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Evaluating the relationship between digitalization and public service delivery in public universities, a case of Puntland State University, somalia
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-10-24) Salah,YusufIbrahim; Dr. Ruthwinnie Munene
Digitalization has undergone significant evolution, transitioning from a role of
administrative support to becoming a strategic force within organizations. It now
impacts governance and education, fostering innovation. By adopting digital
practices, universities can break physical boundaries, engage with a global student
base, and position themselves as international education providers. Digitalization
has notably enhanced service efficiency in public universities. This study focused on
assessing how digitalization affects the delivery of services at Puntland State
University in Puntland, Somalia. It aimed to investigate the resources currently
utilized in digital programs and their effectiveness in enhancing service delivery at
public universities in Puntland. Additionally, the research evaluated the availability
and impact of digital services for students at Puntland State University. It further
explored the degree of change digitalization has introduced at the university and
identified the challenges faced in implementing digital services. The study employed
a case study approach centered on Puntland State University, involving 61,946
students, 10 department heads, and 5 digital department officers, selecting 221
individuals as respondents. Data were gathered through questionnaires and analyzed
using a descriptive survey approach. Statistical evaluations were performed with
SPSS, applying both descriptive and inferential statistics, and results were displayed
via means, tables, frequency distributions, and percentages. The findings showed a
moderate positive correlation between the quality of resources and service delivery
in Puntland's public universities, with a correlation coefficient of 0.476 (p < 0.05).
Likewise, digital services and service delivery exhibited a moderate positive
significant correlation, with a correlation coefficient of 0.458 (p < 0.05). The degree
of digitalization was also found to have a moderate positive correlation with service
delivery, as indicated by a correlation coefficient of 0.485 (p < 0.05). Furthermore,
the research found a moderate positive significant correlation between the
challenges associated with digitalization and service delivery, showing a correlation
coefficient of 0.479 (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the four independent
variables—resource status, access to digitized services, digitalization level, and
digitalization challenges—accounted for 78.6% of the variation in service delivery
at Puntland's public universities in Somalia. The other 21.4% of the variance was
due to additional factors. Drawing from the findings, the researcher suggested
boosting the provision of digital resources, improving student access to digitized
services, broadening the scope of digitalization to enhance service delivery, and
tackling digitalization challenges at Puntland State University. It was also
recommended that future studies should concentrate on the obstacles of
digitalization and explore strategies to overcome them to further enhance service
delivery at public universities in Puntland State University
Influence of strategic agility on competitive advantage among the healthcare NGOS in Mandera County Kenya
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-10-29) Issack,Yunis Sheikh; Maria,Mungara
Strategic agility is critical for organizations operating in dynamic and unpredictable
environments. The study examines the influence of strategic agility on the competitive
advantage of healthcare non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Mandera County,
Kenya. The purpose of this study is to investigate how strategic agility impacts the
competitive positioning of healthcare NGOs in this region. The specific objectives are to
determine the effect of process flexibility on competitive advantage, to examine the effect
of cost leadership on competitive advantage, to establish the effect of innovation on
competitive advantage, and to determine the effect of service reliability on competitive
advantage. This study is significant as it provides insights into how healthcare NGOs can
leverage strategic agility to enhance service delivery and sustain their operations in a
challenging environment. The study utilizes the Dynamic Capabilities Theory and the
Resource-Based View to frame its analysis. A descriptive survey design is employed,
targeting 70 key personnel from 10 healthcare NGOs in Mandera County, including NGO
managers, program coordinators, and healthcare providers. A census sampling method is
used, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the target population. Data will be collected
using semi-structured questionnaires, piloted in a nearby county to ensure validity and
reliability. Data analysis will involve both descriptive and inferential statistics, using
SPSS software to determine the relationships between the variables. This study explores
the influence of strategic agility on competitive advantage among healthcare NGOs in
Mandera County, Kenya, focusing on flexibility, cost leadership, innovation, and service
reliability. With a high response rate of 92.86%, the findings reveal several key insights.
