Instant messaging an effective way of communication in workplace

The modern workplace is inherently collaborative, and this collaboration relies on effective communication among co-workers. Instant messaging is the multi-tasking tools of choice most people chatting over IM do other things at the same time. The use of IM in workplace is less intrusive than the use of phone, more immediate than email and has added advantage due to the ability to detect presence. In order for institution to maximize increased business productivity using instant messaging it’s imperative that organizations define and publish ICT policies, guidelines and regulations. Overall IM boosts business performance by making operations faster, more agile, and more efficient with very little additional cost thus Organizations that deploy IM would reap significant Return on Investment. Institutions should adopt IM meetings which are be more efficient and less prone to straying off topic, because of the relative effort of typing versus talking

A Review of Convergence in Information and Communication Technology

Convergence is the interlinking of computing and other information technologies, telecommunications networks and media content that originally operated largely independently. Convergence has arisen as a result of the evolution and popularization of the internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space. Convergence plays an important role in society from the economic, social, and development perspective. It can influence the way in which governments develop appropriate policy while looking for social welfare; enterprises compete in the market; and individuals communicate with each other and benefit from efficient and lower-cost, innovative and new value-added products and services. Technological convergence has raised a number of issues of adjustment to the new environment by telecom operators, service providers, policymakers, regulators, and users. Issues like interoperability, interconnection, Policy and regulatory framework, consumer protection and universal access appear as the most relevant challenges. There are three approaches taken by countries to address convergence which are legislative approach, a regulatory approach and a self-regulation approach. The objective of this paper is to highlight various forms of convergence, those benefits and opportunities, Issues on convergence, Approaches in implementing ICT Regulations on Convergence along with some concepts about convergence

An Audit of ICT Funding on Effective Integration of ICT’s In Selected TVET Institution in Kiambu and Murang’a County, Kenya

Developing countries like Kenya has begun to realize the significant role TVET has to play in the development of a competitive workforce and an equally discouraging realization has arose that governments can no longer be expected to fund TVET to the heights required to meet the needs of the modern world thus Underfunding is an operational problem in the TVET sector. The study was an audit of ICT Funding on Effective Integration of ICTs in TVET institution in Kenya with specific reference to Michuki and Thika Technical Training Institute in Murang’a and Kiambu County respectively. The research adopted quantitative research approach and use probability sampling which is commonly associated with Survey-based research. The study’s main data collection tool was a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used and simple regression equations were developed to test the strength of association between ICT Funding and integration of ICTs in Kenya TVET sector. The study revealed that Effective Integration is positively correlated with ICT Funding but their relationship is relatively low. The government is the main source of funding ICT projects and is not adequate to finance the ICT projects in the institution since the budget allocated is still relatively low compared to needs and priorities required to effectively implement the ICT integration. The government should and has 80 the primary obligation for TVET institution and should be committed to apportion substantial financial resources to the TVET sector as well as marshalling resources from its partners. The TVET institutions should address the funding challenges they face through generation of other financial resources

Kenya Towards Mobile Virtue Network Operator: Opportunities and Challenges

This paper points to the necessity to conduct research on Kenya towards Mobile Virtue Network Operator in regard to Opportunities and challenges. The telecommunication and financial business model is shifting away from full vertical integration of the operator’s value chain towards a higher level of specialization. Thus the threshold of becoming a mobile operator is dramatically reduced with the introduction of the MVNO’s concept. It is possible to be an operator without having to invest in frequency spectrum license or in wireless network infrastructure and without having to build up competence in wireless technologies. The regulators have applauded the new players because they want to enhance competition for the benefit of the customers. MNOs use underutilized spectrum in various service provisions bringing in specialization in areas such as data and mobile money. Business competition makes the consumers enjoy benefits from low fees in mobile money, text and voice services. Kenya lack of legal provision for infrastructure sharing, leaving the operators to consent to autonomous agreements with interested parties. Issues raised by MNO include Cannibalization of the MNOs market share by MVNOs, Hostile response from poor MVNO performance, unfriendly choice of MVNOs for partnering purpose. The purpose of the regulator should be increased competition in the mobile communications market, financial and quickening the improvement and the development of new services and technical innovations. Therefore, the entry of MVNOs into the market should be seen as an opportunity that will increase the uptake of mobile services in key segments such as mobile commerce, finance, voice and data

Features of Resource Based View Theory: An Effective Strategy in Outsourcing

In Resource Based viewpoint theory (RBV), the resources possessed by a firm are the primary determinants of its performance. The resources may remain latent until the firm deploy its capabilities, with these may contribute to a sustainable competitive advantage. RBV in Human resource management aims in providing justification for attaching importance to especially talent management and aid in enhancing the value of the HR contribution in achieving competitive advantage by strategically fitting and bundling as HR best practices. Outsourcing is built from an organization that lacks Valuable, Rare, Inimitable, Organized resources and capabilities thus seeks for an external provider in order to overcome that weakness. In outsourcing, Firm’s performance in the marketplace depends on the different characteristics of the industry in which it compete and through innovation, persistent improvement and management of relationship with external entities may lead to sustain competitive advantage and be above average performance

