Relationship between Human Capacity Building and Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises (Mses) In Kisumu City

This paper focused on the relationship between human capacity building and performance of micro and small enterprises (mses) in kisumu city. Despite the central role of mses in employment, industrial transformation and poverty reduction, the competitiveness and growth prospects of Mses Fall below the levels required to meet challenges of increasing and changing basis for competition. Effective management of a company’s human resources is key to business survival in today’s world. Human capacity building can be particularly important for small firms. The need for human capacity building for SMEs in Kenya is of great significance if we are to increase the performance and growth of SMEs and at the same time reduce inefficiency, low productivity and the rate of failures of small firm. A descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. A sample of 320 mses was selected for study using quota and convenience sampling technique. Convenience sampling technique is used to simplify data collection procedures and to avoid the complications of simple random method since the researcher just picks on those who happen to be available and are willing, until the desired size is attained. Both qualitative and quantitative research designs which were descriptive in nature were used; as Gall and Borg noted, “Descriptive studies by nature emphasis interpretation.” The target population of 320 mses was drawn from the 7012 businesses that are licensed by the Municipal Council of Kisumu. The study revealed that appropriate business training was considered a very important contributing factor to growth and Lack of business management training facilities was perceived as a major barrier to growth. One of the reasons for this could be the fact that majority of respondents had not been formally trained in the skills needed to operate an enterprise professionally.The study recommended that if training is to be offered to MSEs, it should encourage as little time away from the workplace as possible and that it should be very flexible and inexpensive

Interplay between Technology and Culture in Driving Change for Employee Satisfaction

Technology and society have been in constant interplay since the early man’s invention of simple tools. Among modern interplays are e-press, digital technologies, and the internet of things (IoT). Based on a critical review of existing literature, the study investigated how organizational culture is driving employee’s actions to embrace change through technological innovation, and how this interplay result to organizational competitiveness. The study used qualitative design to collect data, which was manually analyzed using the researcher’s insight and research skills to bring out the main themes. After analysis, the study found that technology is a key driver of innovation, and innovation is an enabler for organizations’ to consistently achieve superior performance. In organizations, technological innovation and culture interact to influence organizational behavior which drives economic change, productivity and long term growth. When embraced by organizational employees, technological innovation can lead to high employee performance. The study concludes that people through culture shift, have adopted technological innovation for their organizational superior performance. The study recommends that governments train their organizations and help them buy technologies in form of digital computers and Information Communication Technologies for connecting individuals, promotion of values, mutual respect, and innovation

Entrepreneurial innovation processes and firm performance in Kenya: A case of SMES in Nairobi County

Despite their contributions to income and employment creation, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in general are currently faced with many problems. These SMEs are facing tough business environment characterized by competition and dynamic change in customers' demands and preference. As a consequence, most SMEs do not survive up to their fifth birthday. The study therefore sought to establish the effect of innovation on performance of entrepreneurship businesses with a focus on Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County. The specific objectives that guided the paper were to establish the influence of product innovation on performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County, to determine the influence of process innovation on performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County and to establish the influence of market innovation on performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Nairobi City County. It employed a descriptive research design. The target population was about 10,000 SMEs in Nairobi City County. Fisher's formula was used to calculate a sample of 106 SMEs. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the sample and questionnaires were the main instrument for data collection. Regression analysis results showed that product innovation, process innovation as well as market innovation all were positive and had statistically significant relationship with performance of entrepreneurship businesses in Nairobi City County. The study recommends that SMEs firm should produce new products and services that are specifically tailored to suit market needs, adopt a step by step technique when designing product and services for guaranteed quality and that they need to pursue market innovation strategies that focus on product customization and customer intimacy in delivering their products and services while at the same time cultivating relationships with a small number of captive customers

Managing change in media transition from print to multi-platform delivery: A case of Kenyan newspapers

Emerging challenges of the Internet and digitization on print media has resulted in loss of circulation and advertising revenue, job cuts and sometimes, closure of media companies. In the midst of these challenges is the pressure on the print companies to transition to multi-platform delivery. Whereas it is generally stated that developing economies still exhibit a prospering newspaper industry, the challenge of the Internet and digitization has been found to affect most Kenyan media. This paper involved literature review and document analysis to investigate the trends that have compelled newspapers in the first world to transition to Internet and digitized modes of news delivery, in order to understand the strategies that have bolstered management of this change process. Specific objectives were to investigate how digitization has affected profitability of media houses in Kenya and secondly, to find out the strategies that media houses use to cope with challenges resulting from Internet and digitization. The paper found out that most of the newspaper readership traffic has migrated to the Internet, with content increasingly being delivered through electronic devices such as computers, smart phones, e-readers and tablets; and that the print media have managed to continue surviving the Internet and digitization threats due to effective use of new media management models, and strengthening of technical and leadership skills of the media managers. The paper concludes that there is need for the print media to devise an appropriate change process to effectively counter the effect of Internet and digitization on content and revenue. Among recommendations of the paper is that empirical research be conducted in Kenya to establish the extent to which digitization and Internet has affected its traditional business model to inform the process of change

