scholarly journals Operations Management and Performance of Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

Author(s):  
Mwamisha D Mkala ◽  
Kenneth L Wanjau ◽  
Teresia N Kyalo

Manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the breeding ground for human capital competencies, creativity and innovation, which are important inputs for manufacturing competitiveness. In Kenya, manufacturing SMEs contribute 14% of gross domestic product (GDP), and train and employ 30% of the workforce. However, their growth and competitiveness are undermined by challenges in the firms’ operations management. Consequently, the firms struggle to survive as competitive enterprises, both domestically and globally. The purpose of this study was to establish how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) enhances the relationship between operations management and firm performance. Quantitative primary data were collected from managers of 83 firms registered by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers in the food and beverage sub-sector using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data for relationships between the study variables. The study found a positive relationship between operations management and EO, and between EO and firm performance. The study also found that EO is a mediator of the relationship between operations management and performance of manufacturing SMEs in Kenya. The study recommends that for manufacturing SMEs to effectively deploy operations management competencies and gain global competitiveness, they must engage EO as a strategy to foment organisational experimentation and exploration and commercialize the resultant innovations. At the macroeconomic level, the government should support manufacturing SMEs through enactment and promotion of policies that enable operations managers to exploit their firm’s EO stock.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Nagwan AlQershi ◽  
Sany Sanuri Mohd Mokhtar ◽  
Zakaria Bin Abas

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is more than an information tool and plays a critical role in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The present study explored the moderating effect of relational capital (RC) on the relationship between CRM dimensions and the performance of 284 Yemeni manufacturing SMEs. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the study’s hypotheses. Results indicate that only three of the CRM dimensions have a significant effect on performance. The moderating effects of relational capital on this relationship were also examined and were found to be significant for only two CRM dimensions: technology-based CRM and CRM organization. Key customer focus and CRM knowledge management had no effect. The findings of this study offer important insights for owners and managers of SMEs, researchers, and policymakers to further understand the effects of relational capital and CRM on SMEs’ performance. SMEs should be encouraged to develop their CRM and relational capital to improve their performance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-175
Author(s):  
Henry Boateng ◽  
Ramanah Visnupriyan ◽  
Kwame Simpe Ofori ◽  
Robert Ebo Hinson

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between some elements of social capital, knowledge quality, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)’ innovativeness and export performance. Data were collected from owners/managers of SME exporters in Ghana. Structural Equation Modeling was used for the data analysis. The results indicate that the elements of social capital facilitate access to quality knowledge which consequently improves SMEs’ innovativeness. The study also shows that SMEs’ innovativeness affects their export performance.


Due to ambiguity in the market orientation and performance relationship, the basic aim of the study to investigate the nature of relationship exists between market orientation and performance of the manufacturing SMEs in India. Data for this study were collected from the 388 managers/owners of SMEs indulged in the manufacturing sector through well-established scales. The utilized scale’s reliability and validity were assessed through CFA, and various hypotheses related to the environmental moderators and innovation mediation was tested. This study is relevant for owners/managers and policymakers responsible for improving the performance of small and medium enterprises, working in the manufacturing sector. The study necessitates the significance of catering express needs of customers to boost up the effect of market orientation on performance. The study tested the relationship between the market orientation and performance relationship at the disaggregated level. The important insight about the direct, indirect, and the moderated relationship was reported in the study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-41
Author(s):  
Colin Agabalinda ◽  
Alain Vilard Ndi Isoh

The study investigated the direct effects of financial literacy (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) on financial preparedness for retirement and the moderating effect of age among the small and medium enterprises in Uganda. Primary data was collected from a sample of n = 380 selected from the SME workforce. Descriptive analysis was run on SPSS, while validity and reliability of the measurement items yielded satisfactory composite reliability scores and average variance explained (AVE) scores for all items. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses and multi-group analysis conducted to test for the moderating effect of age on the relationship between financial literacy and retirement preparedness. The results revealed that knowledge and skills were significant predictors of retirement preparedness. However, ‘attitude' was not a significant predictor, and age had no moderating effect on the relationship between the study variables. These findings present practical implications for policymakers and financial educators in a developing country context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (04) ◽  
pp. 319-327
Author(s):  
Bett, Alfred Kipyegon ◽  
Dr. Johnmark Obura ◽  
Dr. Moses Oginda

In the 21st century where economies are driven majorly by knowledge and information-based service businesses, telecommunication industries are playing a critical economic role both regionally and globally. In Kenya, with a combined subscription rate of 37.8 million based on a 2016/17 Communication Authority of Kenya report of 2017, Safaricom Kenya Limited controls about 71.2% of the subscribers, Airtel Kenya Limited is second with 17.6% with Telkom Kenya coming third with 7.4%. Finserve East Africa (Equitel) a new entrant in the market controls 3.8% of subscribers. These figures points to the fact that only Safaricom seems to be the only firm performing well. This reality forms the basis of establishing whether their difference in performance is attributable to their information systems capabilities. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship IS capabilities and performance of firms in the telecommunications industry in Kenya. It was anchored on Resource-Based Theory and guided by a conceptual framework with the dependent variable being firm performance while independent variable was IS capabilities. Correlational and survey research designs were used. The population of the study was 408 staff comprising all executive, management and operational level managers from the business and IT sections in each firm. A sample of 202 staff was drawn through proportionate stratified random sampling method. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire and an interview schedule. Reliability of the research instrument was tested against Cronbach’s alpha coefficient where a reliability score of 0.814 was achieved while validity was gauged through research experts’ opinions. Data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings established that IS capabilities and firm performance have a weak relationship (r = 0.409, p<0.05) which means that whenever firms in industry invested on market based IS capabilities there was a small improvement on their performance and therefore firms should invest in the development of market based IS capabilities since they have significant influence on their performance. This study may be useful to industry players by gaining better understanding on various information system resources that they can utilize to improve and sustain their performance besides policy formulation. By advancing a model that depicts the relationship between information systems resources and firm performance, this study may make a significant contribution to theory building in the field of information systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Irawantho Irawantho ◽  
Alimuddin Alimuddin ◽  
Nursini Nursini

