Research Article
Strategic Foresight and Corporate Efficiency of Agricultural Research Institutions in Kenya: Mediating Influence of Leadership Commitment
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
44-58
Received:
24 June 2024
Accepted:
12 July 2024
Published:
23 July 2024
Abstract: In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous organizational landscape, effective leadership and management are pivotal for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. This is especially crucial in agricultural research institutions in Kenya, tasked with enhancing productivity, sustainability, and food security. These institutions must innovate to address climate change, resource scarcity, and evolving consumer demands, yet face challenges in maintaining corporate efficiency. With global population growth and increasing food demand, there is urgency for these institutions to enhance strategic foresight and corporate efficiency. However, the impact of strategic foresight and leadership commitment on efficiency remains underexplored in Kenya's agricultural research sector. This study aimed to investigate the influence of strategic foresight on corporate efficiency and to explore how leadership commitment mediates this relationship. Utilizing a mixed methods approach—cross-sectional surveys for quantitative data and interpretive phenomenological analysis for qualitative insights—data were gathered from key segments of Kenyan agricultural research institutions. Statistical analyses, including regression and mediation analysis, were employed to test hypotheses and uncover relationships among strategic foresight, leadership commitment, and corporate efficiency. Results showed that the study achieved a robust response rate, ensuring reliable findings with strong internal consistency. Leadership in agricultural research institutes skewed male, revealing gender disparities. Age significantly influenced corporate efficiency, emphasizing strategic foresight's role. Concerns arose over short leader tenures and institutional memory loss. Supervisory roles correlated positively with corporate efficiency, consistent with prior research. Pearson's correlations showed significant relationships among corporate efficiency, strategic foresight, and leadership commitment. Structural equation modeling confirmed significant relationships, with leadership commitment partially mediating the relationship between strategic foresight and corporate efficiency. Management boards were pivotal in strategic activities and policy coordination. Despite policy alignment challenges in organizations, government support for policy enactment received positive feedback. The study recommended expansions into resource mobilization, patenting, and policy revisions aligning with digital agriculture trends. Effective governance, supportive policies, and strategic implementation were crucial for advancing agricultural research and development.
Abstract: In today's volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous organizational landscape, effective leadership and management are pivotal for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities. This is especially crucial in agricultural research institutions in Kenya, tasked with enhancing productivity, sustainability, and food security. These institutions mus...
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Research Article
Factors That Affect the Success of Consumer Cooperatives in Case of Bench Sheko, West Omo and Sheka Zones Ethiopia
Sitotaw Wodajo*
,
Worku Haile
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
59-68
Received:
5 April 2024
Accepted:
6 May 2024
Published:
29 July 2024
Abstract: The study aimed to identify external challenges that influence the success of consumer cooperatives in the case of southwest Ethiopia. An explanatory type of research design method was applied. The study was focused on seventeen (17) selected active consumer cooperatives in southwest Ethiopia. A three-stage random sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of the sample respondents. In stage one, seven woredas were selected from each zone proportionately. In stage two, from those woredas 17 sample consumer cooperatives were selected. Finally, 385 samples of respondents were selected by simple random method. Political, Technology, Management, Bureaucracy, Marketing, Finance and Infrastructure influence were selected as independent factors. Successes of consumer cooperatives were identified as the dependent variable for this study. The finding reveals variables like politics, management, marketing and finance are important factors that affect significantly the target variables. Factor bureaucracy had no significant influence on dependent variables. The study suggests giving special attention given on problems like lack of marketing and finance access shortage, lagging technological advances and political interference. Therefore, Bench Sheko, Sheka and West Omo zones should solve these challenges.
Abstract: The study aimed to identify external challenges that influence the success of consumer cooperatives in the case of southwest Ethiopia. An explanatory type of research design method was applied. The study was focused on seventeen (17) selected active consumer cooperatives in southwest Ethiopia. A three-stage random sampling procedure was adopted for...
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Research Article
Research on the Influence of Business English Proficiency on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Under the Perspective of Resource-Based Theory
Pan Junyi*
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 3, September 2024
Pages:
69-78
Received:
10 July 2024
Accepted:
20 August 2024
Published:
30 August 2024
Abstract: In the globalized world arena, enterprises have to meet higher standard for showcasing their strength, as well as communicating with other enterprises from different cultural background. The business English ability, as one of the means of intercultural business communication, puts forward higher requirements and has become has become one of the important indexes to measure the international competitiveness of enterprises. Therefore, high proficiency in business is needed. We examines the impact of business English proficiency on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the perspective of resource-based theory. By using a quantitative research methodology, we could clearly recognized the impact of business English proficiency on enterprise competitiveness. The results of the study show that business English proficiency is a key resource for SMEs to enhance their market competitiveness, and there is a significant positive correlation with the market orientation, innovation ability and strategic flexibility of enterprises. As an intangible resource, business English proficiency significantly enhances the market performance, financial performance and operational efficiency of enterprises by increasing their market sensitivity, promoting knowledge innovation and enhancing the flexibility of strategic adjustment. In addition, the study finds that the role of business English proficiency varies across industries and sizes of firms, with smaller firms and highly internationalized industries benefiting more significantly. This study provides important theoretical and practical guidance for the development of SMEs in the context of globalization.
Abstract: In the globalized world arena, enterprises have to meet higher standard for showcasing their strength, as well as communicating with other enterprises from different cultural background. The business English ability, as one of the means of intercultural business communication, puts forward higher requirements and has become has become one of the im...
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