Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are acknowledged as official financial intermediaries serving the under-banked population. There has been a drastic negative decrease in the ROA between of the licensed MFBs in Kenya, 2015 to 2017 followed with fuzzy unpredictable ROA for the remaining years running to 2022. The main objective of this motivation was to use the current data to analyze the determinant of performance of the licensed Microfinance Institutions in Kenya. Specifically, the study analyzed; the loan portfolio quality of MFIs in Kenya, the efficiency of MFI’s in Kenya and the capital adequacy of MFIs in Kenya. The study was based on Efficient Structure Theory and Capital Buffer Theory. The investigator adopted explanatory research design based on the secondary data obtained from published statements of accounts of all licensed Microfinance Banks by Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) publications for ten years. The study took a census of the 13 licensed Microfinance Banks by Central Bank of Kenya over the 10 years panel period of the study. The investigator found compelling evidence to support a positive and significant relationship between loan portfolio quality and operational efficiency with Return on Assets (ROA) among these institutions. This suggests that MFBs that prioritize maintaining high-quality loan portfolios and operate efficiently are more likely to achieve better returns on their assets. Conversely, the findings revealed an insignificant relationship between capital adequacy and the financial performance of licensed MFBs in Kenya. This suggests that while capital adequacy is traditionally considered crucial for financial stability and profitability in the banking sector, it may not have the same impact on MFBs in the Kenyan context.

Kenya's energy sector parastatals encounter notable challenges pertaining to organizational performance. According to KenGen's 2020 annual report, there was a 4% decline in revenue, dropping from Shs. 45.9 billion in 2019 to Shs. 44.1 billion in 2020, indicating a decrease in organizational performance. Similarly, Kenya Power experienced a 25% decrease in profits, falling from Shs. 3.5 billion in 2022 to Shs. 2.625 billion in 2023. It is against this problem that the researcher assessed the effect of process supply chain integration on the organizational performance of energy sector parastatals in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was anchored on relational exchange theory. A descriptive research design was adopted.The target population was the energy sector parastatals in Nairobi County, including the Kenya Electricity Generating Company Limited, Geothermal Development Company, Kenya Electrical Transmission Company, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Kenya Power and Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed in data analysis. Descriptive findings revealed that the process supply chain integration affected the organizational performance of energy sector parastatals. The correlation analysis results showed that the relationship between process supply chain integration and organizational performance of energy sector parastatals was positive and significant (r=0.476**; p=0.000) at 1% significance level. Therefore, streamlined workflows, agile operations, and optimized processes determined the organizational performance. As per regression analysis results, the coefficient of determination was 0.226 thus 22.6% of variation in organizational performance was explained by changes in process supply chain integration. The study concluded that streamlined workflows allow organizations to minimize redundancies, thereby enhancing operational efficiency. Moreover, the agile operations enhance the response to market fluctuations and customer needs which consequently bolster revenue prospects, which means that process integration affected organizational performance. It was recommended that the energy sector parastatals should synchronize workflows, operations, and task interactions for seamless operations and enhanced efficiency. This will lead to increased operational efficiency, reduced redundancies, and minimized delays which will promote organizational performance.

This investigation explored the challenges faced by water service providers in Kenya amidst intensifying competitive pressures in the 21st century. With increasing demands for access to clean and reliable water, coupled with evolving regulatory frameworks and technological advancements, water providers are under growing pressure to adapt and thrive in a competitive environment. The research aimed to identify key strategies thattheWater Service Providers (WSPs)in Kenya can employ to manage the competitive pressures brought about by the 21st Century challenges. By analyzing the strategies such as;strategies to reduce None Revenue Water (NRW), customer expectation strategies, meeting regulatory requirement strategies, and strategies for the adoption of technological innovations. The study sought to uncover effective strategies for maintaining competitiveness and delivering quality services. Utilizing descriptive survey research design, the research aimed to provide practical insights and actionable recommendations for water service providers in Kenya. The investigation established that the four strategies used by WSPs in Nakuru County Kenya had positive significant effect 21st Century competitive pressure. The findings therefore will contribute to the development of strategic interventions and policy recommendations to support the resilience and growth of water service providers in Kenya. Ultimately, the research aims to ensure sustainable access to clean water for all Kenyan citizens while fostering innovation and efficiency in the water sector.

The aim of this paper is to show that the multidimensional notion of proximity does not necessarily lead to trust but paradoxically to mistrust between an individual (client) and an organisation, a microfinance institution (MFI) represented by its manager; contrary to what Dupuy &Torre (1998) maintain that trust rhymes with proximity. We mobilise the theory of social exchange through its trust component to support our approach. We adopt a mixed methodology, quali-quanti, based on the QCA technique on data from a 2nd category urban MFI in Libreville, Gabon, practising individual microcredit. We obtained two types of results. On the one hand, intuitive results indicate that trust is explained by geographical proximity and temporal proximity. Distrust is explained by the absence of temporal, geographical, professional and cultural proximity. On the other hand, the counter-intuitive results indicate that the absence of professional and cultural proximity paradoxically explains trust and geographical, professional and cultural proximity paradoxically explains mistrust. We have identified two managerial implications: (1) the introduction of two customer segmentation strategies for better monitoring, better knowledge of customers and a reduction in the risk of default; (2) the introduction of a microcredit application approval committee to prevent the manager from approving or granting microcredit unilaterally on the basis of emotional trust due to cultural and/or professional proximity.

This study assessed the risk management practices within businesses in Surigao City, Philippines, focusing on understanding the significant relationships and differences among five key indicators: risk identification, risk measurement and assessment, risk mitigation, risk reporting and monitoring, and risk governance.The research employed a descriptive survey method, purposive-convenience sampling, and engaged thirty-five businesses as respondents, utilizing a researcher-developed instrument validated by experts.The findings unveil the temporal distribution of enterprises, with a majority operating between 14 to 19 years.Risk identification, mitigation, and governance emerged as well-practiced aspects of the risk management process, while risk measurement and assessment, as well as risk reporting and monitoring, were moderately implemented.The study identifies significant variances, shedding light on intricate relationships within the risk management process. These insights contribute to understanding risk management in business enterprises, offering implications for research and practical applications.

In the age of digital transformation, ride-hailing services are one of the latest innovations in e-commerce. Grab, the leading ride-hailing service, holds over 50% of the market share in Vietnam. This study aims to investigate and evaluate the impact of customer experience on Gen Z customer loyalty in using Grab's ride-hailing services. With a sample survey of 344 Gen Z customers who use Grab's ride-hailing services in Hanoi, the study uses the PLS-SEM model for quantitative analysis to estimate the research model with 11 concepts, with the questionnaire developed through inheritance of previous research and in-depth interviews. The research results confirm the impact of 9 factors on Customer Experience, the direct impact of Customer Experience on Customer Loyalty and the mediating role of Customer Satisfaction in the relationship between Customer Experience and Customer Loyalty in the ride-hailing service. The study also makes practical contributions by providing managerial implications for businesses to enhance customer loyalty.