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Research Article
Strategic Foresight and Corporate Efficiency of Agricultural Research Institutions in Kenya: Mediating Influence of Leadership Commitment
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
44-58
Received:
24 June 2024
Accepted:
12 July 2024
Published:
23 July 2024
Abstract: In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous organizational landscape, effective leadership and management are pivotal for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. This is especially crucial in agricultural research institutions in Kenya, tasked with enhancing productivity, sustainability, and food security. These institutions must innovate to address climate change, resource scarcity, and evolving consumer demands, yet face challenges in maintaining corporate efficiency. With global population growth and increasing food demand, there is urgency for these institutions to enhance strategic foresight and corporate efficiency. However, the impact of strategic foresight and leadership commitment on efficiency remains underexplored in Kenya's agricultural research sector. This study aimed to investigate the influence of strategic foresight on corporate efficiency and to explore how leadership commitment mediates this relationship. Utilizing a mixed methods approach—cross-sectional surveys for quantitative data and interpretive phenomenological analysis for qualitative insights—data were gathered from key segments of Kenyan agricultural research institutions. Statistical analyses, including regression and mediation analysis, were employed to test hypotheses and uncover relationships among strategic foresight, leadership commitment, and corporate efficiency. Results showed that the study achieved a robust response rate, ensuring reliable findings with strong internal consistency. Leadership in agricultural research institutes skewed male, revealing gender disparities. Age significantly influenced corporate efficiency, emphasizing strategic foresight's role. Concerns arose over short leader tenures and institutional memory loss. Supervisory roles correlated positively with corporate efficiency, consistent with prior research. Pearson's correlations showed significant relationships among corporate efficiency, strategic foresight, and leadership commitment. Structural equation modeling confirmed significant relationships, with leadership commitment partially mediating the relationship between strategic foresight and corporate efficiency. Management boards were pivotal in strategic activities and policy coordination. Despite policy alignment challenges in organizations, government support for policy enactment received positive feedback. The study recommended expansions into resource mobilization, patenting, and policy revisions aligning with digital agriculture trends. Effective governance, supportive policies, and strategic implementation were crucial for advancing agricultural research and development.
Abstract: In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous organizational landscape, effective leadership and management are pivotal for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. This is especially crucial in agricultural research institutions in Kenya, tasked with enhancing productivity, sustainability, and food security. These institutions mus...
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Research Article
Factors That Affect the Success of Consumer Cooperatives in Case of Bench Sheko, West Omo and Sheka Zones Ethiopia
Sitotaw Wodajo*
,
Worku Haile
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
59-68
Received:
5 April 2024
Accepted:
6 May 2024
Published:
29 July 2024
Abstract: The study aimed to identify external challenges that influence the success of consumer cooperatives in the case of southwest Ethiopia. An explanatory type of research design method was applied. The study was focused on seventeen (17) selected active consumer cooperatives in southwest Ethiopia. A three-stage random sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of the sample respondents. In stage one, seven woredas were selected from each zone proportionately. In stage two, from those woredas 17 sample consumer cooperatives were selected. Finally, 385 samples of respondents were selected by simple random method. Political, Technology, Management, Bureaucracy, Marketing, Finance and Infrastructure influence were selected as independent factors. Successes of consumer cooperatives were identified as the dependent variable for this study. The finding reveals variables like politics, management, marketing and finance are important factors that affect significantly the target variables. Factor bureaucracy had no significant influence on dependent variables. The study suggests giving special attention given on problems like lack of marketing and finance access shortage, lagging technological advances and political interference. Therefore, Bench Sheko, Sheka and West Omo zones should solve these challenges.
Abstract: The study aimed to identify external challenges that influence the success of consumer cooperatives in the case of southwest Ethiopia. An explanatory type of research design method was applied. The study was focused on seventeen (17) selected active consumer cooperatives in southwest Ethiopia. A three-stage random sampling procedure was adopted for...
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Research Article
Research on the Influence of Business English Proficiency on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Under the Perspective of Resource-Based Theory
Pan Junyi*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
69-78
Received:
10 July 2024
Accepted:
20 August 2024
Published:
30 August 2024
Abstract: In the globalized world arena, enterprises have to meet higher standard for showcasing their strength, as well as communicating with other enterprises from different cultural background. The business English ability, as one of the means of intercultural business communication, puts forward higher requirements and has become has become one of the important indexes to measure the international competitiveness of enterprises. Therefore, high proficiency in business is needed. We examines the impact of business English proficiency on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the perspective of resource-based theory. By using a quantitative research methodology, we could clearly recognized the impact of business English proficiency on enterprise competitiveness. The results of the study show that business English proficiency is a key resource for SMEs to enhance their market competitiveness, and there is a significant positive correlation with the market orientation, innovation ability and strategic flexibility of enterprises. As an intangible resource, business English proficiency significantly enhances the market performance, financial performance and operational efficiency of enterprises by increasing their market sensitivity, promoting knowledge innovation and enhancing the flexibility of strategic adjustment. In addition, the study finds that the role of business English proficiency varies across industries and sizes of firms, with smaller firms and highly internationalized industries benefiting more significantly. This study provides important theoretical and practical guidance for the development of SMEs in the context of globalization.
