MCOM Theses and Dissertations (2024)

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    Effect of Total Quality Management practices on the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi, Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Wambua, S. N.
    Manufacturing SMEs often face constant challenges from the dynamic landscape of business. Since they are a crucial part of the economy, these SMEs need to be sustainable in the long run and go beyond performance, through recovery in the face of these disruptions, and put in place practices to help in mitigation for the future. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of Total Quality Management Practices adoption to the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs. This study’s main aim goal was to determine the impact of TQM practices implementation on the operational resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi. The research was achieved by studying the manufacturing SMEs registered in Nairobi County’s licensing office, and the list was cross checked with KAM as of December 2018 within Nairobi, being a significant representation of SMEs in Kenya. The study utilized convergent mixed methods design and simple random sampling as well as purposive sampling because of the expected dynamic nature of the population in relation to the objective of the study, and the combination of the quantitative and qualitative aspect of the study. The study was guided by dynamic capabilities theory and resource orchestration theory. Primary data was collected from the participants through close-ended questionnaires and interview schedules, and analyzed through the latest version of the SPSS as well as through inductive coding. The population size was the 134 manufacturing SMEs in Nairobi, and the samples size was 100 manufacturing SMEs. Results indicate a strong association between employee involvement, top management commitment, supplier partnership and customer focus with operational resilience. The Analysis of Variance indicated Operational resilience across sectors of manufacturing SMEs was greatly attributed by Total Quality Management Practices adoption. TQM practices contribute to operational resilience for manufacturing SMEs by improving process efficiency, product quality, risk management capabilities, employee engagement, and supply chain relationships. SMEs can build resilience, adaptability, and sustainability in an increasingly uncertain business environment. TQM practices emphasize continuous improvement and optimization of processes by embedding TQM principles into their organizational culture and operations. The study serves as a strong starting point for scholarly investigations into operational resilience and TQM adoption in the manufacturing SME sector in the future. Knowledge gaps were addressed in the field because there has only been a limited amount of research on the adoption and implementation of overall quality management methods in the manufacturing SMEs industry in Nairobi. Manufacturing SMEs need to involve employee by providing comprehensive training programs to enhance employees' skills and knowledge related to resilience-building practices, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and adaptability. They also need to improve operational resilience through customer focus by conducting market research and gather feedback to understand customer preferences, expectations, and changing needs.
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    Effect of Corporate Social responsibility on loan performance in commercial banks in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Cheruiyot, S.
    Businesses do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in a society from where they derive their benefits and to where they should extend a lending hand. Corporate social responsibility is a way of giving back to the society by businesses. In doing so, the businesses end up gaining by having favorable public perception thus increasing their overall financial performance. In Kenya, the interdependency is particularly pronounced in the Banking sector as most commercial banks have not been left behind in participating in CSR activities. Commercial banks in particular have come up with community-based programs targeting health, education and general welfare. Given that the main source of income for commercial banks is through interest paid in by borrowers for credit facilities extended, it was interesting to ascertain whether engaging in CSR activities would influence loan performance in commercial banks. The outcome of the previous studies on the influence of CSR on loan performance of commercial banks remains inconclusive. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of CSR on loan performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine the effects of philanthropic CSR, environmental CSR, economic CSR and ethical CSR on loan performance in commercial banks in Kenya. The study was grounded on the stakeholder theory and the Signaling theory and adopted the correlation design. The population of the study consisted of middle and senior level employees from thirty branches of ten purposively selected commercial banks in Nairobi City County. A sample of ninety respondents was selected using the purposive sampling techniques. The data was collected using closed-ended questionnaires. The data was analyzed using both the descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of the SPSS. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations, while the inferential statistical measures included the Pearson correlations and (simple) linear regressions. The results were presented in tables, charts and graphs. The results revealed that loan performance in commercial banks in Nairobi City County was influenced by philanthropic CSR, environmental CSR, economic CSR and ethical CSR. The study concluded that commercial banks must focus on supporting charitable programs targeting the less fortunate members of the society in order to improve their loan performance. They must also support sustainable environmental initiatives, engage in fair contracts and carry out ethical business practices in order to enhance their loan performance portfolio. The study recommended that commercial banks should continue to engage in corporate social responsibilities by investing more in philanthropic activities and environmental programs aligned to their goal. They should also engage in economic activities that meet their financial goals and ensure that all their financial activities are carried out in an ethical manner to influence loan performance. However, the study was limited to commercial banks in Kenya and the conclusions drawn may not relate to non-commercial banks.
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    The Influence of board heterogeneity on corporate level strategy choices for Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) in Nairobi
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Muthoni, P. N.
