Factors Affecting Construction Sector Safety Performance: Exploratory Factor Analysis Evidence from China

Construction industry is a significant contributor to the Chinese economy. The industry has more than 12 million employers with over 250 million employees and creates almost $1.9 trillion worth of structures yearly. Civil construction remains the main driver of growth in China. Basically, a task is developed to meet market demands or demands in a timely fashion. Different possibilities may be thought about in the conceptual drawing board, and also the technical and also financial feasibility of each alternative will be assessed and compared in order to select the very best feasible job. The construction industry in China is forecast to grow by 7.7% in 2021, driven by strong Y-o-Y growth in the first quarter, reflecting the comparison to the previous year's period when construction work was halted across most of the country. Thereafter, the construction industry is expected to record an average annual growth of 4.2% between 2022 and 2025. The industry's growth over the forecast period is expected to be driven by investments on new infrastructure, including investment in the areas of 5G networks, Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and data centers. According to the government-backed think tank, the China Electronic Information Industry Development, the country is expected to spend CNY10 trillion (US$1.4 trillion) on new infrastructure projects between 2020 and 2025. This study evaluated factors affecting construction sector performance: explanatory factor analysis evidence from China. From the literature reviewed, it was established that entering the Chinese construction market is still seen as exciting but difficult by many foreign contractors and consultants. The study found out that rising material and labor costs, labor woes, increased competition and shrinking profit margins were some of the challenges construction firms in Chin face. The study concludes that the implementation of construction safety laws and the rate of subcontracting are relevant factors affecting construction sector in China, while neither the extent of using temporary workers, nor the availability of resources, nor the level of per capita GDP has any effects. Keywords. Construction sector, safety performance, construction sector, labor costs, increased competition, shrinking profit margins

Role of Credit Access Program on the Performance of Women Owned MSES Incubated at KIRDI

Women owned Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) are a source of employment and wealth creation in most of the world economies and Kenya not an exemption. However, the survival rate of the women owned MSEs is minimal. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the role of credit access program on the performance of women owned MSEs which have been incubated at KIRDI. The study was a survey study design. The target population was 259 MSE women entrepreneurs who have graduated from KIRDI business incubation programs. The researcher did a census since it was appropriate for this study and used questionnaires to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The study analyzed data using descriptive and inferential statistics through Correlation and regression of variables. Results were reported through tables and figures. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to aid analysis of data. Data was analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between credit access program and performance of women owned MSEs incubated by KIRDI (β=0.348, p=0.000). The study concluded that business incubation support programs simplified into incubator training and development, business development services, credit access program and technology absorption positively and significantly influenced the performance of women owned MSEs incubated at KIRDI in Nairobi. The study recommends that the government should consider looking towards setting a single window to manage business incubators all over the country and to coordinate the activities of all institutions and companies that are in the process of incubating new businesses. Keywords: Credit access, Women owned MSEs, Business performance, Business incubation, KIRDI

A Critical Evaluation of South Sudan’s Policy Framework for Health and Safety Management in the Oil and Gas Industry in Paloich- Melut County: A Case Study of Dar Petroleum Operating Company

The paper conducted a critical evaluation of South Sudan’s policy framework for health and safety management in the oil and gas industry in Paloich- Melut County with interests in Dar Petroleum Operating Company. Specifically, the study assessed the effect of government policy, the organizational practices that affects the health and safety management of community and to explore the challenges affecting the implementation of policy frameworks for health and safety management practices by Dar Petroleum Operating Company. Descriptive survey research design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data thus following mixed method approach. Quantitative data was collected using questionnaires while Qualitative data was obtained from in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that government policy and organizational practices are positively and significantly related to health and safety management practices among oil exploration companies. However, organizational challenges and health and safety management practices among oil exploration companies is negatively and significantly related. The main challenges were lack of resources, poor leadership and corruption. The study concluded that an increase in adoption of Government Policy and organizational practices led to a significant increase on safety management practices among oil exploration companies. The study recommended that the oil and gas exploring companies strengthen the capacities of all concerned to achieve the sound management intellectual capital, exploration and production waste minimization, sound management of oil fields and hazardous wastes at all levels. Keywords: Health and Safety Management Practices, Government Policy, Company Policy, Organizational Practices & South Sudan

Influence of Entrepreneur and Firm Characteristics in Accessing Bank finance

SMEs are mostly guided by the owners’ characteristics which is an indicator of the level of decisions taken in the firm. Access to credit is a prerequisite for a high performance of an SME. The paper aimed at establishing the empirical link between entrepreneurs and firm characteristics and access to bank financing by SMEs in Eldoret town. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed in the study. A chi-square test of association was used to determine the relationship between study variables. The study findings indicated that gender and number of employees had a significant influence on access to bank financing. Male entrepreneurs are more likely to get bank financing compared to their female counterparts, while an increase in the number of employees increases the success rate of getting bank financing. However, age, education, business form, number of years of operation, stage of business and average turnover were found to be insignificant in obtaining funding. The study concluded that entrepreneur characteristics namely gender and relation to business and firm characteristics specifically structure of the business, economic sector and the average turnover determines the likelihood of banks financing SMEs. Entrepreneurial and firm characteristics were found to be important in access to bank financing. The study recommended that government and other service providers incorporate additional simplified components to their training packages to cover such areas as bookkeeping and development of business plans. Banks should develop lending policies which are friendly to Small and Medium Enterprise contexts. Keywords: Entrepreneur, firm characteristics, access, bank financing, SMEs