DSpace Repository :: Browsing by Author "Kimencu, Linda"

Browsing by Author "Kimencu, Linda"

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Beyond Survival: How Does Organisational Support Mediate between Intrapreneurial Strategies and Performance of Public Universities in Kenya?
(International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, 2024-05) Otolo, Margaret K.; Muathe, Stephen M. A.; Kimencu, Linda
Intrapreneurship is critical for public universities as it helps the universities obtain a competitive advantage. For intrapreneurship to thrive, it should be inculcated in the public university culture, mission, obligations and goals. Studies posit that management support, reward systems, social relationships, knowledge-sharing and work discretion spur intrapreneurial activities in an organisation. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to establish the mediating effect of organisational support on the relationship between intrapreneurial strategies and the performance of public universities in Kenya. The research was guided by the resource dependency theory and utilised a positivist philosophy. A combination of descriptive and explanatory research designs was used. The unit of analysis was 20 public universities, and the unit of observation was 400 participants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data. With the help of SPSS Version 23, quantitative data was analysed, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis and the findings were expressed guided by the objectives of the study. Multiple regression models were used to test the association between variables, and the results obtained were presented using figures and tables. A statistically significant (β0.760, p=0.000
Competitive Intelligence Practices and Performance of Firms Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2015-12) Waithaka, Paul; Bula, Hannah; Kimencu, Linda
Performance is critical for every listed firm, as it enhances shareholder's value and capability to generate earnings from invested capital. Some of the firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) have been performing poorly as indicated by the rising number of firms issuing profit warnings. The competitive business environment is continuously working to drive down the rate of return on invested capital. To counter these competitive forces, firms have resorted to gathering information at their disposal and converting it into competitive intelligence through analysis and human judgment. This study sought to determine the effect of competitive intelligence practices on performance of firms listed on the NSE. The specific objectives of the study were: to determine how strategy-oriented, tactics-oriented, technology-oriented and target oriented competitive intelligence practices affect the performance of firms listed on the NSE. Firm performance was evaluated using both financial and non-financial measures. The non-financial measures used in the study were goal achievement and customer satisfaction, while Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) were the financial measures used. Both descriptive and explanatory survey research designs were used in this study, they allow the researcher to capture a population's characteristics and test hypothesis. The study was guided by a positivism research philosophy. The target population was the sixty firms listed on the Nairobi securities exchange. Primary data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire; while secondary data was obtained from the firm's published annual reports available at the NSE using a document review guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. In descriptive statistics, data was summarized using percentages, means and standard deviations, while in inferential statistics; multiple regression analysis was done using SPSS. The findings indicate that competitive intelligence practices have a positive and a statistically significant effect on the non-financial performance of firms listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The intelligence practices were found to have a positive but statistically insignificant effect on the financial performance of listed firms. Organizational factors were found to be an explanatory variable in the relationship between the competitive intelligence practices and performance of firms listed on the NSE. Managers of listed firms should raise the utilization level of competitive "intelligence practices to enable the firms to make accurate predictions on changes in the business environment, compete better in the marketplace against rivals, improve on innovation and automation, track competitors' activities and improve the competitiveness of their firms by identifying threats and opportunities before they become obvious. The study suggests that future researches should focus on extending knowledge on competitive intelligence practices to non-listed corporate sector firms to support the generalization of the findings to all sectors in the economy.