    Strategists and researchers agree that corporate level strategies are important for organizations to gain a sustainable advantage or maintain their operations at a given level as a going concern. Such strategies are also critical in responding to changes in the operating environment. The objective of this research was to determine the influence of age, industrial background and gender heterogeneity of boards on corporate level strategy choices among 44 DT SACCOs (Deposit taking savings and credit cooperative organization) in Nairobi. The research adopted the upper echelon theory as the foundational theory. The research applied a descriptive research design where structured questionnaires with closed questions focusing on various aspects of board composition and strategic choices undertaken in the last five years were issued to the respondents between February and March 2024. The target population of the study was 44 respondents comprised of DT SACCO CEOs from all the DT SACCOs under study. A census technique was applied since the population size was small, thereby not requiring any sampling. The data collected was entered and coded into SPSS version 29.0. The data was then be analyzed to establish descriptive statistics while inferential statistics were established through Spearman’s correlation analysis and regression analysis. The results of the regression analysis indicated that board gender heterogeneity had a strong positive influence on the corporate level strategy choices. The results also showed that heterogeneity in the age of the board members had a strong positive influence on the choice of corporate level strategies. The research found that the influence of industrial background heterogeneity on corporate growth strategy choices was insignificant. The study underscores the need for members of DT SACCOs to consider the implication of board demographic characteristics on corporate level strategy choices while voting for representatives. It also contributes to the existing body of literature by demonstrating the independent and interactive effects of board heterogeneity and their influence on the choices of corporate level strategies. The study also recommends that future studies focusing on other factors such as firm characteristics and macroeconomic variables would be resourceful in enriching literature and policy. These would also contribute in addressing the limitations of this study.
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    Effect of social media influencer attributes on consumer behaviour: a case study of cosmetic multinational firms in Nairobi County
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Muhuni, J. K.
    The changing environment of influencer marketing presents both opportunities and difficulties for multinational cosmetic companies in Nairobi, Kenya. A deep awareness of the qualities that lead to fruitful collaborations is necessary for the identification and engagement of suitable social media influencers. However, there is little research on the specific attributes of social media influencers and their effect on consumer behavior. This study sought to fill this gap by reviewing how various social media influencer attributes; perceived expertise, perceived trustworthiness and perceived loyalty have influenced consumer behaviour in cosmetic multinational firms in Nairobi County. The study was anchored on social influence theory and source credibility theory. The study was based on descriptive research design and positivism research philosophy. The unit of observation was 75 multinational cosmetic companies operating in Nairobi, Kenya. The unit of analysis was comprised of 5 consumers from each of the 75 selected multinational cosmetic companies, resulting in a total of 375 individual consumers. Therefore, a sample size of 375 was selected through systematic sampling. The study relied on primary data collected using questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings are presented in figures and tables. Results of the study depicted that there was a positive statistically significant effect of perceived expertise of social media influencers on consumer behaviour. Secondly, the study depicted that there was a positive statistically significant effect of perceived trustworthiness of social media influencers on consumer behaviour. Thirdly, there was a positive statistically significant effect of perceived loyalty of social media influencers on consumer behaviour. From the findings it can be concluded that social media influencers should enhance their expertise on the products that they serve as ambassadors to leverage their influential role on consumer preference and choices. Cosmetic products distributors in Kenya should evaluate their social media influencer collaborations and strictly engage those who demonstrate authenticity, reliability and capacity not only to connect but also influence consumer decision making. Consumers tend to develop affinity towards products whose social media influencers depicts loyalty on cosmetics they endorse that would nurture a culture of loyalty linked customer engagement. It was recommended that there is a need for development of training programs for employees and social media influencers, transparent dissemination of product information and development of social media influencer selection criteria.
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    Effect of mobile money and firm size on financial sustainability of SMEs: case of grocery retail shops in Nairobi County
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Osore, D. O.
    Financial sustainability is a critical aspect of the success of SMEs as an unsustainable SME can face significant challenges such as financial difficulties, decreased competitiveness, and even bankruptcy. Though adoption of mobile money services has been theorized to have the potential to improve the financial sustainability of SMEs, the studies conducted are still inconclusive. Majority of the SMEs also still continue to underperform even after incorporating mobile money services. was Against this background, the study sought to establish the effect of mobile money on financial sustainability of SMEs with a special focus on grocery retail shops in Nairobi County. The specific objectives are to establish the effect of mobile money usage, mobile money attributes and mobile money regulations on financial sustainability of grocery retail shops in Nairobi County. The study also sought out to establish the moderating effect of organizational size on the relationship between mobile money services and financial sustainability of grocery retail shops in Nairobi County. The study employs descriptive research design and the targeted population of the study was 10,450 grocery shops in Nairobi County. The respondents were owners, managers, or their equivalents in these grocery retail shops and a sample of 99 grocery shops was selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires and was analyzed using descriptive and inferential analysis. The study established that mobile money usage, money attributes and mobile money regulations had a positive effect on the financial sustainability of grocery retail shops in Nairobi County. The moderating regression model further revealed that incorporating organization size strengthened the impact on the relationship that exists between mobile money and financial sustainability. Moreover, the study denotes that factors such as convenience, security, and efficiency of mobile money transactions are crucial for enhancing the financial sustainability of these shops.Also, larger grocery retail shops may benefit even more from the implementation of mobile money services in terms of their financial sustainability. The study recommends that the mobile service providers should improve on aspects such as security, reliability, convenience, and transparency in mobile money transactions while policymakers and regulators should establish clear and supportive regulations that facilitate the growth and operation of mobile money services.