Joint Effect of Knowledge and Process Embodied Technology Transfer on the Growth of Catering Micro and Small Catering Enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the small business sector has both the potential and the historic task of bringing millions of people from the survivalist level including the informal economy to the mainstream economy. To enhance this fact, Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have invested in new technology resulting to experienced marked growth on terms of customers and profits. Among the prominent Technology transfer initiatives are knowledge and process embodied technology. However, no study has investigated the joint effect of knowledge and process embodied technology transfer on Micro and small enterprises growth. The specific objective of the study was to determine the joint effect of knowledge and processes of technology transfer on the growth of micro and small catering enterprises in Nairobi, Kenya. This study adopted descriptive research with mixed approaches. This method facilitated information among the Catering MSEs in Kenya. The target population of the study involved 11,162 respondents from the catering MSEs in Kenya. The study target population included Medium Restaurant, Small Restaurant with bar/Membership club, Mega eating houses, Snack Bar, Tea House ‘Hotel', Medium eating House, Snack Bar Tea House ‘Hotel', Small eating House, Snack bar, Tea House and ‘Other Catering and Accommodation' in Kenya. The study involved both Stratified and simple random sampling method in the selection of the samples. A sample size of 384 was selected. The study utilized questionnaires as the main instrument of data collection. Pilot testing was carried out to establish both reliability and validity of research instruments. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The Inferential statistical analysis of the results was done to determine whether or not there is a statistical relationship established between growth (the dependent variable) and the independent variables on the basis of the research questions. The study used the Logistic (or Logit) regression to establish the effects of the independent variables to enterprise growth. A summary of findings shows that individually and collectively, knowledge and processes transfer production are a significant predictor of firm growth. However, a combination of the two produced even greater results of growth. The study concluded that the joint effect of knowledge and processes of technology transfer leads to a higher growth than individual variables in micro and small catering enterprises in Kenya.