Effect of Project Selection Criteria on Performance of National Government Constituency Development Fund Funded Projects: Case of Kiambu County, Kenya
(IJCAB Publishing Group, 2019) Gitau, Edward John Gikonyo; Kimencu, Linda
The Constituency Development Fund was established in Kenya in 2003 with a view to addressing regional imbalances and empowering communities to prioritise and manage development projects at the grass root. This has made significant contribution in bringing essential services to the grass root. Many complaints have however been lodged by constituents with regard to performance of projects as a result of poor choice of projects, poorly constructed projects, stalled projects and projects that are completed but not in use. In the years 2013/2014 to 2015/2016, the National Government allocated a total of Kes 86.8 Billion to all the constituencies with Ruiru constituency being allocated Kes 279 million to finance different projects in line with CDF Act. Different researchers have investigated various factors that affect the performance of NG-CDF funded project. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of project selection criteria on performance of NG-CDF funded projects in Ruiru Constituency, Kiambu County, Kenya. Project cost, time to completion and quality of the outcome have been noted to be the most visible and significant indicators of project performance due to the objectivity that characterizes their measurement and their direct economic implications if they are exceeded. The specific objectives were to investigate the effect of alignment with strategy, community participation, capacity to implement projects and feasibility of the project on performance of NG-CDF funded projects in Ruiru constituency in Kiambu County. The study was anchored on the theory of constraints, strategic alignment theory and theory of rational choice. The study employed a quantitative design using descriptive and inferential statistics to collect and analyze data and make inferences on the effect of selection criteria on performance of projects. The study’s units of analysis were 91 CDF projects, in Ruiru constituency in education, water, health, transport, environment and social services sectors that were approved between 2013/2014 to 2015/2016 financial years. The units of observation were 131 representatives comprising of a member of the executive of constituency committee and project management committee, an ordinary member of each of these committees, officers in charge of ministries of education, water, health, transport, environment and social services at sub county level. Data was collected using a questionnaire and an observations checklist. The relationship between the variables was determined through descriptive statistics, regression and correlation analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. The researcher used test retest test reliability of the questionnaire. The research established that, the independent variables alignment with strategy (X₁), feasibility of project (X2), capacity to implement projects (X3) and community participation (X4) affected performance of projects with aggregate mean scores of 3.46, 3.42, 3.31 and 3.31 and Pearson correlation values of r= 0.515, r=0.736, r=0.765 and r=0.679 respectively. The regression model had an R Square value of 0.661 inferring that they explained 66.1% of project performance. However, it was established that the constituency did not have a strategic plan making coordination of development efforts disjointed. There were instances of projects that could not be identified on the ground, Poor documentation of project approvals and dissemination of information to stakeholders making it difficult to track projects absence of schedules and budgets hence no benchmark for measuring progress of cost and timelines. Many of the people charged with managing the projects lacked qualifications making it difficult to make appropriate judgments and there were many instances where communities were not involved in project management processes. Researcher recommends that there should be deliberate effort to align project objectives with organisation strategy, CDF funded projects must be evaluated to establish their feasibility, Constituency must build capacity to implement projects and community should be sufficiently involved in project identification and prioritisation. The CDF Act should be improved to ensure a more rigorous process of project identification, selection, evaluation and approval with minimum thresholds to be met before a project is accepted for funding. Further research should be undertaken on how to link project management with organisation strategy with particular reference to CDF funded projects.
Effect of Risk Transfer Strategy on the Performance of Selected Insurance Companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 2024) Maina, Boniface Waweru; Kimencu, Linda
The insurance sector is crucial in offering new ideas to address significant societal, financial, and ecological issues confronting the country. Even though the insurance sector plays a significant role in the economy of Kenya, the level of insurance coverage in the country is still minimal. The recent epidemic has impacted the insurance industry's performance, leading to losses for most companies and ongoing customer complaints. Therefore, the study sought to establish the effect of risk transfer strategy on the performance of selected insurance companies in Nairobi County, Kenya. This research utilized a descriptive research methodology. This study focused on 10 chosen insurance companies in Kenya as its target group. 856 employees from the risk management and compliance departments of the chosen insurance companies were the participants. Survey participants were grouped based on the companies they belong to. Participants were chosen from each group through the use of basic random sampling methods. The sample consists of 273 employees. Primary data was gathered using a partially structured questionnaire. An initial study with 28 participants was conducted. The research utilized content validity, criterion validity, and face validity to assess the specific connection between the assessment and its targeted measurement. A Cronbach's alpha analysis was conducted to assess the consistency of the Likert scale multiple choice questions. The research utilized both qualitative and quantitative data. Thematic analysis techniques were utilized to examine the qualitative data gathered from the open-ended inquiries. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods like mean and standard deviation. The research carried out statistical analysis, such as correlation and regression, to assess the level of relationship among the variables. The research discovered that the implementation of a risk transfer strategy had a notable and beneficial impact on the overall performance of specific insurance companies operating within Nairobi County, Kenya. The research concludes that risk transfer aids insurance companies in lowering financial and operational risks, enhancing efficiency and productivity, boosting flexibility and adaptability, and fortifying relationships with partners or suppliers. The research suggests that insurance companies should thoroughly investigate and conduct background checks on partners or suppliers before forming any agreements.
