An Exploratory Study on the Role of Feasibility Study on Sustainability of Business in Kenya: A Case of Supermarkets in Nairobi County

Organizational strategic feasibility studies are critical in mitigating uncertainty in the business environment and enhancing growth and performance. This study sought to ascertain the role of feasibility studies in the sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study's specific objectives were to determine the impact of technical feasibility, economic feasibility, operational feasibility, and legal feasibility on the sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive research design was used for the study. The study's target population was seven major supermarkets: Naivas, QuickMart, Cleanshelf, The Game Store, Chandarana, Eastmatt, and Carrefour. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data. Findings indicated that technical feasibility is positively and significantly related to the business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. The findings also revealed that economic feasibility is positively and significantly related to the business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between operational feasibility and business sustainability of supermarkets in Nairobi County. Finally, the findings revealed that the legal feasibility and business sustainability of Nairobi County supermarkets are positively and significantly related. The study concluded that technical feasibility, economic feasibility, operational feasibility, and legal feasibility all have a positive impact on supermarket business sustainability. The study recommends that supermarkets should become acquainted with the technical technology that is available on the market and evaluate those that are appropriate for their needs. Managers of Nairobi County supermarkets increase the level of internal and external benchmarking in their supermarkets for economic benefit assessments. Keywords: Technical Feasibility, Economic Feasibility, Operational Feasibility, Legal Feasibility, Sustainability & Supermarkets.

Using Mobile Phone-based Text Message to Recruit Representative Samples: Assessment of a Cross-Sectional Survey about the COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitation.

Background: Limited research has examined mobile phone-based platforms for survey recruitment, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Our objective was to investigate the feasibility and representativeness of mobile phone-based advertisement during a preliminary study about COVID-19 vaccine hesitation in Brazil. Moreover, we evaluate whether the older population can be reached through mobile phone-based platforms of the survey. Methods: We conducted a study in December 2021 based on a preliminary survey about the COVID-19 vaccine hesitation in Assis, Brazil, Sao Paulo state. From a list of the adult population hesitant for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, we sent a mobile phone-based advertisement inviting the participants to answer the survey for one week. The respondent's data were collected in a Google form platform. The comparison between the target population and the respondents was made using the Chi-squared test and the Welch's test, using a P-value of .05 as significative. Results: The response rate was 9.99% after one week. The mean age of the respondent group was 33.97 (SD 14.99) and 35.05 (SD 14.19) of the population, with a P-value of .192 and a Cohen's d coefficient of 0.0754, corresponding to a small effect size between groups. We demonstrate that the mobile phone-based survey is a feasible and representative strategy during the pandemics in Brazil. Moreover, the older population respondent was representative. Conclusion: We achieved a representative sample of respondents using the mobile phone-based survey in Brazil. Furthermore, it was representative in all sociodemographic and health characteristics assessed. Finally, these findings suggest the method is a highly feasible and economical means of recruiting for survey research.

Effect of Recognition and Career Advancement on Employee Job Performance: A Study of Nigerian Brewery Plc. Imagbon, Ijebu- Ode, Ogun State

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of recognition and career advancement on employee job performance in Nigeria Brewery Plc in Imagbon, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The target population consists of 215 staff of Nigerian Brewery Plc. Imagbon, and sample size was 88. A Structured questionnaire was used as a research instrument in gathering the primary data used for the study. The data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and correlation analysis with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 23). The results and findings indicated that employee recognition (r-0.759, p- 0.029) and career advancement (r-0.594, p- 0.012) have significant and positive effects on employee job performance in Nigerian Brewery Plc Imagbon, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. The research recommends that the management of Nigerian brewery Plc. should put a measure in place to ensure retention of younger employee that constitute the greater percentage of the brewery industry through adequate employee recognition programmes; and that management should be fully committed to employee flexible work schedule and provide an enabling environment for all and sundry within the organization.

