SYSTEMS APPROACH TO SUCCESSFUL CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA

This is a desk researched paper which starts with an introduction to systems approach by incorporating the understanding to the approach. The paper proposes an expert system approach that incorporates Quality Function Deployment (QFD) methodology for the identification of the strategic components of a Co-operative Society for a Product Data Management (PDM) system. An understanding of the systems approach is elaborated according to the phases which a system is expected to go through. The current systems approach to successful Co-operative enterprises in Kenya is explained. This has been done by noting three major components, namely; formation of the co-operative enterprise detailing what it takes for such enterprises to be formed, the management of the co-operative enterprises indicating the three major organs in the management( members, officials and staff), and the government with its two major roles, that is the promotion and the legal functions. The paper has proposed a conceptual framework for the successful co-operative enterprise development in Kenya. Further, the paper has elaborated on the various factors which should be considered for successful co-operative enterprises in Kenya. In the last chapter of this paper, there are some suggestions for the various factors that should be taken into account if the proposed model is to be implemented

Influence of Supportive and Directive Leadership Styles on Employee Job Satisfaction in Commercial Banks in Kenya

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of supportive and directive leadership style on employee job satisfaction in commercial banks in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted positivism research philosophy to guide the study and limited itself to descriptive correlational research design to analyze and provide responses to the research questions. The research design was preferred because it allows description and comparison of characteristics of populations based on data collected from samples through questionnaires. The target population of the study was 15,030 employees in all the 43 commercial banks licensed to operate in Kenya as of June 2018. Using stratified sampling technique, the study drew a sample size of 386 employees reporting to middle level managers. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, which included factor analysis, correlational analysis, chi-square, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Windows’ Microsoft excel programs. Results: From the findings of multiple linear regression analysis, it was established that directive leadership style had a positive and significant relationship with employee job satisfaction, R2 = .228, F(1, 362) = 53.396, p < .05; β = .454, p < .05. The results from multiple linear regression analysis also showed that supportive leadership style positively and significantly predicted employee job satisfaction, R2 = .603, F(1, 366) = 278.269, p < .05; β = .716, p < .05. In addition, the study tested the moderating influence of environmental contingency factors and was confirmed that environmental contingency factors significantly moderated the relationship between path-goal leadership style and employee job satisfaction, R2=0.090, F(5,364) = 35.04, p < .05; β= 0.229, p<.05. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study makes a contribution to the literature of the influence of directive and supportive leadership styles from Kenyan commercial banks’ perspective and adds an impetus to employees, management and policymakers to address issues that are impeding employee job satisfaction. The future researchers should include all bank employees in their study to determine the influence of directive leadership style and supportive leadership style on employee job satisfaction

Influence of directive and supportive leadership styles on employee job satisfaction in commercial banks in in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of directive and supportive leadership style on employee job satisfaction in commercial banks in Kenya. The study adopted the positivism research philosophy and descriptive correlational research design.  The target population of the study was 15,030 employees in all the 43 commercial banks licensed to operate in Kenya as of June 2018. Using a stratified sampling technique, the study drew a sample size of 386 employees reporting to middle-level managers. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results of the study showed that a directive leadership style and supportive leadership styles positively and significantly predicted employee job satisfaction. The results of the regression analysis after moderation showed that environmental contingency factors significantly moderated the relationship between path-goal leadership style and employee job satisfaction

Influence of Directive and Supportive Leadership Styles on Employee Job Satisfaction in Commercial Banks in Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of directive and supportive leadership style on employee job satisfaction in commercial banks in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted positivism research philosophy to guide the study and limited itself to descriptive correlational research design to analyze and provide responses to the research questions. The research design was preferred because it allows description and comparison of characteristics of populations based on data collected from samples through questionnaires. The target population of the study was 15,030 employees in all the 43 commercial banks licensed to operate in Kenya as of June 2018. Using stratified sampling technique, the study drew a sample size of 386 employees reporting to middle level managers. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, which included factor analysis, correlational analysis, chi-square, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Windows’ Microsoft excel programs. Results: From the findings of multiple linear regression analysis, it was established that directive leadership style had a positive and significant relationship with employee job satisfaction, R2 = .228, F(1, 362) = 53.396, p < .05; β = .454, p < .05. The results from multiple linear regression analysis also showed that supportive leadership style positively and significantly predicted employee job satisfaction, R2 = .603, F(1, 366) = 278.269, p < .05; β = .716, p < .05. In addition, the study tested the moderating influence of environmental contingency factors and was confirmed that environmental contingency factors significantly moderated the relationship between path-goal leadership style and employee job satisfaction, R2=0.090, F(5,364) = 35.04, p < .05; β= 0.229, p<.05. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study makes a contribution to the literature of the influence of directive and supportive leadership styles from Kenyan commercial banks’ perspective and adds an impetus to employees, management and policymakers to address issues that are impeding employee job satisfaction. The future researchers should include all bank employees in their study to determine the influence of directive leadership style and supportive leadership style on employee job satisfaction. Keywords: Directive Leadership, Supportive Leadership, Path-Goal Leadership Styles, Employee Job Satisfaction. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-21-08 Publication date:July 31st 201

