Browsing by Author "Njeru, Phelista Wangui"

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    PublicationOpen Access
    Assessing the Relationship between Perceived Business Alertness and Business Performance
    (International Journal of Business and Commerce, 2015-05) Njeru, Phelista Wangui; Professor Bwisa, Henry M.; Kihoro, Dr. John M.
    This study was set to explore the relationship between perceived business alertness and business performance. According to Kirzner (1997) any individual having an “antenna” that permits recognition of gaps within the market is one having business alertness. These individuals have a “unique preparedness” that enables them to consistently scan the environment ready to discover new opportunities. Rate of market growth, market share, and number of products introduced to the market, rate of increase of employee, office increase and increase in sales volumes were used as performance indicators. Data was collected from 220 out of 625 entrepreneurs in the industrial area Nairobi making a sample size of 36.8 %. The measurement instrument was subjected to a reliability test using the cronbach alpha which gave a 0.8357 level of reliability and consistency. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed that business alertness of the entrepreneurs significantly increased all performance indicators.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Challenging the innovation paradigm as a means to technological advancement and economic development
    (International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 2014) Njeru, Phelista Wangui
    Knowledge Management (KM) is a concept on debate since 1990. It is the process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge in an organization. It is organizing an organizations information and knowledge for decision making and actions. Since early 1937 to 1970s, scholars have emphasized on innovation through research and development as the means and vehicle to technological development and economic development. This focus has therefore emphasized on the need for human resource packed with expertise in the relevant areas. It has also focused on huge investments to build scientific infrastructure targeting to achieve the desired results in terms of improved processes and outputs leading to better performance in the market. The focus has posted the R& D model by Polaroid, 1937, that takes innovation as a prerequisite to technological advancement and economic development. It proposes a linear outlook that follows three stages, i.e. basic research, applied research and development research. This linear model assumes that the outcomes of R&D somehow will lead to Commercialization. It is unfortunate that the investment made by organizations on R& D is not commensurate to the expected results and hence the need to review the model and incorporate a model that encompasses Knowledge Management (which include R&D ) and Creativity as a pre-requisite to Technological Advancement and Economic Development. Since the impact of R&D cannot really be measured to find out if they commensurate to the heavy costs, organization may be better of exploring the new model of knowledge management at least to save on costs.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Gender based entrepreneurial mindset and their influence on performance of small and medium manufacturing firms
    (International Journal of Business and Commerce, 2012-05) Njeru, Phelista Wangui; Prof Bwisa, Henry M.
    The recent decades has seen many women venturing in manufacturing businesses and competing alongside the male entrepreneurs. They have competitively ventured in all sectors like transport, banking, and commercial services and others. However, research has indicated that their performance in business in terms of market growth, market share, sales volumes, and employment creation among other performance indicators is far much below their male counterparts. This research explores on the gender based entrepreneurial mindset measured through innovativeness, business alertness and creativity and their influence on performance of small and medium manufacturing firms It looks in to the effects of socialization, entrepreneurial orientation and other factors that act as barriers to better performance by female entrepreneurs. The performance indicators like market share, growth, change in number of employees and sales volumes over five years period was used to measure performance. Logistic regression analysis indicated that male entrepreneurs performed better in all performance indicators than the female entrepreneurs. All stakeholders need to address the barriers by re-orienting the women entrepreneurs by setting hands on programs that will prepare them for what is really on the ground and change focus from a classroom theory to a real industrial experience.