The Effects of The External Environment On Internal Management Strategies Within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kenyan Case
The Effects of The External Environment On Internal Management Strategies Within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kenyan Case
The Effects of The External Environment On Internal Management Strategies Within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Kenyan Case
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The Effects of the External Environment on Internal Management Strategies within Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Kenyan Case
W L Njanja School of Business, Kabarak University (ex student, UNISA) Nakuru-Eldama Ravine Highway Private Bag - 20157 KABARAK, Kenya E-mail: lnjanja@kabarak.ac.ke Martin Ogutu Department of Business Administration University of Nairobi, Kenya E-mail: Ogutum@uonbi.ac.ke Rene Pellisier Department of Business Management, University of South Africa Pretoria, South Africa E-mail: Pellir@unisa.ac.za Received: August 4, 2011 doi:10.5539/ijbm.v7n3p194 Accepted: October 19, 2011 Published: February 1, 2012
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v7n3p194
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an example of an opportunity for an organisation (Maxwell, Rankine & Macvicar 2007, Pearce & Robinson 2007:126-127). Improved technologies, such as transportation and communications, have enabled companies to expand into global or worldwide markets. Globalization affects how organisations are managed. Managers must learn to deal effectively with multiple cultures and political systems in the midst of rapidly changing markets and technology. They must be able to anticipate this changing environment and develop the vision and competencies at all levels in their organisations to embrace this dynamic future (Njanja, 2009:10). The move towards economic liberalization proposed in the late 1980s and 1990s in Kenya was aimed at reducing distortions in the economy; deregulation of markets has had adverse impact on MSEs (Sessional Paper No. 2, 2005). The effects include increased macro-economic instability characterized by high inflation rate, current account deficits and policy uncertainty. While the effects have been harmful to all private enterprises, the MSMEs have been particularly hurt given their small size, and because they have fewer options to ride over instabilities. Secondly, the country has had a highly turbulent political environment in addition to the global economic recession. Clearly, no business large or small operates in a vacuum. All businesses operate within an environment and are also subject to unique internal environs. The objective of this research was to find the impact of the external environment on management strategies. 2. Research Methodology
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3. Literature Review
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Many MSMEs have a very local flavour to them and they do not see the need for connectivity. They address the needs of a very local market and do not recognize any need for expanding their current operations technologically. These businesses do know that adapting new technologies will further benefit their current business model because most of their businesses are done within a small community and their customers rely fully on them for service and product guarantee. Some small business owners or managers are reluctant to enter the technology scene because they are uncertain of the security and privacy concerns that are almost certain to occur. For such business owners, the idea of e-commerce in any shape is too risky for their business. The idea of Internet related business activities or electronic data is not a necessary thing but something to be avoided at all costs. Other issues relate to the lack of IT professionals, because technology industry seems to be so complicated, there are many companies who do not engage in new technologies due to lack of the expertise on their staff to handle the potential problems that might arise. Mihyo (1994) posits that budget for the technology as seen to be quite expensive and also lack of proper infrastructure (incompatibility between the old and new technology). Available technologies for SMEs are Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a computer network, over a data network like the Internet (Chandler, 2005:32-68). The major benefit of VoIP is that it takes what would otherwise be a long distance call and makes it a local call. The reduction in cell phone bills alone for one company can make up for the costs of implementation. There are several different technologies that fall under the category of data protection. For those networks that are linked both internally and externally, a firewall is necessary to keep would be hackers and pilferers out. Others are file servers (utilized by businesses that have two or more users sharing information between computers. By taking advantage of a file server, SMEs can store more information and applications on their computers, making them more efficient. Others technological solutions available are the middleware technology that has the capability of merging two systems together and integrating the data between them. This can be an old system and a new one or two new systems coming together in a business merger. Either way, the middleware software applications are relatively inexpensive compared to a complete overhauls of the two systems and require very little maintenance. Another option is for MSMES to hire a consultant who can go through its current business processes and then give suggestions as to what new technologies could benefit it the best. These consultants are usually able to set up and install whatever choices the MSMES make. A final option for MSMES who are choosing to integrate technology is outsourcing. By outsourcing its technological needs, a small business can focus more of its attention on doing what it does best rather than diverting it to another area.
