SEBS - Master's Theses

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://erepository.scott.ac.ke/handle/123456789/16

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Start date: 2026End date: 2026

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    Influence of Adaptive Leadership Model on Sustainability of the Africa Inland Church–Kenya in Nairobi County
    (Scott Christian University, 2026-08) Maingi, Annah Kanini
    This study investigated the influence of the adaptive leadership model, conceptualized as transformational, servant, and collaborative leadership styles, on the sustainability of Africa Inland Church–Kenya (AIC‑K) congregations in Nairobi County. Anchored in adaptive leadership theory, the research builds on literature that emphasizes the interplay of leadership styles and the mediating role of member engagement in translating leadership practices into sustainable outcomes. A mixed‑methods design was employed to capture both measurable associations and lived experiences. The quantitative strand involved structured surveys administered to 300 respondents comprising pastoral teams, church leaders, and active congregants. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, and standard deviations) profiled respondent attributes and perspectives. Reliability testing using Cronbach’s alpha confirmed internal consistency of scales. Inferential analysis through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) revealed that transformational leadership had a strong positive effect on member engagement (β = 0.62, p < 0.001), which predicted sustainability outcomes including numerical growth, spiritual development, and societal influence. Servant leadership significantly influenced member care, resilience, and trust (β = 0.47, p < 0.01) and Collaborative leadership enhanced participatory governance and shared responsibility (β = 0.41, p < 0.05). Member engagement was confirmed as a mediating variable, strengthening the relationship between leadership practices and sustainability outcomes. The qualitative strand involved in‑depth interviews, analyzed thematically, which reinforced statistical findings. Respondents emphasized transformational vision, servant care, and collaborative decision‑making as critical indicators of sustainable church outcomes. Demographic insights revealed that young adults prioritized visionary and inclusive leadership, servant leadership was associated with trust and motivation, and collaborative leadership was linked to governance and shared responsibility. Educated respondents underscored engagement as the heartbeat of sustainability. Sustainability was conceptualized across three parameters: numerical growth, spiritual development, and societal influence. The findings confirmed that member engagement is the critical pathway through which leadership practices translate into church resilience and relevance. The study’s implications are extensive: church leaders are encouraged to adopt adaptive leadership models that integrate transformational vision, servant care, and collaborative participation; educators should incorporate adaptive leadership into training and mentorship programs; and policy makers can support institutional frameworks that foster participatory governance in faith‑based organizations. Overall, the research provides actionable insights for strengthening the resilience and societal relevance of AIC‑K congregations in Nairobi’s rapidly changing socio‑cultural environment.
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    Influence of Internal Instructional Supervision Practices on Students' Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Kisau Zone, Mbooni East Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya
    (Scott Christian University, 2026-08) Muli, Gladys Kanini
    Academic performance in public secondary schools in Makueni County has remained a concern, with available evidence showing low and uneven KCSE outcomes across schools. In Kisau Zone, public secondary schools have also recorded variation in KCSE mean scores, suggesting that school-based practices may differ in ways that affect students' academic performance. Although internal instructional supervision is expected to strengthen classroom teaching, curriculum implementation, learner progress monitoring and feedback, limited localized evidence exists on how these practices influence academic performance in public secondary schools in Kisau Zone. This study therefore sought to examine the influence of internal instructional supervision practices on students' academic performance in public secondary schools in Kisau Zone, Mbooni East Sub-County, and Makueni County, Kenya. The study was guided by three specific objectives: to determine the influence of classroom instruction monitoring on students' academic performance; to examine the influence of professional records monitoring on students' academic performance; to examine the influence of curriculum implementation monitoring on students' academic performance; and to assess the influence of academic progress monitoring and supervision feedback on students' academic performance. The study was anchored on Instructional Leadership Theory and supported by Systems Theory and Transformational Leadership Theory. A descriptive correlational survey research design was adopted. The target population comprised 9 principals, 115 teachers and 667 Form Three students from the nine public secondary schools in Kisau Zone, giving an operative target population of 791 respondents. Census sampling was used for principals, while stratified proportionate sampling and simple random sampling was used to select teachers and Form Three students. Yamane's formula was used to determine the sample size for teachers and students, resulting in a sample of 9 principals, 89 teachers and 250 Form Three students, giving a total sample size of 348 respondents. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, a key informant interview guide and a document analysis checklist. A pilot study was conducted in Kiteta Zone to test the validity and reliability of the instruments. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with the aid of SPSS, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study indicated that schools kept track of teacher absences from lessons, if a lesson was missed or delayed, teachers were monitored by the head of department and student leaders were monitored for the lessons. In addition, a study revealed that monitoring of curriculum implementation was found to be a facilitator of examination preparedness since the students were able to revise the syllabus content and prepare for the examination whenever it was timely covered in the curriculum. The study also revealed, however, that feedback following checking of professional records and written action plans for delayed syllabus coverage were not done consistently. In addition, the study confirmed that academic progress monitoring facilitated the identification of learners and subjects in need of extra support. The study revealed, however, that follow-up on feedback was not as strong as the examination analysis and record keeping. The study concluded that classroom instruction monitoring had the greatest influence on the students' academic performance in public secondary schools in Kisau Zone, Mbooni East Sub-County, Makueni County, Kenya, followed by academic progress monitoring and supervision feedback while professional records monitoring and curriculum implementation monitoring had the least influence. The study recommended that public secondary schools should strengthen structured lesson observation, improve documentation and follow-up supervision feedback, use professional records to guide curriculum recovery, and apply examination analysis to support weak learners and improve academic outcomes.
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    Influence of Competitive Advantage on Customer Satisfaction in Retail Supermarkets: A Case Study of Machakos Town Sub-County, Kenya
    (Scott Christian University, 2026-08) Okwemba, Belinda Nyangasi
    The retail supermarket has progressively become a critical component of Kenya’s commercial landscape, characterized by urbanization, rapid expansion, intensified competition, and ever-changing consumer preferences. As supermarkets endeavor to distinguish themselves and maintain market relevance, the concepts of competitive advantage and customer satisfaction have emerged as key determinants of a firm’s success. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which competitive strategies adopted by supermarkets in Machakos Town influence customer satisfaction. This study examines how key dimensions of competitive advantage—specifically pricing strategies, product variety, and service quality, and technological adoption— influence customer satisfaction outcomes. This inquiry is significant because customer satisfaction is integral to fostering loyalty, stimulating repeat patronage, and strengthening the long-term viability of retail enterprises. Understanding these relationships in smaller urban contexts is particularly important given the distinct socio-economic and infrastructural conditions that shape consumer behavior in such environments. The study was anchored in established theoretical frameworks, including Porter’s Generic Strategies Model, the Expectancy Disconfirmation Theory, and the SERVQUAL model, which collectively provided a robust conceptual basis for examining the variables of interest. A descriptive research design with a quantitative orientation was employed. The target population consisted of supermarket customers and managerial staff, from whom a stratified random sample of 376 respondents was drawn. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential techniques, including correlation and regression analysis. The study achieved an 87.8% response rate (330 respondents). The regression model was statistically significant (F (4,326)=83.94, p<0.001) and explained 50.7% of the variance in customer satisfaction. All four independent variables were significant predictors, with service quality emerging as the strongest (β=0.306), followed by pricing strategies (β=0.239), technology adoption (β=0.212), and product variety (β=0.195). Demographic characteristics moderated these relationships: technology adoption had stronger effects on younger customers, while pricing strategies mattered more for older and lower-income customers. The study concludes that service quality is the primary driver of customer satisfaction in Machakos Town supermarkets, and that a one-size-fits-all competitive strategy is insufficient given the diverse customer base. Key recommendations include prioritizing service quality improvements (cleanliness, reliability, checkout accuracy), maintaining competitive pricing on essentials, re-evaluating loyalty programs, investing in visible transaction technologies (e.g., M-Pesa), and adopting segment-specific strategies based on customer age and income levels. Policymakers are urged to support retail logistics infrastructure and digital literacy programs to enhance the supermarket sector’s competitiveness in semi-urban Kenya.