Effects of Business Process Management Practices on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Nairobi County, Kenya.
(International Academic Journals, 2020) Kiruja, Kawira Caroline; Kimencu, Linda
Today’s competitive markets make businesses more dependent on their ability to react to changes and adjust their processes to the new requirements. To raise efficiency as is required by the bank’s regulators has a number of limitations that includes a regulated financial market, new customer base and the projected revenue. In this environment, it is a key test for business organizations to transform the vast number of concepts and ideas into products and services. In order to achieve this, a number of banks are thus looking at optimization of internal processes and practices as the front line in the battle for efficiency. In this context Business Process Management is a good support for organizations. The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of business process management practices on financial performance of commercial banks in Nairobi County. The general objective was to establish the effects of business process management practices on financial performance of commercial banks in Nairobi County. The specific objectives were; to establish the extent to which strategic alignment affects financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya, the effects of information technology on financial performance of Commercial banks in Kenya, the role of process improvement on financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya and how employee involvement has affected the financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study was under pinned by the dynamic capability theory, resource-based theory and the contingency theory. The study employed a descriptive research design. The target population of this study was 60 employees from 20 commercial banks spread across Nairobi County at the Head Offices. Stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample size. Simple random sampling was used to select the sample. The study relied on both the primary and secondary data sources where primary data was collected using both structured and unstructured questionnaires and Secondary data was obtained from audited financial statements over a period of five years for adequate representation. Validity and reliability were assessed through a pilot study. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to present descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequency distributions, measures of central tendencies and measures of variations. Data analysis and interpretation was based on descriptive statistics and measures of dispersion as well as inferential statistics. Multiple linear regression models were employed to establish the influence among variables. Pearson correlation was also used to ascertain the potency of the linear relationship between each of the independent and dependent variables. The study would be useful to banks, academicians and the government in that it will aid in formulation of better policies, source of knowledge and will help determine the extent to which BPM has been adopted in the country. From the study therefore it was recommended Policy makers should highly invest on structures, strategies and that determine changes in markets vis a vis its strengths and abilities to harness its full potential. They should adopt an integrated approach and business processes that transform the entire organization paving way for continuous renewal and lasting adding value. There is also need to develop greater awareness on the business process management practices that affect the financial performance of commercial banks. From the multivariate regression applied to determine the importance of every variable on the financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study recommended that further research be carried out to establish what other variables significantly affect the financial performance of banks and the study be extended to non-financial performance.
