AN EMPIRICAL SURVEY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TACTICAL INFLUENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF FREIGHT FORWARDING FIRMS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
AN EMPIRICAL SURVEY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TACTICAL INFLUENCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF FREIGHT FORWARDING FIRMS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA
Davies Mutuku Ndonye - Department of Organizational Leadership, Pan Africa Christian University, Kenya
Dr. Eunice Ngina Wandiga - Department of Business Administration & Management, St. Paul’s University, Kenya
Dr. Wilson J. O. Odiyo - Department of Business Studies, Pan Africa Christian University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Turbulent global markets characterised by uncertainty, heightened competition, shortened product life cycles and shifts in customer preferences have put organizational effectiveness at jeopardy. The impact of changing trends in international trade has been more pronounced especially in the freight-forwarding sector. Unprecedented occurrences have caused a drift from the conventional organizational management to a more dynamic approach that calls for tactical leaders who can assert influence and get things done for effectiveness. Freight forwarding firms in Kenya play a critical role in generating value and revenue. The logistics sector contributed 5.8% of Kenya’s GDP in 2017 and has been increasing ever since. However, logistics performance indices have shown Kenya lagging behind other leading African countries including South Africa, Egypt, and Tanzania. Kenya’s low index is attributable to factors that have continued to impair trade facilitation. This study sought to determine the effect of tactical influence on organizational effectiveness of freight forwarding firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The Leader-Member Exchange Theory anchored the study, which adopted descriptive and explanatory research designs from pragmatic philosophical view. The target population was 400 freight-forwarding firms practicing in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Ninety-two firms were selected using simple random sampling technique from which 276 respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential techniques while qualitative data was analysed thematically. The study found that tactical influence was to a high extent practiced and emphasized. Correlational results revealed that tactical influence had a significant positive correlation (r=0.295, p<.001) with organizational effectiveness while regression results revealed that tactical influence had a significant positive effect on organizational effectiveness. Extracted tactical influence dimensions were found to apply in the freight-forwarding sector. The study concluded that tactical influence had significant effect on the effectiveness of freight forwarding firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. These findings contribute to the body of knowledge and hold promise for providing a deeper understanding of the link between tactical influence and organizational effectiveness.
