Relationship Between Supply Chain Management Technologies And Performance Of Shipping Lines In Kenya: The Moderating Effect Of International Maritime Regulations

Abstract

Organizations are continually adopting new technologies with the sole aim of enhancing their operational efficiency. It is therefore imperative that shipping companies adopt these said technologies in order to do away with operational inefficiencies that are a major setback in this sector. The essence of this research was to analyze association between supply chain management technologies and performance of shipping lines in Kenya as moderated by international maritime regulations. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between localization technologies and performance of shipping lines in Kenya. To examine the relationship between sensor technologies and performance of Shipping lines in Kenya. To examine the relationship between communications technologies and performance of Shipping lines in Kenya. To examine the relationship between identification technologies and the performance of Shipping lines in Kenya. Research was majorly anchored on Technology acceptance model, as the main theory. On philosophical pining the study was underpinned by positivism and to gather in-depth information survey which was explanatory in nature was employed. Using random sampling 438 respondents were selected from the four sections of these companies to form sample size. Questionnaires were used to collect data for both pilot and main study. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings showed that there is a positive relationship between supply chain management technologies and performance of shipping lines in Kenya. On specific objectives there was a positive relationship between localization technologies, Senor Technologies, Communication technologies and identification technologies. The study further indicated a positive association between localization technologies, Sensor technologies, Communication technologies and identification technologies as moderated by international maritime regulations. The study concluded that shipping lines should invest more in supply chain management technologies in order to improve their performance.