Managerial Capabilities and Competitive Advantage of Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi
(International Academic Journals, 2018) Ocharo, Evans Nyandigisi; Kimencu, Linda
In fast-moving corporate environments open to global competition and characterized by dispersion in the geographical and industrial firms sources of innovation. High cost of inputs, as a result of poor infrastructure and high cost of doing business, prices of locally manufactured products are relatively high. This limits their competitiveness in regional markets and also negatively impacts on capacity utilization. NMC Company is facing a slowdown in production, leading to cancellation of orders by key clients. These needs have been changing as witnessed in the global market. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the managerial capabilities and competitive advantage of manufacturing Numerical Machining Complex Company ltd Nairobi. The specific objectives were to determine the effect of knowledge management, organizational transformation, coordination of managerial processes and discontinuous innovation on competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi. The study adopted a descriptive research designed to aim at evaluating the managerial capabilities on competitive advantage in the manufacturing industry. The target population of this study was the 167-management staff and subordinate staff in Numerical Machining Complex (NMC) Ltd from which 50 respondents were picked using stratified random sampling which is 30 per cent of the target population which composed top level management, middle level management and subordinates. Primary data was obtained using self-administered open and closed ended questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean score and standard deviation. The study used multiple regressions analysis to analyze the collected data to measure the managerial capabilities on competitive advantage in the manufacturing industry. The information was presented inform of tables and graphs. In practice, this research would be beneficial to the Numerical Machining Complex Ltd top management and strategic planning managers, as it would help them apply managerial capabilities for value addition, business growth and enhancing competitive advantage. The study would also help Government policy makers, for instance, the National Treasury, among others, to utilize the findings to regulate the manufacturing industry by coming up with customized regulatory policies that promote growth of the manufacturing companies and set up fair competition in the market. The study found that knowledge management affects competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi greatly, that organizational transformation affects competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi greatly, that coordination of managerial processes affects competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi greatly and that discontinuous innovation affects the competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi to a moderate extent. The study concluded that organizational transformation had the greatest effect on competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi followed by knowledge management then discontinuous innovation while coordination of managerial processes had the least effect on competitive advantage in the Numerical Machining Complex Company Ltd Nairobi. The study recommends that management in firms in Kenya should engage with emerging markets more closely, that management practices needs continuous and sustained supervision, improvement and adequate funding in view of it importance’s and that organizations should endeavor to improve their employees’ skills and competences through training and good working environment to help keep the employees who are experienced and attract other competent ones and therefore help companies to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
Niche Marketing Strategy and Firm Performance of Bamburi Special Products Limited in Kenya
(Sage Global Publishers, 2020) Ndioo, Catherine Wayua; Kimencu, Linda
The study aimed to ascertain the effect of niche marketing strategy on firm performance of Bamburi Special Products Limited in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study are to establish the effects of market segmentation, product differentiation and market positioning on firm performance of Bamburi Special Products Limited in Kenya. The study benefits policy makers focused on developing policies for the concrete manufacturing sector in Kenya, scholars and management practitioners. The relevant theories to study were Resource Based View, Porter’s Generic Competitive Strategies, and Configuration Theory. An empirical review reveals evidence that there is a positive relationship between niche marketing strategies and firm performance, but that there is also limited research available on niche marketing strategy as a whole. The study employed descriptive research design based on case study approach; while the population of the study was decision making management teams at the company and the parent company Bamburi Cement Limited. It made use of both primary and secondary data. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to collect primary data, with a pilot test done to augment the research instrument’s validity, also increasing the research reliability. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive methods including standard deviation and means, and presented using graphs and tables. A simple regression analysis was done to show the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The study found that niche marketing strategies (product differentiation, market segmentation and market positioning) significantly and influenced performance. The study further established that product differentiation had the greatest influence on performance followed by market segmentation and lastly market positioning. In Kenya, there are no comprehensive policies on construction; the study therefore recommends the government of Kenya to develop comprehensive construction industry policies that will guard the industry from challenges like low completion rate of construction projects, low access to affordable project financing, lengthy procurement procedures and inadequate harmony in policies, laws and regulations. Cement and concrete manufacturers in Kenya face challenges principal among them being high power costs, in addition to the market driven challenges, therefore the government should provide these companies with a favorable environment that will favor their operations and growth for instance providing them with affordable power supply.