Flexibility, particularly through adaptable staffing and reconfigurable workflows,
showed a moderate positive correlation with competitive advantage (r = 0.682),
enhancing responsiveness to shifting healthcare demands. Cost leadership emerged as
essential, with significant positive effects (B = 0.451, p < 0.002), underscoring the
importance of cost-saving measures and competitive pricing in maintaining affordability
and operational sustainability. Innovation was similarly impactful, with a strong positive
correlation to competitive advantage (r = 0.759) and significant predictive value (B =
0.392, p < 0.013), highlighting the value of technological investments and creative
problem-solving. Most notably, service reliability emerged as the strongest predictor,
with a robust positive correlation (r = 0.814) and substantial impact on competitive
advantage (B = 0.467, p < 0.001), underscoring the critical role of trust and client
retention. The study concludes that healthcare NGOs can enhance their competitive edge
by prioritizing service reliability, adopting cost-effective strategies, and fostering a
culture of continuous innovation. Although flexibility showed slightly lower
significance, it remains crucial in the dynamic healthcare landscape. Recommendations
include promoting versatile staffing, rigorous cost management, strategic innovation
investments, and quality assurance mechanisms to strengthen service reliability. Future
research could investigate the long-term impact of these strategies on healthcare NGOs
across diverse contexts, offering broader insights into sustaining competitive advantage
in resource-constrained settings
An investigation on the influence of corporate governance on financial performance of insurance sector in Kenya
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-11-14) Abdigey,Yasir Abdow; Dr.Isaack Abuga
A decline in performance has been seen by Kenyan insurance businesses despite the
implementation of new regulations on corporate governance. The study's overarching goal
was to ascertain how different standards of corporate governance affected the bottom lines
of Kenyan insurance firms. The study's three main objectives were to(1) examine the
connection between board composition,(2) examine the function of risk management in
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influencing financial performance, and(3) examine the impacts of transparency on the
financial performance of insurance companies in Kenya. Important to this inquiry were the
concepts of agency, responsibility, and signaling. This study used a descriptive survey
design to validate, elucidate, and contextualize the results. Among the 49 insurance
companies in Nairobi City County, this study aimed to contact 10,000 department heads.
The survey included 282 people in all. Secondary data was culled from audited and
registered financial accounts as well as annual reports of insurance companies in Kenya,
whilst primary data was derived via questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics was
used to examine the quantitative data, and content analysis to sift through the qualitative
data. This research used multiple regression analysis to ascertain the factors impacting the
profitability of insurance firms in Kenya. The findings show that risk management does not
have any statistical significance as a predictor variable at the 95% confidence level (P =
0.863). A coefficient of -0.03 was found for risk management. The transparency predictor
variable did not show statistical significance (P = 0.623), hence the conclusion cannot be
drawn. A transparency coefficient of +0.075 was determined from the results. There was a
statistically significant relationship between board participation and the outcome (P=0.019,
95% CI). We found that the board composition coefficient was +0.353. Findings from the
research suggest that insurance industry strategists and legislators should prioritise board
composition factors when deciding on corporate governance norms. Insurance business
executives might increase profits by focusing less on transparency and more on other
corporate governance rules and practices. Even while risk management should be a
fundamental component of every company's governance framework, the data shows that
insurance firms put too much weight on it. The study concludes that since risk management
lowers financial performance, it follows that insurance companies in Kenya would see a
drop in their bottom line as a result of heightened risk management. Even if there is a slight
positive link between openness and performance, insurance firms in Kenya would not see a
considerable improvement in their results. Board composition has a favorable effect, and
hence, insurance businesses' financial performance will improve after a board composition
change. The research recommends that insurance company policymakers and strategists
should prioritize board composition factors when deciding on corporate governance
practices. The study's recommends that insurance company management to shift their
attention from transparency to other corporate governance regulations and practices that
might boost their bottom lines.
Influence of social economic determinants on implementation of public policy in Kenya: a case of Meru County
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-11-11) Nderitu, William; Dr. Nyariki, Kennedy
Effective implementation of public policies remains a significant challenge, particularly
in developing countries like Kenya, where socioeconomic determinants can profoundly
influence policy outcomes. Meru County, being one of the counties in Kenya, is no
exception. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of socioeconomic
determinants on the successful implementation of public policies in Meru County,
Kenya. The study will be guided by the following objectives: to assess the influence of
resource allocation on the implementation of evaluate in Meru County, Kenya, to
investigate the influence of public participation on the implementation of public policy
in Meru County, Kenya, to evaluate the influence of stakeholders' literacy on the
implementation of public policy in Meru County, Kenya, and to evaluate the influence
of community income levels on the implementation of public policy in Meru County,
Kenya. The study is grounded in the resource dependence theory and the resource-based
view theory, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding the study variables:
The resource availability, capability, and policy implementation. The study is delimited
within Meru County, covering the 45 wards forming Meru County. The study employs a
descriptive cross-sectional survey design using a mixed-mode approach, combining
qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, with data collected using self administered open-ended questionnaires and key informant interview guides. The study
will target members of the county assembly and ward administrators as key respondents,
while county executives and assembly heads will be targeted as key informants. The total
target population will be 102 respondents. A pilot study will be carried out in the
neighboring county of Tharaka Nithi, targeting 10% of the sample population. Data will
be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Finally, the study is designed to
observe the highest level of integrity and observe ethical issues throughout the process.
