MDF Theses and Dissertations (2024)

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    The Influence of digital marketing strategies on consumers purchase decisions for post-graduate programs in private universities in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Kimani, M. G.
    Globally and locally, competition for post-graduate students is increasing. As a result, universities need to think of strategies that can help influence enrollment choices for their post-graduate programs. One such strategy is digital marketing. In this respect, the primary objective of the current study was to evaluate the influence of digital marketing on consumer product choice for post-graduate programs in Nairobi County. The specific objectives of this study were to investigate the influence of social media marketing, email marketing and website marketing on purchase decisions for post-graduate programs. The theories that underpinned this study were the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Learning Model of Consumer Decision Making. Positivism was used in this research. The research method adopted for this research was the descriptive cross-sectional design. Judgmental sampling was used to obtain the views of respondents, who consisted of post-graduate students in private universities in Nairobi. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires that were administered using a fill-and-wait strategy. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (multiple linear regression). Findings suggest that digital marketing strategies – social media marketing, email marketing, and website marketing – have positive and significant influence on consumer purchase decision. Therefore, this concludes that social media marketing, email marketing, and website marketing are significant predictors of consumer purchase decisions for postgraduate programs in private universities in Nairobi. Website marketing had the strongest effect of the three strategies. Therefore, this research recommends leveraging these digital marketing to drive postgraduate enrollments with particular focus on website marketing for optimal results. Also, since this research focused on only three digital marketing strategies, further research is needed on other types of digital marketing. Keywords: consumer purchase decision, social media marketing, email marketing, website marketing
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    Digitalization factors influence on enterprise growth among handicraft enterprises in Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Kariuki, P. W.
    Digitalization has become an important component for the survival and growth of organisations and this become even more visible following the COVID-19 pandemic. The anecdotal evidence indicates a growing trend towards digitalization of the handicraft industry but this has been documented in developed nations and Asian context and less remains reported in the context of African and Kenyan handicraft sectors. Therefore, this study investigated digitalization factors that influence growth among handicraft enterprises in Nairobi City County. It examines the extent of digitalization readiness, digitalization acceptance, and digitalization diffusion on the growth of enterprises. The research was anchored on technology readiness, technology acceptance model, and diffusion of innovation theory. The study subscribes to positivist research philosophy and implements an exploratory research design. The target population was 725 registered handicraft manufacturing MSMEs in the Nairobi region from which a sample of 257 owner/managers were recruited into the sample size. A structured questionnaire was designed using close- ended items (background information) and Likert scale (variable information). Descriptive, correlation, and linear regression analysis was done and captured in tables supported by implications and interpretations. The results indicated digitalization (digital readiness, digital acceptance, and digital diffusion) explained 51.1% of variation on growth of handicraft enterprises. Further, digital diffusion, digital readiness, and digital acceptance respectively had a positive and significant effect on growth of handicraft enterprises. The study concludes that digital diffusion is the most important component of achieving digitalization in the handicraft sector. Therefore, the study recommends for knowledge transfer activities supported by higher education institutions as important for MSMEs to achieve digital readiness. Keywords: digitalization, readiness, acceptance, diffusion, enterprise growth
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    Analysis of the drivers of financial performance of development financial institutions in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Katsenga, R. M.
    The Development Financial Institutions are a critical nerve Centre to the economic growth of any country. The financial performance of Development Finance Institutions in Kenya over the last twenty years has not been performing according to the stakeholder expectations. DFI’s in Kenya had failed to provide a sustainable long-term finance to the industrial sector and the agricultural sector. This was evidenced by credit being allocated on the basis of political and social concerns, lack of effective and efficient incentives to collect. Studies on these development institutions have remained scanty with those that have attempted having varying outcomes thus making it difficult to provide a guide to policy formulation in Kenya. The purpose of the study was to analyse the drivers of financial performance of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in Kenya. The driver of financial performance considered in the investigation included asset quality, management efficiency and liquidity management in Kenya. The survey made use of census approach to arrive at five Development Finance Institutions employed in the investigation. Relying on information of the financial audited reports of these institutions, the data was retrieve spanning over the period 2012/2013 to 2019/2020. Laying the theoretical foundation for the study was the theoretical postulations of the CAMEL model and the Liquidity Preference Theory. The outcomes of the investigations were reached owing to the credit accorded to the descriptive and regression techniques with the outcomes presented in tables. The outcome uncovered that asset quality is a significant and negative driver of Development Finance Institutions’ financial performance; management efficiency was unfolded as a positively and significant driver of Kenyan Development Finance Institutions financial performance; while liquidity management was reported to be a significantly positive driver of Development Finance Institutions financial performance in Kenya. Relating to the outcomes, the investigation recommended that the management of Development Financial Institutions should strengthen the means through which non-performing loans could reduce to boost the financial performance of the institutions. This can be done through critical assessment of customers’ credit worthiness to reduce the amount of loans that are non-performing in Kenya.
