Supply Chain Management Practices and Supply Chain Performance of Private Universities in Kenya

Abstract

The success of organizations in the current market place are largely determined by how efficiently a firm manages its supply chain, and the supply chain management practices that an organization is engaged in. Supply chain management practices that an organization implements are strategic tools in its performance. The study sought to investigate supply chain management practices in private universities in Kenya and how these practices impacted on the supply chain performance of the organizations under study. The study adapted a descriptive design and was based on the following objectives: to establish the supply chain practices that are carried out by private universities in Kenya, and to establish the impact of supply chain management practices on supply chain performance of private universities in Kenya. Primary data was utilized in the study and semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents. A census approach was adopted and the census consisted of all the private universities in Kenya as listed from quoted source. A 5 –point likert scale was used to analyze output of each response received. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of the variables. The study established that all four supply chain management practices have been implemented in private universities in Kenya with lean practices and information technology sharing implemented to a large extent, while outsourcing of non-core services and strategic supplier partnerships to a moderate extent. On individual supply chain management practices, it was established that involvement of suppliers in planning for procurement of new items was the least practiced variable. On relationship between supply chain practices and supply chain performance, all four practices were found to have positive statistical relationship with most aspects of performance that were measured, however the relationships were found to be statistically insignificant at 5% confidence level. The study recommended that private universities in Kenya should aim to enhance the aspects of strategic supplier partnerships such as early supplier involvement in procurement of new items. The study was limited to private universities in Kenya; future studies can consider all private institutions including colleges and schools. Future research can also be done focusing on more performance variables to see how they would impact implementation of supply chain practices. In addition research can also be done on how implementation of supply chain management practices affects quantitative performance issues such as profitability.