This research aimed to investigate the effect of electrical energy costs, the business capital, and the total of the laborers on the profits of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in Teluk Wondama Regency.This research used the regression equation. The Objects of the study were Micro Small and Medium Enterprises who were business actors who were impacted doe to the establishment of the cooperation between the Government of Teluk Wondama Regency and PT. PLN in term of supply of the electrical energy. The data were collected using the technique of questionnaires distributed to 90 micro small and medium enterprises. The types of data used were the primary data. The analysis model used in this research was the multiple linear regression.The research result indicated that (1) The electrical costs had a positive and significant effect on the profits of SME in Teluk Wondama Regency; (2) The business capital had a positive and significant effect on the profits of SME in Teluk Wondama Regency; (3) The number of laborers had a positive and significant effect on the profits of SME in Teluk Wondama Regency. The roles of the three factors together had the effect of 46.5%, while the rest of about 53.5% was determined by other factors.


Author(s):  
Minaketan Behera ◽  
Sanghamitra Mishra ◽  
Niharika Mohapatra ◽  
Alok Ranjan Behera

The outburst of COVID-19 has not only distressed the economic and social activities of Indian economy but also the world economy as a whole. Out of different economic activities, the micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs) affected a lot. This article attempts to measure the contribution of MSMEs towards Indian economy and also attempts to find out the challenges and problems in pre- and during COVID period. We have used different descriptive statistics to measure the impacts of MSMEs and also use of correlation and co-integration to measure the relationship among the variables such as number of MSMEs, investment amount, employment and output. This pandemic is an exceptional shock for MSMEs. It is evident that there is a high degree of significant positive correlation among the variables. Johansen’s co-integration analysis resulted in the rejection of the null hypothesis signifying the existence of long-run co-integrating relationship. Given the extensive COVID-19 chaos, the government needs to establish an ongoing monitoring system and declare urgent relief steps to improve the MSMEs sector’s confidence. E-market linkage for MSMEs should be promoted, and fiscal stimulus should increase for this sector. The Government of India should take various measures to improve Indian MSMEs and achieve the vision of Self-reliant India.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 200-208
Author(s):  
M. Umar Maya Putra ◽  
Syafrida Damanik

This research begins with the development of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) which is an illustration of strengthening regional potential. Developing MSMEs can improve services to consumers in order to create buying interest. The benchmarks that are assessed through the level of confidence in a product directly aim to analyze customer interest. In this study, it is explained that customer interest is product quality, service quality, price, and cost which are closely related to meeting the service needs of the Tebing Tinggi Business Clinic (KLIBI) assisted them. The method used is the canonical analysis method which is a multivariate model that studies the relationship between the dependent variable set varied from the independent variable set. The data characteristics for canonical correlation are metric data, namely interval or ratio data. The research result gained that responsiveness and concern give the significant effect on the cost so that customers want to buy continuously. For the recommendation, The Government needs to improve the quality of product endorsement among Tebing Tinggi and Indonesian consumers by making the program business promotion and international exhibitions through KLIBI.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (49) ◽  
pp. 104-113
Author(s):  
Salmiyah THAHA ◽  
◽  
Chalid I. MUSA ◽  
Basril BADO ◽  
◽  
...  

Academics are interested in exploring small and medium business actors both from a macro perspective that examines external factors in developing small and medium business actors, as well as from a micro perspective on internal determinants that contribute to the performance for small and medium enterprises. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of entrepreneurial character on external funding and the development of small and medium business actors. This research is a quantitative study that explains the influence of exogenous variables on endogenous variables. Research location in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi. The population in this study were 136 entrepreneurs who made loans to banks (State-owned enterprises) in the city of Makassar. The sampling of this study used the census sampling method (saturated sample). The data collection method uses a survey method with primary data collection in the form of a questionnaire. Data analysis techniques using structural equation modelling. The results showed that the entrepreneurial character variable had a significant effect on external funding and the development of small and medium business actors. Therefore, based on research findings, efforts to enhance the development of small and medium business actors in further research can develop further models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 210
Author(s):  
I Wayan Widnyana ◽  
I Made Dauh Wijana ◽  
Almuntasir Almuntasir

Indonesia's small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered the backbone of the national economy. However, the fact that SMEs still contribute less to the national gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of value-added, need to be addressed. While previous studies mainly focused on financial (access) constraints as one of the major constraints faced by small enterprises which affect their growth and performances, this study aims to extend the relationship between capital and financial performance of Indonesia SMEs with the moderating effect of financial constraints and partners. This study is different from others as it uses a bigger panel dataset which is about 4.36 million SMEs in Indonesia and is the first to explore the role of financial partners comprehensively. Moreover, the panel regression model with geographic analysis unit uses as a data analysis method. The results of the study show that financial capital has a positive and significant effect on the financial performance of SMEs. Furthermore, while the moderation role of financial partners on the relationship between financial capital and financial performance of Indonesia SMEs was failed to prove, the negative moderation effect of financial constraints was able to prove in this study.


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