Factors affecting training and developement of employees within the sugar industry in Kenya: a case study of Nzoia Sugar Company

Abstract

This study sought to find factors that affect training and development or employees within the sugar industry in Kenya. A case study was carried out at Nzoia Sugar Company of Bungoma District, Western Province. Training and development of employees is considered as one of the ways in which an organization can improve its efficiency. The study was necessitated by the need for the sugar industry in Kenya to cut production costs and increase efficiency so as to compete with cheap sugar imports from COMESA countries such as Sudan.

The broad objective was to find out the factors that affect training and development of employees. The study was based on a conceptual framework of the researcher that sees training needs assessment, training budget, training and development methods. nature of' programs in relation to organizational requirements and qualification and experience as factors affecting training and development of employees at Nzoia Sugar company Relevant literature was reviewed to focus the study.

The study used questionnaires and an interview schedule to collect data. The questionnaire was administered on a selected random sample of respondents that is those in management and supervisory cadre through stratified sampling. The interview schedule was administered on the training manager of NSC chosen through purposive sampling. Data was collected from eighty-seven out of three hundred management and supervisory staff of NSC. The data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods and presented in the form of percentages, tables, pie charts and bar graphs.

The study found out that there are several [actors affecting the training of employees in the sugar industry in varying degrees such as the training budget, training needs assessment, age of trainees, qualifications and experience, training methods. quality of trainers and company training policies among others. The study recommends that the company addresses each of those factors so that they do not water down the quality of training but instead enhances the effectiveness of the training and development programmes in the sugar industry in Kenya.