East African Journal of Management and Business Studies

Influence of Trade Union on Employee’s Performance in Government Health Institutions of Siha District, Tanzania

Simon Owino Njeya — 2023-12-14

This study sought to establish the influence of trade union on employee’s performance in government health institutions of Siha District, Tanzania. The study employed the descriptive-correlational research design. The study involved Government Health Institutions in Siha District namely Kibong’oto Infectious Diseases Hospital and Siha District Hospital. The study population was 521 employees. From those, a sample of 226 staff members was selected through simple random sampling procedures. Data was collected through a questionnaire and treated through descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Based on the findings, the study concludes that trade union did not do much to convince employees of its role in improving performance. However, the performance was high as employees demonstrated a strong sense of commitment by dispensing health services to clients and there was high client satisfaction with service delivery. Based on the conclusions, the study recommends that there is a need to encourage and motivate employees to maintain their good performance. Since communication and sensitization have been found to be significant factors that influenced the performance, it is recommended that institutions should work hard to improve communication strategies so that performance can be improved.

Blending the Traditional Career Management with the New Career Management in Organizations

Marie-Anne Razafiarivony — 2024-02-21

While organizational career management practices have undergone several changes over the past decades, one way to enhance employees’ quality of life is planning and managing career paths. Whereas people perceived the career management concept as a long-term contract between the employing organization and the employee (referred to as traditional career management), today there is the idea that it can be a short-term transactional contract, termed new career management. Although organizations may adopt the new career approach, it may not have taken hold for every industry or organization. Within the same organization, there may exist a need to integrate both the traditional career management approach with the new career management approach in dealing with employees, based on the needs of the latter. This paper summarized characteristics of both career models and proposed ways in which organizations can blend both types of career management, using the theory synthesis design.

Wage Employment in Sugarcane Outgrower Schemes in Kilombero Tanzania: A Gender Perspective

Anne Richard Mwakibete — 2024-02-21

This study investigated wage employment within sugarcane outgrower schemes in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, with a specific focus on gender perspectives. Employing the case study design, the study involved the population of 3,987 with a sample size of 399 drawn from four villages within the Kilombero Valley. Data underwent descriptive analysis, utilising percentages and cross-tabulation techniques. Furthermore, the Chi-square ascertained the association between gender of the household heads and their involvement in labour market practices. The findings highlight that female-headed households show a higher tendency towards engaging in selling labour while male-headed households are more likely to hire labour. In light of these findings, this study suggests that to address these disparities effectively, gender-sensitive interventions in the agricultural sector are necessary, including providing women with equal access to resources, implementing policies promoting gender equality and establishing support networks to empower women in agriculture.

Planned Behavior Theory and Graduates’ Behaviors towards Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Tanzania

Frida Thomas Pacho — 2024-02-21

This study investigated about graduates’ behaviors towards agricultural entrepreneurship in Tanzania using planned behavior theory. The study used the cross-sectional survey design with a sample of 600 graduates who completed bachelor's degrees between 2018 and 2022 in six regions in the country. The study used a questionnaire as source of data. The study tested several hypotheses to establish the relationships among studied variables. The study revealed a significant positive relationship between attitude and entrepreneurial aspirations among young individuals in the agricultural sector. There is a mediating effect of knowledge regarding agriculture on the relationships between attitude and intention to pursue agricultural entrepreneurship. Furthermore, there is a mediating effect of knowledge regarding agriculture on the relationships between perceived behavior control and intention to pursue agricultural entrepreneurship. Therefore, it is essential to design programs that nurture positive attitudes toward agricultural entrepreneurship among the graduates, incorporating elements of education, mentorship and exposure for a successful agricultural entrepreneurship. The government should strengthen knowledge-based initiatives, leveraging educational programs, access to information and technological resources to empower graduates in translating their behavior into entrepreneurial intentions.