Addressing selection bias in the UK Biobank neurological imaging cohort

The UK Biobank is a national prospective study of half a million participants between the ages of 40 and 69 at the time of recruitment between 2006 and 2010, established to facilitate research on diseases of aging. The imaging cohort is a subset of UK Biobank participants who have agreed to undergo extensive additional imaging assessments. However, Fry et al (2017) find evidence of "healthy volunteer bias" in the UK Biobank -- participants are less likely to smoke, be obese, consume alcohol daily than the target population of UK adults. Here we examine selection bias in the UK Biobank imaging cohort. We address two common misconceptions: first, that study size can compensate for bias in data collection, and second that selection bias does not affect estimates of associations, which are the primary interest of the UK Biobank. We introduce inverse probability weighting (IPW) as an approach commonly used in survey research that can be used to address selection bias in volunteer health studies like the UK Biobank. We discuss 6 such methods -- five existing and one novel --, assess relative performance in simulation studies, and apply them to the UK Biobank imaging cohort. We find that our novel method, BART for predicting the probability of selection combined with raking, performs well relative to existing methods, and helps alleviate selection bias in the UK Biobank imaging cohort.

Evaluation and modelling of the performance of an automated SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay according to sample type, target population and epidemic trends

The Lumipulse® G SARS-CoV-2 Ag assay performance was evaluated on prospectively collected saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) of recently ill in- and outpatients and according to the estimated viral load. Performances were calculated using RT-PCR positive NPS from patients with symptoms ≤ 7 days and RT-PCR negative NPS as gold standard. In addition, non-selected positive NPS were analyzed to assess the performances on various viral loads. This assay yielded a sensitivity of 93.1% on NPS and 71.4% on saliva for recently ill patients. For NPS with a viral load > 103 RNA copies/mL, sensitivity was 96.4%. A model established on our daily routine showed fluctuations of the performances depending on the epidemic trends but an overall good negative predictive value. Lumipulse® G SARS-CoV-2 assay yielded good performance for an automated antigen detection assay on NPS. Using it for the detection of recently ill patient or to screen high-risk patients could be an interesting alternative to the more expensive RT-PCR.

Examining the awareness and usage of cyber physical systems for construction projects in Nigeria

Purpose In recent times, the construction industry is being influenced by technological innovations when delivering a better, more effective and efficient desired project, cyber-physical systems (CPSs) offer a coupling of the physical and engineered systems by monitoring, coordinating, controlling and integrating their operations. This study aims to examine the level of awareness of professionals and usage of CPSs for construction projects in Nigerian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach The target population for this study was the professionals in the construction industry consisting Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers and Builders. Data collection was through the use of a structured questionnaire administered to the target population. The data was analyzed by using statistical tools. Findings This study concluded that the construction professionals in the Nigerian construction industry are mostly aware about the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, global positioning system, microphone, speakers and camera as the most widely used CPSs in construction industry. HVAC systems was also found to be the mostly adopted technologies in the construction industry. Originality/value This study recommended that platforms that increase the awareness and encourage the usage of CPSs in construction industry should be encouraged by stakeholders concerned with management of construction projects. Such include electronic construction and adoption of blockchain technology.

Nexus Between Entrepreneurship Education and Employability Skills of Tertiary Institution Students in Ilorin Metropolis

This study examines nexus between entrepreneurship education and employability skills of tertiary institution students in Ilorin metropolis. To establish this, two research questions were raised for the study. The target population for the study comprised students of Kwara state College of Education, Ilorin. One hundred and eighty students were randomly selected. A structured questionnaire was designed as the instrument for data collection. Regression analysis statistical method at 0.05 level of significance was used to test the formulated hypotheses. The study revealed that entrepreneurship curriculum contents contain information on how students can identify and shape opportunities, new business concepts and bring through entrepreneurship among students of tertiary institution in Ilorin Metropolis. This study concluded that entrepreneurship education is a good policy on employability skills acquisition among students which makes them to be self-sustenance after graduation. The study recommended among others that entrepreneurship lecturers should introduce and use innovative/modern methods in teaching students of higher institutions the art and practice of entrepreneurship. This can be achieved by ensuring that right facilities are in place and the lecturers must be qualified and equipped with adequate and updated knowledge and skills. Keywords: Curriculum, Entrepreneurship, Education, Employability skills, Ilorin

