Entrepreneurial Competencies and performance of Small and Micro Enterprises in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2023
Authors
Oraya, Naftaline
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Small business may fail because of lack of proper planning and creativity, fear of taking risks,
improper financing and poor management. The main purpose of the study was to establish the
effects of entrepreneurial competencies on performance of MSEs in Machakos County, Kenya.
Specifically, the study sought to examine the effects of management skills, risk taking,
creativity and opportunity seeking on performance of MSEs in Machakos County, Kenya.
Descriptive survey design was adopted. Managers of MSEs were targeted; therefore, the target
population was5,624 respondents. The study's sample size of 373 respondents was determined
using the Krejcie and Morgan formula. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Data collected
included descriptive data which was calculated using percentages, SD, means and frequencies
which were analyzed using SPSS. Tables and figures were used to present the findings. The
study computed correlation analysis to test the relationship between the study variables and
the findings were presented in tables. The study found that management skills have positive
relationship with organizational performance of MSEs; risk taking has positive relationship
with organizational performance of MSEs; creativity has positive, significant relationship with
organizational performance of MSEs and opportunity seeking had a positive relationship with
organizational performance of SMEs. The study therefore recommends managers of MSEs in
Machakos Country to make an effort to increase their skills, both technical and interpersonal.
This can be achieved by enrolling in short entrepreneurial courses that would help them to
enhance their skills. Entrepreneurs should conduct in-depth research before taking risks i.e.
taking calculated risks. This would allow them to identify whether the risk is worth taking; it
is important to ensure that the risk is manageable. They should embrace technology because it
is through technology that creativity can be improved. It is also important for MSEs to seek
new opportunities through creation of new products, venturing into new markets and being
innovative. This means they should embrace change.
Description
A Research Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Entrepreneurship) to School of Business, Economics and Tourism, Kenyatta University, 2023.
Keywords
Entrepreneurial Competencies, Small and Micro Enterprises, Machakos County, Kenya