scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF CUSTOMER FOCUS ON COMPETITIVENESS OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN KENYA

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-72
Author(s):  
Edward Maina Muiruri ◽  
Dr. Patrick Karanja Ngugi ◽  
Dr. Allan Kihara
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Customer Engagement ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Customer Focus ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Food And Beverage

Purpose: Manufacturing firms are critical to the economic growth and development through provision of products and employment. Their competitiveness is therefore critical. The firms have been facing steep competition from foreign companies due to increased globalization. Strategic drivers have been found to be key enablers of firm competitiveness and performance. It is on this basis that the study sought to establish the influence customer focus on the competitiveness of food and beverage processing companies in Kenya. Methodology: The study was informed by commitment trust theory. Empirical studies were reviewed to provide the basis for research gaps to be filled by the current study. Descriptive research design was employed while the target population was the 187 food and beverage processing firms in Kenya. A census was used where all the 187 companies were contacted. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the primary data which was analyzed through mixed method analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. Inferential statistics were used to analyze the relationship between variables through the regression model. The findings were presented in form of tables, pie-charts and bar-graphs. Findings: It was established that customer focus was upheld in most of the surveyed food and beverage processing companies where after sale services, customer engagement and customer contacting were the main platforms applied. It was concluded that while most of the food and beverage processing firms recognized key strategic drivers (customer focus) as a major aspects of competitiveness, most of the firms did not practically embrace the drivers which could explain their continued lack of competitiveness. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that for the food and beverage processing companies to take their place in the local and global market, the management should embrace and keenly focus on customer focus.

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES ON COMPETITIVENESS OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN KENYA

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-41
Author(s):  
Edward Maina Muiruri ◽  
Dr. Patrick Karanja Ngugi ◽  
Dr. Allan Kihara
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Cash Holdings ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Bank Deposits ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose: The firms have been facing steep competition from foreign companies due to increased globalization. The aim of the study was to find out the influence of financial capabilities on competitiveness of food and beverage processing companies in Kenya. Methodology: The study was informed by resource based theory. Empirical studies were reviewed to provide the basis for research gaps to be filled by the current study. Descriptive research design was employed while the target population was the 187 food and beverage processing firms in Kenya. A census was used where all the 187 companies were contacted. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain the primary data which was analyzed through mixed method analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. Inferential statistics were used to analyze the relationship between variables through the regression model. The findings were presented in form of tables, pie-charts and bar-graphs. Results: The companies however mainly relied on bank deposits as the source of funding for their operations. Financial capabilities significantly and positively influence the competitiveness of the food and beverage processing firms. The bank deposits, cash holdings and stock holdings create the financial muscle of the firms by ensuring that they are able to obtain adequate and high quality production inputs thus contributing to the companies’ success. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a positive and significant association between Financial capabilities and firm competitiveness (r = 0.698, p = 0.000). Regression of coefficients results revealed that Financial capabilities and firm competitiveness are positively and significantly related (β =0.638, p=0.000). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The firms ought to seek adequate financial capabilities as a way of effectively financing their operations to gain competitiveness. The companies should embrace accountability and proper investments that increase their bank deposits, cash holdings and stock holdings through which they can sustain their operations towards competitiveness. The companies should embrace accountability and proper investments that increase their bank deposits, cash holdings and stock holdings through which they can sustain their operations towards competitiveness.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF JUST-IN-TIME PROCUREMENT STRATEGY ON ORGANIZATION PERFORMANCE OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-32
Author(s):  
Joshua Kyalo Mutua ◽  
Dr. Meshack Misoi ◽  
Dr. Rose Boit
Keyword(s):  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Organization Performance ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Procurement Strategy ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Just-in-time procurement strategy on organization performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. Methodology: The study adopted a causal research design. To collect primary data the respondents answered questions administered to them through questionnaires. The unit of observation consisted of the Heads of Procurement, Production, Sales and Finance of the food and beverage manufacturing firms located in Nairobi County as listed by Kenya Association of Manufacturers in 2019. The sample size was 83 heads of department. Face validity was used to determine the accuracy of the study instrument while test re-test method was used to determine the reliability. The completed questionnaires were analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Findings: From the study findings Just-in-time (JIT) procurement strategy (β=0.689, t=3.469, p=0.001) had a positive effect on organization performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms. The value of adjusted R2 was 0.167 indicating that there was variation of 16.7 percent on organization performance due to changes in JIT procurement at 95 percent confidence interval. Conclusion: The study concluded that JIT Procurement strategy has a positive effect on organization performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. The overall effect of JIT Procurement strategy on organization performance was 68.9%. The study therefore accepted the alternative hypothesis that JIT procurement strategy has significant effect on organization performance of food and beverages manufacturers in Nairobi County. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Food and beverge manufacturing firms in developing countries should consider implementing JIT Procurement strategy. This will ensure that they purchase the optimal level of items when needed to avoid keeping unnecessary inventory which ties up money and at the same time ensure that there is no shortage so that the customers have to wait. Policy makers in the food and beverage manufacturing sector should consider developing policies to promote JIT Procurement strategy in this industry. Further research should be conducted focusing on the service sector to investigate the effect of JIT Procurement strategy on organization performance for comparison.

