Sustainability strategies and performance of public universities in Kenya

Abstract

The current operational setup in Kenya’s Universities is a turbulent one and highly competitive market condition. To ensure survival and sustainability, public universities require to adopt and implement competitive strategies. Many scholars have investigated sustainability efforts by Universities in pursuit of performance, however, it is still not clear how sustainable strategies have the greatest influence on the performance of Public Universities.  Thus, the study set to establish the influence of sustainability strategies on the performance of Public Universities in Kenya. The study was anchored on resource-based theory. To achieve the objectives, the study was anchored on a pragmatic philosophy and mixed research design with a target population of 234 University top managers. Primary data was collected using a 5 point Likert-type questionnaire and an interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that sustainability strategies had a significantly statistical influence on the performance of public universities in Kenya. The regression analysis for composite results revealed that sustainability strategies (SS) alone account for 53% of the variation of performance of Public Universities (R2=0.53, (t=7.68, p<0.05). Regression analysis for individual results, cost reduction (CR) (R2 0.518, t=18.07 p, <0.05), collaboration (C) (R2=0.418, t=2.7 p, <0.05) and diversification (D) (R2=0.218, t=8.07 p, <0.05). This study concluded that implementation of sustainability strategies (cost reduction, diversification, and collaboration) are essential strategies Public Universities can use in their endeavor to improve their performance.

Keywords: {'name': 'Sustainability Strategies, Cost Reduction, Collaboration, Diversification, Performance, Public Universities'}

Authors & affiliations

Peter Kariuki
Affiliation not supplied

Beatrice Elesani Ombaka
Affiliation not supplied

Paul Kiumbe Mburu
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

Andreas, R. (2009). Implementing strategy: tap into the power of four key factors to deliver success. Retrieved June 2016, from Institute of management Accountants.

DOI: 10.1002/jtr.684

DOI: 10.1177/014920639101700108

Berry, WD. and Feldman, S. (1985) Multiple Regression in Practice (Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences). SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Bogt, H. J., & Scapens, R. W. (2012). Performance Management in Universities: Effects of The Transition to More Quantitative Measurement Systems. European Accounting Review, 21 (3), 451-497

DOI: 10.1002/smj.4250120104

Christensen, C. M., Raynor, M. E., & McDonald, R. (2015). What Is Disruptive Innovation? Harvard Business Review, 44–53.

Commission for University Education (CUE) (2018 and 2019). Academic Staff Qualifications. http://www.cue.or.ke/

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications. 3rd edition. USA: SAGE.

DOI: 10.2307/2555461

Day, G. S. (2004). Market-Driven Strategy: Processes for Creating Value. New York: The Free Press.

Government of Kenya (2003). The Code of Conduct Ethics for Public Universities, in Laws of Kenya. The Public Officers Ethics Act Chapter 183 Part III: 8(1) Nairobi: National Council of Law Reporting

DOI: 10.1177/014920639101700111

Holcomb, T.R., Combs, J.G., Sirmon, D.G., & Sexton, J. in press. Modelling levels and time in entrepreneurship research: An illustration of growth strategies and post-IPO performance. Organizational Research Methods.

Johnson, G., Scholes K. (2011). Exploring Corporate Strategy, (6th Ed), Prentice Hall. Europe.

Kamoche, K. N. (2001) Human resource management in Kenya in P. S. Budhwar and Y. A. Debrah, (eds) Human resource management in developing countries. London:

Kamoche, K. N., Muuka, G. N., Horwitz, F. M. and Debrah, Y. A. (2004a) Preface in K. N.

DOI: 10.4324/9780203633762.ch11

Kamoche, Y. A. Debrah, F. M. Horwitz and G. N. Muuka (eds) Managinghuman resources in Africa. London: Routledg

DOI: 10.1016/j.jm.2004.06.002

Kipkebut, D. J. (2016). Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction in Higher Educational Institutions: The Kenyan Case (PhD Thesis). London: Middlesex University.

DOI: 10.2307/3003464

Lynch, D. (2011). Can Higher Education Manage sustainability? Available at http://www.insidehighered.com.

Malburg, C. (2016). Competing on costs. Industry Week, Vol. 249, Issue No.17, Pp.31-35

DOI: 10.6017/ihe.2011.63.8546

DOI: 10.5465/256654

Mwebi, Simatwa. S (2017). Kenya: Private University Growth of Mixed Blessing. Retrieved December, 23, 2017.

DOI: 10.1002/mde.1012

Patheepkanth, P. (2011). reward system and its impact on employee motivation in commercial bank of Sri lanka Plc in Jaffna district. Global Journal of Management and Business Research, 11(4).

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods. 3rd edition. Sage Publications, Inc.

Pearce, J. A, Robinson R. B. (2016). Strategic Management Formulation, Implementation and Control, Irwin, Boston.

Penrose, E. T. (1959). The theory of the growth of the firm. New York

Porrit (2016) (2014). Analyzing Faculty Workload Data Using Multilevel Modeling. Paper presented at the AIR 200 Annual Forum, Maryland.

Porter M. E. (2017). Competitive Advantage Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, Free Press, New York.

Porter M. E. (2017). What is Strategy? Harvard Business Review. November-December

Porter, M. (1980). Competitive strategy. New York: Free Press.

Prahalad, C. K. and Hamel, Gary, The Core Competence of the Corporation (1990). University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign's Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership Historical Research Reference in Entrepreneurship, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1505251

DOI: 10.5465/amr.2001.4011928

DOI: 10.5465/amr.2001.4011946

Rothaermel, F. T. (2012). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Schick, E. B. (1992), Shared Visions of Public Higher Education Governance: Structures and Leadership Styles That Work, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Washington, D.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2010.10.011

Schuller, T. (Ed.), (1991).The Future of Higher Education (Milton Keynes, SRHE & Open University Press)

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2017). Research Methods for Business - A Skill Building Approach (5th Ed.). Hobouken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Limited

Stone, C. D. (1995). Earth and other ethics: The case for moral pluralism. New York, NY: Harper & Row.

DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2003.12.007

Thompson, A., and Strickland, A.J. (2011). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases, Irwin, New York.

Wasiamson, O. (1985). The Economic Institutions of Capitalism, Free Press

DOI: 10.1002/smj.4250050207

Wheelen, T. N., Hunger, M. E., & McDonald, R. (2012). What Is Disruptive Innovation? Harvard Business Review, 44–53.

DOI: 10.1002/smj.4250140303