Organizational Capabilities and Performance of Insurance Companies in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(International Academic Journals, 2018) Kogo P, hilemon Kipkoech; Kimencu, Linda
Insurance sector in the country is thriving because of its competitiveness; as a result firms tend to build robust capabilities to ensure they achieve superior performance which creates greater performance than its competitors in the industry. Low penetration and uptake of insurance is one major setback the insurance industry development is encountering in particular market share, diversification of products among other measures. The growth of insurance uptake in Kenya has been at slow pace. The general objective of the study was to establish the organizational capabilities on the performance of the insurance firms in Nairobi County and is guided by four specific objectives that will seek; to examine the effect of marketing capabilities, product capabilities, human resource capabilities and technological capabilities on performance of insurance firms. The study was anchored on the following theories; capability based view, resource based view theory, knowledge based view, market based view and industrial organizational theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design. To achieve this, the study focused on a target population of 1300 employees of the 51 insurance firms in Nairobi city. Sampling was done using stratified random sampling and simple random sampling technique to come up with a size of 375 respondents. The researcher used primary data by administering questionnaires. Data was collected using questionnaires. Data was then analyzed using the descriptive techniques. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic techniques. The study concluded that Marketing capabilities in insurance companies encompass better use of marketing tools that help the insurance companies in the application of new and creative marketing plans and ideas which ultimately enhance their performance. Product capabilities in insurance companies can help insurance firms’ organizations to develop both radical new products or employ existing products with new features and attributes to satisfy both the needs of current customers and new customers to ensure the stability, survivability, and avoidance of shocks from new waves of competition based on new technologies and new value proposition. Proper linkage between human resources and organizational performance will enable the human resource managers to design programmes that will bring forth better operational results to attain higher organizational performance. Technological capability is the ability to manage three resources namely; Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, human skills in working with IT, and organization’s ability to manipulate IT. The study recommends that Insurance companies should put adequate efforts and resources to market research in order to tap into a set of processes needed to discover information about customer needs and broad market information, and design marketing programs to meet and exceed these needs and foreign market conditions. Insurance companies should reflect their product capabilities by focusing on product quality, strict quality control, meeting customer needs and addressing their product requirements. Insurance companies should invest in people through the introduction and encouragement of learning processes designed to increase capability and align skills to organizational needs. Technological capabilities go a long way in influencing the performance of organizations. Thus, insurance companies should take into cognizant the cost of production in which they should try to produce their products at the lowest cost possible.
Restructuring Strategies and the Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya: A Case of Kenya Commercial Bank
(International Academic Journals, 2018) Waithaka, Charles Chege; Kimencu, Linda
Bank restructuring is usually undertaken to address the problems the banks are experiencing internally as a result of changes in the business environment, make them better organized or with an aim to enhance the financial performance of the organizations. The objective of the study is to investigate the influence of restructuring strategies on the performance commercial banks in Kenya, with a focus on Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB). The study will specifically seek to examine the influence of financial restructuring, portfolio restructuring, organizational restructuring on performance of KCB. This study is guided by Contingency theory, Resource Based Theory and Transaction Cost Theory. The study adopted a descriptive design. The study targeted 235 employees in KCB headquarters in Nairobi. The sample size was71 respondents who were picked using stratified random sampling technique. The study collected primary data through use of a questionnaire. The questionnaires were designed to answer the research questions and were administered to the staff of KCB bank. The questionnaire were first checked for validity and reliability. The validity was checked by subjecting the questionnaire to a panel of peers to assess whether each measurement question in the questionnaire was essential, useful or necessary. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested through Cronbach’s alpha test. The collected data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics including means, standard deviation and frequency distribution were used to analyze the data. The inferential statistics included the use of a multiple linear regression model to establish the relationship between variables. The analysed data was presented using pie charts, bar charts, percentages and frequency tables. The study found out that the bank employed to a great extent financial restructuring strategies, portifolio restructuring strategies and organizational restructuring strategies. The study alsdo found out that financial restructuring strategies, portifolio restructuring strategies and organizational restructuring strategies had a positive and significant relationship with performance of the bank. The study concludes that the three restructuring strategies significantly influences the performance of commercial banks. The study recommends that there is need for banks to have adequate resources, increased management efficiency, and strengthened operational capacity for continued success of restructuring programs or strategies. This studyis expected to be of value to the management of Kenya commercial bank,to CBK as the regulator and policy maker in the banking sector in Kenya and to tacademicians and researchers.

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