Charles Maina - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Charles Maina
An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves tw... more An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum, and to support research by university faculty and students. Increasingly, these very sacrosanct information centres to the University mandate are faced with security threats on digital content. These threats include but are not limited to computer-assisted fraud, espionage, sabotage and vandalism. The study objective of this study was to examine the vulnerabilities facing digital content at the University of Nairobi and Catholic University of Eastern Africa academic libraries. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population in this study were 2 Information and Communications Technology Managers and 10 ICT technicians, 2 Chief Librarian and 20 Library Staff. The study had a target population of 34 respondents. A census was used to arrive at a sample of 34 respondents from the two university academic libraries. Data was collected by use of semi-structured questionnaires, with both closed and open ended questions. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies and percentages. The key findings of the study are that the university lack proper disaster management on digital content information materials. There is Lack of reliable infrastructure and resources in the library, lack of enough funding and sometimes delayed provision of funds for procurement of necessary computing equipment thus hindering the establishment of disaster recovery centres, lack of programmes to guide on training and training needs, unclear policies and guidelines in the University. The study provides several recommendations that would improve the current state of disaster planning and preparedness. The university should train and retrain its core staff to ensure that they are updated with current knowledge and skills that focuses on ever changing security threats to digital security and preparedness. The institutions management should give provision of adequate funds for continuous training. The institution should have policies to guide on passwords, privileges and have disaster recovery procedure and universities should explore more methods of ensuring Security of digital contents.
The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 2020
Libraries 1. Introduction Due to increasing competition and rising customer expectations, offerin... more Libraries 1. Introduction Due to increasing competition and rising customer expectations, offering quality service has become a major strategy to differentiate the services of an organization in the marketplace (Berry, 1998) and to increase profit and market share (Koska, 1990; Zeithaml, Bitner & Gremler, 1996). Delivering exceptional service has become imperative for business success (Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Berry, 1985) and is positively related to customer loyalty (Zeithaml & Bitner, 2014). Kandampully and Suhartanto (2010) found that service organizations that are dedicated to providing quality service are more likely to retain customers. Quality service is a comparison between the expected and the perceived service by customers (Gronroos, 2001; Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Berry, 1998). Organizations that can understand customers' needs and requirements and deliver services to meet their expectations are more likely to beat their rivals. Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005) suggested that service organizations are keen to include more services in their core offerings in order to increase profits, strengthen customer relationships and boost business growth. A significant link exists between quality service and good customer relations. This therefore, means that EI is a good way for organizations to be the best service providers. According to Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005), the term 'service' involves two facets. The first one refers to an intangible product (a core service) that supplier's market to their customers. For example, a restaurant serves various foods to its customers while an educational institute offers different courses to its students. These; therefore, are known as service products. Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005) note that organizations such as hotels, legal firms, financial companies, educational institutions and others provide their customers with service products or core services, which, by nature, are intangible and inseparable from their production. Further, the authors argue, since the production and consumption of these services simultaneously happen, customer participation in the service products will influence the quality service. According to Bowen, Siehl and Schneider (1989), for instance, the information that is provided by customers and their behaviour are raw materials that organizations use in the production of the service output. Schneider and Bowen (1995) suggested that the core service itself has unique and tangible dimensions, which distinguish it from the quality of
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS / Actes du congrès annuel de l'ACSI, 2013
The problem of valuing and pricing information continues to exist despite years of research on th... more The problem of valuing and pricing information continues to exist despite years of research on the topic. Previous research on the various ways that consumers value information and on how price has been previously applied as a system for valuing information is examined. The paper examines whether price contributes to the emerging information divide and to identify existing gaps. . .
International Journal of Economics and Finance, 2009
This study examines relationship between investment and Mudharabah accounts in Maybank with econo... more This study examines relationship between investment and Mudharabah accounts in Maybank with economic factors. The data used are secondary data from various annual reports of Maybank from 1996 until 2007. The data are analyzed using Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis. The dependent variables studied are total investment and Mudharabh accounts and set of independent variables comprised of gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment rate (UER), income percapita (IPC) and consumer price index (CPI). The main objectives are to identify the relationship between the independent variables and to examine their influence on total deposits of investment and Mudharabah accounts. The results of Correlation showed that there is no relationship between all independent variables. The findings also proved that UER, GDP, IPC and CPI have significant relationships with investment and Mudharabah accounts. Finally, this study confirmed that UER is the most dominant factor that influenced both investment and Mudharabah accounts.
To the respondents, who contributed to our investigation by answering the questionnaires. To Mari... more To the respondents, who contributed to our investigation by answering the questionnaires. To Maria Nilsson, who contributed with her editorial experience and helped us to improve this thesis. To other groups in our seminar that always provided us with constructive feedback. And finally, we want to thank our tutor, Börje Boers, who guided us through the process of writing this thesis.
International Journal of Agriculture, 2020
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of supply chain management practices... more Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of supply chain management practices on the organizational performance underpinned on resource-based view theory (RBV). Methodology: The study adopts descriptive and explanatory research design with purposive sampling and quantitative methods to collect primary data through crossed ended questionnaires from 109 dairy co-operatives in Kenya. Data collected was organized and cleaned using both excel and statistical package for social scientist (SPSS). Additionally, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) techniques were used to analyze data in SmartPLS version 3.2 software, and the results for both descriptive and inferential were presented in tables. Results: The result revealed that SCMPs has a positive and significant impact on Market performance (β=0.558), operational performance (β=0.371) and customer satisfaction (β=0.543). These results reveal that SCM practices are associated with high levels of...
