Influence of strategic supply chain management practices on the growth of small enterprises in Trans-nzoia west sub-county, Kenya
Abstract
Supply chain management (SCM) is a philosophy and a set of business practices that
allow firms to more closely coordinate their activities with suppliers, distributors,
retailers and consumers. This study sought to establish the influence of strategic
supply chain management practices on the growth of small micro enterprises in Trans
Nzoia West Sub- County. The study objectives were: establish whether strategic
supply chain management customer relationships influence the growth of SME;
determine whether strategic supply chain management training policy influence the
growth of SME; determine whether strategic supply chain management level of
information sharing influence the growth of SME; and determine whether strategic
supply chain management partnership influence the growth of SME in Trans-Nzoia
West Sub- County. The study will utilize a descriptive survey research design and its
target population will be 785 small enterprises. A sample of 235 small enterprises
owners will be used in the study. The study utilized the frequency distribution tables
and percentages to analyze data with the help of SPSS version seventeen computer
programme. The study established that many of the businesses had maintained and
balanced customer demand by keeping updated demand information; long-term
customer relationships by developing information continuously and long-term
customer relationships by understanding what customers want. Many of the small
business owners also engaged in training courses in product development with their
suppliers in addition to training with the suppliers through regular communication by
providing feedbacks and guidance. Majority of the small business owners also
observed that they had created a learning environment with the suppliers within the
supply chain through open innovation networks and supplier associations. Many of
the small business owners frequently interacted with their customers and the
relationship they had with them influenced them to purchase more of the product. The
small business owners confirmed that the information they receive from small
enterprise suppliers influences their purchasing decisions. Majority of the small
business owners indicated that the delivery process had an impact on their purchases
which indicated that delivery dependency had a positive impact on customers‘
purchases
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5963]