TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS AND PERFORMANCE OF HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING: PERSPECTIVES FROM PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Authors: Cyrus Sila Musyoka & Dr. Kegoro Ongoto Henry

ABSTRACT

Despite the important place that research on strategic innovations has in the literature on strategic management, little is known about the relationship between strategic innovations and university performance. The limitations of measuring the strategic innovation constructs, methodological ambiguities, and contentious findings from earlier studies served as the foundation for this study. This study set out to look into how technology advancements affected the performance of Kenya’s public universities. This study made use of the balanced scorecard paradigm, disruptive innovation based on resources, and both. The research design used was cross-sectional. This study’s target audience consisted of Kenya’s 31 public universities. This study’s sample frame consisted of 10 public universities. The population’s 100 respondents were picked. Using a stratified random sample method, respondents from Kenya’s 10 public universities were selected. The Israel (2009) formula was used to establish the sample size for the 80 respondents. Structured questionnaires with both closed- and open-ended questions were used to collect primary data. A Likert-type scale was used to evaluate the questionnaire items. The administration and administrative staff of Kenya’s public universities served as the study’s respondents. The deputy vice chancellors, directors, deputy directors, managers, and senior administrators were among the respondents to the survey. While Cronbach Alpha coefficients were used to test the reliability of the research instrument, the validity of the research instrument was evaluated by academic researchers and business specialists. Descriptive statistics and the linear regression approach were used to examine the data, and the results were presented as tables and figures. The study found a strong correlation between technical advancements and the performance of Kenya’s public universities (F, 54.0 = 49.3, p 0.000). The study concluded that technology advancements like virtual learning, e-learning tools, and digital records can effectively explain the performance of public universities. Rethinking technological breakthroughs is crucial, the research advises, if public universities in Kenya are to perform better. It is inferred that the findings of this study will have a substantial impact on theory, management practice, and decision-makers like the Commission for University Education and the Kenyan Ministry of Education.

Keywords: Technological Innovations and Performance of Higher Institutions of Learning

REFERENCES

  • Abir, M., & Chokri, M. (2010). Dynamic of Financial Innovation and Performance of Banking Firms: Context of an Emerging Banking Industry. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, 51(51), 17–36.
  • Ali, S., & Marjan H., (2012). Impact of Brand Personality on Three Major Relational Consequences (Trust, Attachment, And Commitment to the Brand): Case Study of Nestle Nutrition Company in Tehran, Iran. Aust. J. Basic & Appl. Sci., 6(5): 79-87, 2012.
  • Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2013). Changing course: Ten years of tracking online education in the United States. Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://fi les.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ ED541571.pdf
  • Alsabawy, A. Y., & Cater-Steel, A. (2012). Identifying the determinants of e-learning service delivery quality. Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on Information Systems, 1–10. Retrieved from http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30049073
  • Andreea, M. & Horea, D. (2018). Influence of the Marketing Innovation on the Organizational Performance. International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Management Research, (3) 6, 1-12
  • Aswani.S. (2013). Strategic Innovation and Performance of Public Universities in Kenya. Nairobi. MBA Project. The University of Nairobi.
  • Ayo J. (2011) “Achieving Competitive Advantage in Insurance Industry: The Impact of Marketing Innovation and Creativity” Journal of Emerging Trends in Economics and Management Sciences, Vol. 2, No.1., p. 18-21.
  • Barney, J.B. (1991), Firm Resources and Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management. 17 (1). 99-120.
  • Brunner, J. J. (2013). New dynamics of Latin American higher education. International Higher Education, 71, 20–22.
  • Brynjolfsson, E., & McAfee, A. (2011). Race against the machine: How the digital revolution is accelerating innovation, driving productivity, and irreversibly transforming employment and the economy. Lexington, MA: Digital Frontier Press.
  • Burns, J.M. (1978) Leadership. New York. Harper & Row
  • Cascio, R. P. (2011). “Marketing Innovation and Firm Performance Research Model, Research Hypotheses, And Managerial Implications”. Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004- 2019. 1906. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/1906
  • Christensen, C. (1997). Innovators Dilemma. When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail. Boston. Harvard Business School Press
  • Christensen, C. M., & Eyring, H. J. (2011). The innovative university: Changing the DNA of higher education from the inside out. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Christensen, C. M., Horn, Michael B., Caldera, L. & Soares, L. (2011). Disrupting College: How Disruptive Innovation Can Deliver Quality and Affordability to Post-Secondary Education. Center for American Progress.
  • Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2014). Business Research: A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students. 4th edition, Palgrave Macmillan
  • Commission for University Education Report (CUE) (2018). List of Chartered Universities in Kenya. Retrieved from http://www.cue.or.ke.
  • Crowd. (2018). Best K-12 Student Information Systems Software in 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018, from https://www.g2crowd.com/categories/k-12-student-information-systems
  • CUE (2016). Status of Universities. Retrieved on 17th November 2017 from http://www.cue.or.ke/.
  • Doz, Y. L., & Kosonen, M. (2010). Embedding strategic agility: A leadership agenda for accelerating business model renewal. Long-range planning, 43(2-3), pp. 370-382.
  • González-Pernía, J.L., Jung, A. & Peña, I. (2015). Innovation-driven entrepreneurship in developing economies. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 27 (10): 555-573.
  • Guday, U. & Kilic, A. (2011). “Effects of innovation types on firm performance”. A Journal of management, 2-43.
  • Guest, G. (2012). Applied thematic analysis. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage. P. 11
  • Gupta S., & Malhotra N., (2013)”Marketing innovation: a resource‐based view of international and local firms”, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, Vol. 31 No.2., p. 111-126.
  • Gupta, S., Malhotra, N. K., Czinkota, M., & Foroudi, P. (2016). Marketing innovation: A consequence of competitiveness. Journal of Business Research,69(12), 5671-5681. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.02.042
  • Guyo, J. E. (2014). Effect of Technology Adoption on Operational Efficiency of Commercial Banks In Kenya. MBA Project. The University of Nairobi. Accessed at: http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/
  • Hamid, T., & Mohammad, M. J. (2012). Product Innovation Performance in Organization. Elsevier. Vol.1, 521 – 523
  • Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) (2014). Quality of Graduates in Africa. Center for International Higher Education, Nairobi. Retrieved from http://www.iucea.or.ke/.
  • Jakovljevic, M. (2020). A model for innovation in higher education. South African Journal of Higher Education, 32(4), 109-131. https://doi.org/10.20853/32-4-2432
  • Jin, Z. H. (2014). Innovativeness and Performance: Evidence from manufacturing sectors. Journal of strategic marketing, 255-266.
  • Jin, Z., Hewitt, N. & Thompson, J. (2013). Innovativeness and performance: Evidence from manufacturing sectors. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 12 (4), 255-266.
  • Kamakia, P. (2014). Effect of Product Innovation on Performance Of Commercial Banks In Kenya. MBA Project. University of Nairobi
  • Kale, E., Aknar, A., & Başar, Ö. (2019). Absorptive capacity and firm performance: The mediating role of strategic agility. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 78, pp. 276-283.
  • Keller, K. (2010). Brand Equity Management in a Multichannel, Multimedia Retail Environment. Special Issue, Journal of Interactive Marketing, 24 (2), 58-70.
  • Keller, K. L. (2010). Brand Equity Management in a Multichannel, Multimedia Retail Environment. Special Issue, Journal of Interactive Marketing, 24 (2), 58-70.
  • King’oo, R. N. (2014). Strategic Capabilities and Organizational Performance: A Case Of Private Universities In Kenya. MBA Project. Kenyatta University
  • Kiptoo, L., & Koech, P. (2019). Effect of strategic innovations on organizational performance. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (2), 443 – 360.
  • Kirabo, J., Gregory S. N., & Mike, A. I. (2020). Strategic Innovation, A Contemporary Management Practice on Performance of Telecommunication Companies in Rwanda. International Journal of Social Sciences and Information Technology, 5 (9), 1-14
  • Kumar, A., & Ganesh, L. s. (2011). Inter‐individual knowledge transfers and performance in product development. The Learning Organization, 18(3), 224–238. https://doi.org/10.1108/09696471111123270 13.
