THE INFLUENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND COMPETITIVENESS OF INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN KENYA
THE INFLUENCE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND COMPETITIVENESS OF INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN KENYA
Josephine Njeri Nduati - Masters Student, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Robert Mang’ana - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Competition among firms sets center stage for a race where every competing entity seeks to emerge the winner by scooping as much from the market and financial returns. A competitive and efficient service sector is a pre-requisite for economic development and growth. The massive competition in the service market leads to consumer exploitation prompting organizations and governments to set tactical approaches and policies to enhance their competitiveness. The general objective of the study was to establish the influence of strategic leadership on competitiveness of internet service providers in Kenya. The specific objective of the study was to determine the influence of strategic communication on internet service providers in. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population of the study was 108 top management team of established internet service providers in Kenya. Since the sample is small (108), a census method was used to ensure all targeted respondents participate in the study. Primary data was collected using close ended questionnaires while secondary data on ROA was collected using a secondary data collection sheet. The researcher dropped the questionnaires physically at the respondents’ place of work. The raw primary data collected was coded prior to being input into SPSS statistical analysis software and then cleaned to ensure accuracy and completeness of the information obtained. Descriptive data was summarized using descriptive analysis; while inferential statistics was used to generate correlation and multiple regression analysis. Analyzed data was presented in form of tables and graphs. A total of 108 questionnaires were sent to the targeted108 top management team from each of 12 established internet service provider companies in Kenya for data collection; from which 101 questionnaires were returned completely filled, depicting a response rate of 93.5% which is good for generalizability of the research findings to a wider population. From the study results, both descriptive and inferential statistics showed that the four conceptualized independent variables significantly predicted competitiveness of internet service providers in Kenya (dependent variable). The study concluded that internet service provider firms in Kenya that engage in feasible strategic communication approaches can realize a significant improvement in their competitiveness in internet service provision. The study recommends that top management team of internet service providers should craft viable strategic communication approaches that enable them sustain their competitiveness in internet service provision in Kenya. A similar study can be done using longitudinal study approach with time series data for about 10-year period so as to establish the feasibility of strategic leadership on competitiveness of all internet service provider companies in Kenya.
