EFFECT OF RISK-TAKING COMPETENCY ON THE SURVIVAL OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN KENYA
Ramadhan Odhiambo Abdul
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PhD in Entrepreneurship
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Prof. Elegwa Mukulu,
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Prof. Romanus Odhiambo,
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
CITATION:Abdul, R. O., Mukulu, E., & Odhiambo, R. O. (2018). Effect of risk-taking competency on the survival of smalland mediumenterprisesinKenya. European Journals of Business Management. Vol. 6 (4) pp 1 – 18.
ABSTRACT
In almost all economies of the world, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine that drive economic growth. Policy makers, researchersand governments are putting much effort to minimize their high mortality rate as the collapse ration of SMEs is alarming for both developing and developed countries. In Kenya many SMEs encounter problems that limit their survival. The threat to survival is real and requires a concerted effort from both policy makers and the entrepreneurs themselves. This study, therefore, seeks to investigate the effect of risk-taking competency on the survival of SMEs in Kenya. The study is about the likelihood of survival of SMEs in Kenya should they opt to use appropriate risk-taking competency. The study was guided by the research objective as finding out what role is played by risk-taking competency on the survival of SMEs in Kenya. The study reviewed past activities and this was explained by the literature review. The literature review evaluated the relationship between risk-taking competency on the one hand and survival of SMEs on the other hand. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 268,100 registered SMEs who are operating under single business permit (SBP) in Nairobi City County where a stratified random sampling was applied to identify 400 SMEs. Data analysis was by way of descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages), tables and graphical presentations, and a linear regression model where survival was regressed against risk-taking competency to make statistical reference. The findings revealed that risk-taking competency has a significant effect on survival of SMEs in Kenya. Taking manageable risk, careful decision making, careful analysis of the risks and taking calculated moves affect the survival of SMEs. The study recommends that SMEs should adopt risk-taking strategies through taking calculated moves in their operations as well as carefully analysing the available options so as to increase the chances of landing into the best option. They should have a template for dealing with risks that give them advantage over the competition.
Key Words: risk-taking competency, survival, small and mediumenterprises
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