dc.description.abstract | Operational decisions relate to all the undertakings essential to plan, develop as well
as improve business processes that are involved in the provision of services in
supermarkets. The current upsurge and spillover of organized retail outlets, like
supermarkets, are adding to the growth of organized retail markets in Kenya. Despite
operational decisions being a key in ensuring improved operational performance of
retail supermarkets, many have closed shop in Kenya as a whole and even in Uasin
Gishu County, Kenya. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of
operational decisions and performance of retail supermarkets in Uasin Gishu County,
Kenya. The specific objectives were to; determine the extent of implementation of
operational decisions by retail supermarkets and to establish the effect of
implementation of operational decisions on performance of retail supermarkets in
Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Systems theory (Von Bertalanffy, 1936) and job
characteristic theory (Hackman & Oldham, 1975) underpinned this research.
Descriptive research design was adopted and target of 86 retail supermarkets where
census was used. Data was collection was done using a structured questionnaire and
analysis carried through frequencies, percentages and linear regression analysis. The
study showed that majority (54.9%) of the retail supermarkets had implemented to a
large extent equipment for carrying inventory which are made available to replenish
shelves when stock demand was high. In addition, majority (58.5%) of the retail
supermarkets in the study area have applied the periodical checking of equipment
used to handle stock to ensure they are fully functional to a larger extent and majority
(50.0%) retail supermarkets had minimized to a larger extent idleness among
employees to ensure customer demands were met. The study found out that
scheduling, maintenance management, job design, capacity management and layout
design accounted for 57.0% variation in operational performance among retail
supermarkets in Uasin Gishu County. Thus, it was recommended that there are other
major factors accounting for operational performance of retail supermarkets which
need to be put in place to enhance operational performance. | en_US |