  • LaMorte, W. W. (2016). Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Retrieved June 25, 2018, from http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-
  • Ludwig von Bertalanffy. 1968. General System theory: Foundations, Development, Applications.
  • Lumpkin. (2013). Strategic Management: Creating competitive advantages. Newyork: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
  • Lusweti, R. (2013). Innovation strategies adopted by radio stations in Kenya. MBA Project, University of Nairobi.
  • Makimi, H. M. (2010). The Effect of Organizational Innovation and Information Technology on Firm Performance: A Case Study of Safaricom Limited. MBA Project. United States International University.
  • Mbuchi, M. M. (2013). Innovations and Service Quality in Kenyas’ Higher Education. MBA Project. The University of Nairobi.
  • McAdam, R., & Keogh, K., (2013). Transitioning towards creativity and innovation measurement in SMEs. Creativity and Innovation Management, 13 (2), 126-141
  • Melchorita, S. S. (2013). The Influence of Strategic Management Practices and Competitive Advantage on the Organizational Performance of Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1(1), 56-72.
  • Melchorita, S. S. (2013). The Influence of Strategic Management Practices and Competitive Advantage on the Organizational Performance of Higher Education Institutions. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1(1), 56-72.
  • Mertler, C.A. & Vannatta, R. A. (2010). Advanced and Multivariate Statistical Methods, 4th Ed. Los Angeles
  • Micheline, G. & Reinhilde, V. (2012). Innovation strategies, process and product innovations and growth: Firm-level evidence from Brazil. Faculty of Business and Economics.
  • Muraguri, C, Kimencu, L. & Thuo, K. (2014). The Influence of Organizational Leadership on Performance of Universities in Kenya. Published Journal Article, 3 (4) 1-14
  • Mwania M & Muganda N. (2011). An investigation on the relationship between information technology conceptualization and bank performance. Kenya in AIBUMA Conference paper. Nairobi: Kimathi University College of technology.
  • Najmaei, A. (2010). Strategic management of strategic innovation. SSRN Electronic Journal, (September). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1594430
  • Namusonge, Muturi & Olaniran. (2016). The role of innovation on the performance of firms on Nigerian Stock Exchange. International Journal of Management and Social Sciences, Vol 4.
  • Nikolai S. (2017). High-priority directions of modernization of university education in innovational society. International Journal of Educational Management, 31 (1): 56 – 61
  • Novikov, A.M. & Novikov, D.A. (2013). Research Methodology: From Philosophy of Science to Research Design. CRC Press
  • Nybakk. E & Jenssen I. (2012). Innovation strategy, working climate and financial performance in traditional manufacturing firms: An empirical analysis. International Journal of Innovation Management (16).
  • Odhiambo, G.O. (2013). Higher education quality in Kenya: a critical reflection on key challenges. Quality in Higher Education 17 (2): 299-315.
  • Onikoyi, I. A. (2017). Impact of Product Innovation on Organizational Performance (A Survey of Nestle Nigeria Plc). Journal of Marketing and Consumer Research, Vol. 271
  • Peteraf A. (2013). The cornerstone of competitive advantage. A resource-based view. Strategic Management Journal, 14 (5): 171-191
  • Polder, M., Leeuwen, V., Mohnen, P. & Raymond, W. (2013). Product, process and organizational innovation: drivers, complementarity and productivity effects. Unumerit: Maastricht Economic and Social Research and Training Centre on Innovation and Technology.
  • Quan, C., Chun-Hsien, W. & Shi-Zheng, S. (2020). Effects of organizational innovation and technological innovation capabilities on firm performance: evidence from firms in China’s Pearl River Delta, Asia Pacific Business Review, 26:1, 72-96, DOI: 10.1080/13602381.2019.1592339
  • Queiroz, M., Tallon, P. P., Sharma, R., & Coltman, T. (2018). The role of IT application orchestration capability in improving agility and performance. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 27(1), pp. 4-21.
  • Rate, R. (2012). When Innovation Fails. Forbes. June 28, 2012
  • Rezart, P. & Genc, A. (2017). Market orientation, innovation, and firm performance—an analysis of Albanian firms. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 6 (8), 1-19
  • Richard, M. W., Fariborz & D., Carlos A. D. (2010). Management Innovation and Organizational Performance: The Mediating Effect of Performance Management. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 1 (10), 1-21
  • Rogers, J., & Smith, M., (2011). Demonstrating genuine interest in students’ needs and progress: implications for student satisfaction with courses. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education 3 (1), 6-14.
