East African Journal of Management and Business Studies

School Leadership Styles and Teachers’ Satisfaction: A Case of Secondary Schools in Kigamboni District, Tanzania

Condrada Stephano Mpangala, Perpetua John Urio — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study dealt with school leadership styles and teachers’ satisfaction in Kigamboni District, Tanzania, using the qualitative approach, and particularly the case-study design. Through the purposive sampling, the study involved 40 school stakeholders through an interview schedule. The study also employed the focus group discussions as a data collection method. Data took place thematically. Based on the findings, the study concluded that participative, autocratic and transactional leadership styles prevailed across the public secondary schools under investigation. Among these styles, participative leadership emerged as the most commonly adopted style. The style increased teachers’ satisfaction and participation. The study recommends that school leaders prioritize the participative leadership, which encourages participation in decision-making and empowers teachers to perform their duties effectively. Therefore, school leaders need to undergo frequent seminars and workshops regarding leadership styles with more emphasis on the participative leadership style which has proven successful in providing teamwork spirit.

A Review of the Role of Marketing Skills on Agricultural Produce Marketing

Yono Stanley Keveala, Joseph Magali — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The study reviewed 49 articles systematically to designate the role of marketing skills in promoting agricultural produce. Thematic and manual content methods were used to analyze the studies. The review indicated that few scholars have analyzed the role of marketing skills in promoting agricultural produce. However, the studies do not assess marketing skills' role in the performance of major crops used for food and cash generation in developing countries, such as maize, beans, potatoes, and rice. The review further depicted that some studies equate marketing skills with other variables, such as entrepreneurship, marketing capabilities and salesperson skills. The study regards marketing skills as vital resources in the Resource Based View Theory. The findings of this empirical paper provide holistic recommendations to agricultural produce stakeholders, policymakers and the resource based view theory.

Impact of Currency Exchange Rate on Agricultural Exports in Kenya

Silas Wesonga Mukh, Umulkher Ali Abdillahi, Edwin Jairus Simiyu — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Agricultural exports play a pivotal role in Kenya's economic landscape. Kenya’s Vision 2030 highlighted agriculture as one of the key economic pillars that will spur its achievement. However, there has been reduced profitability and an increased uncertainty of producing for export, leading to poor performance of Kenya’s agricultural exports. It is against this background that this study examined the impact of currency exchange rate and agricultural exports in Kenya from 1982 to 2022. The study was anchored on the purchasing power parity theory, using the causal research design. OLS regression results indicated a significant positive effect of currency exchange rate on agricultural export performance at a 5% significance level. The study recommends that the government adopts policies that maintain a competitive exchange rates to boost the agricultural export performance in Kenya.

Tour Guides and Porters’ Survival Strategies during Covid-19 Pandemic in Arusha City, Tanzania

CRN Charles Raphael, Visent Kipene — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study was to establish strategies used to survive by 250 tour guides and porters during the Covid-19 pandemic in Arusha City. The study used the descriptive and explanatory survey designs. The study used a questionnaire and an interview schedule as sources of data. The analysis of data employed the content analysis, descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The study concluded that the porters and tour guides used three survival strategies at high level, two at moderate level and one strategy at low level during the Covid-19 pandemic. The strategies were proved to be positive and significant for the survival of porters and tour guides during Covid-19 pandemic. The findings advocate for efforts of the tour guides and porters to do more savings, to diversify their tourism activities. They also need to undergo training to acquire appropriate skills, which can help them when they face similar crises and pandemics.

Employees’ Perceptions of Job Satisfaction in Local Government Authorities: A Focus on Context-Specific Factors in Ileje and Handeni Districts, Tanzania

George Mrope — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated about employees’ perceptions of job satisfaction, based on contextual work factors in Ileje and Handeni Districts of Tanzania. The study used the case study design with a sample of 76 employees from the districts, who participated through an interview schedule. Conceptual analysis was involved in the analysis of data to determine context-specific factors that determined the employees’ job satisfaction. Based on the findings, the study concludes that job satisfaction is shaped not only by traditional organizational factors, such as salary and workload, but also by deeper, context-specific factors, such as favoritism, tribalism and logistical challenges. Due to these findings, LGAs should develop incentive programs for remote posting to make the employees feel more appealing to stay and work. There is a need to introduce housing allowances and to improve infrastructure systems, social amenities and recreational facilities to enhance the quality of life in the studied areas. Provision of transportation allowances is also essential.

