses was said to limit the study. Questionnaires reduced subjectivism in statement responses. Longitudinal design for generalizability of results was suggested for future studies Keywords: Competitive strategies, competitive advantage, ethical values, corporate reputation and performance of accredited universities in Kenya.
Competitive Strategies and Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya
(Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Book Publishing, 2024-07) Cecilia, Wacuka, Gathitu; K’Obonyo, Peter; Machuki, Vincent, N.; Njihia, James, M.
Universities in Kenya, with the mandate of developing Kenya’s human resource, have received increasing attention due to rising concerns regarding their competitiveness for sustained performance. These concerns have been triggered by environmental shocks such as the recent covid-19 pandemic which caused disruptions in the global market, the Russia-Ukraine conflict that affected the country’s dollar liquidity and in turn causing runaway inflation, global oil price shocks, extreme weather conditions that caused drought in most of the arid and semi-arid areas, declines in real gross domestic product and severe hardship facing Kenya’s government’s capacity to fund university education. Against this backdrop, a conceptual model was developed whose main objective was to determine the effect of competitive strategies on performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The corresponding hypothesis stated that competitive strategies have no significant effect on the performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The implications of performance on competitive strategies were anchored on the Industrial Organization (IO) Economics theory as propounded by Mason (1939), advanced by Bain (1968) and adopted by Porter (1985). The theory was based on the structure-conduct-paradigm (SCP), which postulated that the structure of a market and/or industry impacted the “conduct” of businesses, which then impacted their performance. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design targeting a population of 53 accredited universities in Kenya was used. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The response rate from completed questionnaires was 66.6%. Data was analysed using multiple linear regression analysis. The findings from the analyzed data showed competitive strategies that had significant influence on performance of accredited universities in Kenya namely; market penetration, strategic alliances, focus strategy, differentiation and cost leadership, in that order. Future research could include other respondents such as staff and students to eliminate single source bias to enrich the study. Other methods such as longitudinal design could offer richer data and greatly support the research design and the outcomes. Key words: Competitive strategies, Competitive advantage and Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya.
Competitive Strategies and Performance of Accredited Universities in Kenya: Moderating Role of Corporate Reputation
(A Quarterly publication of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS) University of Nairobi, 2024-09-30) Wacuka, Cecilia, Gathitu; K’Obonyo, Peter; Machuki, Vincent, N.; Njhia, James, M.
The objective of this study was to examine the moderating effect of corporate reputation on the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. The corresponding null hypothesis stated that corporate reputation has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between competitive strategies and the performance of accredited universities in Kenya. Corporate reputation was measured using its six dimensions, namely, quality programs, quality services, quality management, quality leadership and capacity to attract and retain talented staff. The study was guided by two theories, namely, Industrial Organization (IO) and Resource based theory. The study was conducted using a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. Primary data was collected using a semi structured questionnaire which was administered to academic registrars from 53 accredited universities in Kenya. The response rate was 66.6%. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize and make inference from the research findings. The moderating effect of corporate reputation was tested using step wise regression method advanced by Baron and Kenny (1986). The study concluded that corporate reputation did not moderate the relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities in Kenya. However, descriptive statistics on measures of corporate reputation had an average mean score of 3.99 which indicates that managers in accredited universities agreed to a great extent on the importance of applying corporate reputation measures. Thus, emphasis on four measures whose mean scores ranged from, 4.031 to 4.156, above the average means score was recommended, namely, quality programs or quality services, strong management and leadership, capacity to attract and retain talented staff, benchmarking academic program/services with other highly rated universities and the perception that accredited universities are reliable institutions for academic training and research. Future research could explore different functional forms or non-linear relationships between variables since corporate reputation did not have sufficient evidence to conclude a significant linear relationship between competitive strategies and performance of accredited universities Key words: competitive strategies, corporate reputation and performance of accredited universities in Kenya.
VISITOR’S PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE CAUSES OF SEASONALITY IN THE KENYAN TOURISM INDUSTRY: A CASE OF NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK, KENYA.