CAPITAL GEARING, ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES AND UPTAKE OF VENTURE CAPITAL BY SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES: A CASE OF SELECTED VENTURE CAPITAL BENEFICIARIES OF KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK

Purpose of the Study: The main objective of this research study was to establish the influence of capital gearing, entrepreneurial competencies and uptake of venture capital by small and medium enterprises: a case of selected venture capital beneficiaries of Kenya Commercial Bank. Specific objectives were to determine how capital gearing affects uptake of venture capital by SMEs and to establish how entrepreneurial competencies of owner/manager affects uptake of venture capital by SMEs. Venture capital is financing that private investors provide to businesses, in the start-up and early growth phases, which they believe have long term, high growth potential. These are deals predominantly funded by equity. Venture capitalists are important source of equity that can invest in any form of business, regardless of size, depending on their assessment and postulation of the success of the business. The study was anchored on resource view-based theory, institution theory and pecking order theory. Statement of the Problem: Despite having increased significantly over the past few years across the world, recourse to venture capital in Kenya is still relatively modest compared with other markets like United States and Europe. As per a local KPMG report for the fourth quarter of 2016 it was stated that private equity firms raised $250 million (25.95 billion KES) in 2016. Research Methodology: The study employed descriptive research design with a target population of 300 SMEs who have benefited from venture capital in Kenya through KCB Lions’ Den and KCB 2Jiajiri. Ninety respondents, randomly selected, we sampled. Questionnaires was used as the main data collection tool and before primary research, piloting was carried out to build up reliability and validity of instruments. Data gathered from correctly filled questionnaires was coded, tabulated and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 24. Descriptive statistics which included mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics which include Pearson correlation and regression coefficient was used to capture the characteristics of the variables under study and analyses the relationship between capital gearing, entrepreneurial competencies and uptake of venture capital

Effect of technology adoption on performance of youth led micro and small enterprises (mses)

Despite the great role that micro and small enterprise (MSE) sector play in wealth generation, employment creation and poverty reduction and the Government’s effort to promote the sector, the MSE operators seem to be lagging behind in technology adoption. This study aimed at finding out the effect of technology adoption on youth led MSE performance. A descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select a sample of 119 out of the target population of 396. A questionnaire was the main instrument for collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS software. From the study, it was revealed that those enterprises which used the four forms of technology adoption experienced improved enterprise performance. However the study found that use of appropriate technology was found not doing much to enhance youth led MSE performance due to insufficient finances and irrelevant skills; that quality improvement techniques are not being made use of due to lack of relevant skills and inefficient machines; that conformance to legal requirements is a major handicap to youth led MSEs due to too high license fee; that financial resource management has weak effect on MSEs due to insufficient funds and that ability to secure appropriate business location is hindered by too high rents charged. The study is important as it will give direction on areas to prioritize the expenditure of the donors and policy makers so as to effectively promote youth led MSE’s development

An evaluation of factors that affect performance of primary schools in Kenya: A case study of Gatanga district

Recently, the Kenyan government reaffirmed its commitment to enabling majority of its citizen’s access to education through establishment of free primary education program and subsidizing secondary education. However, despite all these efforts, the education sector continues to face myriads of problems, major one being skewed performance in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) across the many regions of the country. Gatanga district in Central province is one of the many districts witnessing poor performance in KCPE over the last eight years. As such, this study was designed to find out the underlying issues leading to poor performance in KCPE in the district with special focus on all primary schools in the administrative unit. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was primary schools in Kenya and the study population is public primary schools in Gatanga district. A census approach was used to select all the 56 public primary schools. A questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. Data was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The major findings were that Gatanga public primary schools were overwhelmed by the high number of students coming with the introduction of free primary education. Discipline of pupils was found to have minimal influence on KCPE performance while stakeholders’ support was deemed necessary to supplement school administrations’ activities. The study concludes that introduction of free primary education in Kenya has greatly affected teachers’ teaching workload, hence poor performance schools. The study recommended employment of more teachers by the school boards to supplement the government-employed teachers as well as frequent inservice trainings for all teachers

