THE INFLUENCE OF FIRM-LEVEL FACTORS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS

This study was based on conceptualized relationship between strategic planning (SP),firm-level factors and performance. Some researchers have argued that strategicplanning influences performance positively while others contend that the influence isnegative. Therefore, the past empirical studies have produced many contradictoryfindings and there is a need for further studies to fix this empirical conundrum. Otherresearchers have posited that the central tenet in strategic management is that a matchbetween firm resources and capabilities are critical to performance, and that astrategist’s job is to find or create this match. Hence, there was need for more researchon the moderating influence of firm-level factors on the relationship between strategicplanning and performance. These variables were contextualized in the manufacturingfirms in Kenya. The current study had one objective, to establish the influence of firmlevelfactors on the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya. A corresponding hypothesis, firm-level factors have amoderated influence on the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya, was formulated and tested at 95 percent confidence level.Through a cross-sectional descriptive survey, data was obtained using a structuredquestionnaire from 72 manufacturing firms representing 52.17 percent response rate.Data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics.Hypothesis was tested using both simple and multiple regression analysis. StatisticalPackage for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findingsestablished that firm-level factors had a significant moderating influence on therelationship between strategic planning and performance. The independent influencesof the firm-level factors’ indicators used were all significant. The study suggested thatthe managers of the manufacturing firms in Kenya need to synchronize the strategicplanning and firm-level factors for superior performance. Current study’s findingshave theory, policy, managerial practice and methodological implications. The findingssupport resource based view theory. On policy and managerial practice, manufacturingfirms’ management should be motivated to attract valuable resources anto attract valuable resources and capabilitieswhich are valuable, rare, not easily imitated, and cannot be substituted as they create sustainable competitive advantage hence propel organizations to better performance.The use of regression method in analysis made it very easy to test the hypothesis which  was developed to attain research objective

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS

This study was based on conceptualized relationship between strategic planning andperformance. Some researchers have argued that strategic planning influencesperformance positively while others contend that the influence is negative. Therefore,the past empirical studies have produced many contradictory findings and there is aneed for further studies to fix this empirical conundrum. These variables werecontextualized in the manufacturing firms in Kenya. Current study’s objective was todetermine the relationship between strategic planning and performance ofmanufacturing firms in Kenya. A corresponding hypothesis, there is a relationshipbetween strategic planning and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya, wasformulated and tested at 95 percent confidence level. Through a cross-sectionaldescriptive survey, data were obtained using a structured questionnaire from 72manufacturing firms representing 52.17 percent response rate. Data obtained wereanalyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Hypothesis was tested usingboth simple and multiple regression analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences(SPSS) was used to analyze the data. The findings established that strategic planninghad a strong positive relationship with performance of manufacturing firms in Kenyaand the influence was statistically significant. However there were mixed results asregards the independent influence of various strategic planning indicators onperformance. But when combined, they have strong positive relationship withperformance and influence was statistically significant. The study suggested thatmanufacturing firms in Kenya should practice strategic planning for superiorperformance. For further study, it was suggested that the relationship to be moderatedwith organizational variables, external environment dynamics and also to try differentstrategic planning steps. Current study’s findings have theory, policy, managerialpractice and methodological implications. The current study findings added to theexisting body of literature by empirically corroborating that strategic planning andperformance had a positive relationship. Manufacturing firms should have policieswhich enforce various accreditations which for

Agronomic and economic performance of legume-legume and cereal-legume intercropping systems in Northern Tanzania

Open Access Article; Published online: 20 Dec 2022CONTEXT Cereal-legume intercropping, a common practice among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is important for crop diversification, soil fertility improvement, household nutrition and climate adaptation. However, cereals often outcompete the intercropped legumes for growth resources resulting in low legume yields. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were: i) assessing the effects of different intercropping options (crop spatial configurations) and maize crop (Zea mays L.) management innovations on productivity and economic benefits to farmers and ii) examining how farmers adapt new intercropping technologies to meet their household food security needs. METHODS The study was undertaken in six on-farm researcher-designed and managed trials in high and low rainfall agro-ecological zones of Babati District in Tanzania, during four cropping seasons (2018–2021). The cropping systems tested included a sole maize system rotated with a legume-legume intercrop (Doubled-up legume), an innovation involving two maize rows intercropped with two legume species (Mbili-Mbili), maize-legume intercrop both with and without de-topping, maize-legume intercrop (2 maize plants at 50 cm intra-space, de-topped), maize-legume system (maize with vertical leaf architecture) and a farmer practice. The Mbili-Mbili technology adaptation assessment was conducted on 225 farmers during the 2021 cropping season. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Overall, maize grain yields increased by up to 56% in improved compared to farmer intercropping practices (P ≤ 0.05). There were no significant differences in maize grain yield among the improved practices. Significantly higher pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) yields of between 71% and 113% in 2020 and between 65% and 140% in 2021 were observed under Doubled-up legume and between 63% and 124% under local farmer practices in 2020 than in the improved cereal-legume practices. Across the study period, net revenues of sole maize and Doubled-up legume rotations were both the highest and lowest relative to other intercropping options, depending on the starting phase (US$653 sole maize and US$ 326 legume phase starting). These were also associated with the highest variances indicating instability. Mbili-Mbili intercropping system had not only high net revenue i.e., a mean of US$623 per hectare, but also more stable. Farmers perceived that Mbili-Mbili increased food security and 96% were willing to implement the system without project support. SIGNIFICANCE Mbili-Mbili is recommended for adoption by farmers because of its potential economic benefits, food security and resilience in the current unpredictable weather and climate patterns

Inhibition of G Protein-Activated Inwardly Rectifying K+ Channels by Different Classes of Antidepressants

Various antidepressants are commonly used for the treatment of depression and several other neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to their primary effects on serotonergic or noradrenergic neurotransmitter systems, antidepressants have been shown to interact with several receptors and ion channels. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of antidepressants have not yet been sufficiently clarified. G protein-activated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK, Kir3) channels play an important role in regulating neuronal excitability and heart rate, and GIRK channel modulation has been suggested to have therapeutic potential for several neuropsychiatric disorders and cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, we investigated the effects of various classes of antidepressants on GIRK channels using the Xenopus oocyte expression assay. In oocytes injected with mRNA for GIRK1/GIRK2 or GIRK1/GIRK4 subunits, extracellular application of sertraline, duloxetine, and amoxapine effectively reduced GIRK currents, whereas nefazodone, venlafaxine, mianserin, and mirtazapine weakly inhibited GIRK currents even at toxic levels. The inhibitory effects were concentration-dependent, with various degrees of potency and effectiveness. Furthermore, the effects of sertraline were voltage-independent and time-independent during each voltage pulse, whereas the effects of duloxetine were voltage-dependent with weaker inhibition with negative membrane potentials and time-dependent with a gradual decrease in each voltage pulse. However, Kir2.1 channels were insensitive to all of the drugs. Moreover, the GIRK currents induced by ethanol were inhibited by sertraline but not by intracellularly applied sertraline. The present results suggest that GIRK channel inhibition may reveal a novel characteristic of the commonly used antidepressants, particularly sertraline, and contributes to some of the therapeutic effects and adverse effects

Résultats statistiques de l'enquête "Terroirs d'Anjou". Commune de Concourson sur Layon

Etude Terroirs d'Anjou ; * INRA, centre de recherches d'Angers. Unité de recherches sur la vigne et le vin Diffusion du document : INRA, centre de recherches d'Angers. Unité de recherches sur la vigne et le vinNational audienc