| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate the business planning and competitive
strategy at the Jitihada Business Plan Competition in Nairobi County. Specifically, the
study sought to determine the suitability of business planning on the strategic decision
making process and firm performance in MSEs funded through the Jitihada Business
plan competition as well as determining the whether business planning impacts on
choice of competitive strategies among the MSEs. This study used the descriptive
survey design where the targeted population was all the Micro enterprises that were
funded through the Jitihada Business Plan Competition and are based in Nairobi
County. The study used the purposive sampling technique targeting the key heads of
the businesses. The researcher administered 45 questionnaires to the respondents.
Interviews were also conducted and consisted of oral questions by the interviewer and
oral responses from the respondents. The study relied mainly on primary data which
was collected and analyzed by use of descriptive statistics; represented by means of
SPSS package and presented through percentages, mean, standard deviations and
frequencies. The information was displayed by use of tables, bar graphs and pie
charts. From the study, development of a business plan is a very crucial process in any
business organization. Allowing the board of directors to formulate the business plan
is thus important instead of an individual doing the task. Reviewing the set goals
regularly is also important because it enables the business organization to assess its
performance and know whether or not it is working in line with the set goals or it has
deviated. By so doing, the organization’s efficiency increases which results to
increased productivity which in turn increases the profits. The government should set
policies that favor upcoming entrepreneurial firms. By so doing, such firms will grow
and create employment opportunities which in turn lead to economic development. | en |
