An analysis of the relationship between competitive strategies and organizational performance : a case of mobile telecommunication companies in Kenya

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of CommerceThe main aim of the study was to examine the relationship between competitive strategies and organizational performance among firms in the mobile telecommunications industry in Kenya. The study identified the competitive strategies adopted by firms in the mobile telecommunication industry in Kenya, assessed the different levels of implementation of competitive strategies within the firms and lastly examined the relationship between competitive strategies and their performance, This study employed a descriptive survey design and collected data from 63 respondents out of the sample size of72 respondents selected purposively. The study revealed that in the telecommunication industry competition is high and product differentiation and low cost leadership are the most commonly used strategies. Other strategies include strategic alliance strategies and specific market focus strategies. The study concluded that the strategies adopted improved the overall organization performance and some of the key performance indicators that were influenced are: Sales and market share, customer retention, profitability and product developmentlinnovation. The study recommends that organizations should adopt strategies that allow them to achieve competitive advantage over others. Organizations that chose to adopt cost leadership strategy should focus on gaining competitive advantage by having the lowest cost in the industry. In order to achieve a low-cost advantage, an organization must have a low-cost leadership strategy, low-cost manufacturing, and a workforce committed to the low-cost strategy. Also the study recommends that when using product differentiation strategy, a company should focus its efforts on providing a unique product or service to enhance customer loyalty

The epidemiology of Streptococcus suis type 2 in Western Australia

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of infection with Streptococcus suis type 2 in pigs in Western Australia (WA), to ascertain if differences exist between isolates cultured from diseased and healthy pigs, and to investigate differences in the virulence of isolates from different genetic backgrounds. A selective medium, that incorporated antiserum raised against S. suis type 2, was used to determine the prevalence of infection in apparently healthy pigs at slaughter. Overall 60% of pigs were identified as being infected with S. suis type 2. The bacterium was found in 57.7% of palatine tonsils and 61.5% of pneumonic lung tissue examined, but only in 27.6% of apparently healthy lung tissue. Fifty of 51 herds sampled were found to have some pigs infected with S. suis type 2, with most herds (76.5%) having over 40% of the pigs infected. The only herd free from infection was a specific pathogen free unit. The prevalence of infection in herds that had reported clinical disease caused by S. suis type 2 was similar to that of herds where the disease had previously not been reported or where disease was not a regular occurrence. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MEE) was used to examine 124 isolates cultured from healthy and diseased pigs. These isolates were subdivided into 17 electrophoretic types (ETs) of which the majority belonged to ETs 8, 1 and 7. Isolates cultured from clinically diseased pigs in WA primarily belonged to ET 1, whilst those from other states of Australia mainly belonged to ET 8. However more isolates cultured from healthy pigs in WA belonged to ET 8. Some piggeries were found to be infected with up to 5 different ETs and one pig was found to be concurrently infected with 3 strains. Thirty three isolates of S. suis type 2 were examined using DNA restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), and 14 different patterns were recognised. REA was capable of further subdividing specific ETs. On one farm isolates cultured from diseased pigs could be separated from isolates from apparently healthy pigs, even though they belonged to the one ET. Conversely some isolates belonging to closely related ETs were grouped into one REA pattern. When isolates were inoculated into mice, those belonging to ET 1 were found to be more capable of causing disease than other isolates, however all isolates could produce disease when administered in a sufficiently high dose. More isolates cultured from clinically diseased pigs were found to produce two proteins [muramidase released protein (MRP) and extracellular factor (EF)] than were isolates from healthy pigs, and EF, in particular, is a useful marker of virulent strains. It was concluded that although 5. suis type 2 is widely distributed in the Western Australian pig industry, disease is not necessarily a direct consequence of the presence of the bacterium. Disease caused by S. suis type 2 is multifactorial in nature, and requires the presence of a virulent strain of bacterium along with appropriate predisposing management and environmental conditions for it to occur

Monitoring the Milk Composition, Milk Microbiota, and Blood Metabolites of Jersey Cows throughout a Lactation Period

This study aimed to determine how milk composition, milk microbiota, and blood metabolites may change during the lactation period in Jersey cows. Milk and jugular blood samples were collected from eight healthy cows every other month from the beginning to the end of their lactation period. Samples of airborne dust were also collected to determine whether the cowshed microbiota could affect milk microbiota. Milk yield peaked in the first two months and gradually decreased as the lactation period progressed. Milk fat, protein, and solids-not-fat contents were low in the first month, and then increased during the middle and late lactation periods. In the first month, plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), haptoglobin (Hp), and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were elevated, and high abundances of Burkholderiaceae and Oxalobacteraceae were observed in milk and airborne dust microbiota. The finding that contamination of the environmental microbiota in milk was coupled with elevated plasma NEFA, Hp, and AST levels indicated that impaired metabolic function during the early lactation period may increase the invasion of opportunistic bacteria. This study can affirm the importance of feeding and cowshed management and should provide a helpful addition to improving Jersey cow farming

Cancer and mental health—a clinical and research unmet need

Background Poor mental health is the largest single source of disability in the UK, and co-morbid health problems, particularly with cancer, raise total health care costs significantly.Methods This study examined what research is being conducted into the intersection between cancer and mental health. Research papers captured by the intersection of sub-field filters—‘mental disorder’ and ‘cancer’—were studied from the Web of Science over a 10-year period (2002–2011).Results There were 1463 papers dealing with the dual presence of cancer and mental disorder. They amounted to 0.26% of cancer research and 0.51% of mental health research over the 10-year period, indicating that their intersection receives little research attention. Eighty per cent of papers were concerned with the effects of cancer on mental health rather than the reverse; a few (5%) looked at the post-traumatic stress suffered by carers of cancer patients. Of cancer types, breast dominated (21%), followed by prostate (5%), lung (3%), oral (2%) and colorectal (2%) cancer. The area of mental health most studied in cancer was unipolar depression.Conclusions The paucity of research that exists at the intersection of cancer and mental health requires attention from policymakers and funders in order to address an important trans-disciplinary gap in health care research