role of strategic leadership for sustainable competitive advantage in kenyan public and private ...

296 Pages·2017·1.18 MB·English

ROLE OF STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FOR
SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN
KENYAN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

TITUS MUTHAMI KISING’U

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Business Administration)

JOMO KENYATTA UNIVERSITY OF
AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

2017
Role of Strategic Leadership for Sustainable Competitive Advantage in
Kenyan Public and Private Universities

Titus Muthami Kising’u

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Business Administration (Strategic Management) in the
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

2017
DECLARATION
This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other
University.

Signature …………………………………….. Date……………………………
Titus Muthami Kising’u

This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as University
Supervisors.

Signature …………………………………….. Date……………………………
Prof. Gregory S. Namusonge, PhD
JKUAT, Kenya

Signature …………………………………….. Date……………………………
Dr. Fred Mugambi Mwirigi, PhD
JKUAT, Kenya
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DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to my parents Mrs. Priscillah Muthoki Kising’u and the late
Simon Kising’u Kathyaka who had longed to see the end of this study. Both parents
were, in their own special ways, very inspirational to my accomplishment of the study. It
is also dedicated to my brothers and sisters. The thesis is also dedicated to my loving
wife Elizabeth Muthami and daughter Esther Muthoki Muthami. You made me who I
am and made my dream come true.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost I thank the Almighty God for the strength and love. I could never
have done this without the faith I have in you, the Almighty. To the Almighty God I give
glory and thanks.
There are times when a Doctor of Philosophy thesis seems like climbing a very high and
challenging mountain peak. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and
thank the team that supported me in reaching this mountain peak. I would like to express
my sincerest and special thanks to my two Supervisors, my mentors Prof. Gregory S.
Namusonge and Dr. Fred Mugambi Mwirigi. They were an inspiration to continue to the
peak of this climb for their guidance, immense knowledge, and paramount mentorship.
I am deeply indebted to the staff of College of Human Resource Development at
JKUAT for their support and I salute you all. I offer my sincere acknowledgement to Dr.
Fridah W. Simba for her support, motivation, suggestions, and feedback, and for editing
my thesis with her careful and instructive comments and advice.
This thesis would not have been completed without the help of various faculties from
Kenyan public and private universities who volunteered to participate in my survey
work for giving me their precious time and support through the questionnaire responses
they provided.
Finally, I acknowledge my family for their invaluable support that they accorded me. I
would like to express my sincerest thanks to my loving wife Elizabeth Muthami, my
daughter Esther Muthoki Muthami, and my mother Priscillah Muthoki Kising’u for their
support and encouragement on the completion of this thesis. The same
acknowledgement goes to my brothers and sisters. To all I say, God bless you.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................. II
DEDICATION ............................................................................................................... III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ V
LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... XV
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... XIX
LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................. XX
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ................................................. XXI
DEFINITION OF TERMS ..................................................................................... XXIII
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................ XXVII
CHAPTER ONE .............................................................................................................. 1
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Background of the Study ...................................................................................... 1
1.1.1 Global Perspective of Higher Education Sector ............................................ 5
1.1.2 Kenyan Perspective of Higher Education Sector .......................................... 9
1.1.3 Strategic Leadership .................................................................................... 12
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1.1.4 Strategic Leadership Practices .................................................................... 12
1.1.5 Strategic Leadership and Sustainable Competitive Advantage in
Universities ........................................................................................................... 15
1.2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................... 16
1.3 Research Objectives ........................................................................................... 18
1.3.1 General Objective ........................................................................................ 18
1.3.2 Specific Objectives ...................................................................................... 18
1.4 Research Hypotheses ......................................................................................... 19
1.5 Significance of the Study ................................................................................... 20
1.6 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................. 21
1.7 Limitations of the Study ..................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER TWO ........................................................................................................... 24
LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................................. 24
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 24
2.2 Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................... 24
2.2.1 Resource Based View Theory ..................................................................... 24
2.2.2 Flexible Leadership Theory ........................................................................ 27
2.2.3 Knowledge Based View Theory.................................................................. 28
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2.3 Conceptual Framework ...................................................................................... 29
2.4 Review of Literature on Variables ..................................................................... 31
2.4.1 Shaping Organizational Culture .................................................................. 31
2.4.2 Fostering Organizational Learning .............................................................. 36
2.4.3 Implementing Knowledge Management ..................................................... 40
2.4.4 Fostering Organizational Innovation ........................................................... 44
2.4.5 Sustainable Competitive Advantage ........................................................... 47
2.5 Empirical Review ............................................................................................... 59
2.5.1 Shaping Organizational Culture and Sustainable Competitive Advantage . 64
2.5.2 Fostering Organizational Learning and Sustainable Competitive Advantage
.................................................................................................................... 66
2.5.3 Implementing Knowledge Management and Sustainable Competitive
Advantage ................................................................................................... 67
2.5.4 Fostering Organizational Innovation and Sustainable Competitive
Advantage ................................................................................................... 68
2.6 Critique of the Existing Literature Relevant to the Study .................................. 69
2.7 Research Gaps .................................................................................................... 70
2.8 Summary ............................................................................................................ 72
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CHAPTER THREE ....................................................................................................... 73
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 73
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 73
3.2 Research Design ................................................................................................. 73
3.3 Target Population ............................................................................................... 74
3.4 Sampling Frame ................................................................................................. 75
3.5 Sample Size and Sampling Technique ............................................................... 75
3.6 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................... 80
3.7 Data Collection Procedures ................................................................................ 81
3.8 Pilot Study .......................................................................................................... 82
3.8.1 Validity ........................................................................................................ 83
3.8.2 Reliability .................................................................................................... 85
3.9 Data Processing and Analysis ............................................................................ 86
3.9.1 Descriptive Analysis ................................................................................... 87
3.9.2 Testing for Normality, Homoscedasticity, Linearity and Multicollinearity 87
3.9.3 Inferential Analyses ..................................................................................... 88
3.9.4 Hypotheses Tests ......................................................................................... 90
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3.9.5 Variable Definition and Measurement ........................................................ 91
CHAPTER FOUR .......................................................................................................... 94
RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ............................................................ 94
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 94
4.2 Response Rate .................................................................................................... 94
4.3 Results of Validity ............................................................................................. 96
4.3.1 Results of Face Validity .............................................................................. 96
4.3.2 Results of Content Validity ......................................................................... 97
4.3.3 Results of Construct Validity ...................................................................... 98
4.4 Results of Reliability ........................................................................................ 105
4.5 Descriptive Results of the University Profiles ................................................. 108
4.5.1 University Type ......................................................................................... 109
4.5.2 Age of University ...................................................................................... 109
4.5.3 Number of Employees in the University ................................................... 110
4.5.4 Market Share of the University ................................................................. 111
4.6 Descriptive Results of All Variables of the Study ........................................... 112
4.6.1 Descriptive Results for the Five Variables of the Study ........................... 112
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