Brand Personality Studies in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS): A systematic Literature Review

Juma Matonya — 2024-02-21

This paper presents a review of brand personality studies in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) by applying a systematic literature review. Taylor and Francis, Google Scholar, Emerald, and ScienceDirect were the databases utilized in this review. A total of 46 articles covering a period from 2003 to 2022 were used as data source. The study used the deductive research approach and analyzed data using content analysis method. The study revealed that quantitative research approach, convenience sampling technique, structural equation modeling and the Big Five human personality framework have dominated brand personality research. The color of the product package, the shape of the product package, sensorial image and corporate image, perceived effectiveness of celebrity endorsement, power distance belief and business competence are antecedents of brand personality. The majority of studies established that self-congruency mediates the relationship between brand personality and other consumer and brand related variables. It was confirmed that ethnocentrism, country of origin image, self-image congruence and corporate-brand credibility moderate the relationships between brand personality and other consumer and brand related variables. The majority of studies support that purchase intention is the consequence of brand personality. It is recommended that brand management practitioners and stakeholders should fully utilize the factors that influence brand personality to differentiate themselves from their competitors. The study further recommends the use of non-probability sampling techniques, qualitative techniques and country-specific brand personality measurement scale in future studies.

The Influence of Financial Technology Experience on Digital Financial Inclusion: MVAS Perceived Usefulness as a Mediator among MFI Customers in Tanzania

Sarikiael Borish Nnko — 2024-02-22

Based in the fact that Digital Financial Inclusion is a key factor for promoting economic development and reducing poverty in a developing country like Tanzania, this study aimed at examining how the experience with Financial Technology (FinTech) influences digital financial inclusion among MFI customers in Tanzania, with the mediation role of the perceived usefulness of Mobile Value-Added Services (MVAS). Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) provided the lens through which the key issues under investigation could be examined. Data collection was conducted using a survey-based questionnaire involving a sample of 283 MFI customers found in two regions of Tanzania (Dar Es Salaam and Arusha). The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was then used for data analysis. Findings of the study show that the experience with FinTech positively and significantly influences the adoption and usage of digital financial inclusion among MFI customers. The results also show that perceived usefulness of MVAs mediates significantly the relationship between experience with FinTech and digital financial inclusion. Based on these findings, it is recommended that MFIs, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and regulatory authorities (e.g., BOT, TRCA and AFI) cooperate in educating the customers to get the necessary skills about digital financial transactions and to motivate them to use it regularly to gain experience. These stakeholders should also ensure positive experiences with MVAS as it mediates well the relationship between experience with FinTech and digital financial inclusion. The study contributes to the literature on digital financial inclusion and provides practical implications for policymakers and practitioners alike.

Contribution of the Graduate Sales Bootcamp in Satisfying Graduates and Employers

Darlene K. Mutalemwa — 2024-03-06

This article investigates the Graduate Sales Bootcamp, a Tanzanian soft skills training program aimed at addressing the skills gap faced by recent graduates entering the workforce. It argues that the program has the potential to significantly benefit both graduates and the business economy. The study examined a five-step training process, implemented by the program and explored its effectiveness through qualitative data analysis. This data is drawn from in-depth interviews with stakeholders and 62 graduates who participated. The study reveals a high level of satisfaction among program beneficiaries, with several key factors identified as contributing to this success.

Influence of Innovation on Financial Performance of SACCOS in Mbeya, Tanzania, with the Mediation Effect of Corporate Governance

Stewart Mbegu — 2024-03-06

The purpose of the study was to determine how innovation influences the financial performance of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) in Tanzania's Mbeya Region while accounting for the corporate governance mediation effect. The study used an explanatory design and positivist philosophy, testing the Social Innovation Theory hypotheses deductively. A total of 83 of the 105 SACCOS that are registered and running at the time of data collection were randomly selected as study sample. The study used a questionnaire to collect data. Data analysis involved the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-Smart PLS e: 4.0.9.9). Based on the findings, the study concluded that corporate governance and financial performance are strongly and positively correlated. Corporate governance strongly correlates with innovation. Innovation and financial performance have a marginally positive relationship. Finally, corporate governance acts as a mediator in the relationship between financial performance and innovation. Based on the conclusions, the study recommends that companies ought to welcome innovation as a way to deal with long-term problems in financial performance. Businesses entities must ensure that corporate governance is strengthened in order to enhance the financial performance in a sustainable manner. They must also ensure that innovation and corporate governance go hand in hand in order to achieve financial success. Finally, companies need to make sure that they exhibit excellent corporate governance practices and principles in order to positively impact other aspects of the company's financial success.