(2023-01-13) Kambaga, Dunstan; Mongare, Omare
Seasonality presents a number of issues that require special attention and strategies. In particular, seasonality affects the number of tourists to a region and therefore may threaten the viability of tourism enterprises and regions whether severely or mildly. Seasonality causes the fluctuation in tourists and visitor numbers to a destination. Consequently, some destinations at certain times have more tourists and visitors than they are able to accommodate, while other have few tourists and visitors to the region. Kenyan tourism industry has in recent years suffered low tourist receipts especially at the coast. The main objective is to establish the visitor’s perceptions towards the causes of seasonality in the Kenyan tourism industry, specifically, the causes of seasonality at the Nairobi National Park (NNP). The target visitor population at the NNP was 448 visitors for August, 2017, (KWS, 2018). The formula by Miller and Brewer (2003) was used to get the sample size of 205 respondents. Data was collected 37 using questionnaires and interviews, then cleaned, edited and analyzed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse quantitative data, while qualitative data was analysed by use of content analysis. Descriptive analysis test used means, percentages and frequency distributions and charts. Inferential analysis used correlation and regression analysis including ANOVA and X2-square test to establish the level of relationships between the research variables. The findings indicate that the NNP experiences seasonality. Out of 64 respondent’s majority strongly agreed both natural and institutional seasonality that weather season both natural and institutionalized seasonality account for 80%; Calendar influence, natural and institutionalized seasonality 51%; Timing decision, natural and institutionalized seasonality 77% finally, Social pressures, natural and institutionally seasonality 50%. All the predictors were statistically significant at α=0.05 since p-values are less than 0.05. The study recommends that the government to give incentives to domestic tourists to visit the park regularly, in order to reduce the negativity of institutionalized seasonality. Further studies be done on the strategies to mitigate the causes of seasonality at the NNP. Keywords: Tourism, Tourists, Seasonality, Nairobi National Park
THE EFFECT OF FOOD QUALITY ON CUSTOMER CHOICE OF DINING DESTINATION IN KENYA.
(2023-01-13) Ondara, R. O; Fwaya, E. V. O.; Gesage, B; Kambaga, D
Food quality has received attention by hoteliers because of its effect on customer choice of dining destination in Kenya. Achieving food quality (FQ) management standards across the hospitality industry presents a challenge for governments worldwide and Kenya in particular. Despite the important role that FQ play in hospitality industry, few studies have been conducted to assess the 2 effect of food quality on customers’ choice of dining destination in 4 and 5 star Hotels in Kenya The main objective of the study was to assess the effect of food quality and safety on customer’s choice of dining destination in Kenya. The specific objective was to assess the relationship between FQ and customer choice of dining destination in Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive survey design where total number of guests sampled were 1058 based on 2016 data provided by the Kenya Tourism Board bed occupancy calculated at 49% and 54 Hotel staff (managers and sous chef) randomly selected from 4-star and 5-star hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from guests while interview schedules were employed to collect data from employees. Qualitative data collected through interview schedules was analyzed thematically. Quantitative data collected was coded in SPSS version 21 and analyzed using multiple regression. The results revealed that the top three aspects that were considered to be highly important while referring to food quality included taste (n = 426), freshness (n = 393) and good condition (n = 330). Results of the study indicated that the odds ratio of a restaurant with good food quality being selected over that with average food quality was 3.387 to 1, while the odds of a restaurant with poor food quality had the odds of 0.091 to 1 of being selected over a restaurant with average food quality. The overall effect of food quality was found to be significant since the corresponding –value for 2 R was 0.025, which was less than 0.05 ( P-value = 0.005< 0.05).