Role of Market Structure on Performance of MICE in Kenya

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of market structure on performance of Kenya meeting, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry. The specific objectives are to examine the direct effect of market structure on performance of the Kenyan M.I.C.E industry and to identify ways in which M.I.C.E industry in Kenya can be improved. The study targeted 324 but sampled 179 MICE stakeholders. Data was collected using a questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques were used. Additionally, factor analysis and multiple linear regression models were used. The study found that market structure has no effect on performance of the MICE industry in Kenya. The study recommended that government should develop MICE infrastructure, reduce interest rates, stabilise inflation and curb insecurity for the MICE industry to realize its full potential, and also suggested that the MICE stakeholders and the general public should work on their respective inputs to improve the performance of the MICE industry in Kenya

Effect of Audit Committee Independence on the Financial Performance of Insurance Firms in Kenya

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of audit committee independence (ACI) on the financial performance of insurance firms in Kenya. The study analyzed data from the 55 insurance firms licensed by the Insurance Regularity Authority (IRA) in Kenya. ACI was operationalized by the number of independent directors serving in the boards of insurance firms operating in Kenya. Primary data was collected from a sample of 412 board directors, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Finance Officers (CFOs), Audit Committee members (AUDIND) and Internal Auditors (INAUD) using a questionnaire instrument while secondary data was retrieved from audited financial reports of year 2017. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Firm performance was measured by the two accounting-based measures Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). The findings from the regression analysis indicate that audit committee independence significantly and positively affects the financial performance of insurance firms in Kenya

Metacognitive Ability Effect on Leadership Development

Leadership is the single most important element for the success of an organization. This explains why leadership skill is one of the most sought after skills. The only challenge is that effective leaders are few. Leadership development is meant to eradicate the shortage of leaders but there is a widespread outcry about the effectiveness of the current leadership interventions. Despite the huge expenditure in developing leaders, the outcomes are not comparable to the resources invested. Beyond the traditional elements (content, context, program length and delivery) of leadership development, the boundaries of research and practices have to be extended to the neglected elements of learning like metacognitive ability, hence this study examines the effect metacognitive ability on leadership development. The study was conducted among MBA students within private universities in Kenya. The sample size was 314 students, with a response rate of 92 percent. The results reveal that metacognitive ability significantly predicts leadership developments. The results imply that the higher the levels of metacognitive ability that leadership development participants have, the better they are at acquiring leadership skills

Reducing Carbon Emissions in a Third Level Educational Institution in Sub-Sahara Africa

The effort to reduce carbon emissions as the arguably most prevalent cause of global warming has been a positive trend in most African countries. One of the most successful strategies towards reaching that goal is the shift from fossil fuel power generation to renewable sources of energy such as wind, hydro, geothermal and solar. As Kenya sits on the equator it enjoys an all year round insolation between 5 and 6 kW/m2/day which is more than double of the average insulation in Germany, a country where solar energy is widely used. Taking advantage of a green line of financial support created by the French Government, Strathmore University embarked in a project to install a 600 kW roof-top, grid connected solar PV system to cater for its electricity needs. Having as a background of the newly instituted Feed-in-Tariff regulation, the system is designed to produce more than the required self-consumption such that the extra power can be sold to the utility via a PPA (power purchase agreement) and the revenue used to pay for the electricity used by the university at night. This paper describes the whole process from the technical, regulatory, educational and financial aspect highlighting the positive and negative events along the path such that it can be useful for other private sector institutions interested in greening their sources of energy, invest in renewable energy and thus reduce their operation costs. The authors have written this work having in mind not only countries in Africa but all other countries which sit in the so called “solar belt”