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difficult for industries, especially those in manufacturing and service sectors. Lack of access to electricity has hindered technological growth for MSMEs given that most modern processes are electrical. The high cost of electricity (including high connection charges) has also been a hindrance to access to power. There is also lack of a clear policy for enhancing power supply to MSMEs. Availability of reliable water supply makes compliance with health and environmental requirements easier (Nyangito 1996). In terms of environmental conservation, small enterprises are a hazard given that over 60 percent do not have water in their premises and use open spaces, rivers and streams to dispose their waste and affluent. About 78 percent of small enterprises rely on burning or dumping for waste disposal. The infrastructure needs of these MSMEs need to be addressed in order to mitigate on this negative aspect and to increase environmental awareness among MSMEs. However, although respect for environment safety. Although MSMEs may face financial limitations in adopting pollution control systems; they need to be encouraged to adopt cleaner methods of production. Environmental factors considered here are external namely, the political/legal, economic, social-cultural, environmental factors, regulation and policy issues, and the technological issues. The influence of these factors to the firm performance is very important but it is note worthy that the management has no control over them. Nevertheless, the factors must be closely monitored to ensure that stringent measures are taken within the best time to either take advantage of the opportunities or combat the threats found in the external environment. 4. Results and Discussion The individual variables (C24- Human resource strategies, C25b Strategic management strategies, C26-Finance Management Strategies, C27- Marketing management strategies, C28- Entrepreneurial Strategies) are regressed against the external factors. These variables represent the internal management strategies. They were tested individually as the dependent variables. This concurs with objective five where the researcher sought to establish the effect of external environment on management strategies within the MSMEs. The independent variables used below were external environmental factors such as C8 (globalization factors), C29(Technological factors), C30(Macro environmental factors), C32( regulation and policy), C33(Incentives) and C34( Institutional policies). It is understood that such variables must be monitored closely though they are beyond the control of managers (Johnson and Scholes 2006). The dependent variables are the internal management factors. From table 1, the estimated regression is
Significant parameters in the equation are the constant, Opportunities in globalization (c8) C8mean, technological factors (c29). They affect the outcome of the dependent variable (Finances/Capitalization factors). Table 4 shows the regression equation is:
Several factors significantly affect the outcome of the dependent variable (Marketing management factors). These are the constant, technological factors (c29), macro economic factors (c30) and the institutional policies (c34). The regression equation from table 5 is
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The constant and the technological factors (c29) significantly affect the outcome of the dependent variables (Entrepreneurial management factors) R2 is 0.382. Thus 38.2% of the variations in the dependent variables (Technological factors) are influenced by the independent variables (external factors). Sig = 0.001 which shows the regression is significant. The regression equation is:
The constant, macroeconomic factor and institutional policies significantly affect the outcome of the dependent variable (table 6). The regression model is:
Human resources Strategic management Finance Marketing Entrepreneurial Interpersonal The human resources factor was affected very highly by the technological factors, macro environment and institutional factors. Strategic management factors were affected by globalisation and technological factors. Finance and capitalisation strategies were affected by globalisation factors and technological factors. The marketing management factors were affected by macro environmental and institutional policies. The entrepreneurial factors were affected by technological factors. The interpersonal skills were affected by globalisation and incentives policies. These internal management strategies are highly dependent on external factors. It was noted earlier in Njanja and Pellisier (2011) that there exist some integrative factors between the strategies.
