Influence of strategic supply chain management practices on the growth of small enterprises in Trans-nzoia west sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

Supply chain management (SCM) is a philosophy and a set of business practices that allow firms to more closely coordinate their activities with suppliers, distributors, retailers and consumers. This study sought to establish the influence of strategic supply chain management practices on the growth of small micro enterprises in Trans Nzoia West Sub- County. The study objectives were: establish whether strategic supply chain management customer relationships influence the growth of SME; determine whether strategic supply chain management training policy influence the growth of SME; determine whether strategic supply chain management level of information sharing influence the growth of SME; and determine whether strategic supply chain management partnership influence the growth of SME in Trans-Nzoia West Sub- County. The study will utilize a descriptive survey research design and its target population will be 785 small enterprises. A sample of 235 small enterprises owners will be used in the study. The study utilized the frequency distribution tables and percentages to analyze data with the help of SPSS version seventeen computer programme. The study established that many of the businesses had maintained and balanced customer demand by keeping updated demand information; long-term customer relationships by developing information continuously and long-term customer relationships by understanding what customers want. Many of the small business owners also engaged in training courses in product development with their suppliers in addition to training with the suppliers through regular communication by providing feedbacks and guidance. Majority of the small business owners also observed that they had created a learning environment with the suppliers within the supply chain through open innovation networks and supplier associations. Many of the small business owners frequently interacted with their customers and the relationship they had with them influenced them to purchase more of the product. The small business owners confirmed that the information they receive from small enterprise suppliers influences their purchasing decisions. Majority of the small business owners indicated that the delivery process had an impact on their purchases which indicated that delivery dependency had a positive impact on customers‘ purchases