| 1 |
Author(s):
Fredrick Githui, Margaret Oloko (Prof.), Jane Njuru (Ph.D.), Caroline Ntara (Ph.D.).
Page No : 1-18
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Modernization Strategy and Performance of Government Commercial Institutions in Kenya.
Abstract
Kenya government commercial institutions are operating in a more intricate and competitive environment that requires adaptability, creativity, and strategic modernization. This study takes into account the intersection of modernization efforts and performance of government commercial institutions with focus on how organizational performance is influenced by improvements in technology, digitization, and business process engineering. The research aims to evaluate if modernization as an element of turnaround strategy contributes to operational efficiency, improved delivery of services, and institution sustainability. Using a descriptive survey design, the study targeted a population of 34 government-owned commercial entities in Kenya. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression modeling via SPSS. Post-positivist philosophy and quantitative orientation were adopted by the research to allow for replicability and objectivity of findings. The results showed that modernization exerts a significant influence on organizational performance when implemented with strategic fit and adequate resource support. Specifically, in-house business process automation, digital innovation, and infrastructure improvements were established to streamline operations and reduce redundancies in operations. However, the study also established that targeted modernization initiatives lacking strategic integration or launched in the absence of good change management frameworks are likely to yield little in terms of performance improvement. Furthermore, environmental factors and political factors were established to have the role of moderators between the performance-modernization approach relationship, thereby emphasizing the need for enabling policy and regulatory environments. The study concludes that modernization is not just a technical or technological process but also a strategic imperative for public sector organizations to enhance performance and remain pertinent in an increasingly dynamic economic landscape. It recommends modernization to be institutionalized as an ongoing practice supported by leadership, capacity building, and continuous monitoring.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Deinibiteim Monimah Harry (Ph.D.).
Page No : 19-30
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Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria: The Imperative for Enhanced Digital Skills Development.
Abstract
The study examined the role of entrepreneurship in youth empowerment in Nigeria, particularly focusing on the imperative for a well-developed digital skills development system. Available statistics show that Nigerian youths are faced with huge problem of unemployment and poverty due to lack of or inadequate employability skills, as the schools in the country are not imparting skills that are relevant substantially in the global labour market to enhance their graduates’ global competitiveness. Consequently, out of the 160 million youth in the country, 53.4 percent are unemployed representing more than half of the youth population. Thus, the main objective of the study is to demonstrate that provision of enhanced digital skills for youths will help address the unemployment (and poverty) challenge among youth in the country. This is because such digital skills have the potentials of enhancing the ability of the youth to establish e-businesses. Obviously, the Nigerian state would be the major beneficiary if the youth digital skills development is given the attention it deserves. The study relied mainly on secondary data and analysed that data using content analysis. The study revealed that youth unemployment is a product of mismatch in skills and over dependence on the oil sector, which creates very limited job opportunities. Previous efforts at youth empowerment have failed to produce desired result because of policy disarticulation, which are not in consonance with the socio-political and environmental realities. Hence, it is the conclusion of this paper that, increased youth population is a blessing to the country, however, to achieve the blessings higher youth population bring deliberate and strategic efforts must be made to invest in youth digital skills development. The paper recommends, among other things that, investments in youth empowerment should be intentional and calculative towards reducing the huge youth unemployment, and efforts at job creation should be strategically directed towards youth digital skills development. This would enable massive youth participation in the global digital economy and create the must needed job and alleviate poverty in the country.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Ajoku A. Solomon (Ph.D.), Wagbara, O. Sampson (Ph.D.), Nnokam F. Anjuru (Ph.D.).
Page No : 31-44
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Business Management Strategies for Sustainability of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises in Public Universities in South-South, Nigeria.
Abstract
This study investigated business management strategies for sustainability of small and medium-scale enterprises in public universities in South-South, Nigeria. Two specific objectives questions translated into two research questions and were used to formulate to hypotheses to guide the study. Descriptive survey research was adopted for this study. The study population consisted of 1,137 business education final-year students in public universities in South-South Nigeria. The sample size consisted of 400 business education final-year students. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The research instrument was content validated by two experts, one in the Department of Business Education and one in Measurement and Evaluation, all in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. Cronbach alpha reliability method yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.84 was used to test the instrument. Out of 400 copies of the questionnaire given to business education final year students, 390 copies were properly filled and return. This constituted approximately 96% return rate. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer research question, while the hypotheses were tested using independent t-test at the 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that to a high extent business evaluation strategy and customer relationship management strategy are required by business education students for the sustainability of small and medium-scale enterprises in public universities in South-South, Nigeria. The findings also revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean responses of business education students on the extent to which business evaluation strategy and customer relationship strategy are required by business education students for the sustainability of small and medium-scale enterprises in public universities in South-South, Nigeria. Based on the findings and conclusion drawn, it was recommended among others that Business education curriculum planners should provide for content capable of ensuring that business education lecturers should help their students to acquire knowledge and skills for the development of business evaluation strategy capable of enabling them sustain businesses at the small and medium scale after graduation from public universities in South-South, Nigeria.