THE DETERMINANTS FOR MEDICAL TOURISM IN PRIVATE HOSPITALS: A CASE STUDY OF NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA
(2023-01-13) Kambaga, Dunstan; Mongare, Omare; Ondara, R. O
The Kenya government is expected to lead in developing medical experts and facilities to take care of the well-being of its citizens and beyond the borders, since health is one of the pillars in the government’s agenda of Vision 2030. Therefore, the study is to find out determinants for medical tourism for private hospitals in Nairobi County, with a view of improving medical tourism in Kenya. The study examined a sample of cross-section of the tourist stakeholders to establish the impact of quality medical treatment facility, service delivery offered, competent doctors and the cost for medical treatments for private hospitals in Nairobi County. A descriptive and exploratory strategy were used for the study, whereby, the population was 400 medical tourists per month visiting the 25 private hospitals (Table 4) using census method. While, Krejcie and Morgan Table (1970) was used to sample 196 respondents, by use of convenient sampling to select medical tourists in each hospital selected. The data was collected by a structured questionnaire and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The presentations and conclusions of the study was done after descriptive and inferential 36 statistics was investigated. The findings revealed that predictors were statistically significant at α=0.05 and the p-values < 0.05 (Quality medical treatment facility, p=0.00; Service delivery, p=0.00; Competent doctors, p=0.03; Costs, p=0.00). This is an indication that Quality medical treatment facility, Service delivery and Competence of doctors all have a significant outcome on medical tourists coming to Kenya. The study recommended that the management of private hospitals ensure that they have quality medical treatment equipment/facilities and competent medical doctors who will offer quality services to motivate more tourists to visit hospitals. The government to put in place policies to protect medical tourists from being exploited by private hospitals as well as to manage public hospitals to compete favorably with private hospitals. In such a scenario, medical tourism would expand and lead to the creation of employment and generate revenues for the country. Finally, the study will assist the government and tourism stakeholders in addressing the obstacles facing local and international medical tourism in the country. The researcher suggested a comparative study between private and public hospitals on medical tourism in Nairobi, Kenya.
DETERMINANTS OF CHILD SEX EXPLOITATION BY TOURISTS IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF MOMBASA NORTH COAST
(2023-01-13) Kambaga, Dunstan; Mongare, Omare; Ipara, Hellen
Kenya is synonymous with Safari destination in tourism circles internationally because of its main two products namely; wildlife and Coastal beach. However, cultural and sex tourism products are becoming prevalent to tourist, such that the tourism industry is facing different challenges towards child sex exploitation by tourists (CSET) in Kenya. The purpose of this research was to find the determinants of CSET in Mombasa North Coast, Kenya (MNCK). The research adopted descriptive design. The target population was 108,778 (County government of Kilifi and Mombasa, 2017) children involved in sex tourism industry and sample size of 384 children were selected using Krejcie and Morgan Table (1970). The study used both purposive sampling and stratification methods in sampling the children. Convenient method was used to select 22 tourist hotels out of 44 tourist hotels (KAHC, 2018) in MNCK. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study with the use of Purposive sampling method to sample the population both primary and secondary data which was collected by use of questionnaire survey and direct observation. and Descriptive analysis was used to analyse the data collected. With help of statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS) whereby chi-square (χ2 ), ANOVA and descriptive tests were performed. The researcher conducted a Correlation analysis to investigate the existence and nature of relationship between dependent variable (CSET) and in dependent variable (poverty, illiteracy, culture, modern technology, peer pressure). The study established that CSET is strongly influenced 2 by poverty, illiteracy, culture, modern technology, peer pressure respectively as indicated by a Pearson correlation coefficient of .726** .4311** .648** and. 618** This relationship was found to be statistically significant as the significant value of 0.000 which is less than 0.05 threshold. The study concluded that poverty is the major factor leading to the widespread of CSET in MNCK followed by peer pressure, illiteracy, modern technology and finally culture. This study recommends that In order to eradicate CSET at Mombasa North Coast, there is need to adopt deterrent measures apart from curative measures and may be adopted at different levels. The government should have a tourism policy on sustainable tourism to local community focusing on children which is tourism sustainability and intendeds to involve and improve the living standard of the children by generating and retaining revenue in the local community through employment. There should be skills training and entrepreneurship activities within the community to the children by assisting them to go back to learning schools/institutions and have programs to retain them for future life. Further research should be done to establish the relationship between child drug abuse and child sex exploitation; entrepreneurship opportunities for children at Mombasa North Coast; and, development of tourist education/learning programmes for the children at Mombasa North Coast.
CONSUMER BEHAVIOR AMONG DOMESTIC TOURISTS: A CASE STUDY OF TRAVEL AGENCIES IN NAIROBI, KENYA.