An Evaluation of Legal, Legislative And Financial Factors Affecting Performance of Women Micro Entrepreneurs In Kenya

Women owned enterprises in the Micro and Small Enterprise sector have been identified as the engine for economic growth and technological innovations in developing countries. Consequently, the Kenyan government has put in place interventions geared towards improving the business environment through appropriate policy frameworks. However, these businesses continue to be dodged with myriad of constraints which include lack of appropriate technology, access to market information, credit, business management skills and rigid legal and regulatory framework among others. This paper aimed at determining the effect of Legal, legislative and financial factors on performance of women enterprises in the micro and small enterprise sector of Kenya. The study specifically focused on two main issues; (a) Determining impact of legal and legislative factors on performance of women micro entrepreneurs and (b) Investigating how the financial sector influences performance of women micro entrepreneurs. The study was based on Embu County of Kenya. A descriptive research design was used to carry out the study. Snowballing technique was employed to select a sample of fifty interviewees. An interview schedule was the main instrument for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS software.   The main findings were twofold: (1). There was a very strong negative correlation between legal and legislative factors and performance of women entrepreneurs which suggested that these factors have been too harsh on women entrepreneurs and (2). Financial sector had very high positive correlation with performance of women entrepreneurs implying that the sector had been very instrumental in supporting women enterprises. Major recommendations from the paper is that local councils should reduce license fee as they also listen to women grievances, most of which are very genuine. Likewise, women entrepreneurs need be encouraged to save their earnings however little they are and finally, women entrepreneurs should be allowed to own property and make crucial decisions regarding their business operations. To boost women owned enterprises, further studies have been suggested on effect of mushrooming Business Development Services (BDS) geared towards women entrepreneurs.   Keywords: MSE, women entrepreneurs, micro finance institutions Institution: Management University of Africa Gel classification; kpp

ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE ON ADOPTION OF CASHLESS PAYMENT SYSTEM AMONG PASSENGER SERVICE VEHICLES IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

This study sought to analyze the influence of knowledge and competence on the adoption of cashless payment systems in Nairobi. If this innovation is not adopted, then there is hindrance to entrepreneurial growth and development. The research used survey research design and the target population was 197 registered Passenger Service Vehicle SACCOS in Nairobi, Kenya. The sample was 99 respondents selected through systematic random sampling by picking every 2nd manager. The questionnaire was self designed and was used to seek information from the SACCO managers. The SPSS program version 21 was used to aid in organizing and summarizing the data by the use of descriptive statistics. Regression analysis and correlation were used and there was a positive correlation but the relationship was weak. Given that the pvalue was 0.358, a conclusion can be made that knowledge and competence of managers is was not significant in adoption of the cashless payment system, hence we don’t reject the null hypothesis. The study recommends that: passengers and the public be educated on benefits of technology adoption, the cashless system to make use of one smart card that can be used across all transport modes and the network system to be improved. Keywords: Adoption, Cashless Payment Systems, Education Level, Experience, Matatu SACCOs, Keny

Effect of Legal and Technological Arrangements on Performance of Micro and Small Enterprises in Kenya

The purpose of technology is to improve productivity of enterprises and enhance the quality of goods produced by the firms to help them withstand local and international competition. When applied to micro and small enterprises, technology has proved to be the engine of economic growth amongst “Asian Tigers”. This paper aimed at investigating how legal and technological arrangements that micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have entered into enforce quality practices in their industry to improve performance of their businesses. It used training, purchase of equipment, franchising and sub-contracting as its independent variables while enterprise performance was its dependent variable. Both qualitative and quantitative research designs were used which was descriptive in nature. The target population for the study was MSEs in Embu district who received any form of technology between the years 2008 and 2010. The findings of the study revealed that dependent variables were a function of investment in technology. Consequently, these variables affect performance of MSEs which in turn influences the type of legal and technological arrangements that the MSEs adopt. At start-ups and early stages of business growth, there is very minimal investment in technology which results to adoption of lower levels of legal and technological arrangements and consequently to ineffective MSE performance. This is the situation in Kenya today and unless interventions are made to break this status quo, the study concluded that the MSEs are off the road to achievement of Kenya’s vision 2030. Key words; Micro and Small Enterprise Performance, Quality, Technology