EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEES/APPRENTICES HUMAN CAPITAL ON THEIR PERFORMANCE IN SMALL SCALE BUSINESSES IN THE SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLIS, GHANA (Published)
The study inquired about the association between employee’s human capital on their performance in small scale businesses in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the competencies of employees, examine the connection of these competencies on employees’ performance and to determine the problems associated with the development of employees’ competencies in small scale businesses in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The study used descriptive survey involving one hundred and fifty-three (153) employees. Interview schedule and interview guide were the main instruments used for data collection. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics. Chi-square test was used to find out the associations between variables. The findings revealed that education and training are significantly associated with increased productivity and enhanced the effectiveness and efficiencies of employees. In addition the study showed that employees’ knowledge and skills were significantly associated with all the performance dimensions (improved quality, increased productivity and enhanced efficiency and effectiveness). Finally, the study discovered that the key challenges inhibiting the development of employee competencies were inadequate funds for training programmes and lack of time for training activities. In view of the fact that employees face financial challenges in quest to have up-to-date training on their jobs, it is recommended that government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Board for Small Scale Industries and Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET) should not relent their effort in supporting training programmes for the mechanics, hairdressers, bakers and dressmakers associations since their support would help lessen the financial burden incurred during training programmes.
Keywords: Competencies, Motivation, Performance, Productivity
Corporate Governance Practices and Performance of Coffee farmer‘s Co-operative Societies in Kenya (Review Completed - Accepted)
The central thesis in this paper is that the performance of coffee farmer’s co-operative societies is a function of corporate governance mechanisms; Board Size, Board Composition and status of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The research settled on Cash Coverage Ratio and Return On Assets, as performance variables and was guided by the null hypothesis that there exists no linear relationship between the performance variables and the corporate governance mechanisms..The regression analysis result showed that there exist a linear relationship between performance and corporate governance practice in farmer’s co-operative societies, thus rejecting the null hypothesis. In genera the findings were ; societies with smaller size of boards posted better performance as compared with those with bigger sizes more than 9 members. The same results were for those societies whose board comprised of individuals with a mix of skills and the role of the CEO was separate from that of the Chairman. Indeed as suggested by the results the failure by coffee farmer’s co-operative societies in Kenya to embrace corporate governance have made them not to underperform.
Keywords: Corporate Governance, Corporate Governance Mechanisms, Performance
Bundle Pricing Strategy and Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya (Review Completed - Accepted)
The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between bundle pricing strategy and the performance of the SMEs, Kenya. The researcher found out that there was positive correlation between bundle pricing and performance. The researcher therefore concluded that the company should focus its efforts on bundle pricing strategy because there is some level of effect of the pricing strategy on the number of customers, customer loyalty and quality of food and service. The researcher recommended that the company managers should be educated more on the bundle pricing strategy emphasizing on how it is used and its benefits
Keywords: : Enterprises, Performance, SMEs, bundle pricing strategy