Analysis of the significant variables to sustainable growth: a case for the manufacturing sector in Kenya

Abstract

Sustainable growth is a dream of totals corporate organizations. This is more particular to manufacturing sector, which requires a well tested model to improve their financial as well as their operating performance. This study evaluated the significant variables to sustainable growth in the Kenyan manufacturing sector. The study used both primary and secondary data in order to access the required information. The target population was selected from manufacturing firms in Nairobi, which were classified into four categories comprising of food and beverages processing firms, textile and garment manufacturing and metal and woodwork industry. The study used stratified sampling technique to select the number target respondents. The information gathered was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study established that the main variable to sustainable growth in manufacturing concerns includes financial resources, operational efficiencies, and government policy, operating environment and employees' skills. The study further identified that many manufacturing organization were not using growth model for the operation and employees were not even aware of some of the popularly used growth models. The study identified that there is a need of further research in areas relating to enterprises resources, business process re-engineering and such like related issues. The study made recommendation that a sustainable in -house training program is needed for corporate organizations more so government policy in relation to manufacturing concerns should be harmonized. There is a need for establishing performance benchmarks with expatriates. It is hoped that the implementation of these findings of this study will be found beneficial to manufacturing firms themselves and the entire policy makers.