Inventory Management Practices and Productivity of Private Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
Abstract
For years, inventory management practices have garnered significant attention from researchers, academicians, and practitioners due to poor financial and overall performance resulting from them. This study assessed the influence of inventory management practices on the productivity of selected private universities in Kenya, with a particular focus on those registered and domiciled in Nairobi County. The study evaluated the effects of inventory planning and tracking on the productivity of private universities in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study used Agency Theory and the Theory of Economic Order Quantity. The target population of this study included academic and administrative staff, as well as supply chain management employees. The target population comprised 12 individuals from each of the 10 selected private universities. Using the Yamane formula, a sample size of 92 was achieved. A pilot stage was conducted with 9 participants. Data collected from questionnaires were coded, tabulated, and analyzed using SPSS version 22 and inferential and descriptive statistics. The regression coefficient results showed that the two variables had a positive and significant influence on the institutions’ productivity. Inventory planning scored (Beta= 0.586, p < 0.05), and inventory tracking scored (Beta = 0.789, p-value< 0.05). In this regard, it is recommended that institutions should focus on eliminating redundant storage and movement stages and on defining predefined distribution routes from the time the inventory is received to the end user to promote efficiency. The study concluded that inventory management practices directly influence private universities’ productivity, suggesting that educational facilities should invest heavily in efficient, effective inventory management systems.
Keywords: Inventory Management Practices, Inventory Planning, Inventory Tracking, Productivity, Private Universities
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