| dc.description.abstract | Procurement management practices play an important role in the performance of an
organization. The general objective of the study was to examine the effects of
procurement management practices on the performance of Kenya Tea Development
Agency (KTDA). The specific objectives of the study were to assess the effect of
supplier alliance on the performance of the KTDA; determine the effect of procurement
cost control practices on the performance of the KTDA; examine the effect of
procurement risk management practices on the performance of the KTDA and; explore
the effect of technology adoption in procurement processes on the performance of the
KTDA. This study was premised on resource-based view theory, balanced score card
theory, systems theory and transaction cost theory. The descriptive research design was
used with data being collected using quantitative and approaches. The target population
of the study was the staff working in all the 66 Tea Factories under KTDA. The unit
of observation was each factory while the unit of analysis was the employees. In these
factories, there are 594 workers. These can be categorized broadly into Procurement
officers, operational officers, and finance officers. Stratified proportionate random
sampling techniques was utilized to choose the sample and estimate overall population
parameters more precisely, resulting in a more representative sample. Simple random
sampling was utilized to choose 198 respondents for the study. A questionnaire was
used to collect data for analysis. To draw inferences and make generalizations about
the population, the researcher used descriptive statistics. SPSS software was used to
obtain mean, frequencies, descriptive, and inferential statistics for the study. To link the
independent factors to the dependent variable, a multiple linear regression model was
utilized. The findings show that there were significant relationships between the
Performance of KTDA Factories and independent variables as follows: supplier
alliance, r=0.892, p<0.05; cost control practices, r=0.827, p<0.05; risk management
practices, r=0. 862, p<0.05; and technology adoption, r=0. 844, p<0.05). Also, the
combined influence of the independent variables could statistically and significantly
predict Performance of KTDA Factories (F= 305.931, p<0.05). In this regard, it can be
concluded that supplier alliance, cost control practices, risk management practices and
technology adoption affected the performance of KTDA factories. The study
recommends that KTDA should keep databases of key suppliers so as to enhance their
contribution to the performance of KTDA factories. Regular meetings and forums
should be put in place to create rapport with existing and emerging key suppliers.
KTDA should continuously review any areas of wastage in the factories. Budgets
should be regularly reviewed to ensure that costs are reduced. In addition, effort should
be put in place to procure high quality goods to reduce maintenance costs of machines
and items. There should be due diligence to enhance risk management practices. Staff
should be regularly trained on risk management strategies. In addition, there should be
effort to ensure that all emergent risks are promptly identified and ways of dealing with
them explored. KTDA should always ensure that new technologies are adopted. All
obsolete technologies should be passed out systematically and replaced with new ones.
A search of the market place for new technology that could create competitive
advantages should be undertaken and such technologies promptly adopted. | en_US |
