SBS PhD Theses

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The Effects of antecedents and macro-social marketing strategies in retention of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2019) Nguti, Lucy Esther Kuthea
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) labour market is plagued with a wicked gender diversity issue attributed to women leaving the field at an alarmingly high rate. This is perturbing since a diverse. Labour market in STEM is vital to the growth of the economy and general development of nations, as it ensures proper utilization of human capital, enhances creativity and satisfaction within the diverse customer base. It is thus not surprising that this global phenomenon particularly afflicts developing nations, more so in Africa, as women make up only 30% of the STEM labour market. However, there is little evidence from developing nations on the phenomenon since most studies conducted were in 'industrialized countries'. Further compounding this travesty is the notable paucity of literature on the issue of retention within career paths, particularly within STEM. Therefore, this study posits that to retain women in STEM careers it is essential to use a macro social marketing perspective to gain a system wide understanding of the complicated problem in order to create successful multilevel retention strategies. This study therefore implemented a sequential exploratory mixed method design as it sought to establish the career retention intentions, the antecedents of retentions behavior of women in the STEM labour market in Kenya and how the antecedents influenced retention behaviors. The sequential exploratory mixed method design had an initial qualitative phase of data collection and analysis, followed by a phase of quantitative data collection using a survey tool designed from the qualitative results. The qualitative results comprised Eleven antecedents of retention intentions, which were, 'support of family and friends', 'work environment', 'passion', 'sense of belonging', 'work family conflict', 'career mentorship', 'self-efficacy', 'expectation fulfilment', 'perception of societal contribution', 'Career sustainability and growth' and 'female role models' . The quantitative data collected using the survey was analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Correlation and multiple regressions to validate the qualitative findings. Women in STEM were found to have low retention intentions. A 75.6%ofthose with low retention intentions were respondents who had less than five years working experience. All the antecedents, except work-family conflict had a positive significant relationship with retention intentions. Work-family conflict had a negative relationship that was not statistically significant. Furthermore, 'sense of belonging', 'support of family and friends, 'career sustainability and growth', 'expectation fulfilment' and 'passion', and explain78.4% of the variance of retention intentions. It can thus be conciliated that the retention of women in STEM careers in Kenya, a developing country, is a concern, a finding that is consistent with similar studies conducted in developed countries. The antecedents and their relationships to each other were further mapped into a behavioral ecological framework and it was determined that relationships existed between several actors from all levels of the system environment and the factors of influence that were raised. This study enhances the discussion on career retention as it not only identifies factors that influence retention in STEM careers, but it also shows, using systems thinking, that the factors and actors in the STEM career system are interrelated. The interrelationships between the antecedents point to multiple root causes of the lack of retention among Women in STEM careers in Kenya. Multilevel, system wide interventions that will Influence all the relevant players in the system need to be created and implemented for effective change to take place in the STEM career system in Kenya. Furthermore, this study addressed a contextual gap as it contributes to the subject knowledge of career retention among women in STEM in Kenya, a developing country in Africa; previous studies on women in STEM were mainly conducted in developed countries. It also unveils the society level efficacy of macro-social marketing in career management and in a developing country context.
Income tax compliance behavior of large and medium-sized business taxpayers in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2019) Abdul, Farida
The main objective of this study was to establish the drivers explaining tax compliance behaviour among medium and large business taxpayers in Kenya. In so doing the researcher tested the validity and adequacy of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and Procedural Justice Theory (PJT) in explaining tax compliance behaviour. A Structural Equation Model was built using survey data on 142 respondents and covering 19 key sectors of the economy. The study specifically sought to examine the influence of measures of perceived behavioural control, subjective norms, procedural justice measures, and tax system attributes (fairness, complexity, compliance costs as well as international compatibility) on tax compliance behaviour, while controlling for the hypothesized influence of firm size, age, sector and legal structure. The results indicate that tax compliance behaviour in Kenya significantly increases with increased perceived behavioural control, but declines significantly with an increase in tax compliance costs. In addition, the only firm characteristic that significantly increases with tax compliance is firm size. The model constructs account for about 39 per cent of variations in tax compliance behaviour in Kenya, which is above the empirically accepted minimum for exploratory studies. From the results, the study recommends a focus by the tax authority and policymakers on measures to reduce tax compliance costs. The authority should concentrate on those costs that relate to understanding the existing complex tax laws, changes in tax rules, as well as general costs of meeting compliance and regulatory requirements. In addition, greater emphasis should be put on investing in opportunities that reduce financial pressure on firms and on reducing incidences of firms that operate outside the tax system. Further, the authority should reduce incidences of financial distress in firms through prudent macroeconomic management and general surveillance to ensure that firms face minimal opportunities that would encourage them to underreport income- such as incomes not reported by third parties. The significance of the perceived behavioural control measure indicates the relevance and applicability of the theory of planned behaviour to tax compliance behaviour in Kenya.