ROLE OF WOMEN ENTERPRISE FUND ON IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY OF WOMEN IN KARAPUL SUB LOCATION, SIAYA SUB COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of WEF on food security of women in Karapul Sub-location of Siaya Sub-County. Materials and Methods: The study was guided by the Capability theory by Amartya Sen which emphasizes the importance of considering social and environmental variations in analysis of impact of programs. This study used cross sectional research design. The target population was 551 women from all women groups that received the WEF between the years 2011 to 2014.Simple random sampling was used to select 155 respondents which is 30% of the target population. The Chief Township location and the Constituency Women Enterprise Fund Officer were purposively selected as key informants. The study used triangulation of mixed methods that included questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 was used to run descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages so as to present the quantitative data in form of tables, pie charts and bar graphs based on the major research questions. Qualitative data was summarized, grouped and ranked accordingly noting the similarities and differences in the responses from the interviews and presented in narration. Results: Findings of this study showed that an improvement in the food security of women was determined by the social variations and environmental diversity of the individual women. Women in formal employment at 67 per cent reported that they could consume three meals in a day same to those with established businesses at 38 per cent. Delay in release of loans affected women doing farming who depend on seasons similar to those who targeted certain peak periods to sell their products. Women who did group projects at 38.1 per cent reported to have increased food access due to higher returns from their businesses. Findings also indicate a big disparity in the varieties of food eaten to constitute a nutritious diet with more consumption of cereals and food from animal sources. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study was guided by the Capability theory by Amartya Sen which emphasizes the importance of considering social and environmental variations in analysis of impact of programs. The study recommends that emphasis should be laid on group projects to maximize profits and increase incomes. The WEF secretariat should ensure timely disbursement of funds and the GOK in its Food Security and Nutrition policy should increase farm inputs of women engaged in farming to ensure WEF improves their food security.

From Pedagogy to Politeness: Aspects Regarding Feedback in Online Learning Context

The online learning environment has challenged the educational relationships over the last years. The medical safety has hidden us behind some monitors, devices or platforms that allowed us to continue our studies and our professional activities. From faces with or without associated names, we turned into names that accompany empty icons on the wall. Most often, we had to keep our cameras off. When we turned them on and shared our faces with the audience, we offered and received feedback much easier. The feedback has an important role in any human communication. More than that, in the educational field, the feedback contributes to the adjustments of the teaching – learning – evaluating process. On the positive side, the teacher gives feedback in order to reinforce the appropriate learning behaviour of the student and the student offers feedback to ensure the proper adjustment of the teaching behaviour. The pattern of giving and receiving feedback is simple and visible in all face-to-face communication that develops an educational activity. What happens in the online mediated education? What happens when faces see no faces? Our study investigates the feedback from the perspective of the online mediated educational relationships. Thus, we analyzed the responses of the students to some seminar tasks regarding the use of educational platforms and the role of feedback in the learning process. The target population consisted in 135 students enrolled in the certification program for teaching career. Our findings show that feedback as reinforcement communicative behaviour upgrades the politeness strategy and feedback as a pedagogical principle helps to replace the missing face-to-face interaction in online mediated learning.

Financial Role of Insurance on Economic Development in Denmark

The insurance plays an essential role in economic development by alleviating business risks occasioned by abrupt and disastrous incidents in established and developing nations. Thus, the research assessed the financial role of insurance on economic development in Denmark. The research adopted the descriptive research design. The target population was 200 insurance companies. The research study sampled 100 participants that were chosen from the target population of 200. The sampling technique that was considered the most appropriate was stratified. Questionnaires were utilized to gather the data. The study results showed that insurance is significant in impacting the economic development in Denmark. Insurance activity improves families and organizations' financial stability and helps with competitiveness and the growth of trade and business. Insurance companies help businesses mitigate risk and protect their employees, thus spurring economic development. In addition, insurance companies help finance economic development projects. The study recommended that more emphasis should be developed by all the stakeholders in Denmark, including the government, to ensure the insurance companies are sustainable. The regulatory authorities should establish policies to make it attractive for its residents to patronize the insurance business. This would certainly translate to enhanced insurance investment and more outcomes to the development of the economy because insurance investment has a positive link with GDP. Insurance policies must be made mandatory for people and enterprises to motivate and shield financiers and ensure sustained economic growth. Keywords: Insurance, Economic Development, Denmark