Entrepreneurial Orientation, Business Development Services, Business Environment, and Performance: A Critical Literature Review

The role of entrepreneurial orientation in firms has been a major area of interest to many scholars in the past. Entrepreneurially oriented firms are innovative, calculated risk-takers, and proactively reach markets ahead of their competitors. This paper examines the role of business development services, internal and external business environments on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and firm’s performance. The article is a theoretical discourse and uses literature from secondary sources in the analysis. The paper finds that past studies conceptualized entrepreneurial orientation as a three factor single-dimensional model and a five factor multidimensional model. Studies using the three factor model have reported different results to those adopting the five factor approach. This has led to inconsistencies in the empirical results of entrepreneurial orientation on firm’s performance. This article also finds that business development services play a mediating role in the entrepreneurial orientation and performance relationship, and that external environment moderates this relationship. However, the paper finds no role of internal environment in the EO-firm’s performance relationship. The paper concludes that the link between entrepreneurial orientation and performance is still a worthy area for further study since contradictions still exist in empirical studies. This study recommends that future studies can use a contingency framework to focus on how other factors are likely to affect this relationship

The theory of planned behaviour in exploring dietary diversity practices among mothers in informal settlements in Kenya

One of the leading causes of malnutrition, which contributes to morbidity and mortality in children, is lack of dietary diversity. Despite remarkable  improvement in exclusive breastfeeding in Kenya, there are still poor dietary diversity practices among children aged 6-24 months. Limited studies  have applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine the factors that influence dietary diversity practices in informal settlements in  Kenya. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore behavioral, normative, control beliefs, intention, and dietary diversity practices, based  on the TPB. The study sites were Kibera in Nairobi, Manyatta A in Kisumu, and Kaptembwo in Nakuru. Participants were 64 mothers of children aged  6-24 months selected using purposive sampling. Nine focus groups, each comprising of 5-10 mothers were conducted and the data analyzed  using thematic analysis. Using a focus group guide, based on the TPB, mothers described salient beliefs regarding their attitude, subjective norms  and perceived control of dietary diversity. Analysis of the data showed that some mothers had intended to introduce solid foods at six months.  However, barriers such as mother not feeding well, baby’s hunger, perceived insufficient breast milk production, and return to work led to earlier  introduction of foods. Most mothers indicated their intention to give a variety of foods to their children but were hindered by barriers such as  poverty/inadequate money, non-availability of food at home, and inadequate knowledge about complementary feeding. Friends, health  professionals, fathers, neighbours and friends were cited as most salient referents that influenced the dietary diversity practices. The most  frequently provided starchy foods were chappatis, mandazis, potatoes, rice, weetabix, porridge, and ugali. In conclusion, the results indicate that  mothers had positive attitude towards dietary diversity. The ‘significant others’ who mostly influenced dietary diversity practices were health  professionals, fathers, and friends. Future interventions need to target mothers' perceived childfeeding responsibilities, influence subjective norms,  and increase parents' perceived control over child feeding.&nbsp

Ecosystem services and drivers of change in Nyando floodplain wetland, Kenya

Papyrus wetlands in East Africa play a vital role in supporting livelihoods of people living around them. Although, subject to natural fluctuations and threats by anthropogenic activities, little is known about historical changes in wetland functions and services, or their present status. We focused on Nyando wetland on the eastern shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Three sites in the wetland were identified for assessment of history and current status. Changes during the past fifty years were assessed through participatory exercises with local communities and a review of published work. To establish the current status, we used field surveys and transect walks. Results showed that the wetland is important for hydrological and also ecological functions, which depend on the connectivity of the wetland with river and lake. The major direct drivers of change were hydrological regimes and livelihood activities. The main indirect driver of change was population growth, which leads to more pressure on wetland resources. Provisioning services are important in Nyando wetland but are generated at the expense of regulating services. Hydrology and livelihoods are strongly interlinked as flooding limits access to the wetland. Understanding the historical changes in wetland functions and services is important for rural communities, policy makers and for wetland managers in guiding, planning and wetland management.Key words: Papyrus wetland, wetland ecosystem services, drivers of change, community perception, Nyando wetland

Incorporating an Environmental Management Plan in Water Utilities Management Systems to Reduce Water Loss; Case of Non-Revenue Water in Kisumu City, Kenya

One of the biggest issues facing water utilities is the water loss experienced during the distribution process. This study sought to examine water distribution process in Kisumu and formulate an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimize water loss and mitigate their negative environmental impacts. A qualitative research approach and a case study research design were employed where 25 participants from Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO) were interviewed in a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Content analysis of the data collected indicated that water quality and quantity were greatly affected by water loss and the problems associated with them included water pollution due to introduction of contaminants when leakages or pipe bursts occur and water scarcity where the water utility was unable to make up for the amount of water lost. Water abstraction technique was also identified as a vital factor that determines how much water is lost even before it gets into the distribution system. Land/soil, socioeconomic and political environment were also some of the factors identified as they form the backbone of a functional EMP. The research concluded that as much as KIWASCO has a strategic plan to minimize these water losses, the goal entirely focuses on doing so for economic gains and not to address the associated negative environmental impacts hence the recommendation that there is need to incorporate an EMP in their management systems that will not only ensure high revenue generation but also guarantee the conservation of the said water resource to achieve environmental excellence