  • Salim, I. M. & Sulaiman, M. B. (2011). Impact of Organizational Innovation on Firm Performance: Evidence from Malaysian-Based ICT Companies. Business and Management Review,
  • Sawhney, M., Wolcott, R. C. & Arroniz I (2016). The 12 different ways for companies to innovate. MIT Sloan Manag Rev 47(3):7-11
  • Selwyn, N. et al. (2014). Adults’ use of ICTs for learning: reducing or increasing educational inequalities? Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 56 (2): 269-298
  • Shisia, A., Sang, W., Matoke, J. & Omwario, B. N. (2014) Strategic Innovation and Performance of Public Universities in Kenya. European Journal of Business and Management, Vol.6, No.23
  • Shin, H., Lee, J. N., Kim, D., & Rhim, H. (2015). Strategic agility of Korean small and medium enterprises and its influence on operational and firm performance. International Journal of Production Economics, 168, pp. 181-196.
  • Simiyu, B. (2013). Effects of innovation strategies on performance of commercial banks in Kenya. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship, 1 (3), 198-207.
  • Slivko, O. (2013). Innovation Strategies of German Firms: The Effect of Competition and Intellectual Property Protection. Discussion Paper No. 12-089.
  • Tavassoli, S., & Karlsson, C. (2015). Firms’ Innovation Strategies Analyzed and Explained. CESIS Electronic Working Paper Series Paper No. 396. The Royal Institute of Technology Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies (CESIS).
  • Terziovski, M. (2012). Innovation practice and its performance implications in small and medıum enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector: A resource-based view. Strategic Management Journal, 31, 892 – 902.
  • Tallon, P. P., Queiroz, M., Coltman, T., & Sharma, R. (2018). Information technology and the search for organizational agility: A systematic review with future research possibilities. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems. (2), pp. 218-237
  • Udegbe, S. & E., Udegbe, M. (2013). Impact of Product Development and Innovation on Organisational Performance. International Journal of Management and Sustainability Vol. 2, No. 12, Pp. 220-230
  • Upadhaya, B., Munir, R., & Blount, Y. (2014). “Association between performance measurement systems and Organizational effectiveness”. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Emerald. 34 (7): 853–875. doi:10.1108/ ijopm- 02-2013-0091.
  • Valentina, P., Olga, G. O. & Boris, L. U.(2017). Strategic management in universities as a factor of their global competitiveness, International Journal of Educational Management, 31(1): 62 – 75
  • Verma, R., & Jayasimha, K. R. (2014). Service delivery innovation architecture: An empirical study of antecedents and outcomes. IIMB Management Review, 26(2), 105–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2014.03.002
  • Wangira, F. (2018). Influence of Innovation Practices on the Public Sector Performance in Nairobi City County Government-Kenya. PhD Thesis. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. Accessed at: http://ir.jkuat.ac.ke/bitstream
  • Waithaka, T., B. (2014). Corporate Identity Management Practices, Organizational Characteristics, Corporate Image and Brand Performance of Kenyan Universities. Published PhD Thesis. The University of Nairobi. Retrieved from http://www.google scholar.
  • Wambui, K.S. (2011). Comparative Analysis of Business Students Perception of Service Quality Offered in Kenyan Universities. International Journal of Business Administration, 1(3), 1-19
  • White, M. & Bruton, G. (2011). Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation. (2nd ed). Sidney: Cengage Learning
  • Worch, H., Truffer, B., Gebauer, H., & Truffer, B. (2012). Absorptive capacity, learning processes and combinative capabilities as determinants of strategic innovation. European Management  Journal,           30(1),   57–73. Retrieved        from https://econpapers.repec.org/article/eeeeurman/v_3a30_3ay_3a2012_3ai_3a1_3ap_3a 57-73.htm
  • Zhou. K. & Wu. F. (2010). Technological capability, strategic flexibility and product innovation. Strategic management journal, 547-561