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    Impact of board diversity on Environmental, Social and Governance disclosure in listed companies in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Saka, N. A.
    The study undertaken focused on companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, to determine the impact of board diversity on ESG disclosure between the years 2018- 2022. In the 21st century, there has been a notable surge in sustainability concerns among governments, multinational corporations, public and private companies, as well as their stakeholders. Board plays a pivotal role in facilitating efficient disclosures as they embody firm’s values and connect with stakeholders. Using the Code of Corporate Governance, 2015 as a guide for board diversity variables, those that were assessed are; board age diversity, board gender diversity, board independence and board capabilities & skills, and the controlled variables; firm size, firm age and firm leverage. The empirical literature on board diversity and ESG disclosures has explored board diversity variables like independence, age, gender, and skills, but few studies have specifically identified the most crucial among these variables and this study aimed to fill this gap. Objectives included assessing the impact of board diversity practices on ESG disclosures, compliance levels with policies and regulations, and stakeholder perceptions. The study was pegged on the agency and resource dependency theories. The study adopted the positivist philosophy. The population comprised 60 NSE-listed companies, a descriptive research design was employed, where quantitative data collected through content analysis and the use of a questionnaire. Secondary data underwent panel regression analysis, while primary data was subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings of the study were that board gender diversity and board independence had a significant negative relationship with ESG whereas board capabilities and skills had a significant positive relationship. The following industries had a positive and significant relationship with ESG: banking industry, commercial industry and the construction industry and finally the years 2021 and 2022 had a positive significant relationship with ESG. Study findings will assist in developing more efficient policies to promote the disclosure of ESG activities of firms listed on the NSE and the encouragement of creation of awareness on ESG matters to stakeholders. By adding to existing literature on board diversity and ESG disclosure, the study will contribute to advancing discussions around ways in which the board attributes can be managed for efficient and effective disclosure.
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    The Relationship between digital financial strategies and financial performance of microfinance banks in Kenya
    (Strathmore University, 2024) Ondago, W. M.
    Microfinance banks (MFBs) in Kenya play a significant intermediary role and financial inclusion of the unbanked. Despite substantial investments in technological tools and the integration of digital channels, MFBs in Kenya have experienced mixed financial performance over the last five years. This study addresses this discrepancy by investigating the relationship of digital financial strategies and financial performance. The specific objectives were to determine the effects of bank characteristics and use of digital financial strategies, to assess the perceptions of MFBs on the role of digital financial strategies on financial performance and to establish the association of digital financial strategies and financial performance of microfinance banks. Drawing upon Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Financial Intermediation Theory, and Financial Innovation Theory, this research employs a positivist philosophical approach and a mixed research design. The target population encompasses all 14 operational microfinance banks as of December 31, 2022. Both primary and secondary data were gathered, with secondary data sourced from Annual Bank Supervision Reports and audited financial statements from 2018 to 2022. Primary data was collected through structured questionnaires distributed to employees in the Finance and ICT departments of the 14 targeted microfinance banks. Data analysis involved both descriptive analysis and inferential statistics, including OLS regression analysis to generate research findings. The study results indicate that both mobile and internet banking significantly enhances the financial performance of MFBs. However, respondents identify regulatory and supervisory challenges, legacy infrastructure constraints, budgetary limitations, and difficulties in meeting rapidly evolving consumer demands as significant obstacles to the effective implementation of digital financial strategies. In conclusion, this study establishes that total assets, earnings, and credit risk of a bank exert a positive and significant influence on the adoption of digital financial strategies in MFBs in Kenya. Additionally, mobile banking, in terms of transaction value, exhibits a positive relationship with the financial performance of MFBs. The study recommends increased regulatory support from the Central Bank of Kenya and emphasizes the need for MFBs' top management to allocate more resources towards strategies that enhance the adoption and use of digital financial services. The findings of this study hold relevance for MFBs' management, policymakers, regulators, bank customers, as well as researchers and academicians alike.