(2023-01-13) Kambaga, Dunstan; Mongare, Omare; Muriuki, Lawrence
The Consumer Behaviors is a combination of acts, attitudes and decisions made concerning the buying and consuming of the tourism products and services offered to tourists in destination areas and its post- buying reactions. Consumer behavior plays a key role in marketing activities of tourist products especially in promoting and selling tourism products and services in tourist destinations. The purpose of this research study is to establish factors affecting consumer behavior among Domestic tourists in travel agents in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the extent to which price, product and safety affects consumer behavior among Domestic tourists in travelling agents. The research adopted descriptive design. The target population was 306 (KATA,2019) employees involved in travelling agents and sample size of 75 employees were selected using Fisher, Laing & Stoeckel (1983) formula. The study used both systematic techniques and stratification methods from each stratum in sampling employees. Convenient method was used to select 35 travel agents out of 114 (KATA, 2019) in Nairobi (Appendix II). The study used both primary and secondary data which was collected by use of questionnaire survey. The analyzing of qualitative data was done by use of the format in the thematic content analysis, while, quantitative data was done by use of descriptive and inferential statistics through the use of statistical packages for social sciences (SPSS), Chi-square (χ2 ), ANOVA and descriptive tests were performed. The data were presented by use of graphs, pie charts and table. Employees were asked to respond to a set of statements on the Likert scale where 5=strongly agreed, 4= agreed 3= neutral, 2= disagree, 1= strongly disagree and they had enough knowledge about travel agents in order to understand and respond to the questions. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize data regarding product, price and safety and Consumer Behavior in tourism destination. It’s evident that majority of the respondents strongly agreed that product, price and safety influence a tourist in decision-making to consume a product. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the existence and nature of relationship between Product, Pricing, Safety and consumer behavior among Domestic tourists. The study concludes that tourist behaviors is strongly influenced by price with 41.4% change followed by product and safety respectively as indicated by a Pearson correlation coefficient of .653**,.611** and .633** These relationships were found to be statistically significant as the significant value was 0.000 which is less than 0.05 threshold. Since, price, product and safety affects tourists, further research for Safety should be carried on to ascertain the individual safety of tourists in destination areas, especially this era of Al-Shabaab which is a security challenge to Kenya and the horn of East Africa as a whole. The study will benefit travel agents and tourism industry as a whole since the sector continues to be one of the largest industries in the world. Also, further research with wider scope to be carried on as this study could not exhaust all the factors affecting consumer behavior among Domestic tourists.
SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK INDICATORS FOR DOMESTIC TOURISM IN KENYA CASE OF NAKURU, NAIROBI AND MOMBASA TOWNS
(2023-01-12) Omare, Mongare; Kambaga, Dunstan
This study looked at the factors that affect domestic tourism in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru with a view of addressing them and coming up with sustainable performance frameworks for domestic tourism industry. The study investigated a sample of cross-section of the tourist and other tourism stakeholders using a questionnaire survey method. A sample of 600 respondents from the tourism industry players in the regions was selected using purposive and stratified random sampling. A closed and open-ended structured questionnaire schedule with both closed and open-ended questions were used to collect data. A total of 558 respondents filled and returned the data collection tools representing a response rate of 93%, from which analysis were done and statistical inferences made presentations and conclusions drawn. The study observed that the government and other tourist industry stakeholders must work together to address hindrances pointed out in order to improve domestic tourism these include price adjustments, emphasis on tourism education through curricula, creation of a strong people friendly domestic tourism policy; the need of sensitizing the local communities on the value of tourism and the need to conserve national resources for posterity. If these measures are taken then increased domestic tourism participation leading to creation of jobs thus reducing poverty. It is expected that the study will assist the government and other industry stakeholders in coming up with practical measures to address the obstacles facing domestic tourism with a view to increasing Kenyan participation in domestic tourism, and also contribute to theoretical knowledge.
PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND SECURITY LEVELS ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT RATE IN KIAMBU COUNTY
(2023-01-12) Kambaga, Dunstan; Omare, Mongare
The Vision 2030 and Tourism County Development Master Plans were envisaged to provide a good starting point for County tourism development; however, a number of challenges must be addressed to ensure competitiveness in the sector. The objective of this research study was to assess the perceived influence of infrastructure and security levels on tourism development rate in Kiambu County, specifically to find out the extent to which infrastructure and security affect tourism development in Kiambu County. The target population was 210 employees plus tourists visiting Kiambu County. The sample size of 75 was arrived after using the formula; n=N/2+Ne2 (Yamane, 2012), stratified random sampling technique was used. The study used descriptive research design while, data was collected from primary sources with the use of questionnaires. The data was analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), descriptive and inferential statistics in analyzing and summaries. Respondents were asked to respond to a set of statements on the Likert scale, where 5=strongly agreed, 4= agreed 3= neutral, 2= disagree, 1= strongly disagree. Most respondents had enough knowledge to understand and respond to the questions, descriptive analysis was used to summarize data regarding infrastructure and security challenges on tourism development. Majority of the respondents strongly agreed that infrastructure, and security affect tourism development in Kiambu County. The researcher conducted a regression analysis to investigate the existence and nature of relationship between infrastructure and security on tourism development. The study concluded that tourism development is strongly influenced by infrastructure with 41.4% change followed by safety as indicated by a Pearson correlation coefficient of .653** and 611** respectively. This relationship was found to be statistically significant as the significant value was 0.010 which is less than 0.05 threshold. To achieve efficiency in the sector, efforts have to be undertaken to address impending challenges responsible for the stunted growth of the Country’s tourism sector. The researcher recommends for further research on a wider scope for all Counties in Kenya, while considering all challenges in the tourism sector affecting tourism development.
HOTEL GUESTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS TOURISM TRAINING IN MIDDLE LEVEL COLLEGES IN KENYA
(2023-01-12) Kambaga, Dunstan; Wasilwa, Sitati N.; Ipara, Hellen; Omare, Mongare d
The aim of this study was to highlight tourism sector’s human resource training and development which depends on middle level colleges (MLCs) in Kenya’s tourism sector. With the growing tourism industry in Kenya, however, there has been no study to assess the demonstration of MLC trainees in tourism hotels under the universal changing tourism environment in Kenya. Hence, the study, specifically, attempted to determine the relationship between variables accessible in the hotel (amenities, customer care, cognition; and, effectiveness and efficiency) and satisfaction levels of services offered to hotel guests by tourism trainees in the hotel industry. The study adopted description research designs primarily targeting hotel guests in hotels. A total of 116 questionnaires were administered randomly to hotel guests from 21 randomly selected hotels in Nairobi for the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including; means, percentages, frequencies, ANOVA and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that most hotel guests were satisfied by ‘front office staff services’, since it was the only ‘service’ related to each of the four accessible variables in hotels and which implied that hotel guests were influenced with the employees’ warm welcome, friendly nature and better knowledge in solving some of their personal problems. Further, the information center in the ‘front office’ gave hotel guests full information about the hotels like the availability of brochures. The study recommends that the government coordinates all MLCs tourism training programmes to ensure quality graduates for tourism promotion and development. Finally, further study is to be undertaken to determine security on female hotel guests (amenities) in hotels relating to individual differences among hotel guests.