5.1 Recommendation
Protective measures must be obtained to protect especially the micro and small businesses from the adverse effects of the external environment as they are most affected. Firms must maintain the right mix of practices in the areas of strategic management, human resources, marketing, interpersonal issues, entrepreneurial and others. This coupled with the nature of the firm and the management factors will ensure positive performance. The caliber of management in practice will dictate strategies undertaken to react to the environment. Managers with high analytical skills will be required to keep abreast with the ever dynamic environment. References Aduda, K., and H. Kaane. (2000). Technology policies and strategies. Andrew Mullei and A. Bokea (Eds). Micro and small enterprises in Kenya: Agenda for Improving the Policy Environment. Nairobi: ICEG Baldwin, J.R., W. Chandler, C. Le and T. Papailiadis. (1994). Strategies for Success: Catalogue No.61-523. E. Ottawa, Canada. Berger, A. (2005). Radio Frequency Identification. Interactive Marketing. London: April-June Vol. 6, Iss. 4, p. 346 Berry, A. (1996). Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) under trade and Foreign exchange liberation: Latin
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America and the Canadian experience and concerns. Canadian journal of Development Studies, XV11. 1 Bokea, C., A. Dondo and J. Mutiso (2000). Physical infrastructure. In Andrew Mullei and A. Bokea (eds). Micro and small enterprises in Kenya: Agenda for Improving the Policy Environment. Nairobi: ICEG. Carter, N.M., Candida G.B., and Greene P.C., Gatewood E.and Myra M.H. (2003). Women entrepreneurs who break through to equity financing: The influence of human, social and financial capital. Venture Capital, Vol.5, no.1pp.1-28. Chandler, C. (2005). Small Companies Gaining Big Benefits from New Communications Technology. Alaska Journal of Commerce, Vol. 29, Iss. 10, p. A3. pp. 32-68 Crook, 1992 Report Hampton Review Report. (2005). Reducing administrative burdens effective inspection and enforcement. March 2005. Harney, J. (2005). Enterprise Content Management for SMBS. AIIM E-Doc Magazine. Silver Spring: May/June, Vol.19, Iss. 3, p. 59-66. Ibrahim A and J.Goodwin. (1986). Perceived causes of success in small business. American Journal of Small Business, 11 (Fall), 41-50. Johnson G & Scholes K. (1999). Corporate strategy. London Prentice Hall. Europe. Pp. 67-78. Johnson, G & K. Scholes (1997). Exploring corporate strategy. (3rd ed). New York: Prentice Hall. Keggundu M, Jorgenson J and Hafs T. (1993). Administrative Theory and Practice in Developing Countries: A Synthesis. March 1993, pp66-4. Kimenyi, S.M., Karingi, S.N., and Ndungu, N.S. (1999). Beer taxation in Kenya: An assessment. ISBN 9966 949 09 7. McNamara, Kevin and John G. Watson. (2005). The Development of a Team-Oriented Structure in aSmall Business Enterprise. Journal of American Academy of Business. Cambridge Hollywood: March 2005. Vol. 6, Iss. 2, p, 184-190. Meyer, G.D. (2001). Major Unresolved Issues and Opportunities in Entrepreneurship Education. Coleman Foundation White Paper Series, pp. 5-26 Mihyo, B. P. (1994). Technology policy and the future of small and micro enterprises in Kenya. The Netherlands Government Mission on SED Programme. Mouton. (2005). Post graduate research. South Africa Namusonge G. (1999). Determinants of growth-oriented Small and Medium enterprises in Nairobi. Unpublished thesis, JKUAT. Namusonge G. (2004). The role of development financial institutions in acquiring of technical. capabilities by small and medium enterprises in Kenya. Unpublished Thesis. Jomo Kenyatta University College National Baseline Survey (1999). National micro and small enterprise baseline survey. Nairobi: ICEG and K-REP, pp10-217. Njanja W L & R Pellisier. (2011). The integrative effects of various management strategies in the performance of MSMES. International Business and Management, Vol.2 No.2, 2011. Njanja W L. (2009). AN investigation into management Strategies affecting performance of Micro, Small and medium Enterprises in Kenya. Unpublished thesis. University of South Africa. Nyangito, H O. (1996). Policy and legal framework for the coffee subsector and the impact of liberalization in Kenya. ISBN 9966 949 06 2. Nyangito, H. O. (1995). Policy and legal framework for the tea subsector and the impact of liberalization in Kenya. ISBN 9966 949 05 4. Pawson and Tilley. (1997). Realistic Evaluation. London: Sage Publications. Ronge E, Ndirangu L, & Nyangito H. (2002). Productive Sector Division, Kenya Institute for Public Policy, Research and Analysis, KIPPRA Discussion Paper No. 20, November 2002. Journal of Business and Entrepreneurship), 9(1), 47-58. Sessional Paper No. 2 of 2005 on Micro and Small Enterprises for wealth and Employment creation for