A Qualitative and quantitative assessment of a leadership training programme’s impact on health system performance in 19 counties in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2020) Chelagat, Tecla
Health service delivery was devolved from the national Government to the counties in 2013 following the adoption of a new constitution in 2010. The aim was to make service delivery more efficient through closer leadership oversight at the counties. However, evidence suggests that health system performance in Kenya remains poor as manifested by inadequate funding and inefficient use of available resources. The main issue appears to be inadequate leadership at national and county levels. To address this issue, several institutions in Kenya have implemented training programmes targeting healthcare leaders. However, most of such training in Kenya focus on “leaders” (individual) development as opposed to “leadership” training (development of groups from an organization). The former approach has been shown to be ineffective in transforming institutional health system performance. The goal of the study was to examine the effect of a project-based leadership training implemented at Strathmore University since 2013 on health system performance in selected Counties in Kenya. A multi-method research design comprising of quasi-experimental time-series and qualitative methods was employed. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were administered to 39 health managers from the public, private and faith-based institutions from 19 counties in Kenya who had undergone the leadership training followed by coaching and implementation of an institutional improvement project. The control group comprised 39 other health institutions within the same counties with managers that did not receive the leadership training. The proxy measure of the success of the leadership training was completion of implementation of the institutional improvement project. Thirty-three (85%) of the projects were successfully implemented and 29 (88%) and were sustained for a period of 60 months after the leadership training. Control health institutions had no health system performance enhancement activities during the same period. A responsive (health system performance enhancement) leadership training curriculum, alignment of the project to the County’s strategic plan and stakeholders buy-in and support for the programme were reported as the key project implementation and sustainability enablers. These findings show that leadership training and team coaching built around priority institutional improvement projects result in measurable and sustainable health system performance improvements indicators.
Women’s preferences for place of delivery: a study of Embakasi-North and Naivasha Sub-County’s, Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2020) Aridi, J. K. O.
High maternal mortality continues to affect many sub-Saharan African countries. Kenya continues to have an unacceptable high maternal mortality ratio. Despite a rise in coverage for facility-based delivery following a free maternity services policy in 2013, there is little data on what women value when making their decision in choosing a place of delivery. There is uncertainty regarding factors that influence women’s choice of health facilities and women’s perceptions of quality of care. This study sought to examine women’s preferences and to rank attributes of the health system that drive women’s choices. The study compared the preferences of women in Embakasi North a peri-urban setting in Nairobi County with those in a rural Naivasha sub-County. It utilized a mixed methods study incorporating a qualitative study and a quantitative study approach; a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) for evaluating the factors that women value when selecting their place of delivery. In Naivasha, women ranked the highest attribute preference as the presence of a kind and supportive attitude of healthcare worker (β=1.184, p<0.001), whereas in Embakasi-North sub- County the women’s highest preference was for the attribute on cleanliness of the health facility, (β=1.488, p<0.001).This was followed by availability of medical equipment and drugs in both the Naivasha (β=1.073, p<0.001), and Embakasi-North (β=1.435, p<0.001). The attribute ranked third for Naivasha was the quality of clinical services during delivery (β=0.826, p<0.001) whereas in Embakasi-North it was the alternative specific constant (β=1.424, p<0.001). The coefficient for both the distance to the health facility and cost of delivery for Naivasha (β=0.457p<0.001) and (β=0.00002, p<0.001) respectively and Embakasi-North (β=0.339, p<0.001) and (β= p<0.0002) were positive and statistically significant at the 1 % level. These results indicate a preference for high costs and long distance which contradict economic theory that predicts that most rationale people would have a preference for low costs and short distances respectively. This implies that women were bypassing closer health facilities and seeking care at further off health facilities. The cost result implies that women were willing to pay higher costs for services that they perceive would be of higher quality. The study established that sociodemographic such as age, marital status, income status and education level all influence the ranking of attributes with the exception of cost and distance in Embakasi-North. These findings suggest that women value both structural and process indicators of quality of care. Patient-centered aspects of care matters to women. By paying attention to their preferences, policy makers can provide care that women want and value. To prevent bypass of closer health facilities and promote affordable care, policy makers should provide care that has the requisite medical equipment and respectful healthcare workers that are responsive to women’s needs. This will assist in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets for reducing preventable maternal mortality. Keywords: Women preferences, place of delivery, Kenya, Discrete Choice Experiment
