Innovation Strategies and the Growth of Real Estate Developers in Nairobi County
Abstract
The need for property market in Nairobi has in the last 10 years thrived to an all time high. In
2010 Nairobi recorded the highest growth in luxury house prices in the world. A study by Knight
Frank found that the prices for real estate increased by 25% in 2011. The study aimed at
investigating the influence of innovation strategies on the growth of real estate development in
Nairobi County. This study describes a phenomenon hence it used descriptive cross sectional
survey research design. The population of this study comprised of all players in the industry
who include; contractors, developers and financiers located in Nairobi County; however the
study concentrated on developers only. According to the 201112012 issue of the Real Estate
Developers Index, Nairobi County was home to over 65 real estate developers. Since the
population was small the study targeted all the CEOs of the real estate (see appendix B).
Therefore for the case of this study it was appropriate for researcher to choose census method
since the population was small and the firms were easily accessible. The researcher used a
questionnaire as a primary data collection instrument. Secondary data was collected from
Economic Survey 2013 Kenya, National special data systems at the Ministry of lands. Data
collected was sorted, classified and coded then tabulated for ease of analysis. The data was then
summarized and categorized according to common themes. Data collected was analyzed using
frequency distribution tables, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The SPSS (version
17) computer software aided in the analysis as it was more users friendly and most appropriate
for analysis of Management related attitudinal responses. The results suggest that the relationship
between process innovation strategy and product differentiation strategy was statistically
significant. Process innovation strategy and technology strategy denoted statistical significance.
Similarly, the process innovation strategy and innovative customer service strategy posted to be
statistical significant. Product differentiation and technology strategy further pointing to be
statistical significant. On the same note, the product differentiation strategy and the innovative
customer service strategy correlated. This therefore was statistically significant. The technology
strategy and innovative customer service strategy correlated and revealed to be statistical
significant. The study recommends that for the expected return from investing in residential
income property to increase, there should be an improved outlook is associated with a swing in
government policy away from public provision of rental housing to the private provision of
rental housing. Further research should be carried to establish whether subsidizing small income
property investors will provide low-rent housing and hence solve the problem of housing in
Nairobi. These findings of the study helped bridge the clearly identified gaps in knowledge and
theories that had informed this investigation, relating for instance to the existence or otherwise of
differences in cultural orientations on real estate projects, and if the existence of such differences
led to significantly different growth outcomes. Such an empirical study of the relationship
between organizational culture and real estate growth provided a significant contribution to the
body of knowledge on culture in real estate growth.
Citation
Laura Chomba (2013). Innovation Strategies And The Growth Of Real Estate Developers In Nairobi County. Master Of Business AdministrationPublisher
University of Nairobi