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poverty reduction. Kenya. Thietart et al. (2003). Doing management research. Sage Publishers, London. Table 1. The human resources strategies (C24) Model Summary R .712a ANOVA Regression Residual Total R Square .507 Adjusted R Square .488 Change Statistics Std. Error of R F the Estimate Square Change Change .450 .507 27.241 DurbinSig. F Watson Change .000 2.069
df1 6
Sum of Squares df F Sig. 33.116 6 27.241 .000 32.215 159 65.331 165 Coefficient Unstandardized Standardized Coefficients Coefficients t Sig. Std. B Beta Error (Constant) 1.080 .206 5.237 .000 Opportunities in globalization(c8) .048 .048 .070 1.012 .313 Technological factors(c29) .394 .061 .455 6.430 .000 Macroeconomic environment factors(c30) .118 .052 .156 2.294 .023 Incentive policies(c33) -.109 .067 -.139 -1.617 .108 Institutional policies(c34) .164 .072 .190 2.297 .023 Regulation and policy issues(c32) .111 .070 .132 1.591 .114 R2 is 0.507 or 50.7% of the variations in the human resources skills is determined by the external environmental factors. Sig is 0.0001, which shows the regression is significant. Table 2. C25b Strategic management factors Model Summary ANOVA Regression Residual Total Coefficient R .619a R Square .383 Adjusted R Square .360 Change Statistics Std. Error of R Square F Change df1 df2 the Estimate Change .49158 .383 16.467 6 159 Mean Sum of Squares df Square 23.875 6 3.979 38.422 159 .242 62.297 165 Standardized Coefficients t Sig. Unstandardized Coefficients DurbinSig. F Watson Change .000 1.908 F 16.467 Sig. .000
B Std. Error Beta (Constant) 1.464 .225 6.503 .000 Opportunities in .128 .052 .189 2.449 .015 globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) .348 .067 .411 5.192 .000 Macroeconomic .044 .056 .059 .776 .439 environment factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) -.045 .074 -.058 -.605 .546 Institutional policies(c34) .060 .078 .071 .772 .441 Regulation and policy .080 .076 .097 1.047 .297 issues(c32) 2 R is 0.383. Therefore 38.3% of variations in strategic management factors are determined by external variables. Sig = 0.001 which means the regression is significant.
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Table 3. C26 Finances/Capitalization factors Model Summary R .517a ANOVA Regression Residual Total Coefficients Sum of Squares 9.740 26.698 36.438 Unstandardized Coefficients B (Constant) 2.195 Std. Error .188 R
2
Change Statistics Std. Error of the R Square F Change Change Estimate .40977 .267 9.667
df 1 6
.267
t 11.69 4
Sig. .000
Opportunities in .059 .044 .113 1.342 .181 globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) .200 .056 .309 3.581 .000 Macroeconomic .059 .047 .104 1.254 .212 environment factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) .028 .061 .047 .450 .653 Institutional policies(c34) .047 .065 .073 .722 .471 Regulation and policy .008 .063 .012 .118 .906 issues(c32) 2 R = 0.267. Therefore, 26.7% of the variations in the dependent variable are determined by external factors (independent variables). Sig = 0.001 which means the regression is significant. Table 4. C27 Marketing management factors Model Summary ANOVA R .684a R Square .467 Adjusted R Square Change Statistics Std. Error of R Square F Change df1 the Estimate Change .42940 .467 23.255 6 Mean Square 4.288 .184 Unstandardized Coefficients Std. B Error 1.387 .197 .046 .046 .309 .059 Standardized Coefficients Beta F 23.2 55 Durbin-Watson Sig. F df2 Change 159 .000 2.252 Sig. .000(a)
159 165
Sig.
(Constant) 7.053 .000 Opportunities in globalization(c8) .073 1.016 .311 Technological factors(c29) .389 5.283 .000 Macroeconomic environment .119 .049 .171 2.414 .017 factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) .014 .064 .019 .215 .830 Institutional policies(c34) .164 .068 .206 2.398 .018 Regulation and policy issues(c32) -.005 .066 -.006 -.069 .945 Table 6.39 shows that R2= 0.467. This implies that 46.7% of the variations in the dependent variable (Marketing management strategies) are explained by the independent variables (external factors). Sig = 0.001, which shows the regression, is significant.