EFFECT OF MOBILE BANKING ON PERFORMANCE OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Eunice Wangari Ndirangu ◽  
David Kiragu ◽  
Antony Ngunyi
Keyword(s):  
Target Population ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
P Value ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Telecommunication Services ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
Beta Coefficient

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of mobile banking on performance of microfinance banks in Kenya Methodology: The study adopted positivism philosophy approach and descriptive research design was used. The study also used census survey. The target population was the thirteen Microfinance Banks regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. The questionnaires were self-administered and primary data was collected from the thirteen regulated microfinance banks. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for preliminary analysis. Factor analysis was conducted to reduce the number of factors and Kaiser Mayer Olkin and Barlett’s test of Sphericity were tested and total variance explained, scree plot and rotated component matrix were drawn. Findings: The findings showed that majority of the respondents were in agreement that it is easy to deposit and withdraw cash, transfer funds, apply loan and check the balance using mobile banking. The hypothesis (H02) findings showed that mobile banking had a significant effect on performance of MFBs. The summary model showed that the R was 0.280 and a R square of 0.078. This implied that mobile banking predicted 7.8% of the performance of MFBs. The ANOVA results showed that F value was 4.940 and a p value of 0.030 which indicates that it was statistically significant. After the T test mobile banking beta coefficient was the regression model was generated Y = 2.841+ 0.271MBA. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that MFBs should partner with telecommunication services providers to develop products and services which are customer oriented and easy to use. They should develop strategies on market penetration by creating awareness on the product and services available in the market.

scholarly journals Proactiveness and Organizational Resilience of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms in South-South Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Work ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Organizational Resilience ◽  
Business Organizations ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Incremental Change ◽  
Food And Beverage

The ever-changing business environment has made it imperative for business organizations to reach beyond risk management and move towards a more holistic view of business health and success. These business organizations must anticipate, prepare for, respond and adapt to incremental change and sudden disruptions in order to survive and prosper. This preparation is the main ingredient to the organization’s resilience. This study is an empirical work on the relationship between proactiveness and resilience of food and beverage manufacturing firms in south-south Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, while primary data was collected via the administration of a structured questionnaire. 321 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the respondents and 297 copies were retrieved showing 93% retrieval rate. Data analysis was carried out with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The result of the analysis affirmed the alternate hypotheses which stated that proactiveness positively correlates with the measures of organizational resilience. Thus, concluded that proactiveness promotes resilience of the food and beverage manufacturing firms in south-south Nigeria. The study also recommended that organizational work arrangements can be structured to allow for less stringency in supervision so that workers can express themselves in proactive ways; management should be more attuned towards the potentials and creative capabilities of the subordinates and organizational systems can be patterned to link actions with implications for workers in such a manner that workers are motivated to be cautious but yet willing and open to risk taking such that could benefit and advance their position within the organization and also contribute to an overall advantage for the organization. Keywords: Adaptability, Management of Vulnerabilities, Pro-activeness, Organization, Nigeria

scholarly journals INFLUENCE OF FOOD ADEQUACY ON ENROLMENT IN ECE CENTRES IN TURKANA CENTRAL SUB COUNTY, TURKANA COUNTY, KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Locha Erukudi ◽  
Paul Edabu
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Head Teachers ◽  
Influence Of Food ◽  
The Government ◽  
Egalitarian Theory

