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Employee voice mechanisms, leadership styles, job satisfaction and academic staff turnover intentions in universities in Kenya
(Chuka University, 2021) Muguna, Andrew Thiuru
Globally, managers are concerned about employee turnover, which has been a
major problem facing many organizations. Global average universities' academic
staff turnover intentions stand at 45%, far above10-15% considered normal by
Human Resource Management (HRM) researchers. African universities continued
to be seriously affected by brain drain, worsening the experienced high employee
turnover. In Kenya, 68% of organizations experience a high employees turnover.
Even though calls have been made towards stemming the high academic staff
turnover in universities, the situation has continued to be experienced. Employee
voice mechanisms can be considered a relevant intervention for addressing
turnover. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between
employee voice mechanisms and academic staff turnover intentions and the
moderating effect of leadership style and job satisfaction on this relationship. The
specific objectives were to determine the effect of employee voice mechanisms on
academic staff turnover intentions; examine the effect of leadership styles on
academic staff turnover intentions; examine the effect of employee job
satisfaction on academic staff turnover intentions; assess the moderating effect of
leadership styles on the relationship between employee voice mechanisms and
academic staff turnover intentions; assess the moderating effect of job satisfaction
on the relationship between employee voice mechanisms and academic staff
turnover intentions and finally to analyse the joint of employee voice
mechanisms, leadership style and job satisfaction on academic staff turnover
intentions. The study hypotheses were derived from the stated objectives. The
study was anchored on the Universalistic theory, Resource-based theory,
Herzberg’s two-factor theory, Kaizen theory, Harvard model of HRM, Kurt
Lewin model of leadership styles, and Unfolding model of voluntary turnover.
The study was guided by positivism research philosophy and a descriptive cross
sectional survey research design was used. The study population consisted of
17210 academic staff in Kenya universities from whom a sample of 364 was
drawn. The study adopted a multistage sampling technique. Primary data was
collected using a structured questionnaire administered through the drop and pick
later method. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data into means
and standard deviations. Inferential statistics employed regression analysis to test
hypotheses and draw conclusions. The data was presented using tables, charts,
and graphs. A pilot study was carried out amongst 37 respondents from Meru
University. Reliability was established by the use of Cronbachs' Alpha
coefficient. The study's findings established that employee voice mechanisms had
a significantly negative influence on academic staff turnover intentions. Secondly,
autocratic leadership style positively influences academic staff turnover intentions
while democratic and laissez-faire leadership style negatively influences turnover
intentions. Thirdly, employee job satisfaction had a significantly negative
influence on academic staff turnover. Fourthly, autocratic leadership style
moderated employee attitude surveys and academic staff turnover intentions only,
and democratic leadership style moderated the relationship between employee
representations and academic staff turnover intentions. Fifthly, supervision
moderated employee representation and academic staff turnover intentions only,
and pay and benefits moderated the relationship between employee
representations and academic staff turnover intentions. Finally, the joint effect of
employee voice mechanisms, leadership styles, and job satisfaction changed from
negative to positive. The findings of the study offer insight into the situational
positioning of employee voice mechanisms, leadership styles, and employee job
satisfaction in Kenyan universities, as well as managerial and epistemological
insights for scholars in HRM. The findings further contribute to theory, policy
development and HRM practices. The research had a few limitations. The
selection of the study variables was not exhaustive as it did not cover different
psychological traits and personalities possessed by an employee that leads to
varying job satisfaction. The use of a descriptive cross-sectional research design
and single key-informant approach and linear regression statistical models put
constraints on the generalizability of the results. Future research should address
these limitations by including additional psychological traits, personalities, soft
and hard HRM approaches using a longitudinal research design and more robust
statistical techniques such as structural equation modelling.
Repellence of cattle anal odor constituents and selected analogues against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.
(Chuka University, 2015) Kariuki, M. W.; Ng’ang’a, M. M.; Hassanali, A.; Saini, R. K.
A study was conducted to determine repellence of anal odour constituents, blends and selected analogues against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus control. The odours were trapped, eluted and analyzed by gas chromatography-linked mass spectrometry. Constituents were identified by comparing their mass spectra with those in the National Institute of Standards and Technology libraries. Major constituents were o-xylene, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, ethyl benzene, 2,6,6-trimethyl-[1S(1α,β,5α)]bicycloheptanes, 5-ethoxydihydro-2(3H)-furanone, 3-methylene-2-pentanone, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-1H-indole, and 3-pentanone. Repellency of the odours, selected constituents and blends was evaluated using dual choice tick climbing assay. The 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol was most repellent (RD75 =0.56) and 3-pentanone least active (RD75 = 622.7). Two blends that were more repellent than the anal odour were: made up of 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol, 3-pentanone, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone, with RD75 of 0.032, and another without 3-pentanone, with RD75= 0.019; p≤0.05, SNK. Bioassays of analogues of 4-methyl-2-methoxyphenol (4-Methylguaiacol) was done: guaiacol, eugenol, 3,4-methylenedioxytoluene and 2,4-dimethylphenol, where 3,4-Methylenedioxytoluene was inactive, while 2,4-dimethylphenol was most repellent (RD75= 0.0089) compared to all compounds and blends tested. The 2,4-dimethylphenol analogue of 4-methylguaiacol may represent a promising additional tool in the arsenal of techniques in East Coast Fever control.
