This study focused on the effect that human resource management (HRM) practices have on employee performance. The study sought to establish the effect of training, performance-related pay, employee empowerment, job-design and job security on employee performance in catholic institutions of higher learning in Kenya. The research design used was descriptive survey research design. The target population was all the support staff of the institution. Stratified random sampling technique was used. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. Correlation and regression analysis was done to establish the relationship between various HRM practices and employee performance. Data was presented in form of tables, charts and graphs.
Based on the findings, performance-related pay has the greatest impact on increasing employees’ level of performance. Training and employee empowerment have also got an effect of increasing employees’ level of performance. Job design and job security have got the least impact on performance

The purpose of this paper was to establish the criteria used by commercial banks in Kenya to determine employees to retrench. The findings of the study suggest that commercial banks use seniority (Last-In-First-Out), employees' individual productivity, misconduct, incapability, early retirement programs, First-In-First-Out (FIFO) and employee obsolescence as criteria for determining employees to retrench. The criterion that is most popularly used is assessment of employees' individual productivity. Misconduct as a criterion for retrenchment is also popular and some of the behaviors that banks consider as misconduct include fraud, insubordination, regular unauthorized absenteeism, financial mismanagement, leaking out confidential information among others. Early retirement programs are also used to a moderate extent. Last in-First out (LIFO) is used to a moderate extent while incapability as a criterion is used to a less extent. It was also found that all banks use the same criteria despite their age, ownership and size.

There are numerous factors that affect the level of job satisfaction and this is highly influenced by the design and the nature of tasks assigned to the employees. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of job enlargement on the performance of employees in the railway industry in Kenya. The study was done in one of the major railway companies in Kenya. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and the target population comprised all the 2000 employees of the railway company, out of which a sample of 400 employees was selected using systematic random sampling technique. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis approaches were employed in data analysis. The findings revealed that job enlargement contributed positively in enhancing employee performance. Regression results showed that task structuring and work arrangement resulted into increased employee performance while work meaningfulness was inversely linked to employee performance. The researcher recommends that the government should institute training and development programs to nurture employee knowledge and skills on how employee duties can be structured to boost their understanding of organizational processes and procedures. Organizations should consider implementing flexible structures that accommodate environmental changes and as such employees can identify tasks more efficiently and achieve their set targets. Future researchers can replicate this study in the private sector to establish whether the results realized under this study would hold.

The main objective of this study was to establish the influence of firm characteristics on the relationship between foreign market entry strategies and the financial performance of multinational firms in Kenya. The study was hinged on Resource-Based View as a theoretical foundation. The literature revealed that numerous studies had been conducted on the influencing factors of firm characteristics such as Size and Age on the financial performance of multinational firms. However, these studies did not put into consideration of other possible factors such as firm characteristics and indicators such as liquidity and leverage. More so, the studies did not consider firm characteristics as a possible influencer of the direct relationship between choice of entry strategies and financial performance of multinational firms. The study utilized a cross-sectional study design which adopted both analytical and descriptive type of studies. Secondary data was used to obtain the desired information from the multinational firms’ annual reports for the financial years 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014. The study focused on only the publicly listed multinational firms in the Nairobi Security Exchange. Data were obtained from all the 62 listed firms. The study used Sales Growth, ROA, ROE, and ROCE to measure financial performance. Age, Liquidity, and Leverage were used as indicators of firm characteristics with leverage and liquidity further measured as Debt-Equity ratio and Current Assets Ratio respectively. Foreign market entry strategies were measured using Franchising, wholly-owned subsidiaries, Acquisition, and Joint Ventures. The results of the study showed that an interaction between firm characteristics and foreign market entry strategy significantly affected the direct relationship between foreign market entry strategies and the financial performance of multinational firms. The study concludes that firm characteristics have a positive effect on the financial performance of multinational firms through the influence of their choice of entry into foreign markets. It is recommended that multinational firms with desires to expand globally should use their global footprint to maximize on their international operations through leverage activities. In addition, policies governing the liquidity of companies to be revised in order to increase financial performance if previously they affected it. For the study was only limited to the publicly listed multinational institutions, future researchers should consider studying all the multinational firms operating in Kenya. The study provided a contextual understanding of the Resource-Based View. This theory tried to bring in views on choosing the right entry strategy into foreign markets based on the familiarity or unfamiliarity of a foreign market setting given the resources available to a firm. Findings also provided key ingredients for policymakers to embark on an integrated policy formulation in the full understanding of the interplay of a firm’s unique characteristics as far as multinational firms are concerned. And in practice, global business management should be in a better position to identify the right entry strategies into new markets that would yield them great financial profits.

The objective of this study was to establish the effects of foreign market entry strategies on the financial performance of listed multinational firms in Kenya. Internationalization theory was used as the theoretical foundation of the study. Empirical studies reviewed revealed that several studies had been done on the direct relationship between performance of multinational firms and their modes of entry into foreign firms. However, none of these studies focused on the financial performance of listed multinational firms. The study utilised a cross-sectional descriptive design. Secondary data collected from firms’ annual reports and financial statements for a period of four years (2014 to 2017) was used. The firms’ financial indicators of Sales Growth, Return on Equity, Return on Assets and Return on Capital Employed were employed to measure their performance. Franchising, exporting, wholly owned subsidiary and acquisitions were assessed as the entry strategies used by multinational firms. Data was collected from all the 62 listed multinational companies in Kenya and analysed using quantitative methods. This analysis was most preferred for data collected was quantitative in nature. The relationship between the independent and the dependent variable was tested using simple linear regression. The results show that the performance of multinational firms operating through franchises and as wholly owned subsidiaries as well as acquisitions was lower than the performance of multinationals operating as export companies. The study concludes that the mode of entry into foreign markets chosen by a firm significantly affected its financial performance in the said market. It is therefore recommended that multinational firms wishing to expand their operations globally to come up with long term strategies that have gone through rigorous scrutiny for the benefit of the firm. The study gave a contextual understanding of the internationalization theory. The theory managed to emphasize on reasons why multinational firms should expand their operations beyond their national boundaries. Actual ingredients for policy makers to undertake a well thought through policy formulation to fully understand the importance of choosing the right entry strategy was provided for in the results. Recommendations of the study are that a thorough marketing evaluation of the country of interest should be undertaken to ensure that proper measures are put in place for the selection of an entry strategy that will address the goals and objectives of a firm. The study also recommends that employees of a firm who are at the forefront in the internationalization process should be well informed and trained ahead of the firm’s plans. Policy makers and advisories in countries are advised to streamline the processes of foreign firms’ registration so to attract foreign investors.