CHALLANGES FACING THE EMERGING ECONOMY DURING COVID-19 THE CASE OF JORDAN

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges of the Jordanian economy during COVID-19. The Jordanian economy may have to face different scenarios in his macro-environment. Specifically, the study focused on the impact COVID-19 on the Jordanian economy. Methodology: An exploratory research method was used to build three scenarios. The sample randomly selected from Jordanians in the capital of Jordan Amman. The study divided the sample to three groups and asking them three questions related to the expectations of the impact of COVID-19 on the Jordanian economy for the coming years. Results: The study findings revealed that the majority of respondents (55.2%) are optimistic that the COVID-19 will finish and Jordan economy will be booming. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: Recommendations were provided for Jordanian policy makers to deal scenarios. For example Jordan government and policy makers has to be pragmatic, and work toward lowering level of expectations among Jordanian economy to avoid the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy. Cooperation between the public sector and private sector in implementing the instructions of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health to decrease the number of cases to open more sectors which will have a positive impact on the Jordanian economy.

CHALLENGES FACING INSURANCE BROKERS IN KENYA

Purpose: The insurance industry, like other industries, has faced obstacles that have threatened its productivity, profitability, and capacity to compete against its rivals. The objective of this study to identify and discuss the challenges facing insurance brokers in Kenya. The aim of this work is to enable the readers understand the various challenges facing insurance brokers and their impact on the insurance industry. Methodology: A desktop literature review was used for this purpose. Relevant seminal references and journal articles for the study were identified using Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria entailed papers that were not over five years old. Findings: The study concluded that customer experience & satisfaction, workflow inefficiency, uncertainties in the market, unfavorable government regulation, cybersecurity risk and lead generation are some of the challenges that affect insurance brokers in Kenya. These challenges have greatly been influenced by the ever-changing technology that has revolutionized the workforce labour and business activities generally in all organizations and government influence on the regulations set by the Insurance Regulatory Authority. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study therefore recommended that insurance brokers should embrace the use of well-developed digital services that will enable them service their customers efficiently and meet their needs while the Insurance Regulatory Authority should come up with strategies that will help mitigate the unfavorable government regulations that affect insurance brokers.

EFFECT OF TANGIBILITY ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AMONG MICRO FINANCE BANKS CUSTOMERS IN KENYA

Purpose: Financial markets and institutions are central to the process of economic growth. The provision of credit has increasingly been regarded as an important tool for raising the incomes of populations, mainly by mobilizing resources to more productive uses. However, microfinance institutions in Kisumu City Kenya are still far off from reaching the required customer satisfaction index. The main purpose of the study was to establish the effect of tangibility on customer satisfaction among micro finance banks (MFB) customers in Kisumu City. Methodology: This study was anchored on a Market based theory; Survival based theory and the Expectancy Disconfirmation theory. A correlation research design was used. Study targeted 10,300 MFB customers in Kisumu City. A sample size of 370 MFB customers was drawn from the target population using simple random sampling technique. The study used primary data from questionnaires. Findings: The findings indicated that Tangibility is associated with 63.1% of the variation in customer satisfaction, an increase in tangibility affects customer satisfaction by 0.341. The correlation analysis to determine the effect of tangibility on customer satisfaction shows a significant correlation existed (r = 0.631, p < 0.05). This shows 63.1% of the variations on customer satisfaction are associated with tangibles. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The organization needs to train employees on various aspects of tangibility. Systems should be in place that ensures certain aspects like security and quality are retained and improved throughout customers’ lifetime.

EFFECT OF PRODUCT INNOVATION ON PERFORMANCE OF PRINTING SMES IN KAMPALA CENTRAL DISTRICT

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of product innovation on performance of printing SMEs in Kampala Central District Methodology: The study used the explanatory design. The study conducted a census on a target population of 125printing SMEs operating in Kampala Central district. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires that were self- administered to managers of printing SMEs. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software program v 25.0 where both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were done. In particular, frequencies, percentages, mean scores, standard deviation and correlation analyses were used and the resultant presentation was done using figures and tables. Results: The study established that product innovation positively affected performance of printing SMEs. The study also revealed that use of graphic designs, digital printing and polymer sheets were among the major product innovations that were used which was represented by mean scores of 4.17, 3.95 and 3.81 respectively. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that printing firms should constantly endeavor to invest in different new product designs and improve on the existing products so as to attain a competitive advantage against competitors. For example, holographic and scratch off foils are some of the new products that firms can take advantage of. Holographic foil adds a thrilling effect that provides a high-tech look while scratch-off foil covers things that can be revealed by just a scratch creating an interactive print. Such products can bring more traffic and sales to the business as they are attractive and are perceived to have higher value. Additionally, the new products should be designed in a way that meets customer needs in the dynamic market environment.

