Factors influencing performance of Women owned micro and small enterprises in Kikuyu sub county, Kiambu county Kenya
Abstract
This research study sought to establish factors that influence performance of women
owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county which is a fast growing business hub with many
MSEs in both the product and services industries where the large population would
benefit from such a study through business growth and better performance. The
objectives of the research project were to establish whether key factors influencing
performance of women owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county were: business skills; family
responsibilities; communication skills and personal financial credibility. The study was
informed by the theory of group dynamics by Kurt Lewin and the researcher employed
the descriptive survey design because it aimed at observing and describing the women
entrepreneurs’ views without influencing them in any way. In this study, the target
population was 307 women owned micro and small enterprises operating in Kikuyu subcounty
and 5 county government officials, all who gave their views on factors influencing
performance of women owned MSEs. The research design used was descriptive survey
design where the target population was divided into various groups or strata. The sample
population was picked using stratified random sampling from each of the four stratums
namely beauty salons, farm produce traders, general and tailoring shops. Primary data
was collected through administering two sets of questionnaires to both the women
entrepreneurs and county officials. The quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed
using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences and presented using percentages,
frequencies and tables. This study established that poor business skills, unequal balance
between domestic and business responsibilities, ineffective communication skills and
poor personal financial credibility promoted discrimination based on gender hence
affecting performance of women owned MSEs in Kikuyu sub-county. The research
findings are expected to assist women entrepreneurs in Kikuyu sub-county become aware
of these factors influencing their full business growth potential hence enable them put in
place action points that would help promote self sustenance and economic development
thus poverty reduction in Kikuyu sub-county. An in-depth study of factors that influence
performance of women owned MSEs in other towns of Nairobi County should be carried
out to find out whether they experience similar challenges as those faced in Kiambu
County. The study recommends that Kiambu County government should develop policies
that will ensure training on business management skills among all entrepreneurs. This
could be done through holding of regular entrepreneurship training workshops so as to
improve the performance and promote the growth of MSEs which would contribute to the
growth of the economy.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [5964]