http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/107033 2026-05-18T20:37:04Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/168219 The Effect of Investment Decisions on the Performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya Ochonjo, Erick O The outcome of this study revealed the impact of different investment decisions on the performance of the SACCOs in Nairobi County, Kenya. Taken as antecedents, the study measures the impact of each decision on SACCO performance using a multiple linear regression model on lending, real estate investment, expansion, R&D, and employee literacy as a mediating factor. The secondary data was collected from 46 SACCOs based on their timely reporting and high level of compliance to the regulatory standards set by the SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA).This paper shows that lending operations especially extension of credit in short term and mobile products increases SACCO profitability and member participation. Other sectors that are positive include; real estate investment, property, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and others because they offer regular income and growing asset base. Market development and branch establishment decisions are used to reveal that they enhance the profitability due to the increased market reach of SACCOs. Businesses’ research and development spending is consistent in delivering positive returns through sales and technological advancements that assist organizations in creating sustainable competitive advantages and superstructures. Additionally, increased employee literacy also assumes the role of mediator in the relationship between efficiency and profitability of operations. This study establishes the concept of strategic investment decision making and a positive impact of employees’ literacy level in enhancing such investment on the overall performance of SACCOs. This work could be useful for SACCOs planning to leverage this area to achieve efficiency in investment and financial improvement. SACCOs should therefore go on expanding the lending products; here mobile and short term loans in order to capture the needs of different members besides improving on returns. Secondly, Real estate continues to be a favorable and valuable kind of investment; for this reason, SACCOs should erect capital on rental and REITs to garner more returns. One key area of focus to enhance the performance of SACCOs should be opening up additional branches and venturing into other untapped market segments in order to greatly increase membership. Further, an amendment of the R&D investment can improve the competitiveness of SACCOs, and the services they offer in an ever-changing financial market which is critical in the growth of SACCOs. The present paper elicited that increasing SACCOs employees’ literacy and technical skills will go a long way in boosting up the organizational operations, hence the organizational outcomes, because the overall service delivery is increased. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/168215 Effect of Investment Portfolio Diversification on Financial Performance of Pension Schemes in Kenya Obwoge, Winnie M The financial performance of pension schemes is crucial for ensuring the sustainability and reliability of retirement benefits, particularly in Kenya, where these schemes play a significant role in securing the livelihoods of retirees. This study was motivated by the need to understand how investment portfolio diversification influences the financial performance of pension schemes, given the increasing complexity of investment decisions. Anchored on modern portfolio theory and supported by agency theory and the capital asset pricing model, the study sought to determine the effect of investment portfolio diversification on the financial performance of pension schemes in Kenya. A descriptive panel research design was employed, with data collected from 119 randomly selected pension schemes over a five-year period (2019–2023). Financial performance was measured by return on assets (ROA), while investment portfolio diversification was quantified using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). Control variables included fund liquidity, fund size, interest rate, and managerial efficiency. Secondary data from annual reports and Retirement Benefits Authority publications were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and panel regression, with diagnostic tests ensuring the validity and reliability of the model. The regression model demonstrated a good fit, with an R-squared value of 0.5751, indicating that 57.51% of the variation in financial performance was explained by the independent and control variables. The results showed that investment portfolio diversification had a significant positive effect on financial performance (β = 0.42636, p = 0.009). Among the control variables, fund liquidity (β = 1.0699, p = 0.003), fund size (β = 0.341096, p = 0.004), and interest rate (β = 1.027967, p = 0.000) also significantly enhanced financial performance. However, managerial efficiency did not have a statistically significant effect (β = 0.77486, p = 0.670). These findings affirm the importance of strategic diversification and robust financial management practices in optimizing the performance of pension schemes. The study concludes that investment portfolio diversification, liquidity management, fund size, and interest rate optimization are critical drivers of financial performance in Kenyan pension schemes. It recommends that pension fund managers prioritize diversification across asset classes and maintain adequate liquidity to capitalize on investment opportunities. Smaller schemes should consider pooling resources to benefit from economies of scale, while policymakers are encouraged to develop regulations that promote diversification and stability in the pension sector. Fund managers should also leverage favourable interest rate environments to enhance returns. For further research, the study suggests extending the period of analysis to capture long-term trends and assessing the influence of macroeconomic factors and regulatory policies on pension schemes' performance. Additionally, qualitative research could explore the perspectives of fund managers and policymakers to uncover practical challenges and innovative strategies in investment decision-making. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/168214 Top Management Team Diversity and Foreign Market Performance at ICEAlion Group Nyanyuki, George K The capacity of an organization to make quality decision is dependent upon the available choice of decision makers. The top management team in an organization ,acts as the critical decision making body and it thus follows that the quality of the decision made is a representation of the characteristics of the management team. The influence of top management team diversity at ICEALION group was the objective of the study which was to be determined. The specific constructs of diversity that was researched on were functional, gender, cultural and educational diversity. To realize the objective of the study, a case study research design was adopted, with the primary data being collected using an interview guide from four targeted interviewees, namely; the managers in Marketing, Claims, Human Resources (HR) and Corporate Services. The collected data was analyzed using the content analysis method in order to facilitate deeper understanding of common themes that were shared by the interviewees. The study came up with the findings on the specific constructs of diversity of this research. Functional diversity made communication and teamwork in decision making better. To achieve this the organization endeavored to improve on individual employee competencies through training and development programs. The gender diversity of the top management team resulted in a decision making body that is adaptable and versatile to address the ever-changing customer preferences and competitive pressures. On the other hand, cultural diversity was found to lead to improved identification and mitigation of risks in the foreign market, while the educational diversity helped in bringing together diverse skills and perspectives during decision making process and this was equally associated with how a firm performs in a foreign market. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/168213 The Influence of Strategic Leadership Thinking Styles on Performance of Equity Bank Kenya Limited Nyambinya, Peter N 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z