Nutrient and anti-nutrient content of selected wild food plants from Ithanga division, Kenya
(Chuka University, 2015) Mugera, D. K.; Kinyuru, J. N.; Mwaniki. M. W.; Njoroge, G. N.
Wild food plants play an important role in the diet of inhabitants of Ithanga Division as famine foods during lean seasons. The area is ASAL, receives unreliable rainfall and frequent drought followed by food insecurity, malnutrition, especially in children less than 5-years-old. Locals use wild food plants to meet nutritional requirements. However, there is lack of data on nutrients in these plants. This study determined nutritional potential of selected wild food plants to enhance utilization and management of moderate malnutrition and food insecurity. Ten samples were collected through random sampling, washed, dried in oven at 60oC, ground into powder and analyzed for proximate composition, nutrient, mineral and tannin contents. Proximate composition varied with moisture content, ranging from 48.33-90.77%, with Cyperus rotundus having lower value of 48.33±0.54 and Oxygonium sinuatum highest value of 90.77% ± 0.54. The crude fibre content on dry weight basis was moderately low, ranging from 6.29-20.73 mg/100 g. The crude protein ranged from 1.68-11.6 mg/100 g, with highest in O. sinuatum and lowest in Lantana camara. Vitamin C and betacarotene were higher in CUumis dipsaceus (50.24±5.13) and Amaranthus dubius (5.24±1.89), while lower in Commelina africana (7.60±0.84) and Lantana camara (0.02±0.01) mg/100g, respectively. Zn content on dwb in Oxygonium sinuatum was 28.15mg/100g) and comparable with or higher than cultivated counterparts. Tannin content ranged from 3169-678mg/100g and was higher in Grewia bicolor and lower in C. dipsaceus, respectively. Thus, the wild food plants are good sources of nutrients and can be utilized to mitigate micro and macronutrient malnutrition to improve food security.
Computer ergonomic issues in learning institutions in Kenya: Case study of Kirinyaga county
(Chuka University, 2015) Shikhuyu, J.; Mwangi, E. G.
Learning institutions are emphasizing computer hardware and software, while neglecting computer hardware compliance with ergonomics. Since non-compliance to good ergonomic practices is not a onetime effect, users are not usually aware of the negative impact on their being until too late. The question of ergonomics is very sensitive during this era when the government is championing use of ICT in all learning institutions. The health-risks that come with non-compliance cannot be underestimated. This study investigated computer ergonomic issues and problems that face students when using computers as tools of learning in selected primary, secondary and university institutions in Kirinyaga County. Purposive sampling was used to select the institutions. Stratified sampling was used to pick the sample size. In each stratum, random sampling was adopted. Total sample size was 350. Closed ended questionnaire was constructed and self-administered to collect information about computer related ergonomic issues and habits of students. Data were analyzed and presented using SPSS V20. Most of the institutions don’t have ergonomic furniture. Laboratories and computer screens were poorly lit. Most institutions used older machines that produced noise and emitted a lot of heat. Laboratories were poorly ventilated and respondents were not aware of ergonomic practices and habits and the risks that come as a result of non-compliance. Learning institutions lack knowledge on the importance of computer ergonomics. Thus stakeholders need to intensify campaigns on computer ergonomics in learning institutions.
Development of interactive web portal for Kenyan tea.
(Chuka University, 2015) Ngige, W. J.; Kinyua, K. J.; Gitonye, W. C.; Kariuki, D.; Mwangi, J.
In Kenya the tea sector’s growth is dependent on tea production, marketing and research. For better performance of these key areas, information flow is critical. However, the information flow is still poor due to lack of an effective information delivery system. Although development of web sites and other cross platform tea information systems have made information sharing easier and faster than ever, their dynamic, unstructured nature and lack of necessary level of interaction limit their potential in the information delivery. The exponential growth of these resource platforms has also resulted to scattering of the information widely which makes it difficult for users to obtain the desired information efficiently. Marketing is also ineffective due to lack of an online marketing tool for the Kenyan tea, and with the increased global market competition posed by the major tea producers in the world including China, India and Sri Lanka, Kenya is faced with major threats in maintaining its tea market share. In this project an interactive web portal was developed as a resource platform for tea, that would bring together the tea information into an integrated “one-stop shop” for improved efficiency in information access and retrieval, and to provide a marketing platform for the Kenyan tea. The development process involved; designing of web portal architecture, development of the system components, system testing and hosting the program on World Wide Web. The following utilities with outstanding features were used to develop the portal; Joomla! 3.2, XAMPP, PHP5.3.1, MySQL 5.1.41, PhpMyAdmin, Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 and site extensions including; PixSearch, Joom!Fish, VirtueMart and JomSocial.The web portal was then evaluated in JKUAT based on organization of information, friendliness of the user interface and efficiency in information access and retrieval.