Environmental management systems and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya
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Date
2017
Authors
Mbinya, Kasuki Margaret
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Environmental degradation brings about challenges to human health, animals and plants
through pollution of air, water and soil. To mitigate this pollution standard guidelines on
management of the environment has been developed. Firms/organizations/institutions that
are not ISO 14001 compliant are expected to employ this standard in their operations to
stop or reduce polluting the environment. The general objective of this study was to
investigate the environmental management systems and environmental performance of
manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study
were to: determine the effect of Green Manufacturing Systems, Pollution Prevention
Systems, Management Systems and Pollution Control Systems on performance of
manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. This study would be of great help to
ISO certification agencies, manufacturing firms, investors, future researchers, the general
public and the Kenyan government. The study was done on manufacturing companies
across the board that are most commonly known in the Kenyan manufacturing sector.
Theories that were adopted to inform this study included; Ecological Modernization
Theory, Stakeholder Theory and Total Quality Management Theory. The study adopted a
longitudinal research design that was descriptive in nature to establish the effect of
environmental management systems on performance of manufacturing firms in Nairobi
City County, Kenya for the period 2011-2015. The study analysed the pre and post performance
of manufacturing firms to determine the problem under investigation. Target
population of this study was 44 manufacturing firms which were operating in Nairobi
City County, Kenya and Unit of observation were employees of manufacturing firms
operating in Nairobi County, Kenya. Out of the 44 manufacturing companies a target
population of 176 employees was used. Stratified sampling technique was used to select a
sample size of 88 respondents who were employees of the manufacturing firms in Nairobi
County, Kenya. Stratified sampling was appropriate since it provided equal opportunities
for each respondent during data collection process. Structured questionnaires with open
and closed ended questions were used as instruments of data collection. The respondents
were; Directors, Production Managers, Occupational and Safety Managers and Quality
Assurance Managers. Validity of the instrument was tested using industry experts and
University supervisors, while reliability was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula.
Quantitative data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences,
(SPSS version 21) where multiple regression method was adopted to determine the
statistical relationship between variables. Means, percentages and standard deviation were
used during data analysis and the information was presented in form of tables. Further,
qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis method where key themes of written
and spoken word were reviewed and conclusions were made. The study established that
there was a positive statistical correlation between green manufacturing systems,
pollution prevention systems, management systems and pollution control systems and
environmental performance of manufacturing firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The
study concluded that environmental management systems have become drivers of
competitive organizations in the changing business environment. Unless manufacturers
were willing to comply with environmental regulations spelt out in ISO 14001 standards,
environmental performance would be an uphill task. The study recommends that
manufacturing companies should ensure that employees are trained on ISO 14001
regulations, appropriate technology is adopted and industry partnership is based on best
environmental practices rather than on the sole revenues gain objective
Description
A research project submitted to the school of business in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of master of business administration of Kenyatta University October, 2017