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.

Savings Level Determinants and Sustainability of Commercial Banks in Rwanda: A Case of I&M Bank Rwanda

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of savings level determinant on sustainability in I&M Rwanda. The specific objectives were to establish the effect of interest rate, income level and access to credit on the sustainability of I&M Bank. This study implemented a descriptive research design and utilized coefficient of correlation to assess the effect of each specific objective on the sustainability of the Bank. The population comprised of 12,057 including 12,050 customers and 7 staff of finance department of I&M Bank Rwanda. A sample size of 99 was calculated using Yamane (1967) simplified formula. To accomplish this aim, both primary and secondary data are used. The researcher used simple random and purposive sampling techniques. A questionnaire and interview have used to collect data. Quantitative data was obtained using questionnaire while a financial statement of I&M Bank covering 2016-2020 was used as secondary data. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis showing mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression was used statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 to analyze statistical information while content analysis used to analyze qualitative information. The findings and recommendations for this study addressed to the I & M Bank Rwanda, for decision-making and policies. The study found that interest rates, income level and access to credit have significant positive effect on sustainability of commercial banks in Rwanda at 78%, 90.5% and 92.9% respectively. The relationship among saving level determinants and sustainability of business bank was also determined to be linear with increase in get admission to credit score by means of clients. The researcher concluded that saving degree and get admission to credit volatility had more effect on sustainability of banks. The study endorsed that guideline to be installed vicinity to boom financial institution lending and ensure monitoring the same. Keywords: Savings Level Determinant, Sustainability, Commercial Banks, I&M Bank, Rwanda

Effect of Inventory Management Activities on Retailers’ Satisfaction in Inyange Industries Limited in Gasabo District, Rwanda

This research examined the effect of inventory management activities on retailer satisfaction in manufacturing industries in Rwanda from the year of 2016 to 2021. The mixed approach of both qualitative and quantitative data were used as research design to collect results from 121 respondents from 174 who were expected as sample size of the study by the use of simple random and stratified sampling techniques. Before, the actual process of data collection the researcher pre-tested the questionnaire survey and the key informant interview, which were used later for collecting data from the field. Thus, the quantitative data were analyzed using both descriptive as percentage distribution and inferential statistics represented by multiple linear regressions. Thus, the regression coefficients demonstrated that ?1 =.241, with p=0.002 < 0.05 at sig. level of 5% which proves that IOP had a statistically positive and significant effect on the satisfaction of retailers; ?2 = .311 with p=0.001 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that ISM had a positive and statistical significant effect on satisfaction of retailers; and ?1 = .402 with p= 0.000 < 0.05 at a sig. level of 5% implying that IDM had demonstrated a positive and statistical significant effect on retailers’ satisfaction in IIL between 2016 and 2021. The respective coefficients further indicate that 24.1 %, 31.1% and 40.2% of the variability in retailers’ satisfaction can be attributed to inventory order processing, inventory storage management and inventory distribution management respectively. The research recommends IIL to adopt JIT inventory practices all the time to avoid inventory costs while retailers need to accurately forecast demand and make orders before they experience stock-outs which affects the supply chain. It is hoped that this study will encourage IIL to sustainably adopt inventory management activities that will continue to sustain their retailer satisfaction. The study may also motivate other researchers to conduct research covering the whole country in order to improve its reliability. Keywords: Inventory Management Activities, Retailer Satisfaction, Manufacturing Industries, Rwanda

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

Board Characteristics and Financial Performance of Government-Owned Sugar Manufacturing Companies in Kenya

The board of directors is tasked with the obligation and the responsibility of administering changes and operations that support the mission of the organization to realize its vision. Kenya in the recent past, has witnessed a number of organizations listed in the NSE collapsing with the board of directors taking the blame. Specifically, the study sought to establish the association between; board diversity, board independence, board size and financial performance of government-owned sugar manufacturing companies in Kenya. The study sought to determine whether firm attributes have a moderating impact on the relationship between board characteristics and financial results of Kenyan government-owned sugar manufacturing companies. The study adopted the Agency Theory and Stewardship Theory. The study targeted the Government-Owned Sugar manufacturing companies in Kenya during the years 2000 to 2016 when the companies were operational. The study used secondary data where panel data was used. The findings indicated that board diversity and financial performance of government-owned sugar manufacturing companies. In addition, board independence and financial performance of government-owned sugar manufacturing companies was also significant. Board Size had a positive but insignificant relationship with financial performance of government-owned sugar manufacturing companies in Kenya. Firm attributes had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between board characteristics and financial performance of government-owned sugar manufacturing companies. The study recommended that the board members should consist of at least half gender diversity of the board members as determined by the board based on the requirements stipulated by the trade authority. Further, the study recommended that the board members must be independent directors, and their independence should be continuously maintained and reviewed at least annually. Keywords: Board Diversity, Board Independence, Board Size, Firm Attributes & Financial Performance

Financial Inclusion Strategies and Performance of Commercial Banks in Rwanda; A Case of I&M Bank in Rwanda

The research intended to analyze the effect of financial inclusion strategies on performance of commercial banks in Rwanda, a case of I&M Bank Rwanda Ltd. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the effect of agency banking, financial innovation and loan products on financial performance of commercial banks in Rwanda and guided by three theories which are agency theory, constraint-induced theory and innovation theory. A sample size of 92 employees among 1,232 was taken and data was collected through questionnaires and interview guide. SPSS 23, descriptive research design, correlation and regression statistic were used in the analysis of collected data. The results of the study indicated that agency banking application is the important driver to facilitate people to get banking services form banks. The results established that agency banking and financial inclusion are satisfactory in explaining the performance of commercial banks. The coefficient of determination, also known as the R square, was 0.594 (59.4%). This implied that agency banking and financial inclusion strategies explain 59.4% of the variations in the performance of commercial banks. As conclusions, financial inclusion strategies analysed in this research play an important role in the performance of commercial banks in Rwanda. Financial institutions in Rwanda use financial inclusion strategies to boost their financial performances. Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is important and very effective because it facilitates the customers the access of their accounts to withdraw or deposit money as it is for digital banking, debit cards and smart cards. This enables banks to increase sales and influence its financial performance. For loan product, it is concluded that this is an important strategy of I&M Bank to attract customers thus affect the financial performance of the bank. The study recommended that I&M Bank has to improve its agency banking by increasing their number and location. I&M Bank has to extend its branches to remote areas and increase the number of ATMs so that people in remote areas get different financial services easily. Keywords: financial inclusion strategies, agency banking, financial performance, I&M Bank, Rwanda