Browsing by Author "Muathe, Stephen Makau A."
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Item Access to Credit and Firm Performance: Evidence from Micro and Small Enterprises in Murang’a County, Kenya(Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 2025-07) Karanja, Johnson Muguro; Muathe, Stephen Makau A.Report on the Kenya National Human Development [1] showed that among the challenges still facing MSEs in Kenya is lack of access to credit due to financial institutions requiring collateral as well as inadequate entrepreneurial skills. Despite the provision of affordable credit through the funds, micro and small enterprises in Murang’a County that has continued to record poor performance, which begs the question of the effectiveness of the various efforts and their contribution to improved performance of the MSEs. The study focused on collateral requirement, credit assessment, credit information sharing and cost of credit and their implication on performance of micro and small enterprises in Murang’a County, Kenya. The study was anchored on the resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, pecking order theory, entrepreneurship theory of Shane, innovation of entrepreneurship theory as well as the traits theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design where 1,020 registered SMEs in Murang’a County were targeted, of which 287 were selected through a stratified and random sampling techniques. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data which was later analyzed through means and standard deviations as well as multiple regression analysis and presented through tables and figures. The study established that collateral requirements (β=.420, pItem First Mover Strategy and its Impact on Competitive Advantage among Selected Originator Pharmaceutical Companies in Kenya(Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 2025-08) Kachoga, Luka Mwafwali; Muathe, Stephen Makau A.In a fast-changing global environment, pharmaceutical managers in Kenya face the challenge of implementing strategic approaches to remain competitive. Despite the effort, Competitive Advantage among Originator Pharmaceutical Companies in Kenya remain below expectations. In 2020, the industry contributed just 4.6% to Kenya’s exports, while importing 60% of its pharmaceutical products from 2017 to 2021. This underscores the need for effective first-mover strategies to enhance the competitive advantage of originator pharmaceutical firms. The study investigated how barriers to entry strategy, rapid product cycles strategy, mass marketing dominance strategy and niche market penetration strategy affected competitiveness among Originator Pharmaceutical Companies. The study variables were anchored by the game theory, firm capability theory, and the theory of innovation. The research adopted a descriptive design and targeted 583 staff from originator drug manufacturers in Kenya. However, a sample of 322 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data collection involved questionnaires and the collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions. The findings indicated that competitive advantage of the originator pharmaceutical companies in Kenya was affected by barriers to Entry Strategy, Rapid Product Cycle Strategy, Mass Market Dominance Strategy, and Niche Penetration Strategy. Hence the study recommended that Kenyan Originator pharmaceutical firms should strengthen first-mover strategies through investment in R&D, agile production, branding, and targeted market approaches. Future studies should explore strategy sustainability, intellectual property rights, consumer behavior, and partnerships across diverse regulatory landscapes.Item Quality Management Practices and Performance: The Perspective of Public Healthcare Institutions in Kenya(European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 2025-02) Jumapili, Dorcas Nyangulika; Muathe, Stephen Makau A.The global economy's transformations have prompted public healthcare institutions in Kenya to adopt strategies to expand their markets, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance operational efficiency globally. The county government of Tharaka Nithi and the Kenyan national government have implemented initiatives to enhance public healthcare facilities, but their performance remains below the required standards. According to The World Health Organization reports Kenya's public healthcare institutions provided 75% unsatisfactory services to customers, while their services remained at 6.6% from 2017 to 2020. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of quality management practices on the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the effect of customer focus and continuous improvement on the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study used Scorecard, Six Sigma theories as well as the upper echelon theory. The study embraced descriptive research design. The target population was eight hundred and eighty-three employees of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Stratified random sampling techniques were used as a sampling technique to select 275 respondents that were determined scientifically through a formula. Primary data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. A pilot test of twenty-eight respondents was conducted. The study instrument's reliability and validity were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, with a threshold of 0.7 or higher. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, which were presented in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. The findings were that strengthening customer focus (p<0.05), continuous improvement (p<0.05) and top management commitment (p<0.05) can contribute towards a significant improvement in the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study concluded that total quality management practices are significant enablers of the organizational performance of an institution. The study recommended that employees working with public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County should be motivated to address customer inquiries promptly to improve the level of efficiency and effectiveness. The operational managers and all other heads of the functional areas in the public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County design their processes effectively for effective decision-making. Employees should be encouraged to use errors reported as the basis for further improvement in processes.Item Quality Management Practices and Performance: The Perspective of Public Healthcare Institutions in Kenya(ESJ Social Sciences, 2025-02) Jumapili, Dorcas Nyangulika; Muathe, Stephen Makau A.The global economy's transformations have prompted public healthcare institutions in Kenya to adopt strategies to expand their markets, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance operational efficiency globally. The county government of Tharaka Nithi and the Kenyan national government have implemented initiatives to enhance public healthcare facilities, but their performance remains below the required standards. According to The World Health Organization reports Kenya's public healthcare institutions provided 75% unsatisfactory services to customers, while their services remained at 6.6% from 2017 to 2020. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of quality management practices on the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Specifically, the study examined the effect of customer focus and continuous improvement on the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study used Scorecard, Six Sigma theories as well as the upper echelon theory. The study embraced descriptive research design. The target population was eight hundred and eighty-three employees of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. Stratified random sampling techniques were used as a sampling technique to select 275 respondents that were determined scientifically through a formula. Primary data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. A pilot test of twenty-eight respondents was conducted. The study instrument's reliability and validity were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, with a threshold of 0.7 or higher. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, which were presented in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. The findings were that strengthening customer focus (p<0.05), continuous improvement (p<0.05) and top management commitment (p<0.05) can contribute towards a significant improvement in the performance of public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya. The study concluded that total quality management practices are significant enablers of the organizational performance of an institution. The study recommended that employees working with public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County should be motivated to address customer inquiries promptly to improve the level of efficiency and effectiveness. The operational managers and all other heads of the functional areas in the public healthcare institutions in Tharaka Nithi County design their processes effectively for effective decision-making. Employees should be encouraged to use errors reported as the basis for further improvement in processes.