Organizational resources and performance of sub-county hospitals in Makueni County, Kenya
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Date
2022-09
Authors
Katile, Charles Idah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta university
Abstract
The public healthcare sector in Kenya faces challenges due to inadequate resources both human and financial. Inadequacies in supply of medical provisions, poor working conditions and poor salaries and allowances earned by healthcare workers have led to poor quality healthcare service provision thus affecting their performance as demonstrated from previous studies. The study focus was in investigating the effect that organizational resources have on performance of subcounty hospitals in Makueni County, Kenya. The specific variables examined included the effect of healthcare work force financing of healthcare services and medical supplies on performance of sub-county hospitals in Makueni County, Kenya. The resource-based view, balanced scorecard and new public management theories formed the theoretical literature for the study. Descriptive research design was adopted, and 535 healthcare staff were targeted with 228 respondents selected using simple random sampling technique to take part in the study. The questionnaire was the tool for collecting data from primary sources. It was pilot tested to ensure its validity using content and face validity tests and reliability was tested using internal consistency and the results checked with the Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient with the results showing it is fit for use. The data collection was done with the help of five research assistants who were trained before commencing the exercise. The collected data was quantitative in nature and the researcher conducted descriptive, correlation and regression analysis. The findings showed that the r values ranged from 0.6 – 07 implying that organizational resources had great effect on the performance of the sub-county hospitals. Healthcare workforce had the greatest effect to performance of the hospitals since it was a service industry with overall mean score of 4.151 and β =.714. This was followed by medical supplies at mean of 3.569 and β = .690 and lastly healthcare financing with means of 3.738 and β = .659. Further findings show that 62.4% of performance in the hospitals was due to organizational resources and its elements. The pvalues were all less than 0.05 meaning that all aspects of organizational resources had significant effects to performance in the sub-county hospitals. Healthcare workforce involved the competencies, the numbers, trainings and knowledge of the staffs. It also includes measurement and rewarding good performance to improve commitment and morale for high outcomes. Medical supplies consider payment for supplies on time, proper allocation, storage and utilization to avoid wastage and also availing medical equipment that improved hospital performance. On financing it covers use of insurance like MakueniCare, NHIF and other medical insurance policies and cash payment to carter for health services. These elements led to improve performance outcomes in the hospitals. The study concludes that organizational resources and its aspects led to improved performance of the sub-county hospitals. The study thus recommends that health facilities and hospitals seeking to improve their performance should consider organizational resources and its elements. The health administrators, policy makers and health practitioners must
Description
A project submitted to the school of business in partial fullfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of master of business administration (strategic management option) of Kenyatta University, September, 2022
Keywords
Organizational resources, performance, sub-county hospitals, Makueni County, Kenya