Production Management Procedures and the Growth of Jua Kali enterprises in Kenya

The Micro and Small Enterprises play an important role in the economic development of most countries globally despite their level of development. The sector act as vehicle for low-income people to escape poverty through market-driven productive activities for growth of the economy. Consequently, their role and consequence of economic development have become a major research area in developing countries like Kenya. Studies have been conducted highlighting the limitations on the growth of micro-enterprises with a view to bringing to the solutions without success. Most enterprises' growth stagnates and eventually flop after some time due to lack of management abilities by most entrepreneurs/ managers. As a result, there was a need to review the production management procedures that affect the growth of Jua Kali enterprises. The objective of this study was to Evaluate the Production Management Procedureson the Growth ofJua Kali Enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The target population was 210 entrepreneurs/ managers of microenterprises registered under Jua Kali association. The primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of the SPSS 20. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine the degree of relationship between the Production Management Procedures and enterprise growth. The result showed that Production Management Procedures had a strong positive relationship on the growth of Jua Kali enterprises with a Pearson correlations coefficient (r) of 0.656 at 95 percent significance level (p=0.007). The study concluded that Production Management Procedures has influences on the growth of microenterprise, hence the need for entrepreneurs/ managers to embrace appropriate management practices to grow businesses that spur the economy of the countr

Curriculum Content Relevancy in Integration of ICTs in Kenya TVET Institutions in Readiness to Industry Needs

The development of curricula content and their implementation is one of the key competences of instructors in the area of educational planning and practical training for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kenya. While much attention is being given to the development technologies that drive ICT integration in TVET, one of the most critical issues remains the curriculum content. The TVET sub-sector continues to be challenged by inflexible and outdated TVET curriculum, Mismatch between the skills learned and the skills demanded by industries, inadequate mechanism for quality assurance, Low participation of private sector in the curriculum design and development. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relevancy of the curricula content in achieving integration of ICTs in TVET institutions in Kenya with specific reference to Michuki and Thika Technical Training Institute in Murang’a and Kiambu County respectively. The research adopted quantitative research approach and use probability sampling which is commonly associated with Survey-based research. The study’s main data collection tool was a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used, correlation and regression analysis to test the relationship and strength of association between curriculum content and integration of ICTs in Kenya TVET. From regression analysis, since the p-value is 0, the relationship between effectively integration and Curriculum Content is significant, the correlation coefficient, R, is 0.776. Therefore, Effective Integration is positively correlated with Curriculum Content and the relationship is very strong. The study recommended that; ICT should be integrated in curriculum courses available in TVET institutions in Kenya. TVET Authority and Kenya Institute of curriculum development (KICD) with involvement of stakeholders should promote access and relevance of TVET training courses. The review should be within the framework of the overall national socio-economic development plans and policies that reflects the needs of industry and the labor market

An Appraisal of Financial Management Practices on the Growth of Micro Enterprise in Kenya

Governments in different parts of the world are increasingly promoting and supporting the growth of Micro and Small enterprises as part of their overall national development strategy. The sector plays an important role in economic development and act as vehicle for low-income people to escape poverty through market-driven, productive activities for growth of the economy. Consequently because of their role and significance to the economic development they have become a major research area in developing countries. Studies have been conducted highlighting the constraints which affect the growth of micro-enterprises with a view to bring to the solutions but with no in-depth. Most the enterprises growth still stagnate and eventually fail. Their failure rates are always attributed to lack of management skills by most owner managers. As a result, there is need to carry out studies on the management practices of micro enterprises in regard to financial practices. The objective of this study was to appraise the financial management practices on growth of Jua Kali enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive research design to assess the growth in regards to financial practices. The target population was 150 owner managers of micro enterprises registered under Jua Kali enterprises. Considering the population was not a homogeneous, stratified random sampling technique was used as the most appropriate to determine the study sample of 50 respondents. The primary data was collected through structured questionnaires. The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine the degree of relationship between the financial management practices and growth. The result showed that financial management practices had a strong positive relationship on the growth of Jua Kali enterprises with a Pearson correlations coefficient of 0.629 at 95 percent significance level (p=0.001). The study concluded that financial management practices have an influence on the growth of micro enterprise hence the need for owner managers to embrace appropriate management practices to grow their businesses that help spur economic development and create more employment, in line with Kenya’s vision 2030

THE PEDAGOGICAL READINESS OF INSTRUCTORS TOWARDS ACHIEVING INTEGRATION OF ICTS IN TVET INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA

This paper points to the necessity to conduct research on the pedagogical readiness of instructors towards achieving integration of ICT’s in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Kenya.Research on the integration of ICTs in teaching and learning in TVET institution in Kenya have been done to improve the learning process, though very little progress has been recognized toward its effective integration.TVET subsector have revealed that in spite of the many efforts that researchers and educators put over the years in preparing teachers in the educational uses of ICTs, teachers still lack the Pedagogical skills and knowledge needed to be able to teach with ICT technology successfully. The aim of the study was to investigate the Effect of Pedagogical readiness on Effective Integration of ICTs in TVET institution in Kenya with specific reference to Michuki and Thika Technical Training Institute in Murang’a and Kiambu County respectively. The relationship between Effective Integration and Pedagogical readiness is significant, the correlation coefficient, R, is 0.863. Therefore, Effectively Integrationis positively correlated with Pedagogical readiness and the relationship is very strong.Teacher’s Technical education institutions need to develop strategies and plans to enhance the teaching learning process within teacher education programmes and to assure that all future teachers are well prepared to use the ICTs tools for learning