Stakeholders’ pressure, gender diversity, and voluntary environmental management systems as drivers of corporate environmental performance of firms in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2020) Mungai, Edward Mbucho
The aim of this study is to explore whether stakeholders’ pressure, gender diversity in board and top management team (TMT), and voluntary environmental management systems (VEMS) influences corporate environmental performance (CEP). As per the stakeholder’s theory, institutional theory and the upper echelons theory (UET), this research work argues that stakeholders’ pressure is key in the implementation of environmental sustainability practices in a firm. From the perspective of gender diversity, the research demonstrates that gender diversity enriches the decision-making abilities of the board to enhance the adoption of ISO 14001. Further, under the theoretical basis of institutional theory, the study contends that voluntary environmental management systems, positively relate with a firm’s energy efficiency, resource and waste management. This thesis also assesses the manner in which various firm characteristics have an impact on CEP. Using data from 852 firm responses in Kenya, simple probit, instrumental variable probit and bivariate probit model, in the regression analysis were used to test the study postulations. It was observed that stakeholders’ pressure is a key driver of environmental performance for Kenyan companies. The pressure applied depended on the kind of stakeholder in question. Diversity of the board in terms of gender was also found to be positively associated with CEP. Also, VEMS were reported to enhance a firm's environmental sustainability. Therefore, depending on which stakeholder had more influence on the companies’ behaviors, it is expected that different organizations will react different in regard to the coercive, memetic and normative pressure from the stakeholders. Women's social characteristics make them environmental advocates on corporate echelons and this study adds to the global calls for the inclusion of gender diversity in the workplace as a means of tapping in new knowledge and skills. On voluntary environmental programs, the study concludes that such programs will encourage beyond compliance among firms. This means that, there is a growing favor for a self-regulating business environment that is probably allowing for flexibility within the firm operations in reducing environmental externalities. Notably, firm characteristics are partly attributed to the difference in environmental performance (EP) among businesses even within a similar scope of operations. This study is the first to relate three themes of gender diversity, VEMS and CEP in a developing country set up.
Are emerging markets prepared to adopt integrated reporting? evidence from listed companies in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2021) Injeni, Geoffrey Ikavulu
The purpose of this study was to establish the extent to which listed companies in emerging markets like Kenya are ready for integrated reporting. An integrated report demonstrates how a company’s strategy, governance, performance, and prospects, in the context of its external environment, leads to the creation of value. The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), working with local regulators like the Capital. Markets Authority (CMA) is encouraging companies to adopt integrated reporting. However, there is no empirical evidence that listed companies in Kenya are making sufficient disclosures to adopt integrated reporting and whether preparers, regulators, and users are open to this innovation in corporate reporting. Also, corporate reporting disclosures are influenced by different country contexts and company factors. Therefore, this study first used self-constructed indices to Analyse the annual reports of 50 companies listed on the NSE from 2010 to 2016 for financial information using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), sustainability, corporate governance, and integrated reporting disclosures. Second, the relationship between the disclosures and the company factors was established using static and dynamic panel data econometric models. Third, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the perspectives of 20 preparers and semi-structured interviews conducted to obtain the perspectives of 5 regulators and 10 equity analysts. Findings and results reveal opportunities and challenges for the adoption of integrated reporting. First, IFRS, corporate governance and integrated reporting disclosures are high and trending upwards, but sustainability disclosures are low though improving. Size is the only company factor that is positive and significant across all the disclosures. Large companies, with those in telecom and banking sectors, in addition to those that report high sustainability and corporate governance disclosures will likely adopt integrated reporting. However, only 14% of companies analysed had formally adopted integrated reporting by 2016. While regulators and users support the voluntary adoption of integrated reporting, only half of the preparers are for mandatory adoption. Regulators do not expect corporate reporting regulation to be harmonized, while users do not see improvements in the investment process from adopting integrated reporting. Despite improvements in corporate reporting, with stakeholders open to the adoption of integrated reporting, the different country and company features, the varying needs of different stakeholders, remain challenges that need to be overcome. Besides, the three stakeholders consider integrated reporting as a stage in corporate reporting and therefore more research is required to establish the optimal corporate reporting.
