Influence of Organizational Resources and Environmental Social Entrepreneurship Factors on Performance of Enterprise Based Parastatals in Kenya (Published)
Social entrepreneurship (SE) factors are said to lead to higher sales, profits and increased productive employment of private sector enterprises in Kenya, Africa and the world in general. Despite these successes, little is known whether these factors have a relationship with the performance of commercially oriented parastatals. This study sought to determine how organizational resources and environmental factors affect the performance of enterprise based parastatals in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study population consisted of 55 enterprise based parastatals with a population of 495 top managers. Using stratified and simple random sampling techniques, 432 respondents were selected from amongst the 55 commercially oriented parastatals in Kenya. A questionnaire and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Secondary data was collected from financial and audited statements. Coefficients between independent variables (firm resources and environmental factors) and (firm performance) elements obtained from factor analysis were computed to explore possible strengths and direction of relationships. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted and this was used to make interpretations and conclusions. The study established a significant relationship between organizational and environmental factors respectively with performance of enterprises based parastatals in Kenya. The study recommended that policies that integrate social entrepreneurship in enterprise based parastatals in Kenya should be formulated for the enterprises to achieve their intended objectives and for improved performance. The policies should ensure among others that prudent use of organizational resources and exploitation of environmental factors are integrated as core aspects of the management of the organizations.
Keywords: Enterprise Based Parastatals, Firm Performance, Organizational Resources. Environmental Factors, Social entrepreneurship
EFFECTS OF OUTSOURCING OF SERVICES ON PERFORMANCE OF MANUFACTURING COMPANIES IN ELDORET AND NANDI HILLS, KENYA (Published)
At the present, firms are increasingly using outsourcing of services to improve the firm’s effectiveness, productivity, profitability, quality of products, quality workforce. Private sector expenditure is substantial. Owing to the enormous amount of money involved and the fact that the money comes from the private stakeholders and business, thus, they demand accountability and efficiency. The general objective of this study was to examine the effects of outsourcing on organizational performance. Specific Objectives were; to examine the effect of outsource marketing activities, outsource technology and innovation activities. The study is anchored by two theories, Resource-Based View Theory and Principal Agent Theory. Explanatory research design was utilized in this study. Data was collected from a sample of 81 respondents from the private sector manufacturing companies translating to a response rate of 90%. A likert scale type of questionnaire was used to solicit primary data. The data analysis methods used were descriptive and inferential statistics, utilizing a multiple regression analysis model. The study findings showed that outsourced marketing activities have significant effect on performance of firm. Similarly, outsourced technology activities has significant effects on firm performance. The study concludes that outsourcing marketing allows firms to reduce costs and enhances their portfolio hence impacting positively on performance. They should outsource website design and maintenance services since it is cost effective. Also, firms should also outsource telephone maintenance services so as to spend less on wage. Firms should use external transport and logistics agencies for distribution of their products since it reduces on cost enormously and use advertising firms to market their products.
Keywords: Firm Performance, marketing activities and technology and innovativeness.