Thesis:

Influence of supply chain strategies on service delivery in Garrisa county referral hospital, Kenya.

Effective healthcare service delivery is vital for addressing the needs of populations, especially in resource-constrained settings such as Garissa County, Kenya. The aim of this research was to investigate how supply chain strategies affect service provision at Garissa County Referral Hospital. The study’s specific goals included evaluating the impact of the lean supply chain strategy on service provision at the hospital, exploring the effect of the agile supply chain strategy on service provision, analyzing the role of the supply chain integration strategy in enhancing service provision, and examining the contribution of the supply chain resilience strategy to service provision. A descriptive research design combined with a mixed-methods approach was utilized. The study targeted a population of 217 individuals, comprising 205 healthcare providers, 6 supply chain management personnel, and 6 hospital administrators. A sample of 141 participants was determined using the Yamane formula, employing both stratified and simple random sampling methods. Data collection involved the use of questionnaires and interviews to gather both quantitative and qualitative information. A pilot study was carried out at Wajir County Referral Hospital with 14 participants, representing 10% of the sample size. Reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach’s Alpha score of 0.977, exceeding the 0.7 threshold, demonstrating strong internal consistency. Content validity was verified by university subject experts and the research supervisor through a thorough review process. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS, incorporating descriptive statistics such as frequencies, means, and standard deviations, while inferential statistics, including regression and correlation analysis, were also utilized. Qualitative data was interpreted through thematic analysis. The correlation findings indicated a robust and significant connection between the independent variables and the dependent variable of the study. The correlation results show that lean supply chain strategy (r = .871, p = .000), agile supply chain strategy (r = .903, p = .000), supply chain integration strategy (r = .875, p = .000) and supply chain resilience strategy (r = .899, p = .000) where all have strong, positive and statistically significant relationships with service delivery. The model summary showed a very strong positive correlation, indicating that supply chain strategies collectively explain a significant portion of service delivery performance. The findings revealed that the hospital exhibited weaknesses in lean implementation, limited real-time data use affecting agility, poor internal communication hindering integration and inadequate risk management reducing resilience. Qualitative insights highlighted early progress such as structured ordering schedules and initial digitization efforts. Standardizing procurement and inventory procedures to improve lean practices, adopting real-time inventory tracking to enhance agility, strengthening internal communication for better integration and developing risk management frameworks to build resilience formed major recommendations. Further studies on impact of digital supply chain technologies on operational efficiency and service delivery in public healthcare institutions and a comparative study between private and public hospitals in Kenya should be undertaken.