Purpose: This study sought to establish the influence of SFP on children enrolment in early childhood education centers in Turkana Central Sub-County, Kenya. Specific objective was to establish the influence of food adequacy on enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana County, Kenya. Methodology: The study was based on Maslow hierarchy of needs, the program theory and liberal egalitarian theory. The study used a mixed research method. The study adopted the cross-sectional research design. The target population was 250 schools, 78 teachers and head teachers and 5,000 parents in pre-schools in Turkana Central Sub County. The study used purposive sampling to select respondents. The sample size of the study was 150 schools, 60 teachers and head teachers and 357 parents. Primary data was gathered by use of questionnaires and interviews guides. Secondary data consisted of report forms of pre-schoolers. Quantitative information was analyzed using descriptive statistics which was computed using SPSS version 21. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Multiple regressions were done to analyze the influence of SFPs on children enrolment in ECDE centres in Turkana Central Sub County. Findings: The study found that food adequacy significantly and positively relate with children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana County, Kenya. Food adequacy had statistically significant effect of school enrolment in ECD (β = 0.415, P = 0.005). It implies that food adequacy significantly and positively relate with children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana County, Kenya. This implies that increasing food adequacy will lead to increase in children enrolment in ECE centres in Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana County, Kenya. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study therefore recommends the government to increase food supply to ensure adequacy. There is need to continue supply of balanced diet to children because it improves their growth and learning. Some of the children are from very poor families and during school holidays they suffer because of lack of food; the study therefore recommends orphans, poor and disabled to be fed even during holidays.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AND WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF FRUIT FARMING IN KENYA: A CASE OF MACHAKOS COUNTY

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Luciana Muthoki Nyamai
Keyword(s):  
Financial Planning ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Capital Management ◽  
Working Capital ◽  
Working Capital Management ◽  
Training Support ◽  
The Government

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of financial planning and working capital management on the performance of fruit farming. Methodology: Descriptive research and correlation research design were used in this study. The target population in this study was fruit farmers in Mwala Sub County in Machakos County who were 2702. Quota sampling technique was used and the sample size was 348. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation). Qualitative data collected was analyzed using content analysis technique. The findings of this study were presented in tables, charts and graphs. Results: The study established that financial plans have a positive and significant correlation with performance of fruit farming. Working capital management, too, was found to have a positive and significant correlation with performance of fruit farming. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that the agricultural ministry in the county government need to train mango farmers on financial planning and have follow-up programs on the same. The study also recommended that the government, NGOS and investors whose interest lies in supporting farmers need to extend their training support to them. Further, financial institutions need to implement mechanisms for supporting the mango farmers financially.

EFFECT OF AGENCY BANKING ON PERFORMANCE OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Eunice Wangari Ndirangu ◽  
David Kiragu ◽  
Antony Ngunyi ◽  
Mohamed Shano
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
P Value ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Record Keeping ◽  
Customer Care ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Performance

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of agency banking on performance of microfinance banks in Kenya Materials and Methods: The study adopted positivism philosophy approach and descriptive research design was used. The study also used census survey. The target population was the thirteen Microfinance Banks regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya. The questionnaires were self-administered and primary data was collected from the thirteen regulated microfinance banks. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for preliminary analysis. Factor analysis was conducted to reduce the number of factors and Kaiser Mayer Olkin and Barlett’s test of Sphericity were tested and total variance explained, scree plot and rotated component matrix were drawn. Findings: The descriptive statistics findings disclosed that agency banking has a positive effect on performance of MFBs. This was shown by 71.7% of the respondents were in agreement that agency banking influence the performance of MFBs. The findings showed that the relationship between agency and performance was p value was 0.018 and F test of 5.908 showing that the model was statistically significant for the data set. The coefficient table showed that the equation was Y = 2.680 + 0.355AGB. The findings denoted that agency banking has a moderate relationship with performance of MFBs. The MFBs are using agency banking to grow their businesses thus generating profits and capital gain. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that MFBs should open more agents especially in the rural areas to facilitate population access near services. In addition, the management team and the policy makers should ensure that policies are elaborated to protect the customers from fraud and also exploitation by the business owners due to higher transaction cost and the business operating the agents should be trained on fraud policies because it is affecting many customers. The government and the MFBs should ensure all those operating the agents are well trained on record keeping, managing of funds, and customer care.

