| dc.description.abstract | The study investigated the Management of Mobile Phone Handset and Obsolescence
in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to study how this obsolescence has been
occasioned by the management – or lack thereof - of the short product lifecycle
typical of the mobile phone handset.
From the literature reviewed, the determinants of the product life cycle of an item like
the mobile phone handset were found to be inventory management, demand
information and sourcing. It is on this back drop that this study was carried out to see
how these determinants affect the mobile phone handset dealers.
The study adopted a descriptive research design. A census of 41 mobile phone
handset dealer shops within Nairobi Central Business District formed the study
population. Data was collected by use of structured interviews guided by a
questionnaire. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 15.0 and was presented using
descriptive and frequency tables, pie charts and graphs.
The research found that mobile phone dealers are facing the challenge of
obsolescence based on lack of timely, accurate and actual information sharing with
suppliers. From the findings the study made recommendations on avoidance of dead
stock through the employment of proper and sustainable strategies of dealing with
obsolescence. These include supplier involvement strategies on planning, sales and
marketing processes. Further, the study recommended that in instances where
obsolescence is unavoidable proper management approaches must be applied such as
recycling. | en |
