| dc.description.abstract | The aim of the study was to investigate influence of strategic management modes on performance (sales) of SMEs in Machakos Town, Machakos County. The specific objectives of this study were to establish influence of deliberate mode on performance of SMEs, to determine the influence of emergent mode on performance of SMEs and to investigate the influence of the reactive mode on performance of SMEs in Machakos town. Descriptive research design was used to ensure a complete description of the situation of SMEs performance in Machakos town. The target population was 16,399 licensed SMEs in Machakos Town.The expectation was that each of these SMEs had one manager; therefore, the target population was 16,399 SME’s managers in Machakos town. These SMEs were grouped into eight categories Barber shops and saloon, chemists and clinics, Medium size retail shops, Hotels and restaurants,Boutiques and textile shops, Bookshops and uniform shops and Consultancy firms.Using stratified random sampling method,a sample of 390 respondents was selected from the target population. Data was collected using questionnaires designed to obtain accurate information from respondents.The rearch instruments were tested for reliability using test re-test method to ensure they were clear to the respondents.The data collected was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. Under descriptive statistics frequencies and percentages were used where applicable and the findings presented using tables and figures.Due to non-normality and non-homogeneity of the dependent variable, a non-parametric test (Mann-Whitney U test) was preffered instead of a parametric test (t-test).Under this test,the data was categorized into low users of each strategy and high users of each strategy. The study results indicated sufficient evidence to show that SMEs which applies higher numbers of deliberate and emergent strategy practices tend to have higher performance ranking.Thus the study concludes that deliberate and emergent strategy practices positively influence performance of SMEs in Machakos Town.The test results also indicated that there was sufficient evidence to show that SMEs which applies higher numbers of reactive strategy practices tend to have lower performance ranking.The study findings indicate that SMEs managers can strengthen their operations to ensure that the SMEs have a competitive edge to match their counterparts across other counties.The study recommends the SME manager be advised to embrace deliberate and emergent strategies as opposed to reactive strategies in their management so as register positive performance.The study also recommends that there is need to have owners/managers of the small and medium enterprises undertake basic business and management skills training valuable in their daily operations. | en_US |