scholarly journals External relationships and entrepreneurial orientation of tea manufacturing firms in Sri Lanka

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-306
Author(s):  
Aruni Wickramaratne ◽  
Akira Kiminami ◽  
Hironori Yagi
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Empirical Survey ◽  
External Relationships ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation of external relationships and entrepreneurial infrastructure on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of tea manufacturing firms. An empirical survey was conducted with tea manufacturing firms located in a low grown area in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected by administering a structured questionnaire at 109 tea factories. The findings indicated the importance of external relationships; specifically, relationships with supply chain partners and relationships with government facilitating institutions enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms. However, relationships with other tea factories and educational and research institutions are not significant influences on firms’ EO in the context of the Sri Lankan tea industry. When considering the dimensions of EO, risk taking is influenced by external relationships and not innovativeness and proactiveness. Further, the entrepreneurial infrastructure provided by related institutions except other tea factories have positive links with EO. Such contributions are important to managers and policy makers to enhance the EO of tea manufacturing firms when facing competitiveness in the global market.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF ACCESS TO FINANCE ON FINANCIAL PERFOMANCE OF PROCESSING SMES IN KITUI COUNTY, KENYA

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Muli Dickson Mbuva ◽  
Kevin Wachira
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Descriptive Research ◽  
Job Opportunities

Purpose: The SMEs play critical role in creating job opportunities and growth of the economy.  Currently, the rate at which the new firms formed have stagnated and those with less than 5 years are closing down is very high. This has triggered research on the financial performance of the SMEs especially in areas with high levels of poverty since most studies concentrate on developed economies and urban centres. This study investigated the effect of access to finance on financial performance of processing SMEs in Kitui County. Methodology: Descriptive research design was applied to conduct the study. The target population was the 25 processing SMEs in Kitui County where for each firm; the Chief Executive Officer, the finance manager and the Chief accountant were considered as respondents giving rise to a total of 75 respondents. An interview and Semi- structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the respondents. The data was inspected for completeness, accuracy, reliability and consistency then analysed using SPSS Version 20 Software. Descriptive statistics such as mean, and the standard deviation were computed to describe the data collected. Moreover, inferential statistics at 95% confidence level were used. Results: The findings of the study indicated that financial performance positively correlated with the access to finance. The findings were supported by the literature reviewed by the study. With reference to the findings, various recommendations were made. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: To start with, the study recommended financial institutions to create favourable policies to enable SMEs access loans easily. Secondly, the study recommended government to offer incentives and funding to SMEs at a lower cost to boost their financial performance. Finally, the study recommended more studies to identify other factors that influenced the financial performance of SMEs in Kenya.

scholarly journals Effect of Firms’ Competitiveness on the Performance of selected Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 216-255
Author(s):  
Adekunle R. Onaolapo ◽  
Elijah Adeyinka Adedeji
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Business Practitioners ◽  
Chi Square Analysis ◽  
The Relationship

The study of firms’ competitiveness has drawn so much attention among business practitioners and academic researchers in the last two decades as globalization came fully into limelight. However, in Nigeria, there are few empirical studies conducted to investigate the relationship between firms’ competitiveness and firm performance. Thus, the main objective of this study was to provide further evidence on the effects of Firms’ Competitiveness (FC) on the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Ten large-scale quoted manufacturing firms were selected. The study relied on primary data which were obtained using structured questionnaire administered to 300 purposively selected respondents of the selected firms. The data collected was analysed using Chi-Square Analysis and correlation analysis as well as descriptive analysis in pursuance of the stated specific objectives of the study. The result showed that firms’ competitiveness had significant effects on the profitability and operational performance of the selected manufacturing firms. Also, firms’ competitiveness had positive relationship with the level of competition of the firms. This study concluded that the practice of firms’ competitiveness is sine qua non in boosting firm performance in the manufacturing firms in Nigeria.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document