An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves tw... more An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum, and to support research by university faculty and students. Increasingly, these very sacrosanct information centres to the University mandate are faced with security threats on digital content. These threats include but are not limited to computer-assisted fraud, espionage, sabotage and vandalism. The study objective of this study was to examine the vulnerabilities facing digital content at the University of Nairobi and Catholic University of Eastern Africa academic libraries. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The target population in this study were 2 Information and Communications Technology Managers and 10 ICT technicians, 2 Chief Librarian and 20 Library Staff. The study had a target population of 34 respondents. A census was used to arrive at a sample of 34 respondents from the two university academic libraries. Data was collected by use of semi-structured questionnaires, with both closed and open ended questions. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics to obtain frequencies and percentages. The key findings of the study are that the university lack proper disaster management on digital content information materials. There is Lack of reliable infrastructure and resources in the library, lack of enough funding and sometimes delayed provision of funds for procurement of necessary computing equipment thus hindering the establishment of disaster recovery centres, lack of programmes to guide on training and training needs, unclear policies and guidelines in the University. The study provides several recommendations that would improve the current state of disaster planning and preparedness. The university should train and retrain its core staff to ensure that they are updated with current knowledge and skills that focuses on ever changing security threats to digital security and preparedness. The institutions management should give provision of adequate funds for continuous training. The institution should have policies to guide on passwords, privileges and have disaster recovery procedure and universities should explore more methods of ensuring Security of digital contents.
The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 2020
Libraries 1. Introduction Due to increasing competition and rising customer expectations, offerin... more Libraries 1. Introduction Due to increasing competition and rising customer expectations, offering quality service has become a major strategy to differentiate the services of an organization in the marketplace (Berry, 1998) and to increase profit and market share (Koska, 1990; Zeithaml, Bitner & Gremler, 1996). Delivering exceptional service has become imperative for business success (Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Berry, 1985) and is positively related to customer loyalty (Zeithaml & Bitner, 2014). Kandampully and Suhartanto (2010) found that service organizations that are dedicated to providing quality service are more likely to retain customers. Quality service is a comparison between the expected and the perceived service by customers (Gronroos, 2001; Parasuraman, Zeithaml & Berry, 1998). Organizations that can understand customers' needs and requirements and deliver services to meet their expectations are more likely to beat their rivals. Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005) suggested that service organizations are keen to include more services in their core offerings in order to increase profits, strengthen customer relationships and boost business growth. A significant link exists between quality service and good customer relations. This therefore, means that EI is a good way for organizations to be the best service providers. According to Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005), the term 'service' involves two facets. The first one refers to an intangible product (a core service) that supplier's market to their customers. For example, a restaurant serves various foods to its customers while an educational institute offers different courses to its students. These; therefore, are known as service products. Gustafsson, Edvardsson and Brax (2005) note that organizations such as hotels, legal firms, financial companies, educational institutions and others provide their customers with service products or core services, which, by nature, are intangible and inseparable from their production. Further, the authors argue, since the production and consumption of these services simultaneously happen, customer participation in the service products will influence the quality service. According to Bowen, Siehl and Schneider (1989), for instance, the information that is provided by customers and their behaviour are raw materials that organizations use in the production of the service output. Schneider and Bowen (1995) suggested that the core service itself has unique and tangible dimensions, which distinguish it from the quality of
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS / Actes du congrès annuel de l'ACSI, 2013
The problem of valuing and pricing information continues to exist despite years of research on th... more The problem of valuing and pricing information continues to exist despite years of research on the topic. Previous research on the various ways that consumers value information and on how price has been previously applied as a system for valuing information is examined. The paper examines whether price contributes to the emerging information divide and to identify existing gaps. . .
International Journal of Economics and Finance, 2009
This study examines relationship between investment and Mudharabah accounts in Maybank with econo... more This study examines relationship between investment and Mudharabah accounts in Maybank with economic factors. The data used are secondary data from various annual reports of Maybank from 1996 until 2007. The data are analyzed using Correlation and Multiple Regression analysis. The dependent variables studied are total investment and Mudharabh accounts and set of independent variables comprised of gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment rate (UER), income percapita (IPC) and consumer price index (CPI). The main objectives are to identify the relationship between the independent variables and to examine their influence on total deposits of investment and Mudharabah accounts. The results of Correlation showed that there is no relationship between all independent variables. The findings also proved that UER, GDP, IPC and CPI have significant relationships with investment and Mudharabah accounts. Finally, this study confirmed that UER is the most dominant factor that influenced both investment and Mudharabah accounts.
To the respondents, who contributed to our investigation by answering the questionnaires. To Mari... more To the respondents, who contributed to our investigation by answering the questionnaires. To Maria Nilsson, who contributed with her editorial experience and helped us to improve this thesis. To other groups in our seminar that always provided us with constructive feedback. And finally, we want to thank our tutor, Börje Boers, who guided us through the process of writing this thesis.
International Journal of Agriculture, 2020
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of supply chain management practices... more Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of supply chain management practices on the organizational performance underpinned on resource-based view theory (RBV). Methodology: The study adopts descriptive and explanatory research design with purposive sampling and quantitative methods to collect primary data through crossed ended questionnaires from 109 dairy co-operatives in Kenya. Data collected was organized and cleaned using both excel and statistical package for social scientist (SPSS). Additionally, partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) techniques were used to analyze data in SmartPLS version 3.2 software, and the results for both descriptive and inferential were presented in tables. Results: The result revealed that SCMPs has a positive and significant impact on Market performance (β=0.558), operational performance (β=0.371) and customer satisfaction (β=0.543). These results reveal that SCM practices are associated with high levels of...