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Table 5. C28 Entrepreneurial management factors Model Summary R .652a ANOVA Regression 26.288 Residual Total Coefficients 35.624 61.912 6 159 165 4.381 .224 Standardized Coefficients Beta 8.10 7 -.033 .615 -.445 8.04 0 1.38 8 .940 -.699 .000 .657 .000 Sig. t R2 Adjusted R2 Std. Error Change Statistics of the R Square F Estimate Change Change .47334 Sum of Squares .425 df 19.555 Mean Square df1 6 Durbin-Watson df F 2 Change 15 .000 1.893 9 Sig.
.425 .403
F 19. 55 .000(a) 5
Unstandardized Coefficients Std. B Error (Constant) Opportunities in globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) 1.758 -.022 .519 .217 .050 .065
Macroeconomic environment .075 .054 .102 .167 factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) .067 .071 .087 .349 Institutional policies(c34) -.053 .075 -.063 .486 Regulation and policy -.029 .073 -.036 -.402 .688 issues(c32) R2 is 0.425 or 42.5%. Therefore, the variations in the dependent variable (Entrepreneurial management factors) are determined by the independent variables. Sig = 0.001 which shows the regression is significant. Table 6. C29 Technological factors Model Summary R
2
Adjusted R2 .362
ANOVA
.382
Coefficients
(Constant) .000 Opportunities in .004 .062 .005 .062 .951 globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) .231 .064 .263 3.608 .000 Macroeconomic environment .133 .086 .147 1.546 .124 factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) .228 .090 .228 2.519 .013 Institutional policies(c34) .128 .089 .131 1.431 .154 Regulation and policy 1.019 .253 4.027 .000 issues(c32) 2 R is 0.382. Thus 38.2% of the variations in the dependent variables (Technological factors) are influenced by the independent variables (external factors). Sig = 0.001 which shows the regression is significant.
Std. Error Change Statistics of the F df Sig. F R2 df2 Estimate Change 1 Change Change .58003 .382 19.762 5 160 Sum of Squares df Mean Square Regression 33.244 5 6.649 Residual 53.830 160 .336 Total 87.074 165 Unstandardized Standardized t Coefficients Coefficients Std. B Beta Error 1.019 .253 4.027
Sig.
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Table 7. B15.3 Interpersonal skills Model Summary Change Statistics Durbin-Watson Adjusted R Std. Error of R R R F Sig. F Square the Estimate Square df1 df2 Change Change Change .381a .145 .112 .77656 .145 4.432 6 157 .000 1.706 Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig. ANOVA Regression 16.035 6 2.672 4.432 .000(a) Residual 94.677 157 .603 Total 110.712 163 Coefficients Unstandardized Standardized Coefficients Coefficients t Sig. B Std. Error Beta (Constant) 3.600 .358 10.069 .000 Opportunities in .237 .120 .214 1.971 .050 globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) -.082 .091 -.083 -.907 .366 Macroeconomic environment -.194 .107 -.171 -1.818 .071 factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) .311 .083 .343 3.760 .000 Institutional policies(c34) .080 .123 .070 .644 .520 Regulation and policy -.175 .120 -.166 -1.464 .145 issues(c32) 2 R is 0.112 or 11.2%. That implies 11.2% of the variation in the dependent variable (Interpersonal skills) are determined by the independent variables (external factors). Sig = 0.0001 which mean the regression is significant.
2
Table 8. B15.3 Interpersonal skills Model Summary R .381 ANOVA Regression Residual Total Coefficients
a
R2
Adjusted R Square
.145 .112
Change Statistics R Square F df Change Change 1 .145 4.432 6 df Mean Square 6 157 163 2.672 .603 Standardized Coefficients Beta
94.677 110.712 Unstandardized Coefficients B 3.600 .237 -.082 -.194 .311 .080 -.175
t 10.069
(Constant) Opportunities in globalization(c8) Technological factors(c29) Macroeconomic environment factors(c30) Incentive policies(c33) Institutional policies(c34) Regulation and policy issues(c32) R2 is 0.112 or 11.2%. That implies 11.2% determined by the independent variables significant.
of the variation in the dependent variable (Interpersonal skills) are (external factors). Sig = 0.0001 which mean the regression is
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