Abstract:
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of strategic capabilities on the performance of e-business companies in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to investigate the effect of technological readiness on the performance of e-business in Kenya; determine the influence of strategic positioning on the performance of e-business and determine the influence of knowledge management on the performance of e-business in Kenya. The study was also aimed at investigating the influence of transformational leadership on the performance of e-businesses and determining the moderating effect of the regulatory environment on the relationship between strategic capabilities and the performance of e-businesses in Kenya. The study was anchored on the resource-based view theory, competitive advantage theory, organizational learning theory and transformational leadership theory.
The study adopted a positivism philosophical worldview and limited itself to quantitative methods. The quantitative approach for this study was best suited as it sought to statistically examine the influence of strategic capabilities on the performance of e-business companies. The study applied a descriptive research design. The study population was 336 senior management personnel from 112 registered e-business companies in Nairobi and the units of analysis were the management-level employees of the companies. The study adopted the use of questionnaires to acquire data from respondents. The study used the census sampling technique where all the 112 registered e-business companies in Nairobi were included in the study. Questionnaire administration was through drop-and-pick-later and electronic administration (google forms). The study administered 336 questionnaires and 284 were filled and collected which was a response rate of 84.5%. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Means and standard deviations were generated from the descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were among the inferential statistics used in the research. Version 26 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the study data. Tables and figures were utilized to present the findings.
The study findings established that technological readiness had a significant influence on the financial performance (β = 0.300, p < 0.05) and customer satisfaction (β = 0.308, p < 0.05) of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya. Findings on strategic positioning indicated that it has a significant influence on the financial performance (β = 0.616, p < 0.05) and customer satisfaction (β = 0.572, p < 0.05) of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya.
Findings on knowledge management determined that it has a significant influence on the financial performance (β = 0.544, p < 0.05) customer satisfaction (β = 0.557, p < 0.05) of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya. Study results on transformational leadership established that it had a significant influence on the financial performance (β = 0.502, p < 0.05) and customer satisfaction (β = 0.393, p < 0.05) of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya. The study determined that the regulatory environment had a significant and positive moderating influence on the relationship between technological readiness and financial performance of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya (β = 0.060, p < 0.05) but regulatory environment did not have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between the other strategic capabilities (strategic positioning, knowledge management, and transformational leadership) and the financial performance of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya. The findings further indicate that the regulatory environment had a significant and positive moderating influence on the relationship between technological readiness and customer satisfaction of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya (β = 0.052, p < 0.05) and further had a significant and positive moderating influence on the relationship between strategic positioning and customer satisfaction of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya (β = 0.128, p < 0.05). However, the findings showed that the regulatory environment did not have a significant moderating effect on the relationship between the other strategic capabilities (knowledge management and transformational leadership) and customer satisfaction of e-businesses in Nairobi, Kenya.
The study concludes that technological preparedness was vital for the performance of e-business in Nairobi Kenya. The study further concludes that the vital technological readiness aspects include IT competence and IT security which are indicated by using current technology in their activities and operations, having procedures in place to protect the privacy of their customers, and extensively investing in cyber-security. The study findings also lead to the conclusion that the constructs of differentiation and pricing were essential to enable e-businesses to attain their performance objectives. Moreover, the study concluded that focusing on knowledge management aspects of knowledge acquisition and utilization was essential for the performance of e-businesses. Besides, the study concludes that transformational leadership was essential to enable e-businesses to attain their performance objectives. Therefore, the study concludes that improvement of the ICT policy and data security regulations in the country could enhance the performance of e-businesses. The study recommends that the management of e-businesses should encourage staff members to be involved in cutting-edge technology initiatives at work and to invest in new technology.
The study, therefore, recommends to e-business leaders to ensure their platforms are focused on incorporating both domestic and foreign suppliers, develop features to enable customers to compare different product prices, and have diversified offerings providing discounted price sand premium prices with added features and improved services. Moreover, the study recommends management to effectively recruit highly trained people, be fast to determine how to react to rivals' efforts and enhance their proactiveness towards addressing competitors' initiatives. The study further recommends firms to have managers who exhibit strong expertise in carrying out their jobs, provide employees the freedom to express their opinions on organizational strategies and encourage employees to be upbeat about the future. Lastly, the study recommends to policy makers in the government of Kenya to regularly interact with e-business stakeholders when formulating ICT policies and always solicit information from key stakeholders in the ICT sector regarding reforms or new regulations in the sector.