An Assessment tool for ICT stakeholder integration and infrastructure performance improvement: case Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2021) Ominde, D. K.
The poor performance of infrastructural projects in the country has been partly attributed to the lack of an evaluation framework for these projects, especially in terms of the stakeholder management model, and need to look into how the projects can achieve their optimal success formed the research problem of the study. This was to be pursued through the development of an assessment tool for stakeholder integration and infrastructure performance improvement in the ICT sector. The specific objectives of the research study were to establish the complexity of project delivery and propose improvements to policy makers and senior project practitioners in the ICT sector in Kenya. Moreover, the study was keen to identify key stakeholder integration determinants that can be used by policy makers and senior project practitioners to enhance ICT infrastructure project planning in Kenya. Additionally, the study focused on identifying some of the key performance metrics that are specific, measurable and relevant to the achievement of stakeholder integration and ICT infrastructure planning in Kenya. In addition, the study was keen to assess how infrastructure policy makers and senior project practitioners can prioritise and ensure there is a holistic end-to-end commitment to realise the defined benefits of ICT infrastructure projects in Kenya. Finally, the research proposed an assessment tool that comprises stakeholder integration, project complexity and performance metric determinants, which can be used to enhance the delivery of ICT projects in Kenya. The study adopted mixed methods research design, specifically, exploratory sequential design to examine how ICT project practitioners and policy makers can improve ICT project delivery. A total of 500 participants formed a target sample for the quantitative method; 290 participants responded and 286 of the filled-in questionnaires were found to be useful for the analysis. For the qualitative method, 47 participants were interviewed, and the data was analysed through NVivo. The number of participants was considered adequate with regards to the context of the study and the realisation of the objectives, which aimed to propose an assessment tool for ICT project delivery in Kenya. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, a reliability test, a correlation test and principal component analysis. Validity and reliability were attained through the assessment of the plausibility of variables in relation to the existing knowledge on integration of stakeholders, project complexity and key performance metrics within the context of delivery of ICT projects. The assessment tool was verified through focus discussions with participants. Research rigour was achieved through verification and validation of the methodology coherence and data analysis. The findings of the study suggest that ICT performance be measured against the achievement of stakeholder integration and realisation of benefits. Commitment to project objectives, competence of key stakeholders, alignment of stakeholder skills, understanding of core project processes and addressing stakeholder needs and expectations were found to be key to stakeholder integration. Through theory elaboration, the study structured the sequence relations of project management and stakeholder management constructs that could be used to assess and optimise the delivery of ICT infrastructure projects. The findings gave the novelty of the research study to be viewed from two perspectives: ▪The research study findings intended to streamline the delivery of ICT projects in Kenya as a way of enhancing the performance of these projects. The development of an assessment tool for the evaluation of stakeholders delivering ICT projects in Kenya is likely to be an important step in addressing the missing link between theory and practice. ICT project practitioners now have an assessment tool on which they will be able to base their project delivery model as a way of enhancing the outcome of their project. ▪From a policy viewpoint, the research study findings are likely to form part of the appraisal models that the government apply in monitoring the progress of ICT stakeholder integration. As already noted, the final outcome of the research was the proposal of an assessment tool that can be used by infrastructure policy makers and senior project practitioners in Kenya to ensure a mind-set of accountability and a structured approach to ICT project planning and stakeholder integration. Keywords: Information communication technology (ICT), Key performance metrics, Stakeholder integration, Benefit realisation, Project complexity
Quality Corporate Risk Disclosure and determinants among listed non-financial firms in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2022) Mbithi, E. M.
