Entrepreneurial Orientation And Performance Of Kenya Prison Enterprises: A Case Of Kamiti Maximum Prison Enterprise In Kenya

ABSTRACT

This research project was geared toward investigating entrepreneurial orientation and performance of Prison Industry Enterprise a government-linked enterprise. It explored the five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation covering innovation, proactiveness, risk taking, aggressiveness and autonomy and their effect on performance. The research focused on Kamiti Prison Enterprise to act as a pilot point whereby the result can be used to generalize the situation in other prisons’ industries in Kenya. Due to the availability of non-utilized resources in Kenya prison department, a study of this nature is necessary to inform the government policy makers, prison fraternity and the public in general because currently the available information is very limited. Eventually this research work will contribute to proper management of enterpriseoriented public departments especially Kenya Prison Enterprises. Investigation of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Performance of Prison Enterprises in this study intends to fill in this gap. Kamiti Maximum Prison Enterprise presents perfect area of study because it is the largest prison in Kenya both in size and population. The literature review focused on the existing knowledge of entrepreneurial orientation and the effect it has on performance of business entities. The study uses Resource Based Theory and Innovation Theory as alternative theories in entrepreneurship. Further, it gave a comprehensive empirical and conceptual literature review. The study design was descriptive survey where data were collected using questionnaires, observations and secondary materials. Data was obtained from the target population through census of 100 prison industries consumers, released former prisoners, prisoners, prison officers, other administrators in kamiti prison. The collected data was edited, coded and then analysed using Microsoft excel and SPSS (statistical package for social scientists). The findings presented in form of tables, bar graphs and pie charts. Other inferential statistics showed there is a positive relationship between three dimensions of Entrepreneurial Orientation in Kamiti Prison Industry which also affected its performance. This research concluded that the three Entrepreneurial Orientation dimensions had significant and positive effect on the performance of Kamiti Prison Industry. Based on these conclusions the study recommends that measures be put in place to adopt and enhance Entrepreneurial Orientation as the best approach toward revolutionizing prison industries in Kenya. The study recommends further studies be carried out using longitudinal design so as to capture effect of Entrepreneurial Orientation on performance over long period of time.