An Assessment of the Role of Information Sharing Practice on Performance of Steel Manufacturing Companies in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to assess the role of information sharing practice on performance of Steel Manufacturing Companies in Kenya which are the key contributors to the economic development of the country. The descriptive research design was used in the formulation of knowledge on the role of information sharing practice on performance of Steel manufacturing Companies in Kenya and provided solutions to areas that needed improvement. The target population was 258 steel manufacturing companies in Kenya of which 32 were purposively selected. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and oral interviews for an in-depth understanding. Analytical research method was used to analyze secondary data and ex-post facto research design was used to report things the way they are. Both quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used during data presentation using inferential statistics to draw conclusions from the nominal measurement scale. Using regression analysis, the study revealed that information sharing practice statistically significantly predicted the performance of Steel Manufacturing Companies in Kenya, F (1, 242) = 35.874, p < .05, R² = .129. The analysis further revealed that there is a significant and a moderate positive correlation between Information sharing practice and the performance of Steel Manufacturing companies in Kenya (r =0.359, p ˂ 0.01).    The study recommends that the Steel manufacturing companies in Kenya to incorporate Information sharing practice in their business operations for them to realize improved performance.

Keywords: Information sharing practice, Steel Manufacturing Companies in Kenya, Supply chain performance