Analysis of on business owner leadership capability and Performance of Small and medium enterprises in Kenya

Authors

  • Paul Muruga Wachira Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Patrick Karanja Ngugi Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Samson Nyang’au Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Keywords:

Business owner leadership capability, performance, small and medium enterprises

Abstract

The performance of most small and medium enterprises in Kenya has been declining, which is evidenced by increased cases of closure after a short operating period. This study analyzed the influence of business owner leadership capability on the performance of small and medium enterprises in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and target population was 2400 small and medium enterprises in Thika town’s light industrial area. The study sampled 331 small and medium enterprises owners using stratified random sampling. Findings indicated that business owner leadership capability had a positive and significant influence on performance of small and medium enterprises (β=0.696, P= .000). The study concluded that business owner leadership capability is imperative in driving the performance of small and medium enterprises. The study recommended that business owners should strengthen their leadership capabilities for effective performance. Entrepreneurs should particularly focus on the following aspects: taking calculated risks, pro-activeness in decision-making, and supporting employees’ creativity. Improvement of the mentioned aspects will result in enhanced business performance.

Author Biographies

Paul Muruga Wachira, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

Patrick Karanja Ngugi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

Samson Nyang’au, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Department of Entrepreneurship, Technology, Leadership and Management

References

Ahmed, K. A. (2017). The Influence of Development on Managerial Capabilities and Performance: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan. Journal of Southeast Asian Research, 20, 1-12

Amit, R., & Shoemaker, P. (1993). Specialized assets and organizational rent. Strategic Management Journal, 14(1), 33-47.

Daramola, A. G., & Amos, T. T. (2016).Management and Leadership in Nigerian Universities. FUTA Journal of Management and Technology, 1(1), 1-16.

Grant, R. M. (1991). Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Concepts, Techniques, Applications, Blackwell, Oxford.

Greef, A. M. (2014). Entrepreneurial leadership and its effect on the social performance of the organization (Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente).

Haas, M. R., & Hansen, M. T. (2005). When using knowledge can hurt performance: The value of organizational capabilities in a management consulting company. Strategic Management Journal, 26(1), 1-24.

Jonas, Y.D. (2017). Role of Entrepreneurial Capability in the Performance of Private Universities in Kenya, International Journal of Economics, Commerce, and Management, 5(9)

Kabetu, D. G., & Iravo, M. A. (2018). Influence of strategic leadership on performance of international humanitarian organizations in Kenya. International Academic Journal of Innovation, Leadership and Entrepreneurship, 2(2), 113-135.

Khalil, A. H. A., & Durra, I. (2019). The Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Exploratory Innovation and Exploitative Innovation of New Ventures. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(3).

Long, C., & Vickers-Koch, M. (1995). Using core capabilities to create a competitive advantage. Organizational Dynamics, 24(1), 7-22.

Musambayi, N. J. (2018). Leadership and firm entrepreneurial performance in county governments in Kenya. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 8(1), 31.

Ngugi, P. K. (2016). Challenges hindering sustainability of small and medium family enterprises after the exit of the founders in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation).

Njuguna, S. N., & Waithaka, P. (2020). Cost leadership strategy and organizational performance: A case of insurance companies in Nyeri County, Kenya. International Academic Journal of Human Resource and Business Administration, 3(9), 256-267.

Nurmahmudah, F., & Putra, E. C. S. (2020). What makes employees productive and have high performance? human capital investment in universities. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 21-36.

Okyere, F. (2017). The impact of leadership styles of small business owners/managers on firm performance. The International Journal of Business & Management, 5, 191-199.

Polycarp, L. M. (2017). Computerized systems effects and performance of customs and border control department of Kenya Revenue Authority (Doctoral dissertation, Kenyatta University).

Rahim, H. L., Zainal Abidin, Z., Mohtar, S., & Ramli, A. (2015). The effect of entrepreneurial leadership towards organizational performance. International Academic Research Journal of Business and Technology.

Raza, S., Minai, M. S., Abrar ul Haq, M., & Zain, A. Y. M. (2018). Entrepreneurial network towards small firm performance through dynamic capabilities: the conceptual perspective. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 24(4), 1-9.

Saeidi, P., Robles, L. A. A., Saeidi, S. P., & Zamora, M. I. V. (2021). How does organizational leadership contribute to the firm performance through social responsibility strategies? Heliyon, 7(7), e07672.

Sirmon, D. G., & Hitt, M. A. (2003). Managing resources: Linking unique resources, management, and wealth creation in family firms. Entrepreneurship theory and practice, 27(4), 339-358.

Downloads

Published

2023-07-27

How to Cite

Wachira, P. M. ., Ngugi, P. K. ., & Nyang’au, S. . (2023). Analysis of on business owner leadership capability and Performance of Small and medium enterprises in Kenya. Innovative Journal of Social Sciences, 3(1), 10–19. Retrieved from https://edinburgjournals.org/journals/index.php/Innovative-Journal-of-Social-Sci/article/view/181

Issue

Section

Articles