Determinants of Performance in Public Sector Enterprises: Case of Huduma Centres in Central Business District, Nairobi-kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of performance in public sector enterprises using case of Huduma Centres Central Business District (CBD), Nairobi. The study was guided by the following objectives: To examine the extent to which decentralization determines performance in public sector enterprises; To evaluate how the level of technology determines performance in public sector enterprises; To explore how the level of communication determines performance in public sector enterprises; and To examine how staff qualification determines performance in public sector enterprises. Politics and Government Policies were used as moderating variables to help ‘check’ the relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The choice of this design was informed by the fact that the researcher intended to collect detailed information about the target respondents’ views and opinions concerning the topic under study. The study employed probability and non-probability sampling techniques where stratified sampling and purposive random sampling procedures were used. The target population was 152 employees and the sample size of 110. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides. The data that was collected was subjected to quantitative and qualitative analyzes techniques, where quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS tool, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic grouping and content analysis. The analyzed data was then presented in the form of frequency distribution tables. Later, the data was summarized to help to draw conclusions, and make recommendations and suggestions for further studies. The study was meant to help law and policy makers, especially those charged with the responsibility of managing and controlling the use of various information systems - such as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Communications Authority of Kenya, the Media Council of Kenya, Ministry of Devolution and Planning and many other - in formulating and promoting implementation of policies that will help in making Kenya’s performance in Public Sector Enterprise to improve and meet the purpose of its existence. Data was presented using APA tables and figures. Based on the analyses of information presented, the following findings were noted: Demographic indicators show that majority of the study participants are qualified and have attained education levels sufficient to influence favourably their comprehension of antecedents to better performance in public sector enterprises. Further findings on years of experience indicate that lower cadre employees and senior manager working at Huduma centres one of the public sector enterprises have long work experience. The results indicate that that the Huduma Centres were performing on the positive in all the four determinants of performance in public sector enterprises studied as they all recorded positive performance mean scores. Overall Level of technology was the most significant driver in performance in Public sector enterprises, secondly decentralization, thirdly level of communication, and lastly staff qualifications recorded the fourth one in that order. The findings indicated a significant positive relationship between the determinants and the performance in public sector enterprises. It is recommended that reforms in the Department be accelerated with a view of streaming public sector enterprises processes as well as automating activities and back departmental operations