Influence of Strategic Human Resource Management Practices on Performance of Public Universities in Kenya
(Journal of Human Resource and Leadership, 2022-10-16) Sagwa, Evans Vidija; Ruga, Stephen Njuguna Mwaura; Kiruja, Esther Kanyua
Purpose: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of Strategic Human Resource Management Practices (SHRMPs) on performance of public universities. Methodology: This study was essentially guided by the Resource Based Theory, as exemplified by the philosophical inclination of the study was positivist ontology. The research used a descriptive research design, in a census approach. The target population of the study were all public universities in Kenya. Data was collected from 31 public universities in Kenya with the aid of a self-administered questionnaire. Out of the 117 questionnaires that were distributed, 110 were returned and were found to be usable providing a 71% response rate. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the data. Findings: The main finding of the study indicated that there was a statistically significant relationship between the bundle of SHRMPs (rigorous recruitment, staff training, reward management and performance management), and performance of public universities in Kenya. The hypothesis of the study was that SHRMPs do not have an effect on the performance of public universities in Kenya. This finding was determined to be in tandem with the Resource Based Theory (Barney, 2001), which, among other points of emphasis, stresses the centrality of leveraging on people as key resources of an enterprise. The finding also resonated with empirical literature, including Al-Khaled & Chung (2020), who found that that entities which adopted strategic human resource management practices were able to sustainably improve their performance, and Mathushan & Kengatharan (2022), who found that the bundle of strategic human resource management practices, consisting of training, rewarding and performance management practices did positively impact on organizational performance. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The finding of this study, that SHRM practices positively and significantly influence the performance of public universities, are arguably expansionary to the Resource Based Theory (RBT), as proponed by Barney (2001). Although the Resource Based Theory does not directly address strategic human resource management practices as elements of performance, it postulated that business entities needed to focus internally to activate resources, the most important one of which is the people resource. It is the people resource which enables such entities to achieve competitive advantage in their operations, given that it is the human resource which mobilizes, and creates value from the other resources within the enterprise. In this respect, therefore, it follows that every intervention made towards creating and enhancing the human resource capacity, including, as conceptualized in this study; rigorous recruitment, staff training, rewarding them and strategically managing their performance, does count, towards enhancing the contribution of the human resources, as exemplified by the Resource Based Theory, and consequently, activating the essential asset, towards competitive organizational performance. More directly, this empirical finding, regarding the positive influence of strategic human resource management practices on performance of public universities in Kenya has implications with respect to the public universities in Kenya. The main one is that, the public universities ought to take deliberate measures in determining and selecting appropriate SHRMPs. Such practices, according to the Resource Based Theory (Barney, 2001), are expected to be valuable, inimitable, and rare and may not be substitutable, in ensuring that public universities, like any other organizations, are able to sustainably achieve competitive advantage in their markets. This is further corroborated by the findings of Sagwa, K’Obonyo and Ogutu (2014), who averred that investing in human resources was crucial in promoting organizational performance. It is also the considered opinion of this study that, the finding that SHRMPs positively influenced the performance of public universities in Kenya, constituted new knowledge, at least, in extending the Resource Based Theory, as well as adding to the empirical literature with regard to strategic human resource management practices. Furthermore, the implications of the finding made, are more than likely to be relevant beyond the public universities sub-sector, and probably to include the entire public sector and, indeed, all organizations in general. To this end, therefore; human resource managers, HR departments, and units within public universities and other public and private entities, other human resource management practitioners, policy makers in HR-oriented public and private sector, as well as the community of researchers in human resource management and the related other disciplines, are likely to find the finding of this study useful. This is particularly considering the study’s recommendation that organizations have to identify and adopt appropriate bundles of SHRMPs that would reliably enable them to attain and sustain their competitive levels of performance.
INTERVENING EFFECT OF EMPLOYEE OUTCOMES ON THE LINK BETWEEN STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA
(International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 2022-10-18) Sagwa, Evans Vidija; Ruga, Stephen Njuguna Mwaura; Kiruja, Esther
Contrary to empirical evidence that Strategic Human Resource Management Practices (SHRMPs) positively impacted performance of enterprises worldwide, public universities in Kenya, which are expected to apply SHRMPs have continued to perform below expectations, in terms of financial prospects, research and innovation, new programs development rate, learner enrolment rates, graduation rates, and employee promotion rates. Available empirical literature does not seem to address the role of employee outcomes in the link between SHRMPs and performance of public universities as conceptualized in this study. This study addressed this gap. The specific objective of this study was to determine the intervening effect of employee outcomes on the link between SHRMPs and performance of public universities in Kenya. The study tested the hypothesis that employee outcomes do not have an intervening effect on the link between SHRMPs and performance of public universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Human Capital Theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design in a census approach. The target population was academic and non-academic employees of the 31 public universities in Kenya, using a sample of 155 respondents purposively selected from the three union representatives respectively; University Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU), Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (KUDHEIHA), as well as one senior representative each from Academic Registrar and HR departments respectively. A self-administered five-level Likert type questionnaire was used for data collection. Based on the 110(71%) response rate, data was descriptively and inferentially analyzed using stepwise multiple linear regressions. It was found that there was a positive and statistically significant intervening influence of employee outcomes on the SHRMPs– public universities’ performance relationship. The study recommended that public universities in Kenya evidenced to be facing declining performance, exacerbated by dwindling government capitation ought to strategically select SHRMPs bundles that can enable them to optimize on the generation of desired employee outcomes, which would result in enhanced performance, sustainably and creatively.
