Management of mobile phone handset and Obsolescence in Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the Management of Mobile Phone Handset and Obsolescence in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to study how this obsolescence has been occasioned by the management – or lack thereof - of the short product lifecycle typical of the mobile phone handset. From the literature reviewed, the determinants of the product life cycle of an item like the mobile phone handset were found to be inventory management, demand information and sourcing. It is on this back drop that this study was carried out to see how these determinants affect the mobile phone handset dealers. The study adopted a descriptive research design. A census of 41 mobile phone handset dealer shops within Nairobi Central Business District formed the study population. Data was collected by use of structured interviews guided by a questionnaire. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 15.0 and was presented using descriptive and frequency tables, pie charts and graphs. The research found that mobile phone dealers are facing the challenge of obsolescence based on lack of timely, accurate and actual information sharing with suppliers. From the findings the study made recommendations on avoidance of dead stock through the employment of proper and sustainable strategies of dealing with obsolescence. These include supplier involvement strategies on planning, sales and marketing processes. Further, the study recommended that in instances where obsolescence is unavoidable proper management approaches must be applied such as recycling.