A Survey of Environmental Management and Its Implications on Manufacturing Strategy for Manufacturing Firms in Kenya
Abstract
Environmental management concerns are becoming more and more prominent in
business due to the continued increase in environmental awareness. Environmental
management affects both structural and infrastructural components of operations as it
involves choices of product and process technology and underlying management systems.
Product technology includes use of recycled raw materials or post-consumer recycling.
Process technology involves more efficient production systems. Environmental
management therefore is a significant part of manufacturing strategies.
The aim of the study was to document environment management practises among
manufacturing firms in Kenya and to determine the relationship between environmental
management and manufacturing strategy in Kenyan firms.
Our findings indicate that the manufacturing strategy's competitive priorities of a firm
play a role in determining the level of environmental management proactiveness in
Kenyan firms. Our evidence from the Kenyan manufacturing firms indicate that a host of
others factors influence tfib adoption of environmentally conscious manufacturing
strategies. It is however clear that Kenyan manufacturing firms are moving towards
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greater environmental awareness and responsibility.
The empirical finding of the study are consistent with empirical studies by (Noble,
1995; Ferdows and De Meyer,1990; Roth and Miller,1992) which suggests that
simultaneity of the competitive priorities is possible when based on a sand cone
approach. This approach starts with quality and builds up the other priorities via the
chosen path.
Citation
Masters of business administrationPublisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of Commerce, University of Nairobi.