THE CASE of LAIKIPIA UNIVERSITY by KOSGE
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DETERMINATION OF STRATEGIC POSITIONING OF NEWLY CHARTERED PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA: THE CASE OF LAIKIPIA UNIVERSITY By KOSGEY ISAAC SANGA D53/NKU/PT/25542/2011 A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OPTION) OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY. JUNE, 2013 DECLARATION This project is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University or any other award. Signature_________________________________ Date ____________________________ KOSGEY ISAAC SANGA REG. NO: D53/NKU/25542/2011 This project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the University supervisor. Signature _________________________________ Date ____________________________ DR. ABEL ANYIENI LECTURER, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NAKURU CAMPUS This project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the University supervisor. Signature __________________________________ Date ____________________________ DR. STEPHEN MUATHE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SCHOOL OF BUSINESS KENYATTA UNIVERSITY DEDICATION ii This work is dedicated to my wife, Asaneth, my daughters, Linda Jeptoo and Lornah Jemutai, for their understanding, unwavering support and encouragement in all my educational and life endeavours. Their patience with my constant absences to attend classes when I should have been with them is a memorable honour to me. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I extend special thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Abel G. Anyieni, my assistant supervisor, Prof. Gorretty A. Ofafa, Mr. Thomas K. Gakobo (Lecturer, Laikipia University) and Zacharia Nyaribo Rateno (Leturer, Kenyatta University) for their valued guidance, support and direction during the development of this dissertation. Their academic critiques and extensive discussions highly inspired my writing of the work. I also wish to thank all the survey respondents for agreeing to fill in the survey questionnaires and for their time to do so. I am grateful to Mr. Noah Kibet and Mr. Barnabas K. Kurgat for asistance in data analyses, and Mr. Enrique Muthangya for the formating of this work. I greatly appreciate the staff of Kenyatta University Nakuru Campus for their support that enabled me to undertake my MBA studies to completion. My sincere gratitudes go to the Management of Laikipia University for encouraging me to attend my evening lessons despite numerous workplace engagements. I am also grateful to the family of Kap Moek for bestowing on me the hope of being an educational torch for the family. Finally, I thank the Almighty God for enabling it all. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... xii OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ............................................................................. xiii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .................................................................................... xiv ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. xv CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background of the problem .................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1. Laikipia University ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.2. Concept of strategy ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3. Concept of strategic positioning ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.2. Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................................................ 7 1.3. Objectives of the study ........................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.1. General objective ............................................................................................................................................ 8 1.3.2. Specific objectives .......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3.3. Research Questions ......................................................................................................................................... 8 1.4. Significance of the study ........................................................................................................................................ 9 1.5. Scope of the study ................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6. Limitations of the study ........................................................................................................................................ 10 1.7. Organization of the study ...................................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO .......................................................................................................................... 11 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................. 11 2.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2. Theories of strategic positioning........................................................................................................................... 11 2.3. Theories of competitive advantage ....................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1. Competitive advantage in service quality ..................................................................................................... 13 v 2.3.2. Competitive advantage in technology and operations ................................................................................... 15 2.3.3. Competitive advantage in human resources .................................................................................................. 18 2.3.4. Competitive advantage in leadership quality ................................................................................................ 19 2.4. Global approaches to strategic positioning ........................................................................................................... 20 2.4.1. Emergent strategy model (ESM) ................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.2. Rational strategy model (RSM) .................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.3. Incrementalism strategy model (ISM) .......................................................................................................... 21 2.4.4. Other strategy models ................................................................................................................................... 21 2.5. Governance of public Universities in Kenya ........................................................................................................ 21 2.6. Strategic practices at Laikipia University ............................................................................................................. 22 2.7. Conceptual framework.......................................................................................................................................... 24 2.7.1. Senior management support .......................................................................................................................... 24 2.7.2. Employee capacity ........................................................................................................................................ 25 2.7.3. Capacity for development ............................................................................................................................. 25 2.7.4. Government support.....................................................................................................................................