dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of supply chain management (SCM)
practices on operational performance of small and medium enterprises (SMES) in Nairobi
County. Due to the role of SMEs in economic development, an integrated supply chain
management approach is required in attaining desired levels of operational performance based on
cost, flexibility and delivery speed. In addition, the study sought to determine the best in class
supply chain management practices that SMEs would use as a benchmark against standards.
Descriptive research design was adopted for this study where the target population was small and
medium enterprises in Nairobi County from where a sample of 45 firms was drawn using
stratified sampling. The enterprises were from a cross section of the sub-sectors representing
trade and information technology. Data were collected using questionnaires administered by the
researcher and analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages and inferential statistics of
regression analysis.
The research findings were that supply chain management practices impacts positively on
operational performance of SMEs across the sectors of trade and information technology. SMEs
were of the opinion that supply chain practices of purchasing, logistics and customer service are
significant for business operations hence opportunity to outdo competition. From the findings, it
was concluded that SMEs should adopt SCM as part of their business strategy in order to
enhance operational performance and the study recommended that awareness about SCM should
be raised for SMEs in order to align them with their business strategy. | en_US |