Strategic quality management implementation practices by horticultural industry in Kenya: the case of pollen Ltd
Abstract
The horticulture sector has become one of the biggest foreign exchange earners for the Kenyan
economy and provides numerous Kenyans with much needed employment and income. However
consumer demands on quality aspects and production methods are getting more stringent every
day. To remain competitive in the global market will require horticultural industry in Kenya to
embrace total quality in all its operations. Appreciation and understanding of the strategic quality
management principles is pertinent towards understanding quality management of the
horticultural industry. Most of the literature nevertheless, has touched on strategic quality
management principles and QMS in the Kenyan context narrowly. The objectives of the study
was to find out the extent of Quality Management System implementation and the SQM
principles practiced in the horticultural industry in Kenya as well as ascertain the benefits and
challenges faced when implementing QMS. Pollen Ltd was used as a case study using
descriptive research design. The findings will be used by the stakeholders in the horticultural
industry for managerial purposes and to improve on strategic quality management in the farms. It
will also add into the existing literature on quality management and form base for further
research. The targeted population was fifty three respondents of Pollen Ltd comprising of
managers and supervisors. Data was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The
results showed that Pollen Ltd to a very great extent applies QMS which is valid to its purpose
and SQM principles to a very great extent. Respondents cited customer satisfaction as the major
benefit and a lot of documentation as the top most challenge in implementing QMS. The study
recommended further research on the effects of quality management on the employees'
performance in the horticultural industry in Kenya. Further research should also be done on the
influence of QMS on the performance of horticultural industry in Kenya
Citation
Master Of Business AdministrationPublisher
University of Nairobi