The study's findings confirm that resource allocation remains a significant challenge in
Meru County, consistent with the broader literature that underscores the critical
importance of adequate and effectively distributed resources for successful policy
implementation. While stakeholders in Meru County have some access to necessary
information (mean score of 3.3168), their social capital, knowledge, attitudes, and
interpretive skills are notably insufficient, with mean scores of 2.3861, 2.0693, and
2.3267, respectively. The study concluded that inadequate resource allocation
significantly impedes the effective implementation of public policies in Meru County.
The insufficient financial and human resources, coupled with ineffective mechanisms for
mobilizing and distributing resources, hindered the execution of policy initiatives. To
improve policy implementation, there is a critical need for better allocation of financial
and human resources and more efficient resource mobilization strategies. The study
recommended that Meru County should develop and implement a comprehensive
resource allocation framework. This framework should aim to ensure an equitable
distribution of both financial and human resources across various policy initiatives. It
should also focus on enhancing the effectiveness of resource implementation strategies to
improve overall policy implementation efficiency
Influence of crisis mitigation strategies on performance of tana river county in Kenya
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-04-02) Dakar, Wehliye Ahmed; Dr. Gathiru, Martin Kimemia
Kenyan counties have faced significant challenges due to inadequate crisis mitigation strategies,
particularly in managing natural disasters and health crises. The absence of effective early warning
systems and preparedness plans in some counties has resulted in delayed responses to drought
conditions, worsening food insecurity and water scarcity issues. Similarly, the COVID-19
pandemic highlighted deficiencies in health crisis mitigation strategies across Kenyan counties. A
KNBS Report disclosed that over 50% of county governments in Kenya struggled in the first half
of 2020 due to the considerable crisis triggered by the emergence of COVID-19. Consequently,
this study investigated the effect of crisis mitigation strategies on the performance of Tana River
County in Kenya. The study aimed to determine the influence of confrontation mitigation
strategies, containment strategies, cooperation, and preventive strategies on the performance of the
Tana River County Government. The study was underpinned by four theories: conflict resolution
theory, social capital theory, situational crisis communication theory and contingency theory. A
descriptive survey design was employed, targeting 136 respondents. The research integrated both
quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Qualitative data was gathered through
interview and was presented in prose. Quantitative data, obtained through closed-ended questions,
was organized, coded, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while inferential statistics explored relationships of the
variables. The study found that confrontation mitigation strategies are positively and significantly
related to the performance of Tana River County government (β=0.128, p=0.018). Cooperation
mitigation strategies also demonstrate a positive and significant relationship with performance
(β=0.334, p=0.000). Similarly, containment mitigation strategies display a positive and significant
relationship with performance (β=0.196, p=0.002). Finally, preventive mitigation strategies exhibit
a positive and significant relationship with performance (β=0.286, p=0.000). The study concludes
that all four mitigation strategies examined (confrontation, cooperation, containment, and
preventive) had positive and significant relationships with performance of Tana River County
government. The study recommends that the county government should strengthen its
confrontation strategies by establishing rapid response teams, ensuring resource availability, and
designing effective communication channels to address crises proactively. Additionally, the study
recommends prioritizing cooperation strategies through stakeholder consultation, pre-planned
crisis management frameworks, media cooperation, and joint social media updates to leverage
collective expertise. Robust containment strategies, such as limiting crisis scope, providing
alternative workplaces, enforcing social distancing, and managing expectations, are recommended
to prevent escalation and minimize negative consequences. Furthermore, comprehensive
preventive strategies, including clear policies, early detection systems, focused crisis plans, and
enhanced risk management skills, are recommended to enhance crisis preparedness, reduce
likelihood of crises, minimize disruptions, and improve overall stability and performance.
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