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND STRUCTURE AS DETERMINANTS OF SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KITUI

Purpose: In early years of the 21st Century, Kenya started a journey of developing a new constitution which established the devolved system of government to improve on governance gaps. Since the introduction of devolution, County governments have introduced new organizational culture and structures which assist in service delivery. Consequent to this development, the objective of the study was to determine the influence of organizational culture and structure on service delivery in the County Government of Kitui and specific objectives of the study were to establish the influence of organizational culture and organizational structure on service delivery in the County Government of Kitui. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design and made use of a sample size by use of both stratified random and simple random sampling methods to establish the study sample. For effective data collection, the study was based on primary data which was both qualitative and quantitative. The data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.The analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics. Data was presented in form of frequency tables for easy interpretation. Regression analysis was employed to establish the relationship between the variables. Results: The study established that organizational structure and organizational culture have significant effect on the Kitui county residence service delivery. The study concludes that the County government has implemented the constitutional structure and adopted a beneficial culture which ensures good planning procedures for effective service delivery. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that the County management should embrace good governance and promote the available cultural practices and that the structure be made shorter to empower junior officers with more authority and responsibilities.

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

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.

AGRIPRENEUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF SMALL-SCALE FARMERS IN UASIN-GISHU COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine agripreneur sustainability strategies and financial performance of SMEs in Uasin Gishu County with a specific interest of small-scale farmers in Uasin Gishu County. Materials and Methods: A descriptive survey research design was adopted in the study. The target population comprised of 1,397 small scale farmers in Uasin-Gishu County. A sample size of 140 respondents was selected using simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire was the key data collection instrument. The collected data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative approaches of analysis. Statistical Package for Social Services version 21 was used to summarize the quantitative data into frequencies and percentages. The summarized information was presented using figures, tables and pie charts. Results: From the analysis, the following key findings were made: there is a strong positive association between financial performance and innovation (r=.219*), pro-activeness (r=.505), risk taking (.256), and networking (r=.410). The coefficient of determination indicates that 32.7% of variation of financial performance is explained by agripreneurship sustainability strategies such as innovation, pro-activeness, risk-taking and networking. It is concluded that innovation, pro-activeness, risk-taking and networking affect the financial performance of Small scale farmers in Uasin Gishu County. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that there is a need for regular training opportunities to be provided to the small scale farmers. Organizations in the agricultural sector and government ministries should focus on training farmers on entrepreneurship as a sustainable course for the business growth. Education policies in the country need to be reviewed to integrate agripreneurship as a course and more resource provided to encourage it among students in learning institutions. There is also a need for agricultural seminars to be organized within the county for the small scale farmers. There is need for further research to be conducted to assess the other factors that may be affecting the financial performance of small scale farmers.

EFFECT OF COMMUNITY AND INFRASTRUCTURAL ISSUES ON OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF OIL AND GAS ORGANIZATIONS IN KENYA

Purpose: The study investigated effect of community and infrastructural issues on operational efficiency of oil and gas organizations in Kenya Methodology: This study applied descriptive research design and employ exploratory research to explore the variables. The population of interest in this study comprised of 37 selected entities involved in exploration. The 37 entities formed the study units from which respondents were drawn from community liaison, management, operations, quality and security departments giving a target population of 148 respondent. Findings: Results indicated the significant and challenging issues faced by exploration organizations are diverse and dispersed in their nature. The exploration organizations have to face the risks whether they emanate internally or externally as they operate or envision to operate in Kenya. Unique Contribution to Theory Practice and Policy: The study points out that organizational changes should be based on reducing the impact of risk factors and is in line with the postulates of theory of constraints theory that drove this study. This theory is general and useful only as a technique for scheduling intermittent production systems to make operations lean. Operational managers need to visit research papers to ascertain what the contributors to their performance metrics are.

ANALYSIS OF KEY FACTOR RATING TECHNIQUE ON PERFORMANCE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES IN KENYA: A CASE OF KENYA ORIENT INSURANCE LIMITED, KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of strategy evaluation techniques on the performance of insurance companies in Kenya. The study was guided by four research objectives namely; to analyze the influence of 360 degree evaluation technique influence the performance of insurance companies in Kenya, To analyze influence of Key Factor Rating influence the performance of insurance firms in Kenya; To analyze effect of Balanced Score Card on the performance of insurance companies in Kenya and to analyze the influence of self-evaluation technique have a significant influence on performance of insurance companies in Kenya. Methodology: A mixed methodology was used as both quantitative and qualitative data was used. The researcher used descriptive design as most of the research questions sought to find out how and what exists regarding elements or conditions in a circumstance. A questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument. The main study population was limited to Kenya Orient Insurance Limited.. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the data using as frequency tables, measures of central tendency and percentages. A target population of 154 employees was therefore used. In order to find out answers to the research questions, a questionnaire was applied as the data collection instrument. Analysis was done by aid SPSS (version 22.0). Data analysis presentation was in form of tables. Findings: Correlation coefficient (r) was used in the study and the results showed that there was a positive correlation between the independent variables and performance of insurance company. The study also adopted regression analysis the results of analysis showed an adjusted R square of 0.684 hence proving that the four variables used in the study accounted to 68.4% of performance of insurance companies. The findings of this study provides a policy framework to be adopted by KOIL and other related organization on how to structure their strategy evaluation techniques to maximize their business potentials Insurance companies can adopt the findings in this study so as to make use of the strategy evaluation techniques that have a significant positive influence of the performance of insurance companies. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends for consideration of strategy evaluation techniques that greatly impact the organizational performance, depending on the organizational internal and external circumstances as explained in contingency theory.

EFFECT OF MOBILE BANKING ON PERFORMANCE OF MICROFINANCE BANKS IN KENYA

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.