Thesis:

Analysis of total quality management strategy on organizational performance of processing firms in Kenya. a case of new KCC limited

The practice of total quality management is associated with operational performance of organizations; however, it is observed that companies in developing countries, and in particular Kenya, experience a decline in performance. In 2020, the new KCC limited recorded a loss of 150 million. In addition, more customers are complaining about the quality of the milk. The purpose of this study was an analysis of total quality management strategy on organizational performance of processing firms in Kenya. A case of New KCC limited. The specific objectives were to determine the influence of supplier management, customer focus, employee engagement, and continuous process on organizational performance. The study also examined the moderating influence of operating environment on the relationship between total quality management strategy and organizational performance. The theories of social capital, open systems, two factors, and overall quality management served as the foundation for this study. An explanatory research design was used in the study. Target population comprised of 110 members of the new KCC management team. Given the small target population, the study employed the census approach. Primary data was gathered using a questionnaire. Delivering the questionnaire, the researcher had two study partners help. The drop-and-pick method was then used. To increase the number of responses, surveys were also disseminated by email. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The research findings were calculated and analyzed using SPSS Version 22 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Diagrams and tables were used to display the results. The results of the study were anticipated to make a contribution to strategic management theory, practice, and policy. From the results, it was observed that there is a positive and also significant correlation between continuous process improvement, supplier management, customer focus, employee involvement and organizational performance. Regression analysis results also revealed a positive and significant relationship between continuous process improvement, supplier management, customer focus, employee involvement and organizational performance. Accordingly, the study came to the conclusion that employee involvement, supplier management, customer focus, and continuous process improvement all promote organizational performance. The study also concluded that operating environment will affect the effect of TQM strategies on organizational performance when they are adopted as a whole but will negatively affect the effect of each strategy when adopted alone. The study made suggestions that firms in Kenya should adopt these TQM strategies. The study also made recommendations that policy makers in government are recommended to formulate policies that will address the negative effect of the firms operating environment on the effect of TQM strategies on organizational performance.