Abstract: In the globalized world arena, enterprises have to meet higher standard for showcasing their strength, as well as communicating with other enterprises from different cultural background. The business English ability, as one of the means of intercultural business communication, puts forward higher requirements and has become has become one of the im...
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Research Article
Moderating Effect of Strategic Linkages on Corporate Leadership and Organizational Performance in Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
79-96
Received:
30 July 2024
Accepted:
27 August 2024
Published:
11 September 2024
Abstract: The urgency of securing safe, affordable, reliable, and nutritious food amid a growing global population and shrinking land productivity underscores the pivotal role of corporate leadership in fostering strategic partnerships and organizational performance. This is crucial for organizations like Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) to enhance performance and drive agricultural innovation that ensure achievement of national targets and mandate. Understanding the dynamics between leadership effectiveness, strategic alliances, and organizational performance is essential for addressing food security challenges and optimizing the impact of agricultural research institutions worldwide. The projected 27% increase in global population by 2050 emphasizes the need for strong corporate leadership and strategic partnerships to ensure balanced diets for over half a billion smallholder farmers. Despite Kenya's higher productivity than East Africa and Africa averages, challenges remain in enhancing food security through effective leadership and strategic alliances, particularly within institutions like KALRO. The study explored the moderating influence of strategic linkages on the relationship between corporate leadership and the performance of KALRO. Rooted in organizational excellence, upper echelons, legitimacy, and stakeholder theories, the research employed a pragmatic philosophy, and mixed methods design to mitigate bias. The target population included 75 management organs, with 60 directors and 188 top leadership units as units of observation. Quantitative analysis, using a composite regression model and ANOVA, revealed a significant impact of strategic linkages on corporate leadership and KALRO's performance. The study verified consistent variances and normality across variables, supporting parametric analyses. Autocorrelation analysis indicated no significant autocorrelation. Multicollinearity tests showed acceptable values, ensuring the reliability of the regression model. No outliers were detected. Cronbach's alpha scores demonstrated strong internal reliability. Significant correlations confirmed associations between variables, aligning with previous research findings. Strategic linkages emerged as enhanced moderator, explaining 69.4% of the variance. In this case, the moderator variable amplified or strengthened the relationship between corporate leadership and organizational performance of KALRO. Rejecting the null hypothesis highlighted the positive impact of strategic linkages on performance. Conditional effects analysis revealed strong corporate leadership influence at low strategic linkages but diminishing at higher levels. Recommendations encompassed gender diversity, inclusive leadership development, regular performance appraisals, enhanced monitoring and evaluation system, and improved linkages. The findings provide valuable guidance for KALRO's leadership amid competing priorities and budgetary constraints.
Abstract: The urgency of securing safe, affordable, reliable, and nutritious food amid a growing global population and shrinking land productivity underscores the pivotal role of corporate leadership in fostering strategic partnerships and organizational performance. This is crucial for organizations like Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organizatio...
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Research Article
Transparency as a Determinant of Financial Performance in State-Owned Commercial Enterprises in Kenya
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
97-106
Received:
22 August 2024
Accepted:
2 September 2024
Published:
18 September 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.jbed.20240903.15
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Views:
Abstract: State-owned commercial enterprises (SOCEs) in Kenya register below-par output in fiscal standards. Many explanations have been proffered for this state of affairs, including competition and fluctuations in the local and global economies. Additionally, it is important to examine how factors internal to these enterprises shape their financial performance. As such, this study aimed to examine the role of transparency as a corporate governance strategy in the fiscal output of state-owned commercial enterprises as anchored by legitimacy theory. Further, the study adopted explanatory research design. It targeted 476 board members and 379 corporate executives from 46 SOCEs in Kenya. The sample size was 295, consisting of 142 corporate executives and 153 board members, who were selected via stratified random sampling. To collect primary data, a questionnaire and document analysis were deployed. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Test for relationship between variables was done using covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM) along with Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) software. The study results revealed that transparency (estimate = 1.946, critical ratio = 3.676, p < 0.001) positively and significantly influenced the financial performance of SOCEs. It was thus deduced that transparency was a determinant of SOCEs’ fiscal output in Kenya. Therefore, SOCEs should deploy centralized real-time monitoring of financial performance through dashboards, build data management capacities and adopt business intelligence and data analytics technologies that allow for data driven and intelligence-based decision-making by the SOCEs’ board and corporate executives.
Abstract: State-owned commercial enterprises (SOCEs) in Kenya register below-par output in fiscal standards. Many explanations have been proffered for this state of affairs, including competition and fluctuations in the local and global economies. Additionally, it is important to examine how factors internal to these enterprises shape their financial perform...
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