Impact of Innovations on the Performance of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs in Tanzania

Christopher N. Mdoe, Fredrick Alleni Mfinanga , Ezekiel Kanire — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Innovation is a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness, especially for SMEs in developing countries. However, the impact of different types of innovation on SME performance in Tanzania remains uncertain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how various forms of innovation affect the overall performance of SMEs in Tanzania. The study used the cross-sectional research design and random sampling to collect primary data from 162 SMEs in Mbeya. Data was analyzed using the Ordered Logistic Model. The results indicate that product innovation significantly boosts sales and customer satisfaction; process innovation enhances return on equity and product quality. On the other hand, marketing innovation drives sales growth and customer satisfaction while organizational innovation improving production quality and return on equity. These findings imply that innovation is crucial for improving SMEs' performance. Therefore, policymakers should create policies that encourage financial institutions and government bodies to offer grants for product innovation and subsidies for technology adoption. Additionally, they should provide advisory services and incentives for organizational restructuring to enhance the performance of SMEs.

Influence of Leadership Styles on the Performance of University Libraries in Kenya

Henry Ogada Hongo, Tom Kwanya, Naomi Mwai — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study used the convergent parallel mixed-methods design to explore the influence of leadership styles on the performance of University Libraries in Kenya. The study used a multi-stage sampling technique to draw respondents from 12 public and private university libraries. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected using a questionnaire and key informant interviews, respectively. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), while qualitative data was analysed using Atlas.ti. The study revealed that most university head librarians used democratic and transformational leadership styles. The study concludes that some leadership styles influenced libraries' performance. Particularly, bureaucratic and laissez-faire leadership styles affect library performance negatively. The study recommends that universities and libraries fund programs that help aspiring and working university librarians to strengthen their leadership skills to be able to apply appropriate leadership styles in their contexts.

Effect of Process Innovation on the Performance of Women-owned Food Processing Micro and Small Enterprises in Tanzania

Rofina Martin Mrosso, Elizabeth Lulu Genda, Nicholous Bhikolimana Tutuba — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the effect of process innovation on the performance of women-led food processing Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Tanzania. The study also explores the mediating role of innovative performance in explaining the relationship between process innovation and performance, using the cross-sectional research design. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect data from 297 participants from four regions. Data was analyzed with the help of the Smart PLS version 3.0 Software, using the Structural equation Modelling (SEM). Based on the findings, the study concluded that the performance of women entrepreneurs is associated with process innovation. However, the mediation effect of innovative performance was non-existent. The study therefore recommended that women need to use modern technology to enhance the performance in their micro and small business enterprises.

Tree Growers’ Profitability in Veneer-Based Engineered Wood Products in Mufindi District, Tanzania

Beatrice P. Mzira, Beatus J. Temu, Greyson Z. Nyamoga — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Engineered wood products have increased in demand worldwide. This also applies to Tanzania, leading to a developed interest in the increased production and demand of veneer, plywood and marine boards in the Mufindi District. This in turn influenced the aim of this study to examine the potential of Veneer Based Engineered Wood Products (VBEWPs) through the value chain. A cross-sectional study design coupled with purposive, stratified and snowball sampling techniques were adopted. A total of 152 actors involved in VBEWPs were sampled from the population of about 681 tree growers, brokers, traders, transporters and manufacturers. Techniques such as interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Data was analyzed by computing Gross Profit Margin, Value Added and Value distribution. The study concluded that although chains involving both small and large scale growers played a significant role in production of the veneer based engineered products, small scale chain experienced inefficiency compared to chain that involved large scale growers. Recommendations include increasing efficiency for small-scale tree growers’ chains and strong cooperative alliances to enhance collective negotiation for better pricing and access to loans. Furthermore, the government should improve investment policies and reduce various taxes that the value chain actors incur to lower production costs and maximize profits.

Vocational Graduates’ Challenges in Setting up and Operating SMEs in the Tanzanian Environment

Michael Denis, Aman A. Mwakalapuka, Jeremia R. Makindara — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the challenges faced by Vocational Education and Training (VET) graduates in establishing and operating Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania. The study used a qualitative approach with a cross-sectional design to capture data at a single point in time, allowing for an in-depth analysis of participants' perceptions and experiences. The study targeted a population of 220 SME owners. Using the Yamane formula, 222 participants were sampled, including 130 SME owners and 15 Entrepreneurship Education Coordinators selected purposefully for Key Informant Interviews and FGDs. Data was analyzed using content analysis, identifying themes aligned with the study's research questions. The study concludes that VET graduates are faced with significant challenges that impact their business sustainability. These challenges include inadequate government policy support for enhancing SMEs performance, limited access to financing, insufficient managerial skills, gaps in access to information and knowledge, complex regulatory requirements and limited innovation skills. Key recommendations include that the Government of Tanzania should simplify regulatory procedures and strengthen policies to provide targeted support for SMEs.