Mediation Effect of Employee Outcomes in the Relationship between Human Resource Management Practices and Performance of Firms Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange
(2015-10-28) Sagwa, Evans
Much of the research demonstrating the link between Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP) and firm performance has focused on the moderating roles of variables. The mediating role of employee outcomes in the relationship between HRMP and firm performance relationship has not been established using Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed firms, yet theory and empirical studies have demonstrated that employee outcomes mediate in the HRMP-firm performance relationship. This study was motivated by the desire to fill this gap in knowledge. The objective of the study was to determine whether the effect of HRMP on firm performance is mediated by employee outcomes. The research design was cross sectional descriptive survey. Data was collected using a selfadministered questionnaire, from a population of 60 NSE listed firms. The response rate was 60%. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show a statistically significant relationship between HRMP and firm performance. The Baron and Kenny approach was used to test for mediation. The results show that the relationship between HRMP and firm performance is not mediated by employee outcomes. The finding that employee outcomes do not mediate in the relationship between HRMP and firm performance was surprising. It was also contrary to expectation and even contrary to previous studies. The study contributes to our understanding of the effect of employee outcomes in the HRMP- firm performance link of NSE listed firms. It was recommended that firms have to ensure that they align employee outcomes with HRMP that can enable them to attain and sustain a superior competitive advantage in their markets.
Women and Information Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa
(2015-08-03) Atieno, Amadi
“ICTs are important tools that provide the [Sub-Saharan Africa] woman access to lifelong learning and training, to productive assets, and to credit. Neglecting to give women access to these tools not only deprives them and their families of income, but reduces the skill-level of a nation’s human resource, limits national productivity, and bars a country from being competitive in the global market” (International Telecommunications Union, 2003).
What strategic alignment process redesign enterprise resource planning and e-commerce have in common: enterprise wide computing
(2015-08-03) Atieno, Ndede-Amadi
IT Education and Workforce Participation: A New Era for Women in Kenya?
(2015-08-03) Atieno, Ndede-Amadi
While Sub-Saharan African women have historically assumed the roles of both housewives and subsistence farmers, they have had few opportunities to participate in the modern economies of the region. However, this trend is changing with the exponential growth of information and communications technologies (ICT), giving many Sub-Sahara African women access to computers, the Internet, and other related technologies. Based on the work of a four-member research team from Kenya and the United States, this article examines the integration of female college students into the formal ICT work sector in Kenya. We do so by examining major bottlenecks and enablers to such integration from historical and contemporary perspectives. Using an interpretive approach, we conducted 32 interviews with women in an ICT program offered by a university in Kenya. Our findings indicate that women were highly optimistic, embracing ICT as a practical mechanism for achieving entry into the labor market. However, they perceived significant structural barriers, such as public policies that failed to facilitate the develop- ment of the ICT sector, gender discrimination by employers, and training that provided them with insufficient technical skills to enable them to effectively perform in the workplace. These findings largely confirm the gendered perspectives found in similar studies conducted in other countries. However, what appear as global perspectives are informed by the local causes.
Information systems education in Kenya: Students’ specialization choice trends (a case study of Kenya Polytechnic University College)
(2015-08-03) Atieno, Ndede-Amadi
The objective of this study was to determine the time and level of Information Systems (IS) awareness among Kenyan university students and the choice of IS as a field of specialization. The study posited that the choice of a field of specialization is dependent upon a student’s awareness of its existence, its utilization in the real world, its career opportunities, and its strategic importance to the country’s economic development agenda. It posited further that early IS awareness could have a positive impact on the choice of IS as a field of specialization. The underlying assumptions were that the time of IS awareness as a field of specialization among Kenyan university business students was late and levels low, leading to possible low levels of choice of IS as a field of specialization. Using the survey method, the case study found late and low levels of IS awareness as a field of specialization among university business students. Future studies linking time and levels of IS awareness with choice of IS as a filed of specialization and with existence of requisite IS skills in the country (or lack thereof) are suggested

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