The recent occurrence of financial crisis and cases of corporate failure around the globe have heightened the demand for High-Quality Corporate Risk Disclosure (HQCRD). To meet this expectation, companies must demonstrate their stewardship to stakeholders by providing useful risk information. Nonetheless, concerns have been raised about the quality of Corporate Risk Disclosure (CRD) in developing countries. The study sought to identify factors explaining CRD behaviour in Kenya. The purpose is achieved by first establishing the meaning of the construct HQCRD to determine elements that constitute high-quality CRD. Secondly, it establishes the determinants of high-quality CRD to establish the applicability of multi-theoretical lens in explaining CRD behaviour, and, thirdly, exploring the moderating effect of the Kenya Companies Act of 2015 on the determinants of high-quality CRD. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design, specifically an explanatory sequential design. On one hand, quantitative analysis targeted listed non-financial firms in Kenya over the period 2008-2019 using panel data regression techniques. On the other hand, qualitative analysis targeted the preparers and users of the annual report through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that CRD quality is low and dispersed across the sampled firms in Kenya. This suggests that stakeholders seeking high-quality CRD in Kenya will not find annual reports sufficient to address their needs. The results of panel data regression indicate that firm size, leverage, firm growth, operating risk, board activity, board independence, foreign ownership and block ownership influence the quality of CRD (weighted measure). This confirms that CRD is complex as explained by a multiplicity of factors needed to achieve high quality. In addition, it confirms support for multi-theoretical lens proposed in the literature to study CRD in Kenya. These theories include agency theory, signalling theory, stakeholder theory, resource dependence theory, institutional theory and legitimacy theory. Furthermore, the results of qualitative analysis are mixed; some support quantitative results while others contradict them. Regarding the moderating role, implementation of the Kenya Companies Act of 2015 neutralised the effect of firm size and block ownership on CRD, whilst leverage, firm growth, operating risk, board independence and foreign ownership strengthened after the implementation. The study extends our understanding of CRD in several ways; first, by providing a common understanding of the meaning of CRD among stakeholders; secondly, by demonstrating the corporate determinants of CRD, particularly the moderating role of the Companies Act 2015, and thirdly, assessing the applicability of multi-theoretical lens in explaining CRD behaviour. The results will help policymakers and practitioners to understand the risk reporting needs of capital market participants, and potentially develop an informed mechanism to improve the quality of CRD. The study relied on extant literature and guidelines to develop the indices. However, the guidelines keep on changing as a result of considering other better ways of reporting. Thus, the results should be interpreted with caution because quality is dynamic. Future research should consider recent changes in guidelines and literature.
Corporate governance and financial and non-financial performance of state-owned enterprises in Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2022) Abang'a, A. O.
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have social and economic objectives whose achievement depends on good corporate governance. As a result, this thesis sought to determine the relationship between corporate governance and financial and non-financial performance of SOEs in Kenya. Multi-theoretical framework is adopted to understand the extent to which corporate governance (CG) provisions, such as board meetings, gender diversity, board skill, board sub-committees, board size, board independence, board chair age and combined corporate governance provisions (CCG) influence financial and non-financial performance of SOEs in Kenya. Explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was applied in which secondary data was first obtained from the annual financial reports and analyzed using balanced panel data, fixed-effects regression. The result indicates that board meetings, board skill and board gender diversity are the only significant CG provisions in determining financial performance. The result also finds that board skill and CCG are the only CG provisions that determines SOEs non-financial performance. In the second phase, responses of questionnaire survey obtained from the audit committee chairpersons of SOEs in Kenya were analyzed using independent sample t-tests. The results revealed that board skill is the only significant variable that positively influence both financial and non-financial performance. Interviews to SOEs directors unearthed the politicization of board appointments in Kenya. Overall, the findings demonstrate that CG reforms have improved performance, however, some CG provisions require re-considerations in order to attain full potential. The findings of this study have theoretical, practical and policy implications. The results advocate for the multi-theoretical framework in studying the relationship between CG provisions and financial and non-financial performance. State Corporation Advisory Committee, the Office of the Auditor General and the National Treasury that are mandated to overseeing the operations of SOEs in Kenya are called upon to re-evaluate the governance of SOEs to improve their performance. Also, the academic community are encouraged to approach CG studies in SOEs using mix-method approach to gain better understanding of the complex relationships devoid in a single approach. The study makes six important contributions. First, the study contributes by confirming that individual provisions of CG that constitute CCG provision have different impact on performance; Second, study adds to relatively few available literature on CG in SOEs ; Third, the study responds to a call for more CG studies in a developing country context; Fourth, this study shows the link between CG provisions and financial and non-financial performance of SOEs in a single study; Fifth, through mixed-methods research approach, this study uncovered important governance challenges that may have not been possible in purely quantitative analysis. Finally, by showing that CG studies should be approached from multi-theoretical framework. This study is limited by the fact that equal weight in binary coding is used, focus was on disclosures in annual financial reports, impact of moderator and mediating variables were not examined, qualitative data inquiry involved limited number of interviewees and single framework of non-financial performance. Future research may consider assigning weight, consider other information sources like websites, establish the impact of moderator and mediating variables, study other developing countries over time, include more interviewees and use broader measure of non-financial performance.

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